Chapter 26: Chapter 26

Elara

‘I’ll fucking kill him,’ Khai roars through the mind link. He knows I don’t want my parents to know I’m in pain. That’s why he didn’t speak louder. His wolf is going crazy right now. I grip his hand painfully.

‘Um, Mom, Dad. I should leave. I forgot I had one last fitting with Stan at LaCroix fashion house,’ I tell them.

‘Elara, you hardly touch your food these days. No, stay and finish eating while I watch you,’ Mom gives me a stern look. I frown.

‘Mama,’ I say sweetly, as I did when I was a child, ‘ I ate plenty, please. I can’t wait to wear my wedding dress,’ I force a smile through the pain. It’s all she needs to let me go.

‘I’ll drive her,’ Khai says. We stand up and quickly leave before they notice something is wrong. I fall to the ground once I’m out of sight of my family, and my brother carries me in his arms.

‘I’ll fucking rip him apart,’ he growls.

‘If I don’t kill him first,’ I grit as pain ripples through my whole body. We reach my bedroom, and he places me on the bed.

‘Connor is hiding so well. I’ve been working with Zuriel, and I still can’t find him,’ he says, pacing the room. The pain was subsiding.

‘Zuriel is looking for him too?’ I ask, surprised, and he nods.

‘Seriously. Connor is not surviving this year,’ he smirks.

‘Zuriel,’ Ara breathes. She was so enchanted by him.

The pain completely dies down, and I smile faintly, feeling relief. I hop out of bed and step towards my brother.

‘What’s been in your panties lately?’ I ask. He runs a hand through his thick hair and lets out a sigh.

‘My wolf is yearning for his mate,’ he tells me. I frown. My brother just turned 21 years old. It is the time wolves crave their mate’s presence. Most alphas will find their mates at 18 years old, but not the men in my family. My father found my mate when he was 30 years old.

‘You will find her soon,’ I say, hugging him. Khai deserves to be happy with his mate, not that insufferable girlfriend of his, Izzy.

‘But what if I don’t? Ela, I think it’s my one fear,’ he confesses.

‘I promise you’ll find her,’ I assure him. I know it in my heart.

He sighs and pulls away. He cradles my cheek, and I smile.

‘Elara, are you happy about your marriage with Zuriel?’ I swallow and contemplate before answering. My brother is looking at me with sincere eyes that want to know my heart.

‘I would be happier if Zuriel is happy too. But I know he isn’t, so I’m not too ecstatic,’

‘I’m sorry to hear that because I know how much you love him, but if he doesn’t feel the same about you, maybe you shouldn’t go through with you. You will be unhappy and unsatisfied if it’s one-sided love,’

‘I know. I gained courage and told him to back out, and I’ll take the blame,’

‘And?’

‘He hasn’t confirmed anything with me,’

‘Zuriel is a complex man. He has a troubled past,’ he sighs. That makes me curious.

What has he been through?

‘What has he been through?’ I ask gently. I knew there was something about Zuriel Crawford that they were hiding.

‘It’s not my story, but Zuriel has been struggling. If you choose to be by his side, don’t expect it to be easy or that he will fall in love with you quickly,’

I know my brother won’t tell me anything else. I can only sigh and nod. I lie back on the bed. Tomorrow is my wedding day… If he doesn’t back out before midnight.

The day was eventful. I spent it with my friends as they insisted we celebrate my last day being a single woman. My heart was still uneasy though, so I left the party early and went to my room. I took a shower and lay in bed… Waiting.

It is a minute to midnight when I receive a text from Zuriel. I slowly open it, and it reads,

{Tomorrow, you will be Mrs. Crawford } That’s all his text says. I inhale, a sigh of relief leaving my lips after the message. I respond okay, but erase it and put my phone away.

Mrs. Elara Crawford.

‘Oh, Princess, you are such a beautiful bride!’ Solena cries. I smile at her in thanks. She is busy taking pictures as stylists dress me. My wedding dress is stunning, and it fits just right. It is an off-shoulder dress with a tail.

Even though I didn’t show it, I was nervous. After today, I will be Princess Elara S. Crawford. The wedding is taking place at the grandmother’s luxurious villa.

‘Have you spoken to the groom yet?’ Sol asks, looking around to see if someone is eavesdropping.

‘No,’ I whisper. She frowns. Oh, no, she’s hiding something. What is she hiding from me?

‘Give me your phone,’ I demand. She shakes her head and hides her phone from me.

‘Sol,’ I warn.

‘Fine, someone saw your groom at a restaurant last night with a woman,’

I grab the phone from her hand and scroll on the newsfeed. It’s a picture of Zuriel and River. They are standing close to each other, and the other picture shows them eating at a restaurant.

‘When was this taken?’ I ask.

‘Last night,’ she replies. I glare at her. I now know why I lost my phone last night when we went out for a little celebration. Sol took it to prevent me from seeing this.

‘Why was he having dinner with his ex? Ela, this girl will be bad news for your relationship,’

River has been through shit and survived. She came back only to find the man she loved was about to get married to another.

‘I’m sure Zuriel was just trying to make her feel better because he’s getting married,’ I tell her, dismissing the issue, but my heart remains unsettled.

I stare at the mirror, unable to hide the faint smile on my face. I am marrying Zuriel. I have indescribable joy in my heart.

My mother walks into the dressing room with a smile, ‘Are you ready, Elara?’