Word Count: 2174

~Sienna

I run a brush through my hair, deep in thought.

It feels strange, knowing this is technically the third wedding I'm a part of. This one is the final one, where I can finally celebrate my connection to Onyx with everyone I love around me.

My gaze passes from the mirror to the window behind it. The sky is a bright, brilliant blue, a shade brighter than the turquoise sea. All morning there have been people setting up for the ceremony on the beach, busily acting under Lucia's instruction.

This has all been planned by Onyx weeks prior, and everything is perfect. It's as if he looked into my mind and made sense of all my dreams for this day.

A soft knock sounds at the door, my eyes raising.

Alex peeks her head in. "Sienna?"

"Alex, I'm so happy you made it. Come in," I encourage. I knew she was coming, but it feels good to see a friendly face here again.

She pushes the door open, carrying a sleek white dress on a hanger with her. She drapes half of it over her arm as she approaches, her face flushed with excitement.

"I brought your dress," she sings giddily.

I stand as she straightens it out for me to see. I recognise it immediately, my heart launching into my throat as I take it in. I haven't seen it in ages, having convinced myself that I wouldn't be needing it.

"Wait, I made this dress...how did you know?" I marvel, brushing my hand gently down the soft fabric. It's simple but elegant, and took me weeks to get perfect.

"Onyx told me. He said you made this wedding dress over a year ago and had it stored in your bedroom wardrobe for whenever you were going to be married." She laughs a little, looking down to admire it with me.

I shake my head. "He wasn't supposed to know that, how embarrassing."

I wonder what he thought when he first saw it? Did he know that I had him in mind when I was crafting it? Did he know that I was only ever going to wear that dress if it was him I was marrying him?

Alex grins, draping the dress over the back of a chair carefully. "I think he always knew it was for his eyes."

"Want to see something even more embarrassing?" I ask, rising from my seat.

Her eyes glisten. "Obviously."

Taking hold of the sleeve, I turn it so the underside is visible. Alex leans closer, grinning when she seems the embellishment.

"I stitched our initials into the fabric." I run my thumb over the 'O' and the 'S' gently. "I thought it would bring me good luck."

"And it did exactly that." Alex wanders over to the bed, her feet scuffing against the floor before she turns to sit on the end of the bed. Her shoulders slump forward, a defeated look coming about her. "Maybe I should do that with Christian."

I restrain my grimace. A hopeful, foolish part of me had hoped she had miraculously dropped him in the few days Onyx and I have been away.

"It's not that serious, is it?" I walk over to her, uneasiness stirring in the pit of my stomach.

She shakes her head, a few strands of icy blonde hair falling from her ponytail. "No, not yet. I brought him, if you don't mind."

I turn my head to look out the window as I can no longer hold back my wince. My poor friend has no idea who she has invited to this remote location, and it's my fault.

She deserves to know the truth about Christian. But if I tell her too soon, I'll be putting her in more danger.

"Oh...no, that's fine," I force out tightly.

"I hoped the romance in the air might make him more receptive to me. He's been standoffish and I'm not sure he wants to commit." She groans, burying her face in her hands. "I'm hoping that once he sees how incredible you and Onyx's love is, he won't be able to resist wanting the same."

I sit down next to her on the bed, unsure of what words I can gather to express my sympathy for her without revealing what I know.

"Maybe you should take it slow with him. He may need some space," I exclaim carefully.

She shrugs hopelessly. "Maybe. I just like him so much."

The Christian Alex thinks she knows isn't real. How he treats her when they are alone, I don't know, but I would wager that he's with her solely to torment Onyx and I. Not because she isn't deserving of love, but because she proximate to his ultimate target.

"I know, but you don't really know him, do you?" I muse. "You should consider taking things a bit slower. It may even give him time to think."

If Alex leaves him on her own accord, even better.

"You're probably right," she grumbles tiredly.

"Don't be sad, it will work out." I rub her back tenderly, watching the sadness slowly ease out of her. "I'm so happy you're here."

This wedding wouldn't be complete without her, regardless as who she brings as her plus one. I can forget about Christian and concentrate on those around me who I love.

"Even when I first moved in, thinking Onyx might marry me, part of me knew it was always you two that belonged together. You should have seen how he looked at you." She laughs softly to herself at the memory.

I look toward the dress, releasing a long sigh. "It probably wasn't half as obsessive as how I looked at him."

"You two are made for each other. Truly." She nudges into me, her smile tired but genuine.

My head rests on her shoulder. "Thank you, Alex."

For a moment we sit in near silence, accompanied only by distant chatter and waves rolling onto the beach. I take a breath, indulging a moment of pure contentedness and anticipation, knowing I'm mere hours from marrying my mate all over again.

Alex suddenly stiffens, causing me to lift my head. She stands, turning to me.

"Not to spoil the mood, but you were sent a letter and I thought it was probably pressing." She reaches into the back pocket of her pants, sliding a sealed envelope out.

I take it from her, my heartbeat kicking up against my ribs. "Who is it from?"

"Alston," she admits tightly.

My breath catches in my throat as I quickly tear through the seal, pulling out the handwritten letter within.

Dear Sienna,

There are no words that can properly address how deeply sorry I am.

I want to say that I don't know what came over me, but that would be a lie. I let my feelings for you and my jealousy of Onyx cloud my judgement, and that was wrong.

I don't expect you to forgive me. Had you not left, I'm not sure I would have been able to pull myself out of the headspace without hurting you first.

I never deserved you, and I know that now. Everything has fallen apart, and I'm the only person to blame.

Please don't respond to this. You must keep yourself safe. You are in grave danger. Zion is angered by your return to Onyx's pack, and he almost killed me once he learned of our deal, and how you are married now to his greatest enemy.

Prepare yourself, for he will not stop until he gets his heir.

Alston.

I drop the letter onto my lap, a dark ache lacing between my ribs.

His apology seems sincere. I can imagine him sitting down to write this, torn by the empathy I know he is capable of feeling.

However, it was only last night that Onyx told me about what Maren told him at Imogen's ball. She has a dark past with the man, and although I don't trust her, I doubt she would turn against her Alston when they share a common ally without good reason.

I believe her. Alston did something to her, and I'm done making excuses for him.

"This isn't good," I mutter, rubbing my face tensely.

Alex chews on her fingernail anxiously, leaning closer in hopes of glimpsing the text. "What does he say?"

"He says I'm in danger." I hand the letter to her defeatedly. "Zion will be planning something."

Of course he is angry. Alston's letter hasn't revealed anything to me that I didn't already suspect. And yet, just the thought of Zion's ire is enough to send shivers licking across my skin.

Alex huffs out a breath, folding the letter in on itself.

"Don't let that poison your mind. He cannot get to you while you are here. Today is about you and Onyx."

I nod. I'm not letting Zion soil this day.

Another knock sounds against the door. This time, it's Diane who slips inside.

"Sienna, can we talk?"

"Diane, you're here." I rush over to her, enveloping her in a hug. "Thank you for coming."

She tightens her arms around me, smelling like the woman who comforted me after my mother died, who leant over me while I was trying to learn mathematics, and also a bit of vanilla frosting.

"Are you kidding? I've been predicting this event since you and Onyx became friends." She grabs my shoulders, holding me back enough to examine me. "Everyone saw it coming."

Alex slips from the room, giving me a departing wave on the way out.

"I couldn't do this without you," I admit softly.

Diane leads me to the vanity, sitting me down before she grabs the hairbrush. She always has to be occupied with something, even when she is deep in conversation.

"I'll admit, when I heard you two hurried your wedding, I was upset, and not just because I didn't get to bake your cake." She catches my eye in the mirror, a rare flash of sadness spilling over her eyes.

Not having Diane at my wedding felt wrong. She has been such a crucial part of my life since my mother has been gone, acting as both a mentor and a caregiver when I needed her most. No matter what happened in my day, I knew I could head down to the kitchen and she would be there to hear me out.

"I wish you were there." I look down at my hands, feeling a part of myself I wish wasn't present on this day rise. "I wish mother was here."

I've been avoiding thinking about her all day. The guilt and shame for that has been wearing me down, but knowing that I'm going to step onto that beach and she's not going to be there makes me feel unbelievably ill.

Changing the past is impossible, regardless of how desperately I want it.

"She is here, I can feel it." She smooths the brush through my hair, slowly and methodically. "This is the life she wanted for you. She told me so herself."

"She did?"
 
"She would want you to be happy, to do with your life what you want." She pauses, uncertainty twisting her soft features. "I know about your claim to Zion's land. If it's something you want—"

"It's not...not truly," I say quickly. "This pack is my home, and I want to rule beside Onyx. I want to illustrate my work on botany, I want to make dresses and I want to lead with my mate."

This pack has always felt like home to me. Zion's was a place to fear, to run from. Ruling there would feel wrong.

She smiles, relieved. "Then that is what you'll do."

"I love you Diane. Thank you for raising me," I breathe, catching her eyes again in the reflection.

They well with glistening tears almost immediately. She attempts to blink them away, but they fall regardless. My own gather in my waterline, emotion catching in my throat.

"I love you too, kid. Thank you for being the only family I've ever had. You mean a lot to me." She wipes the tears from her cheeks, shaking her head at her own foolishness.

Clearing my throat, I stand. If I wait a moment longer, I'm going to sit here and cry alongside Diane as I think about her and my mother.

"I suppose I better get dressed then, shouldn't I?" I muse, picking up my dress tenderly.

Diane smiles, her eyes warm. "Good idea. Your mate is waiting for you."

💚••💚

Thank you to everyone who has subscribed to this story over on Inkitt! Over there, you can read the COMPLETED story!

If you would like to read more of The Alpha's Mistress, you can read over 10 chapters ahead on Radish!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Thank you for reading (:

I would love if you could check out my new story A GOD AMONGST WOLVES out now on Wattpad!

~Midika 💜🐼