three
1760 Words
Feeling beautiful wasn’t exactly something Wrenna was used to. Most days, she barely even felt seen. But right now? As she stared at herself in the mirror, it was like she was looking at a completely different person.
Her lips parted slightly, her fingers brushing over the fabric of the dress. Was this really me? The way the deep wine red color hugged her body, it was perfect. For the first time in forever, she actually looked like someone worthy of being chosen.
Then..
BANG BANG BANG!
“Are you coming out or what?” a voice said from the other side of the door.
Wrenna flinched, her moment of bliss instantly disappearing .
“The carriage is leaving soon, and I am not about to get scolded because you can’t hurry up!” the maid shouted, obviously annoyed. .
Wrenna let out a sigh. It’s fine. Just ignore it. Nothing is ruining tonight.
She gave herself one last look in the mirror, smoothing down the front of her dress before standing tall.
“ Let’s do this.” She said as she stepped out
Unfortunately, her timing couldn’t have been worse.
The moment she stepped into the hallway, she found herself face to face with them.
Astrid and Kaia, they were walking past like royalty. .
Astrid, of course, looked perfect, like she had been created by the Moon Goddess herself. Her golden curls were pinned up elegantly, her makeup was light but beautiful, and her dress? Flawless. It was designed to make her stand out like the future Luna she was so sure she would become.
Wrenna barely had time to prepare herself before she felt Astrid’s eyes on her.
It wasn’t just a glance.
No, it was a full scan. Up. Down. Back up again. The kind of look that made Wrenna’s feel weird because she knew what was coming next.
She forced herself to stand tall, pretending not to notice the judgment coming from her sister.
“I don’t remember choosing that dress for you,” she said. “Did I, Mother?”
Wrenna tensed.
Astrid turned to their mother, who barely spared Wrenna a glance before looking away in disinterest. Of course. No surprise there.
Then Astrid’s eyes went back to Wrenna, filled with suspicion. “Where did you get that dress?” She smirked . “You didn’t steal from me, did you?”
Wrenna barely had time to shake her head before Astrid stepped closer, grabbing her arm with a hold way too tight for comfort.
“You are pathetic,” she hissed, her nails digging into Wrenna’s skin. “Trying to make yourself look pretty, thinking you can compete. It’s almost sad.”
Wrenna bit the inside of her cheek, forcing herself not to flinch.
“The dress is mine, Astrid.” Wrenna said as she pushed her hands off her arm.
“Oh, really? Then explain how you suddenly managed to afford such an expensive gown," Astrid demanded, arms crossed as she eyed Wrenna like she was some common thief caught red-handed.
Wrenna’s throat felt dry as her brain scrambled for a way out. She had known this moment would come, but she hadn’t expected it this soon, or this aggressively.
She could lie. She should lie. But her mind was blank, completely useless at coming up with an excuse that wouldn’t blow up in her face.
Kaia finally interfered, stepped forward and said . “Are you deaf? Speak up, girl,”
Wrenna flinched, her heart pounding.
Okay. This was it. No more hiding. No more sneaking around like she was some dirty little secret. Taking a breath, she blurted out the truth before she could stop herself.
“My lover bought it for me.”
Silence.
And then
Laughter.
Loud humiliating laughter.
Astrid clutched her stomach like Wrenna had just delivered the funniest joke of the century. Kaia pressed a hand to her lips, shaking her head as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
"You have a lover that can afford such a dress?" Astrid gasped between fits of giggles. "Oh, that’s rich."
Kaia’s smile was bitter. "What kind of fantasy is this? Who in their right mind would ever want you?"
“Yes I have a lover” Wrenna admitted, lifting her chin even though her insides felt like jelly. “I do have a lover.”
“Oh, she is delusional,” Astrid said, turning to their mother with an exaggerated pout. “Mother, you don’t actually believe this nonsense, do you? What kind of man would be dumb enough to fall for her?”
Kaia didn’t say anything, but the glare on her face was enough.
And then Astrid, as if deciding she was bored with the conversation, turned to the guards. “Strip that dress off her. I want her in the dress I gave to her. Until she wears that one, she doesn’t leave this house.”
Wrenna barely had time to react before strong hands grabbed her arms making her panic.
“Wait, what are you doing? Stop!” she yelped, struggling with them, but they didn’t care. One of them grabbed at her dress, prepared to rip it off her and completely ruin the night for her.
No. No, no, no.
Not this dress.
Not his dress.
She kicked out, trying to twist her wrist free from their hold, but they were stronger.
And Astrid? gods, Astrid was enjoying this.
She was smiling watching as Wrenna was humiliated in front of everyone like it was her own personal entertainment.
Kaia just stood there, arms crossed, her face cold.
Wrenna squeezed her eyes shut, preparing herself for what was about to happen, when a very deep voice filled with so much authority said
“Enough.”
The guards let go immediately, stepping back as if burned by hot fire.
Wrenna slowly opened her eyes, recognizing the voice that had just given the command when her eyes traveled to her father. He stood at the end of the hall, a disapproving look on his face. “We are already late for the event, there’s no time for whatever nonsense you are doing right now Astrid, and you Kaia, control your daughter”
Astrid opened her mouth and wanted to talk, but she couldn’t. She knew her father was being serious and no one dares to go speak when he is serious like this, not even her mother Kaia. She decided the best thing to do was to keep her mouth shut as she shot glares at Astrid.
“I won’t have the carriage delayed for a moment longer” he mumbled as he walked away.
For a second, just a second wrenna thought maybe he had stepped in because he cared.
Maybe, for once in her life, her father had chosen her. But he never cared about her, he was always cold and treated her like she didn’t exist.
Astrid let out a frustrated sigh. “You always get away with everything,” she muttered before storming off, Kaia following right behind her, just as irritated.
Wrenna fists clenched so tightly her nails bit into her skin.
Because no matter how much she told herself she didn’t care, no matter how much she pretended she was used to this
It still hurt.
Every single time.
She looked down at her dress, running her fingers over it. Thank the gods, it was still intact. No rips, no tears, still perfect for the event. The last thing she needed was to show up looking like she had been dragged through the mud, which, considering how her day was going, wouldn't have been too surprising.
She inhaled, forcing a smile on her face. It was stiff, painfully fake, but whatever. With that, she stepped out of the house and climbed into the waiting carriage.
And of course, she wasn’t alone.
Astrid was in it too, arms folded. She didn’t speak, but she didn’t have to. The air inside the carriage was filled with tension, the kind that made Wrenna’s skin crawl.
She could feel Astrid’s eyes traveling over her. Judging. Hating . Plotting.
Wrenna tried to avoid looking at Astrid by staring out the window, pretending to be interested in nature. Not that she could actually focus on anything outside, because she could feel her sister’s glare stabbing into her soul.
To the world, Wrenna was still the honorable daughter of the councilman. At home? She was nothing more than a servant in fancy clothes. But right now, Wrenna had to act like she belonged.
Unfortunately, the universe hated her.
Halfway through the journey, the carriage broke down.
Of course, it did.
Astrid groaned dramatically, rolling her eyes as if Wrenna had somehow personally sabotaged the wheels. “This is your fault,” she hissed. “You have the worst luck.”
Wrenna exhaled , biting back every possible response that might get her in trouble.
By the time another carriage finally arrived, it was already really late and Astrid was so angry.
As soon as they pulled up to the palace, Wrenna practically jumped out, desperate for space. But Astrid wasn’t done.
“Move out of my way!” Astrid shrieked, shoving Wrenna to the side as she stormed out. “We are late! I have missed half the event because of you! I swear, you bring nothing but bad luck!”
Wench.
Wrenna muttered it under her breath, low enough that Astrid wouldn’t hear. She wasn’t in the mood to get into a full-blown fight right outside the Alpha’s palace.
The moment she lifted her head, the sight of the huge palace eased some of her nervousness .
Finally.
Mark would be inside, waiting for her.
She was beyond excited as she took a step forward and then she froze when she smelt something familiar.
A scent.
That scent.
It hit her so suddenly, so intensely, she nearly stumbled. It was strange but familiar.
She looked around, eyes scanning the crowd, searching for something, someone.
But there was nothing.
No one.
And just as quickly as it came, the scent was gone.
Wrenna gulped , her heart pounding. Was she losing it? Imagining things?
No.
She knew that scent. She knew who it belonged to
It was that man.
The one she had seen that night. The most beautiful man she had ever seen. A man so otherworldly she wasn’t even sure if he was real.
And yet, why did she suddenly smell him?
Why did it feel like he had just been here?
- Writer
