Chapter 19: 19: Unceremonious

ARIEL

The night of Helena and Dom’s mating ceremony has arrived.

Most couples plan their ceremony for several months at least, but Dom and Helena couldn’t wait to officially begin their life together.

It’s only been two weeks since they met at the mating weekend, but being the beta of the Royal Pack has its perks, and a beautiful affair was arranged quickly.

Sitting in the second row of the chapel—the very chapel where Alex and I performed my acceptance ritual the first night I arrived back at the Royal Pack—I feel out of place sitting alone between the mated couples around me, even if they ~are~ my friends.

Alex walks out in front of the Moon Goddess altar, Dom by his side, taking their place underneath the moon roof.

Alex scans the crowd, catching my eye, but I quickly look down.

Soon the music changes and the doors at the back of the chapel open to reveal Helena, looking like an ethereal flower child in her white bohemian ceremony gown.

We all take our cue to stand and Dom smiles from ear to ear as Helena walks on her father’s arm up to the altar.

Helena and Dom turn to Alex as he begins to recite the ancient text in his hand.

As the ceremony continues, my gaze wanders around the room and I catch sight of Lola sitting across the aisle.

A lump forms in my throat.

My mind wanders to the night of my acceptance ceremony when Alex and I had stood in exactly the same spots that Dom and Helena occupy now.

I look down at the palm of my hand where the scar from the ceremonial blade should have been.

Had the cut not healed completely overnight?

Looking back up, I see Alex placing crowns on the now kneeling couple’s heads.

“Royal Pack members and guests,” Alex proclaims, “I present to you Beta Prince Dominic Greene and Beta Princess Helena Greene.”

The crowd cheers and the officially mated couple rises and shares a sweet kiss before walking back down the aisle, showered in flower petals as they go.

***

I stare down at the table, sipping my second glass of champagne as Val discusses her own upcoming mating ceremony, with Amy.

I catch bits and pieces of the conversation but my mind is weighted down by thoughts of Alex. We’ve barely spoken two words to each other in weeks.

“No,” Amy says, “this was beautiful, but my taste is a little less...”

“Traditional,” Val pipes in.

“Exactly!”

I briefly think of the ceremony I might have shared with Xavier had I not had the past two years of my life stolen.

I wonder what my sister’s dress looked like when she bound herself to my destined mate.

Val is talking about how she’s doing a small, sleek affair on her alpha’s family’s yacht and Amy swipes back and forth on her phone between designer ceremony dresses.

I can’t take this.

I finish off my champagne in one gulp and stand without excusing myself to go back to the bar for a refill.

I doubt Val and Amy notice I’ve left the table as engaged as they are in their ceremony talk.

At this point, I’ve changed out of my heels and into my favorite combat boots, which look particularly badass with my plum-colored midi dress.

Stomping my way across the palace ballroom, I spot the newly mated couple and figure I should give the official congratulations before my third glass.

Walking up, with a sad smile, empty champagne flute in hand, Dom meets my eyes.

“Ari!” He puts his arms around me in a big hug.

“Congratulations, Dom.” I give him a bro-pat on the back. “I’m so happy for you.”

“I was worried I was gonna barf up there!” he says, laughing. “I could barely hear what Alex was saying.”

“You did great, Dom.” Helena plants a loving kiss on his cheek and then brings me in for a hug.

“Helena, this was ~the~ most beautiful ceremony.”

I try to be as pleasant as possible. It’s their big day and there’s no room for my self-pity to bring people down.

“If Dom starts driving you nuts,” I say, “let me know and I’ll help kick him into gear.”

“I’m just looking forward to finally relaxing,” Helena says, smiling.

They start chatting about their honeymoon, which they’re leaving for in the morning.

A couple of Helena’s friends from back home pop into the conversation, asking about where they’re going.

I’m half listening as I eye the bar, assessing my opportunity to step out of the circle.

I see a flash of Lola’s bright blue dress out of the corner of my eye. I look over and immediately start honing in on the conversation she’s having.

With Maria.

“I’m so grateful that you invited me,” Lola says.

“Of course, dear!” Maria exclaims, “Alex seems so alive when you’re around.”

It takes physical restraint not to roll my eyes at Maria’s comment.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if I saw you walking down that aisle soon, too,” she says.

“Do you really think so?” Lola begins twirling her hair around her finger.

“Absolutely! If there’s anyone who could catch him, it’s you,” Maria says. “Alex just needs a little...convincing.”

I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut. These two aren’t wasting any time.

A sickening feeling begins to take over my body.

And something else. An overwhelming sense of dread encompasses me as the words of Selene echo through my mind.

~Protect Alex...~

I’m beginning to feel uneasy about Lola’s presence here. I’m not sure what it is. I still just can’t put my finger on it, but something feels...off.

***

I’m on my fourth glass of champagne at this point and I’m standing in the corner on my own. I gaze out over the crowd and lock eyes with the one person I least want to speak to.

Lola walks in my direction confidently. I scan the area for an exit but there’s no time for me to make a beeline for it.

Before I can move, she’s in front of me with a big, fake smile on her face.

“Hey Ariel,” she says. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

~Kill me now.~

“What’s up?” I try to fake pleasantness, taking a gulp of my current best friend, alcohol.

“I know we didn’t exactly start out on the best of terms. With the sudden way Alex and I met and all,” she says.

I didn’t realize until now how much her high-pitched voice grated on my nerves.

I don’t comment. Standing up straight, almost in a warrior stance, I bore into her with my eyes, never letting my gaze fall.

“I know you’re his...friend,” she continues with condescension in her tone, “and I don’t want to stand in the way of ~any~ of his friendships.”

“Does he know you and his mother are planning the rest of his life without him?”

Her gaze darkens and a flash of anger comes over her face before she has a chance to hide it.

“Look,” she says, venom rising in her tone. “Alex has found someone and he’s happy. You need to deal with that. You may feel let down that it isn’t you—”

“Watch it, blondie,” I warn.

“You’ve known him longer than I have.” There’s almost a singsong quality to her voice now.

“If he were interested in you,” she says, “he wouldn’t have come to me. Now you can continue to be friends with him and accept that I’m in his life...”

A devious smile spreads across her face. “Or you can see what happens when I get pissed off.”

“Is that a threat?” I really don’t like this bitch.

“It’s an opportunity,” she says tauntingly. “See how strong your friendship is when I tell him how badly you treat me.”

“I’ve spoken, like, twelve words to you since I met you!”

I try to keep my tone even, but the alcohol likely isn’t helping with that.

“He doesn’t know that,” she says. I want to slap that fake smile off her face. “How do you think he’ll take it when I tell him you threatened me to stay away so you could have him all to yourself?”

“You don’t give a damn about him, do you?” I say, realizing the words as I say them. “Is this all some sort of game to you?”

“No,” she says. “Not a game at all. I take this very, ~very~ seriously.”

She leans in close enough so that only I can hear what she’s about to say next.

“So don’t get in my way unless you want to be banished from ~this~ pack, too.”

ALEX

The reception has been going for over an hour when I finally step into the ballroom.

I told Dom I had some things to take care of, but he probably knew my real reasons for taking a breather after the ceremony.

I couldn’t get my own mating ceremony with Olivia out of my mind the entire time I was at the altar. I just needed some time to decompress before I plunged back into the crowd.

I scan the room as I enter and my eyes immediately go to the petite figure with a mess of tangled brown hair and combat boots at the bar.

I swallow hard as I make my way over to Ariel from across the room.

I can’t remember the last time she spoke to me.

“Hey,” I say awkwardly, picking up a glass of champagne.

“Hi,” Ariel says coolly as she keeps her sunflower eyes forward.

“I never congratulated you...on passing your warrior exam.”

She doesn’t say anything. Just nods her head a little.

“Congratulations...on that,” I mutter stupidly.

There’s more I want to say. So much more, but between my inability to stop thinking about Olivia and dealing with the rogue issues...I don’t even know where to start.

“Thanks,” is all she says as she finishes her drink. She wobbles a little as she steps away from the bar.

“Ari,” I begin, catching her bare shoulder with my hand.

She freezes and looks into my eyes.

“I—” I’m interrupted.

“Alex!” I hear my mother’s voice. “I was wondering when you would grace us with your presence!”

“Sorry Mom, I just had some—”

She doesn’t let me finish. “I have some exciting news, dear,” my mother continues.

Ariel looks down and begins to walk away.

“Ariel,” my mother says, “stay, please. This concerns you, too.”

Ariel stops in her tracks and silently looks down.

“I’ve invited Lola to stay for another week,” my mother says, smiling. “And I can’t think of anyone more qualified to guard her.” She looks at Ariel, who looks up, seemingly shocked.

“Ariel,” she continues, “I know I can count on you to keep our special guest safe.”