Chapter 42: Pre-wedding nerves

"Is Dorian back?" Alyssa asked for the umpteenth time.

She stood beside the window, watching as shifters moved about in preparation for the wedding, hauling coolers of food and drinks into the back of a waiting truck.

The ceremony would take place in the Astral Dome, a sanctuary on the other side of the territory where most of the ceremonies of the Northern pack were held.

The time was past 4 PM and Dorian still hadn’t returned.

Pandora looked up from the vanity where she was laying out the cosmetics she would use for Alyssa’s face.

"Not yet, but I’m sure there’s a reason why he isn’t."

She lowered a powder brush and moved to stand beside Alyssa, placing one hand around her shoulder. "You look pale," she said softly.

Alyssa sighed and looked away. "I just have this feeling," she said. "Maybe it’s pre-wedding nerves, but I can’t shake the feeling that something happened."

She turned and stared at Pandora. "Back in the ancestral hall, remember that strong gust of wind that came out of nowhere?"

Pandora nodded. "Yeah. What about it?"

"I don’t know, but I think it was an omen," Alyssa murmured.

"An omen?" Pandora frowned. "I don’t think so, Alyssa. I thought it was a sign that the ancestors accepted you."

Alyssa sighed again and lowered her eyes. "Maybe I’m letting my past trauma influence my thoughts, but there’s this nagging feeling I have that something happened to Dorian."

"Hey, hey, it’s okay," Pandora smiled warmly at her, pulling her into a warm embrace. "Nothing can happen to Dorian. There is no force on this earth that can stop my brother. I know it."

Alyssa leaned into the comforting embrace and shut her eyes, willing herself to calm down.

"Dorian is fine, okay? I’m sure he just got held up at the Western pack. I’ll ask Anthony to try his cell again. Maybe it’ll connect this time."

Alyssa pulled back and smiled. "Thank you."

"Why don’t I get you some tea to calm your nerves. Or some apple juice."

"I’ll take the apple juice," Alyssa nodded.

"Alright. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Don’t open the door to anyone else."

"Okay."

Smiling reassuringly, Pandora quietly left the room. Outside in the hallway, the fear she had expertly hidden finally took over her expression.

She had concealed her worry under a smile, not wanting Alyssa to get more anxious than she already was. But truly, she was worried about Dorian.

She turned to André who was standing across the bedroom, leaning against the wall.

"No one is allowed to enter, André."

"Got it," André nodded, and Pandora finally walked away.

The mansion was a beehive of activities. Everyone scrambled around, going over the last of the preparations before heading towards the Astral Dome.

She spotted Anthony in the library, laying out instructions to the six guards surrounding him. When he noticed her, he rounded up his speech and hurried to her side.

"Any news from Dorian?" she asked, her heart skipping a quick beat as his hands suddenly slipped around her waist.

"I was able to get through to Jake," Anthony said seriously, his face set in a worried frown. "They’re on their way back, him and Dorian."

"Oh, thank the goddess," Pandora sighed visibly. "Is Dorian okay? Alyssa is beside herself with worry."

Anthony almost didn’t want to tell her about the accident, but he had never been good at keeping things from her.

"He’s fine, but something happened. Apparently, he was in an accident. Someone tried to kill him."

"Oh no," Pandora exclaimed, her hands flying to her mouth. "Who? What happened?"

"I don’t know all the details yet," Anthony said. "But Dorian is fine. He didn’t sustain a single scratch. You can’t tell Alyssa. It will only make her worried."

"Of course I won’t," Pandora shook her head. "The sweet girl has her nerves stretched thin already. She was right about her intuition."

Anthony frowned down at her. "What intuition?"

"She had a feeling that something bad had happened to Dorian. I calmed her as best as I could, but it’s just so shocking to realize she was right. How did she know?"

Anthony went silent for a moment, his brows knitting into a deep frown. "I don’t know. She’s obviously more connected to Dorian than we know. Remember we still don’t know much about her."

"Yeah, I know that," Pandora leaned her head against his shoulder and sighed. "I’m just glad Dorian is okay. How far away are they?"

"A few minutes. They should be getting here any time soon." He paused and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "Are you okay?"

"I am now," she smiled, pleased with the concern in his voice. "I was just going to get a glass of juice for Alyssa to calm her nerves."

​"You should get one too," Anthony chuckled. "Looks like you need it."

Pandora rolled her eyes and pushed out of his arms. "Don’t get on my nerves today, Anthony. I would love for tonight to pass without bickering with you."

"You know you love our bickering," Anthony laughed, playfully tugging at her hair. "You look forward to it."

A playful retort was already on the tip of Pandora’s tongue when the roar of a car cut through the air. She hurried out the door, a wave of relief instantly washing over her the moment she saw her brother.

"Dorian," she gasped. "What happened? Everyone was worried."

​"Where is Alyssa?" Dorian demanded as he hurried up the steps, giving her a quick, reassuring hug.

​"She’s up in the bedroom. She refused to get ready until she was sure you were back and safe."

"Did she perform the rites and sacrifice?"

Pandora nodded. "Yes. All that is left is to get her dressed and driven to the Dome."

"Alright." Dorian turned to Anthony. "Anton, meet up with Jake. There’s something you need to do for him."

"Got it. And Dorian, are you okay?"

"It’s my wedding day," Dorian said, flashing a charming, devilish smile. "Of course I’m okay. I just need to see my bride."

He walked away then, hurrying up the stairs to meet Alyssa. After he left, Pandora and Anthony exchanged surprised glances.

"Did he really just smile at us?" Pandora wondered.

​"He sure did," Anthony chuckled. "I thought it was bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding."

Pandora snorted in response. "Try telling him that," she said and headed in the direction of the kitchen.

Meanwhile, up in the bedroom, Alyssa couldn’t sit still anymore. The feeling of foreboding was gone, but she just couldn’t calm herself.

She started to move towards the door when it opened and Dorian entered. His eyes met hers across the room, instantly softening with relief.

"Dorian," Alyssa gasped. She crossed the room before she even thought of it, throwing herself into his outstretched arms.

Dorian held her tightly like she was a lifeline, his mouth already finding hers. He kissed her with the desperate relief of someone who had just escaped the cold clutches of death.

​His hand slipped into her hair, threading among the soft locks as he angled her head and deepened the kiss. He didn’t realize just how much he missed her until he had a close shave with death.

"My love," he whispered against her lips, dropping fervent kisses around her face and neck. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," Alyssa shut her eyes, her heart finally settling as she melted into his warm embrace. She clutched the front of his shirt, holding on tightly as if she feared he would disappear.

When he finally pulled back, her gaze trailed over him. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

​"I’m fine, little lamb," Dorian assured her. "I’m sorry I stayed so late. I didn’t mean to make you worry."

He kissed her again, his lips lingering for the longest second before he released her. "Pandora told me you wouldn’t get ready."

"I had to see you," Alyssa sighed. "I just had to."

"I’m here now," he held her close, pressing a kiss to her hair. "Will you get ready now? Our wedding is in a few hours."

She nodded, a soft smile curling her lips. Pandora returned with the glass of juice and literally shoved Dorian out the door.

​"She needs to get ready. And you should too. See you at the Dome." Grinning smugly, she slammed the door in his face.

Alyssa laughed as she took a sip of her juice. "Aren’t you scared he might get angry?"

​"He won’t. Dorian is no longer the dark, stormy cloud just waiting to erupt. You’ve changed him, Alyssa."

The two women exchanged soft smiles, then Pandora instantly got down to business as Agatha and Sophie entered the room.

"Right. Now let’s turn you into a beautiful bride."

But beneath the joy and the thrill of the upcoming ceremony, an intoxicating tension hummed in the air; Alyssa was about to walk into a new phase of her life, a phase that was certainly ridden with unseen dangers and challenges.