Mel went to bed early that evening, not just exhausted from the trip, but disrupted by an entirely new feeling. She never saw Bjorn again for the rest of that evening, but she could clearly recall the shivers that ravaged her whole being at the sound of his voice. A light shiver coursed every surface of her skin and she tightened the covers around her. The fur of the bed covers did little to nothing to alleviate the strange sensation. She could remember the silken white strands of his hair, cut short at the nape of his neck. They hadn't seemed that impressive until he had stood before her. The way his eyes studied her made her giddy. The memory of his deep, rich voice enveloped her with a vague warmth. Her heart ached. She had maybe expected her future husband to be fair-looking, but not this… Mel sat upright, unable to sleep from her burning cheeks. What was wrong with her? She had to get a hold of herself! She slapped her hands to her cheeks and winced at the stinging pain in b

From that very moment, Mel’s calm morning spiralled into a pit of bottomless excitement, with Lori taking the lead. Eustace had sent Lori to take Mel around the vicinity of Grime. While Eustace had made sure Mel got acquainted with Bjorn’s house, the old mother-in-law didn’t have the strength to take Mel around the settlement.Despite Mel’s attempts of disguising herself, blending in into the simple streets had turned out to be futile. She had the stature of a young teenager in Grime, but the fact that Lori was taking her around the streets didn’t go unnoticed by the residents of the large settlement. And those who had seen her arrive at the shop earlier with Eustace could already tell what the young woman looked like.“Don’t worry, no one will disturb you,” Lori comforted Mel, taking hold of her hand and guiding her out of the markets and into a more secluded street. Mel tried her best not to wobble, her legs weak from walking here and there. Soft pants exited her mouth and beads of s

Mel’s tears from the previous day had held a strange effect on her. She had woken up the following morning with an odd feeling. Her previously heavy heart was now light as if she had expelled all the negative energy along with her tears the day before. The calmness she had woken up to washed over her like heavy rolls of a warm fog.She got up from bed, the relaxation giving way to a firm resolution. She wasn’t just a pitiful woman. She was a noble of Sprite, and if she was to right a wrong done by her father, she had to do it with dignity. Mel stared into space with mixed feelings. She couldn’t bring herself to hate her father. She didn’t even know how to feel. But one thing she knew was that Bjorn would not have asked for this either, but he must have followed through whether he wanted it or not. The least she could do was reciprocate that dedication.Eustace, Annie, Lori, and even the other helpers, noticed Mel’s subtle change. Amidst the knowledge Eustace imparted to Mel about the

Mel stood still as the helpers dressed her up, but her mind wandered. Eustace had worn an unreadable expression after Mel’s words that morning and the woman had just left. She did say Mel didn’t have to worry about anything before leaving. She had eaten shortly after that and had been told to rest a few hours before Eustace came back to explain the remaining schedule for that day.Anticipation and excitement had set in Mel’s heart like a rooted seed the moment Eustace mentioned the wedding ceremony would take place underground. She would finally step foot down there. But something within her hesitated. The fact that she would be going underground for the ceremony—a sacred place for the werebears—meant that the moment she set foot down there, the deal was already done. There would be no going back.She was doing this. She was really doing this…Mel closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. She looked into the standing mirror and faltered, her breath hitching. The dress had looked comp

The iciness of the drink surprised Mel, but it was a pleasant surprise, one so good that she finished everything in the bowl down to the last drop. The sweet taste lingered at the back of her tongue as she lowered the bowl, freezing to take in the wide-eyed gazes of Bjorn and the young girl. The old man’s mouth hung open.She stared back at them, her pulse beginning to race. Had she done something wrong? Eustace had told Mel the overseer would instruct her as to what to do during the ceremony and she and Bjorn had been told to drink, and drink she did.Bjorn’s sigh broke the stagnant silence and he downed the rest of his drink. Mel’s lips broke out into a sheepish smile and she returned the bowl to the platform. His fingers graced her chin and he pulled, guiding it to face him. The light touch made her flinch. She could feel the blood pumping through her veins as his lips touched hers gently, A prickly wave of pleasure washed down her neck as the slight touch shifted to a gentle pres