Chapter 6

• ALYSSA'S POV
• "Oh! I imagined that it would look good on you but this is just divine!"
• The girls surrounded her in a flash, widened eyes with a smile to match on all of their faces. She tried to smile but her mouth wouldn't just cooperate with her. Alyssa found the whole thing strange, ever since she woke up this morning there'd been this weird feeling in her gut.
• Laura told her that it was the thrill of getting mated but she knew that it was something more. Besides, why would she be thrilled over a wedding she didn't want in the first place?
• The thought was ludicrous.
• She tried to shake the feeling off and focused on forcing her lips to move. The corners trembled a bit and she forced them to stay that way, at least it was better than nothing.
• "The dress isn't here yet! What do we do?" Karina cried, pacing in front of the door, "Forget the hair and makeup, if the dress is not here then what's the use?"
• The smiles on their faces dropped instantly and Alyssa watched the way they all flew into panic mode. The only normal one there, aside from her, was Sophia Berbrooke who was currently sitting on her bed and stuffing her face with pastries.
• She caught her staring and Alyssa cocked a brow, mouthing,
• "Really?"
• Sophia shrugged, "What? I'm hungry and these taste good, you should try some."
• Freya slapped her arm away, "If she takes even a bite of that, you're going to ruin the chances of her fitting into the dress."
• "The dress isn't even here yet!" Karina groaned, a frenzied look on her face.
• Alyssa thought of calming her down but she knew the woman, nothing she would say now could pacify her. Luckily, the door opened revealing the dressmaker who had an embarrassed expression on her face,
• "By heavens! Where the hell have you been!?"
• "Karina!!!" We all gasped simultaneously, it wasn't like her to swear.
• She waved us off, swiping the dress from the older lady's arm and marching towards Alyssa,
• "Let's get you dressed, princess."
• Once they were done, they all stood in awe admiring her look. Even though Sophia looked impressed, Alyssa would admit that the dress surpassed her expectations. She did look like a princess and her hair was styled in a half up-half down messy look with braids by the sides, there were some lilies pinned to her hair and a small crown she was told belonged to her mother.
• There was a masculine cough at the door and they all turned at the same time to see Allister peeking inside,
• "Uhm-I would like to have a moment with the bride, please."
• Karina blinked before straightening, "Right! Come on, girls, let's give them some privacy."
• She ushered everyone out of the room but before she left, she threw a cheeky wink to Alyssa. The room was eerily quiet after they'd left and she felt awkward just standing there while her father stared at her with a weird emotion in his eyes,
• He swallowed, "You look lovely, Lys. Your mother would be so happy if she could see you," He stepped forward and took her hand in his, "I just want to let you know that I'm proud of you, I always have and always will."
• Her forehead creased the longer she looked at him, there was something wrong. Her father could be sentimental sometimes but not like this, something was off.
• He raised her palms to his lips and pressed a tender kiss, "I love you, Lys and I want you to know that all I do, I do it for you and the family and the pack. It's every single one of you."
• "Dad," She called tightly, "What's wrong?"
• He shook his head, "Nothing," When he pulled her into a hug, she could feel how his chest pounded against hers, "I love you, my beautiful princess."
• Alyssa didn't know why but she was beginning to get teary. This seemed like a goodbye speech, it didn't make sense why he was like this. She would still be in the pack, in his vicinity so there was no reason to act like she was going far away.
• Unless, there was something else.
• "Come on," He smiled heartily, gently pulling her forward, "You don't want to keep everyone waiting now, do you?"
• She smiled and nodded, tightening her hold around his fingers. They walked out of the house and towards where everyone was gathered, the field was so beautifully decorated she barely recognised it.
• The moment they stepped on the aisle, everyone rose on their feet watching them with smiles and laughter on their face. Her hand was secured in her father's hand as they threaded forward.
• Lucas was standing at the end of the aisle, he looked different from what she was used to. Rather than his normal gear, he dressed formally this time around.
• When they got to the end, her father placed her hand on Lucas' open ones and pressed a kiss on her cheek before stepping away. She frowned as she watched him leave, Lucas' father joining him in the distance.
• What was going on?
• "Now," Haymitch spoke loudly, his voice loud and clear, "We shall begin the mating ceremony," Everyone settled back on their seats.
• Alyssa could've lied and said she was invested in what was going on but her mind was nowhere near there. She was concerned, her father would never leave in the middle of something important.
• Especially at her wedding, he had been raving about the event for months and now that it was here, he was nowhere to be found.
• She wondered if that had anything to do with his weird behaviour earlier.
• "Alyssa!"
• She jerked when she felt someone tap her arm, Lucas observed her keenly,
• "Are you okay?" He whispered so only she could hear.
• Alyssa nodded, forcing a smile on her face, "Yeah, just nervous."
• He grinned, emerald orbs shining, "Me too."
• "The two shall proceed to mark and seal the bond," Haymitch announced, stepping back to give us space.
• We turned towards each other, our hands still entwined. Lucas looked anxious and she could understand, deep down she was too.
• Once they marked themselves, there was no going back. They would be mated for life, till death took them away.
• He squeezed her fingers, "Are you ready?"
• No.
• "Yes," She breathed shakily, closing her eyes, "I'm ready."
• Her neck was bared to him and she could feel as he leaned closer. Alyssa swallowed tightly, sinking her teeth into her bottom lip.
• She truly hoped it didn't hurt as much as Karina and Freya described.
• His mouth was just inches away from her neck when they heard someone scream. She tore away from him, her eyes snapping open as she spun around,
• From a distance, she could see someone running towards them with speed. He was yelling something while he waved his hand above his head,
• The crowd murmured, some of them shifting uncomfortably. Adonis stepped forward, and muttered,
• "What the hell?"
• The closer he got, the clearer his words became and once she was able to decipher it, her heart dropped.
• "The Rogue Wolf and his army are here! Run for your lives!!"
• He kept repeating those words over and over again, the crowd had broken into a frenzy. Everyone was running this way and, chairs flung into the air as mothers picked up their children. Her brothers swung into action, gathering the men in the pack.
• Alyssa stood there, frozen in one spot as she watched the madness. She suddenly felt hands grabbing her shoulders and shaking,
• "Alyssa!" Karina yelled into her face, shaking her frame, "We have to go, now!"
• She snapped out of it, turning towards Lucas and grabbing his wrist. He looked at her, eyes catching hers.
• "You can't go," Alyssa shakily told him, her entire frame trembling, "You can't go too."
• He smiled, she didn't understand how he managed to coax one, and took her face in his hands. His lips pressed against her forehead in a soft kiss,
• "I'll be fine, I promise. Maybe it's a trick."
• She knew it wasn't. Her father knew about it, why he didn't tell anyone made no sense to her. But she didn't say anything.
• He pressed another kiss on her head and stepped away, Alyssa watched him leave, racing towards the village along with her brothers and the other men.
• She just stood still and watched as her entire world was being turned upside down, her heart shattering as she watched them march towards the impending doom.
• "Come on, Alyssa. Let's get to safety."
• The girls pulled her forward urging her to move quickly, she couldn't help but look back one more time. Alyssa truly hoped the moon goddess was looking down on them, else they were all heading towards death.
• "Please be safe," She whispered just before the large doors shut close, sealing them all inside.