Third person POV
The morning broke with a softness that seemed almost intentional, as though nature itself had decided to grant the day a blessing. The air carried the delicate scent of blooming gardenias from the vast gardens surrounding the wedding venue, their fragrance mingling with the crisp freshness of dawn. At the far edge of the property, the grand hall stood in quiet anticipation. Its towering glass-paneled doors reflected the pale morning light, while the stone steps leading up to the entrance had been freshly washed, still damp with beads of water glistening under the rising sun. Rows of white lilies, roses, and wisteria adorned the path leading to the main entrance, forming a floral walkway so breathtaking it seemed to have been woven straight from a dream. Inside, preparations were already well underway. Servants moved with quick but quiet steps, their hands filled with satin ribbons, polished silver trays, and small vases fLisa's POVI stood before the mirror, smoothing down the uniform Calla had given me. The fabric clung neatly against my body, plain yet clean. For a moment, I just stared at my reflection, tilting my head slightly to the side. My brown eyes were tired from the lack of sleep, but I forced them to glisten. My lips tugged upward until a bright smile broke across my face.“You’ll be fine,” I whispered to myself. “Just smile. Just… keep smiling.”The sound of the horn blowing outside shook me out of my thoughts. My heart skipped. That was the signal. Guests were arriving. I pressed my hands over my uniform, inhaled deeply, and rushed out of the maid’s quarter.The courtyard buzzed with life. The strong scent of freshly cut grass mixed with the faint aroma of roasted meat coming from the kitchen halls. The other maids moved swiftly, arranging themselves. I joined them, my practiced smile in place.“Remember, Lisa,” Calla’s voice whispered as I
Bryan's POVI stood in front of my father’s desk, arms crossed behind me, trying to ignore the weight of his steady gaze. He never had to raise his voice; the silence alone could crush a man if it stretched long enough. And right now, the silence was eating me alive.“You’ve gone through the reports?” my father finally asked, his tone flat, measured.“Yes, Father,” I replied, my voice even though my palms were damp.“And what do you think?”I paused. He hated hesitation, but the truth was, nothing ever seemed enough when it came to him. I straightened my shoulders and answered, “The celebration is a good cover. Most will think it’s about tradition, but it gives us an opening to press for the deal.”His lips twitched, the faintest hint of approval, though he would never give me the satisfaction of a smile. “Good. At least you’re not as stupid as most of the pups running around the packs these days. But listen to me carefully, Brya
Lisa's POVI jolted awake to the shrill sound of the alarm, its piercing ring slicing through the quiet of my small room. My hand fumbled across the wooden nightstand until I found the clock, shutting it off with a groggy sigh. The morning had arrived too soon, and my bones ached with the exhaustion of yesterday’s endless chores. But today wasn’t just any day—it was the day the celebration truly began, and I knew every servant in the estate would be expected to move faster, work harder, and appear more flawless than ever before.I pushed myself upright, rubbing my eyes before swinging my legs over the edge of the bed. The wooden floor was cold beneath my feet, sending a shiver up my spine. No time to linger. I needed to move. With practiced swiftness, I pulled on a fresh set of clothes, washed my face, and tied my hair back into a neat braid. By the time I looked into the mirror, I already looked like a maid ready to serve, though there was still that tired shadow
Alpha Enzo's POV I woke up before dawn, long before the first streaks of pale light touched the curtains of my chamber. Sleep had abandoned me the moment I closed my eyes, leaving me restless, haunted, and more agitated than usual. My wolf was restless too, pacing and growling deep in my chest. The more I tried to ignore it, the louder it became, until I finally gave in and pushed myself off the bed. A quick shower didn’t do much to cool the fire crawling under my skin, but at least it cleared my head enough to move. I dressed, not in the ceremonial clothing set aside for the celebration later today, but in plain black trousers and a loose shirt. Something easy to move in. Something I could fight in. I wasn’t going to sit still and let my thoughts devour me. Not today. My legs carried me down the silent hallway almost on instinct, to a door I knew all too well. I raised my hand and knocked twice, sharp and deliberate.
Lisa's POV I adjusted the hem of my dress for what felt like the hundredth time as I walked along the long hall with Kael. The entire estate was bustling with people getting the final touches done for the annual pack celebration. Servants ran about, decorators hung the last of the drapes, and the kitchen was full of frantic movement. It looked perfect to me already, but Kael wasn’t satisfied until every last detail was locked into place. “Check the list again,” he said, his eyes sharp as ever as he flipped through the papers in his hand. “I’ve checked it three times already,” I muttered, brushing hair from my face. “The lighting is done, the tables are set, the decorations are in place, the musicians confirmed their arrival. Everything is in order.” He hummed, unconvinced. That was Kael for you—perfectionist to the bone. I rolled my eyes slightly but didn’t let him catch it. We walked out into the open courty
Bryan's POV I slammed the door behind me as I entered the room I shared with Irene, my chest tight with the frustration I’d been bottling up since the council session ended. My fingers itched, and my jaw clenched so hard I could feel the veins pulsing in my temples. She walked in a moment later, her perfume drifting into the space like she owned it, her heels clicking against the polished floor. She didn’t say anything at first, just tossed her hair behind her shoulder with that smug little smile I was starting to despise. I turned on her before she could even settle down. “I know what you’re doing,” I said sharply, my voice low but thick with anger. Her brows arched like she was surprised, but the corners of her lips twitched as though she’d been expecting me to finally snap. “What do you mean, Bryan?” she asked, her tone dripping with feigned innocence. I took a step toward her, eyes narrowin