Chapter 1: Just this moment

The bride’s dressing room was a paradox of beauty and menace. Soft golden light spilled from a crystal chandelier above, casting warm halos onto the walls painted in a muted cream tone. Ornate mirrors stood before the bride and her makeup artist. A bouquet of white roses sat in a porcelain vase, their delicate fragrance nearly masking the faint metallic tang of anxiety that hung in the air.

Yet, despite the serene charm of the room, a chilling tension undercut its elegance. The bride's eyes, sharp and unyielding, scanned the room with a clinical detachment, her crimson-painted lips curving into a smile too perfect, too controlled with the room echoing her energy.

Every gesture of hers was memorized, calm, and unnervingly charged, as if it, too, was complicit in whatever thoughts she concealed beneath her flawless exterior. This was no nervous bride preparing for her big day—this was a woman donning her armor, readying herself for something far darker than vows.

Elora smiled, her toes dancing with excitement and anticipation as the makeup brush danced over her face. Her ears were filled with her friend's laughter and teasing while they put their effort into making her a perfect bride of the day.

" I can't believe this day is finally here, our beautiful Elora is getting married", Cynthia said getting emotional,

" Hey! Hey! Don't let that tear drop ", another friend of Elora, Karine, warned rigidly.

Elora and Misha burst into laughter,

" Don't cry Cynthia, even the bride is not crying", Misha said grinning,

" I know, I just can't believe it's happening, I thought the wedding was going to be canceled but it was not, never even thought I'd end up being the maid of honor ",

" Which I'm now beginning to think that might be a mistake ", Karine said eyeing Cynthia who was now wiping her tears off,

" Guys c'mon," Misha turned to Karine and Cynthia, " and lighten up, Karine; stop being so rigid about everything; it's normal to be emotional during this moment."

Karine groaned, "Normal to be grateful for being the maid of honor, almost like she's glad that Scarlett died",

" Karine!", Misha and Cynthia called her name in disbelief,

" Are you serious right now?", Misha frowned,

" How could you say that?", Cynthia's face dropped into sadness,

" Say what? Isn't that true?",

" That's not true!", Cynthia yelled angrily, feeling hurt with such accusation.

" Stop, Karine", Elora said, not looking back at any of them; she remained still on the chair while the artist rounded up the makeup with a thick lip gloss on her lips.

Karine rolled her eyes, "Okay fine, you're not happy she's dead",

" No one is happy she's dead, we were all surprised by her sudden death", Cynthia said looking gloomy,

" Were we? I mean, it's almost like we all see it coming, and we're unhappy? I did not see anyone mourning her death....",

" Can you seriously stop? Can we not discuss this right now, we all know how much she means to Elora and how shocked she was", Misha intervened,

" Was she? I don't believe that; I never even believed their best friendship was real; I mean ...who makes friends with people who bullied her best friend?" Karine said, and there was total silence.

As if the time and breathing stopped except Elora's fist that clenched against her gown hard.

" She warned us countless times not to bully her, she was the reason why we stopped picking on her ", Misha corrected,

" Was she? Or was it the fact that Scarlett was later married to one of the most powerful Alpha?" Karine said, twitching her lips to the side.

Everyone in the room gave her a dirty glare which pisses her off even more.

" Seriously guys, I just hate when something or people are fake, these waves of laughter and merriment and words, let us be real, is the bride even happy? Yeah, she's Scarlett's best friend who died two weeks ago and her mum...",

" Karine!" Elora's firm and aggressive call startled everyone, and they all looked at her, but like she wasn't the one who just yelled; her face curled up into a bright smile.

" My mum is on a trip, and it's my wedding day; I'd love it if you at least respect that".

Everyone sighed and the room became awkward for some seconds.

" Done", the artist announced,

" Thanks ", Elora replied with a smile.

She stood up, staring at herself in the mirror, looking so gorgeous in a dashing wedding gown, a cascade of silk and lace, glittering with tiny crystals that caught the light like stars captured in fabric, and the fitted bodice which adorned with intricate beadwork that hugged her form perfectly.

Misha clipped the short veil into her hair, and they all couldn't help but smile at how beautiful she looked. Her emerald eyes shone with so much happiness; her slender shape, small waist, and big hip and butt graced the craft of the tailor.

" You look breathtaking", Cynthia couldn't hold back the comment,

" Thank you", she replied sweetly, " this is the most beautiful wedding gown ever. It's so beautiful",

" Yes it is", Misha supported and handed over the fresh bouquet of white roses which Elora took from her and clutched it to her chest to inhale the soft fragrance.

A text popped up on Elora's cellphone and she immediately reached out for it.

~ Outside your dressing room~

The text says.

' it's finally here, it's finally here ', Elora said in her mind with excitement bobbling through her veins.

" It's time Elora", Misha said, " everyone is waiting for you",

" Ain't we taking pictures?",

" Maybe after the wedding, her mum would have arrived by then, we can't take pictures without her around ", Misha said,

" But...",

" That's how I want it, I'll take a picture with my mum first", Elora cut Cynthia short with a smile,

" Okay", Cynthia gave in.

" So let's go", Misha said,

" No, you guys should go before me, I'd love to enter alone",

" Alone? But you are supposed to enter with someone ", Karine said, " and I remember you saying you don't want to enter with your Dad",

" Who says the bride can't enter the hall alone?",

" But...",

" Okay, fine, my Dad can join me halfway."

Misha and the others looked at one another before turning back to her.

" If that's how you want it, I'll inform Dad", Misha said before exiting the room along with Karine and Cynthia.

Immediately, she was left alone; after making sure they were gone, she quickly opened the door, looking around as if waiting for someone to show up.

" Looking for me?", a man suddenly appeared before her,

" Who else? Where is it?", she asked extending her hand,

" Here", he handed over the black bag,

" Thank you, confirm balance", she said and shut the door.

She could hear the retreating steps a few seconds later while she hastily opened the bag, revealing a KRISS Vector gun. She gasped and bit her lips,

" Beautiful", she muttered and reached out for the scissors on the table.

A sharp pain stabbed her head the moment she touched the scissors, she groaned and winced in pain from the banging headache and dizziness.

After a few seconds of pain, it vanished as it came, and she hurriedly cut off the wedding gown, turning it into a short gown that reached above her knees. In haste, she kicked off her heels and wore sneakers instead; she reached out for the gun and got it prepared before exiting the room and heading towards the hall where hundreds of guests were waiting for her.

She stood outside the closed door of the hall, hearing the familiar voice speak from the inside in an announcement of her.

She held the gun tighter behind her.

" Just this moment, you can take over when I'm done," she said as the door opened.