Chapter 23: 23: In Willow’s Memory
Violet’s syrupy sweet voice quickly pulled Cassian’s human mind back to the forefront. His eyes stopped glowing as intensely, and he loosened his grip. I fell to the floor immediately, coughing and hacking as I tried to gulp down as much oxygen as I could.
Tears had gathered in my eyes. I held my neck, massaging the sore and tender spot as I tried to gather air into my lungs again.
Damn Cassian. He had strangled me so many times in the last hour that my vision was starting to spot, and my neck would no doubt bruise in a couple hours’ time.
"I am sure Cedar will return very soon," Soren said, stepping forward. "Why don’t we wait for him in the chapel? Or backstage?" He glanced around carefully. My eyes couldn’t help but follow his movements. "People are starting to watch."
True enough, several pack members had stopped, hovering nearby to watch the spectacle. Most of the pack was already waiting inside, but there were still warriors posted to guard the entrance, as well as some pack members who were either late or came out to get some refreshments. Not to mention, there were plenty of omegas outside, working to make sure guests were attended to whenever service was needed. They had unexpectedly received a hell of a show.
On any other day, I would’ve been among them. It was unfortunate that this time, I was the show.
Upon Soren’s words, Violet’s perfectly groomed expression cracked just a little. Her face fell for a split second, and to anyone who wasn’t watching her for it, her disappointment might not even be caught.
I couldn’t help but scoff internally. Surely she was hoping that the Alphas wouldn’t back down so easily. After all, that would be as good as letting me off scot-free.
"I... understand," she slowly said. "I just..." Violet exhaled loudly before braving a smile. But even an idiot could tell that it didn’t quite reach her eyes. Her lips were pulled into a tight line, and she nodded stiffly. "Yes, let’s wait inside for Cedar then."
With that said, she turned, prepared to walk towards the chapel. However, she barely even made it three steps before Rowan grabbed her wrist. His touch was gentle, and his expression even more so as he looked down at her.
Watching their interaction made my heart twist. A string of jealousy darted through me, and I tried my best to swat it away. Images of Rowan hovering over me, looking at me with intense, lust-filled eyes, overlapped the current image of him. Here, he looked every inch a man in love. Previously, he looked at me as though I were a piece of meat, and he a starving wolf.
"What’s wrong?" he tenderly asked.
The moment he spoke, tears brimmed in Violet’s eyes. It took mere seconds before it dripped down her cheeks, and she hastily wiped them away, as though she didn’t mean to cry.
"It’s nothing," she said, shaking her head. "I just... I think I am just overwhelmed."
"It’s clearly something," Soren said. He stepped closer towards her. "Tell us."
"It’s just..." Violet said hesitantly. Her eyes glanced over to where I was, staring at me with a conflicted expression for a second too long before she looked back at Rowan. "I finally remember where I’ve seen Briar’s dress before."
"Oh?" Soren asked, raising his eyebrows. "Where?"
"It was Willow’s design," Violet said. "I... I was with her when she did the first drafts of that design. She wanted to wear it for her own wedding reception’s after-party. But..."
Violet purposely left her sentence hanging, leaving everyone to fill in the blanks.
"But she died," Cassian finished grimly, and Violet nodded once in silence. Her eyes were trained on the floor, and she shuffled uncomfortably.
"I suppose," Violet said with a shaky exhale of her breath, "Willow would want her own sister to wear her designs. Maybe Willow gave her the dress before she passed."
She turned, her gaze falling on the dress I wore. Violet’s expression softened, as though she was remembering something that happened very long ago.
"It’s just like my wedding dress," she said. "Willow designed it too for her own wedding. She had wanted to walk down the aisle in that dress." She chuckled weakly, and as she did, tears filled her eyes again. Her voice turned choked. "I am just a little upset that I couldn’t complete that wish for her, even though it had been so simple."
All three men fell into silence. Even I had to pause for a bit.
If my whole body didn’t feel so drained of energy, I might’ve even clapped for her award-winning performance. Violet would have me fooled if she hadn’t exposed herself earlier during the rogue attack. She played the role of a heartbroken, grieving best friend so well that I looked so heartless in comparison for not mourning my supposedly-dead sister.
Violet took a deep breath, and she perked up, forcing a bright smile.
"Oh, look at me. I said too much, didn’t I? I didn’t mean to dampen the mood," she said. "I am fine with wearing this dress." As if to stress her point, she held the ends of her simple short white dress, swaying a little and letting the material dance in the wind. "It’s just a dress, and I am sure Briar just wants to remember her sister."
"Then she ought to remember why Willow died in the first place," Cassian said through gritted teeth. "You will wear a beautiful gown down the aisle. I will pry this dress off of her if I must."
The crowd of onlookers quickly burst into chatter. Among them were mainly men, their lecherous gazes trained on my body. When they heard Cassian’s announcement, several of them bore wide grins as they eagerly awaited Cassian to fulfil that promise.
Cassian stormed over to me and reached down.
"Wait, not here―!" I tried to say, but was quickly cut off.
"I don’t know how you got this dress, but you don’t deserve to wear Willow designs," Cassian spat.
My limbs were heavy, and my head felt light. I didn’t have the strength to dodge away. His fingers reached the zipper behind me, pulling it down in one fell swoop.
