132

Lia's POV

I sat in front of the vanity, staring at my reflection. My makeup was flawless, my hair pinned up elegantly, and the dress shimmered in the sunlight streaming through the window. But no amount of glamour could hide the anxiety swirling in my chest.

A soft knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. Aaid entered, bowing slightly. "Ma'am, Benedicta is here to see you."

I nodded, trying to compose myself. “Let her in.”

As the door opened, Benedicta stepped in a radiant smile on her face. She crossed the room and pulled me into a warm hug. “My dear Lia,” she whispered, her voice filled with emotion. “You look beautiful.”

I felt a lump form in my throat. “Thank you, Benedicta. I’m glad you’re here.”

She pulled back, her hands resting on my shoulders. “It’s a big day for you, and I just want you to know how proud I am. I wish you all the happiness in the world.”

Her sincerity made my eyes sting, but I blinked the tears away. “Thank you. That means so much to me.”

Benedicta sat on the edge of the bed, watching as the makeup artist made a few final touches. “Have you heard from Luca?” I asked, trying to sound casual, though my heart raced with anticipation.

Benedicta shook her head. “No, not yet. He hasn’t said anything to me.”

I hesitated, glancing at the closed door. “I’m thinking about stopping the wedding,” I admitted quietly.

Her eyes widened. “Lia, what are you talking about?”

Before I could explain, my phone buzzed on the table. My stomach dropped when I saw the name flashing on the screen. Luca. I snatched it up and answered quickly.

“Luca,” I said, my voice trembling, “what’s going on?”

His voice was calm but laced with urgency. “Lia, listen to me carefully. There’s someone out there more dangerous than Jenny and Bianca. You need to be extremely cautious.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, my fingers tightening around the phone.

“I don’t have all the details yet, but I know this—whoever it is, they’re pulling the strings behind the scenes. Until we figure it out, you have to push through with this wedding.”

I froze. “Luca, I can’t. I don’t—”

“You have to,” he interrupted. “If something goes wrong and you back out, they might blame you for it. Staying the course is your safest option right now.”

His words made my head spin. “And what about you? Where are you?”

There was a pause, and then his tone shifted. “Be prepared, Lia. My brother…Alpha Dean…is in town.”

My heart stopped. “Dean? Why?”

“I don’t know yet,” Luca admitted. “But his presence changes everything. Keep your guard up, and I’ll be in touch.”

The line went dead before I could ask more questions.

I stared at the phone, my hands trembling. Benedicta must have noticed my expression because she came over and took my hands in hers.

“Lia, what is it?” she asked gently.

I swallowed hard, repeating Luca’s words. “He said there’s someone more dangerous out there, and…his brother, Dean, is in town.”

Benedicta’s face tightened, but her voice was steady. “Then we’ll deal with it, Lia. You’re not alone in this.”

“I don’t know if I can go through with this wedding,” I whispered, tears threatening to spill.

“You can,” she said firmly. “And you will. This is bigger than just you and Finn. Luca wouldn’t ask you to do this if it wasn’t important.”

I nodded, though uncertainty gnawed at me. Benedicta squeezed my hands and then motioned for the makeup artist to continue.

As the stylist worked, Benedicta sat beside me, her presence a source of comfort. “Lia, you’re stronger than you realize,” she said softly. “No matter what happens today, remember that.”

Her words gave me a small measure of confidence. I took a deep breath, letting the stylist finish pinning the veil into place.

When I looked in the mirror again, I didn’t just see a bride—I saw a woman about to walk into the unknown, determined to face whatever came her way.

___

Alina’s POV

The phone trembled in my hand as I paced my room, my tone sharp and commanding. “Listen carefully,” I barked, my patience worn thin. “I don’t care what it takes. Lia must be dealt with tonight. If you fail, don’t bother showing your face to me again. Do I make myself clear?”

A muffled response came from the other end, full of hesitation and fear. Typical.

“Good,” I snapped, ending the call abruptly and tossing the phone onto my desk. My heart was pounding with anticipation, my mind racing through the plan. This wedding had to be her last day on earth. Lia had meddled far too much, and her existence was a threat I couldn’t allow to continue.

The soft creak of my window brought me to a halt, my breath catching in my throat. Slowly, I turned toward the sound, and there he was—a man in a dark cloak, his back to me as he gracefully stepped into my room. The shadows seemed to cling to him as if they were an extension of his being.

I didn’t need to see his face to know who it was. My lips parted, the name escaping in a whisper tinged with unease. “Alpha Dean.”

He turned, the hood falling back to reveal his chiseled features and cold, piercing eyes. A cruel smile played on his lips as he regarded me, his presence overwhelming.

“Alina,” he drawled, his voice smooth yet laced with menace. “Still playing queen in a game you don’t fully understand, I see.”

I straightened, trying to mask the unease curling in my stomach. “What are you doing here? This wasn’t part of the plan.”

Dean chuckled darkly, stepping closer with an air of predatory confidence. “Plans change. Especially when they’re as… uninspired as yours.”

His words stung, but I held my ground. “Lia has to go. She’s a threat to everything we’ve worked for. You agreed to this!”

His smile widened, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Oh, I agree. But I’ve had a change of heart.”

I frowned, confusion flickering across my face. “What are you talking about?”

Dean leaned against the edge of my desk, his movements slow and deliberate. “Why kill Lia,” he began, “when I can break her instead? Killing her would be quick, painless… too easy. But keeping her alive, taking her as my pet… Now that’s a punishment worthy of Luca’s betrayal.”

My heart skipped a beat at his words, my mind struggling to process his twisted logic. “You can’t be serious,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Oh, I am.” Dean’s eyes glittered with dark amusement. “Imagine Luca’s face when he sees the love of his life in my grasp, completely under my control. The pain, the helplessness… It’ll be delicious.”

My stomach churned. This was beyond anything I had anticipated. “Dean, this wasn’t the deal. We were supposed to eliminate her, not… this.”

He tilted his head, his expression hardening. “Are you questioning me, Alina?”

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. “No,” I said quickly. “Of course not. But—”

“There are no ‘buts,’” he interrupted, his tone icy. “You wanted Lia out of the picture, and I’ve found a way to do it that serves both our interests. You want her gone; I want Luca to suffer. Everyone wins.”

I hesitated, my mind racing with doubts. Dean’s plan was dangerous and unpredictable. It could backfire in ways we couldn’t anticipate. But then again, opposing him was even more dangerous.

“What do you need me to do?” I asked, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me.

Dean’s smile returned, sharp and predatory. “Nothing, for now. Just keep playing your part and leave the rest to me.”

I nodded reluctantly, my instincts screaming at me to be cautious. “Fine. But you’ll need to stay hidden until the time is right. Luca is already suspicious, and Lia isn’t as naive as you think.”

Dean chuckled, pushing off the desk and moving toward the shadows. “Oh, I’m counting on it. The more they squirm, the sweeter the victory.”

He disappeared as quickly as he had appeared, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves.

This wasn’t what I had planned, but Dean’s ruthlessness might just be the edge we needed to end this once and for all. Still, a nagging voice in the back of my mind warned me that we were playing with fire, and if we weren’t careful, we’d all get burned.