SERAPHINA'S POV
I count the hours until the next day arrives, and the sun sets for the evening-the time when everything goes down.
It was an impromptu shift from a wedding to a mating ritual, but the preparations made beforehand remain, only simply changing the title of the occasion to a Nova Mating Ball.
Everyone will still be there to watch me walk down an aisle and officially bond myself to the future king of their pack, despite a few disapprovals.
The Nova Mating Ball itself is something that hasn't occurred in recent times, popularly practiced in earlier generations where two wolves would make their bonding known to the world officially, swearing to be with each other.
It's like a wedding in many ways, only the titles of "man and wife" aren't used, and with modernization, it became obsolete.
The reason for it, instead of an actual wedding, is Silvan's desire to discard me when I'm done being useful, so someone else more worthy for the position of an actual wife and Luna can easily fill in the spot when I leave.
I stare at the ceiling, my only companion all day, dreading the moment it will come, absorbed in my own loneliness.
I always imagined if I ever got married, it would be something small, with only family and close friends, and I'd be happy wearing a white cotton dress with the man I loved.
Today is everything but what I imagined.
The ceremony is expected to be big, bold, excessively lavish, without any of my ideas incorporated, all a sham to show off his new toy to the world-a puppet to do his bidding.
None of my friends are here to cheer me on or make this bearable. The only thing I have is Artemis, and I still don't know how I feel about being forced into all of this.
Once the sun sets, maids designated to help me prepare file into my room in a pre-choreographed manner, bowing with their respectful greetings before the preparations begin.
I spend hours soaking in baths, skin prepping before sliding into the gorgeous traditional robe prepared for me-red and gold fabric with beautiful intricate designs woven into a dress too pretty to be mine.
By the time they're done, I look nothing like myself, or like I've ever looked, with makeup. It's a complete transformation, and yet... yet I can't make a face of excitement.
They leave just as they came, and I'm left alone to stare at myself for minutes, at this unrecognizable girl, a hollow version of herself in the mirror.
I hate that I can't bring myself to smile and that Silvan has taken the joy out of this for me. I hate that there's nothing that can be done.
A knock on the door disrupts my thoughts again, and I turn towards it.
My initial guess is that a maid must have left something behind and has returned to retrieve it, or perhaps it's time.
I pull the door open, ready for whoever it is at the door, but I'm completely shocked by the person standing in front of me-the last possible person I'd ever expect to be here.
I gasp, clasping my hand over my lips as warm tears gather in my eyes against my will.
"Miss Lucy?"
A warm smile spreads across her face as she opens her arms wide for a hug.
"Hello, dear child."
I throw myself into her, wrapping my hands around her as tight as I can in a hug that I desperately needed more than anything.
Her unexpected appearance pulls emotions I've spent hours securing right through me, and I'm a crying mess before I can realize it-reverting back to the little girl that would hurt herself and run back to the orphanage for Miss Lucy to dress her wounds.
The familiar scent of her spice perfume brings back a flood of childhood memories as well. She chuckles lightly, patting on the back of my head, not expecting the love.
Still, I can sense just how much she appreciates it, how much she wants to be hugged.
We stay like this for a while until I can control myself and pull away, rubbing at my leaking eyes. Now that all that is out of the way, I can start asking questions.
"What are you doing here?" I ask, stepping aside for her to walk in and closing the door.
I watch her gasp at the large room I've been staying in, admiring the wall and the details on every piece of furniture. She finally settles on the bed, looking at me with a warm smile.
"Honestly, I'm not entirely sure," she begins. "Just yesterday, I received a mail from His Majesty inviting me for a Nova Mating Ball. I was surprised at first, but then I was even more surprised when I saw your name and the crown prince's written in there." She looks at me with a raised brow.
I lower my head with guilt, hating how she found out about it like this. I can't bring myself to meet her eyes directly anymore.
"And attached to it was this unnecessarily large donation. So many zeros, more than I've ever seen in my entire life," she exclaims, describing her surprise.
I chuckle at her reaction to it, guessing that it would be anyone's reaction to receiving an invitation and a large sum of donation all of a sudden.
I'm also grateful that she doesn't seem livid with me or staring at me with crazy eyes at the fact that it's all so sudden.
The Alpha King has kept his part of the bargain, it seems, a silent reminder that I must meet mine today, unfailingly.
"So... you're getting paired with the King's son today," she says it too casually.
"Yeah. Apparently, he's my mate or whatever," I laugh nervously, forcing a smile.
She tilts her head to the side, watching me.
"You don't seem happy, though. Do you not like this boy?"
"No... no, in fact, I really like him a lot," I look up to her again, barely able to hold back the liquid gathering in my eyes anymore.
She sees through my walls and my false bravery instantly.
"Come here." She pats on the space right next to her, and I do just that-resting my head on her shoulder while her arm wraps around me like she used to in times when I was depressed back home.
It doesn't take too long for my walls to crumble after the seconds of silence that pass between us, while she comforts me without words-giving me the space I need to say what needs to be said.
And I do just that.
I pour my heart out, telling her everything, leaving out my heritage and the prophecy, focusing only on Artemis and me.
All through it, she listens silently without making a sound, and once I'm done, she lets out a dragged sigh.
"Truth be told, the world and customs of us wolves are never easy on any of us, much more a young human child," her fingers move to my chin, raising my head to look at her. "And for you to be mated to someone like him from a complicated family won't be so easy as well. Though, I'm sure the moon goddess knows what she's doing."
"I'm not," I respond, pulling away.
I avoid her eyes again, lest she see every other thing I'm desperately trying to hide from her in the process.
"There's so much standing between us, much more than I can say, and I'm starting to think it's best if we should be apart. But then this whole ceremony and the king's plan, I don't know anymore. I feel lost and hopeless. I feel weak. I don't want any of this." I spiral with emotions-anger, sadness, frustration-with so much that keeps hitting all at once without a moment's rest.
"Sweetheart, look at me," she says softly, placing her hand on mine resting on my lap.
I reluctantly face her again, looking into her loving big brown eyes.
"There's no use crying over spilled milk, or trying to fight what already is. You love this boy, don't you?"
I nod slowly.
"And from your description, though he's a bit rough around the edges, he'd do anything for you too."
Yes, he would. I know that in my heart.
I nod, and her face turns serious, grabbing my hand in hers more fiercely.
"Then fight for that." Her eyes scream at me with determination, and I'm taken aback by her response.
"But I-"
"But nothing," she cuts me off. "There might be forces planning to hurt him or you if you stay together, but it's better fighting against each of them rather than being on your own and facing it by yourself," Miss Lucy says, her gaze unwavering and filled with conviction.
"Sera, you and Artemis are meant to be together. True love is a force stronger than a million armies, greater than thousands of adversaries, and deeper than any other emotion." She leans in, emphasizing each word with a gentle but firm touch.
"You need to understand that your strength lies not only in yourself but in each other. Together, you form a formidable team that can overcome any obstacle. Fighting against the world may seem daunting, but fighting against it with the person you love by your side is a different story. It's a story of resilience, of triumph over adversity, and of the enduring power of true love. You only feel weak because you have no one watching your back; you're refusing to let anyone have your back."
Her words hit too close to home, and maybe that's all because they're true. All this time, the real problem has been me.
My lips tremble, and more tears fall from my face once the truth hits me, realizing what's really holding me back.
"But... I'm scared," I confess finally.
I'm so scared of losing Artemis, of losing everything - good doesn't always win, and that's reality. Real life isn't a fairy tale.
Her face contorts with pain from seeing me sad and dejected, and I'm pulled into another hug before I realize it, one that's meant to squeeze every bit of sadness out of me.
"Everyone gets scared once in a while, but what separates you from a coward is facing those fears head-on, embracing who you are and what has happened as your growth, and being the change you want rather than avoiding it."
She pulls away now, patting at my face with the sleeves of her dress to dry my tears, not caring if they get stained in the process.
"You might not have liked how it all came, but it's happened. So, my dear, wipe away those tears, stand tall, and walk down that aisle today. Fight for your love."
She looks into my eyes, delicately cupping my face in her hands and smiling down at me.
If I ever had a real mother, I imagine this is how it would feel-having someone talk to you, cheer you up, and wipe away your tears.
Suddenly, I feel so much better, my heart significantly lighter.
Clarity settles in.
"Thank you," I say.
She nods, chuckling again.
"It's no problem, baby. I'm always here for my little girl."