And then finally, we were done.
I didn’t look like a bride being forced to the altar. My dark blond hair was pulled away from my face and cascaded down my back in soft waves, and my forest-green dress highlighted my sage-green eyes that looked like a watered-down version of Father’s.
Elena pressed a kiss to my forehead and took my hand. I almost broke down in tears again, but a knock on the door brought us back to reality.
Dylan walked in without waiting for permission to enter.
“I would like some privacy with my mate,” he told my ladies. Elena seemed like she was about to argue, but I caught her eye and nodded.
Elena hesitated, but then after squeezing my hand, she left with Gia and Diana, and I was alone with Dylan.
“You’re stunning,” Dylan said in an almost awed tone.
I stood up from my dressing table to face my groom.
He looked good. His long black hair, so similar to Alexander’s, was pulled back from his face. With his attire perfectly tailored to him, he struck an imposing but benevolent figure.
Lara bared her canines at him mentally, and I did my best to remind her that if I clawed off his face, Father would kill Elena.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
Dylan smiled tentatively, his mask of niceness that I’d gullibly fallen for back in place.
“I’m glad you chose to give us another chance,” he said softly, and I almost snorted.
Give us another chance?
What in the Abyss had he smoked that had enabled him to forget that he’d threatened me into staying engaged to him?
Dylan closed the distance between us and took my hands in his, a slight tremble running through him and…were thosetearsin his eyes?
“I know an apology isn’t nearly enough, but I’m sorry for last night. I wasn’t thinking straight.”
Dylan hadn’t been drunk yesterday. I would have scented it on him while he almost choked me to death.
He had been thinking perfectly straight—just like I had been when I fucked his brother.
I didn’t say anything, though. I simply pulled my hands from his grasp.
Dylan’s expression fell slightly, but then he mustered up another smile.
“I love you, Eleanor. I know we can build a life together. Please leave the past behind us so we can focus on our future.”
What future?
Even if he had to cheat on me, why Micah? I had just one friend, and he’d taken her from me, along with any hopes I had of a happy mating.
And now he loved me? I wanted to scream at him, but I knew the moment I started to talk, everything would come spewing out, and Father would hurt Elena.
So I remained silent.
Dylan’s expression shifted.
“Eleanor—”
“I need to finish getting ready for the bonding ceremony,” I interrupted him, before he said something that would trigger Lara into attacking him.
Dylan nodded, somewhat reluctantly.