True Nature

Elena's POV

Aliyah has been here for almost two weeks, everything has been fine and she has been the most supportive. My wedding plans had begun and all she has done has been to make things easier for me.

All of this happening still did nothing to quell the storm raging in my heart. I was upset and sad whenever she was around, she understood my mood at times and gave me the distance I needed. I would feel guilty and go back to her so she does not feel like I have not forgiven her.

"I think this purple will look amazing on you." She said and brought the fourth dress. Even Ashley was getting fed up with everything that she was doing. Nothing seemed good enough for her even after I had the first dress I tried custom-made. Aliyah had refused me to wear that, saying it didn't capture the essence of my position, she had gone ahead and brought more dresses.

"It won't. She is going to wear the first dress I bought. That was what she wanted and I had it designed for her. Don't come here talking about what you know nothing about." Ashely snapped at her. To be honest, I was quite surprised that it had taken the two of them so long before Ashely snapped.

"I don't remember asking for your opinion. You are merely a designer and should stick solely to what you are being paid for. Which is designing whatever clothes that your clients want." Aliyah snapped right back at her.

Exhausted, I closed my eyes and wished everywhere would become silent. Aliyah was trying to help but she was making every process complicated for me. Telling her anything would mean that I had not truly forgiven her for everything she did to me for twenty-two years.

"Can you both just stop?" I yelled, they were driving me crazy and I was worried that I might really be crazy.

"What?" Aliyah yelled at me, her voice was like how it used to be before, filled with so much hatred that even Ashley stopped.

"You don't get to yell at her like that. She might be your little sister out there but in here, she is my client and friend, I won't let you disrespect her like that. So if you know you want to be a part of the rest of the bridal fittings, I strongly advise that you learn to keep your opinion and stubby fingers to yourself." Ashley said and the silence that hung in the air after that was deafening.

"Are you just going to sit there and watch your friend talk to me in that manner?" Ashley looked at me and I wondered what she had expected me to do. It's not like Ashley was not right about what she was talking about, maybe she should have said it more nicely.

"Look, I think you should ease out on me. I already have a lot to do and you bringing me back every step of the way, is making this whole process stressful." I said to her, trying to make my voice as calm as possible.

"Oh. I didn't know that I was making life harder for you. I just wanted you to look your best on your big day." She said and I felt so bad. She was always going to take it the wrong way.

"Don't take it that way. You know that was not what I meant." I tried to explain.

"What did you mean? You sat there and watched your friend speak to you in the most disrespectful way. You couldn't have meant anything else." She snapped at me angrily.

I had always suspected her remorse, but saying anything at the time would have made her feel bad. Especially if it turns out that my suspicions were wrong. Her tone, whenever she was displeased has not been one that showed that she was sorry. Instead, she had a certain entitlement to everything that had to do with me.

"What she meant is, since you are too daft to understand that it is her day and she is the one who should make the decisions that you are shoving down her throat, you should give her some fucking space and let her choose what she wants," Ashley said and immediately squared up with her.

"Ladies, I need to take a break." I interrupted the two women and left the store.

"Where the fuck are you going to?" Ashley asked, she always acted like my mom but in a good way.

"The park," I answered and slammed the door.

The walk was exactly what I needed to calm my nerves, Ashley's fashion house was not far from here so all I had to do was walk. The wind was blowing and the sun was beginning to set beautifully, I got to the top of a hill to watch everything happening better.

There was something about Aliyah that was wrong, she had seemed so desperate to have me thrown out that I felt that the whole plot had been her idea in the first place. Even though she is denying it now, Devon seemed shocked when he found out that I was his mate, even though he was waiting there for me.

Suddenly a hand closed over my mouth and dragged me roughly down the hill. My skin was scratched by the rough grass and stones on the path. The men finally stopped when we were at the foot of the hill, back into the deep of the park, where people hardly went to.

"Who are you?" I yelled and my eyes skimmed around for a weapon I could use to defend myself if need be.

"You shouldn't worry about that pretty girl."one of the men said and began to remove his belt.

"What the fuck is going on here?" I yelled as the men rounded me and pinned my hands to the floor.

"Close your eyes and enjoy this Luna." He said, and the alcohol in his breath almost took my breath away.