Kathie POV
After the mating rite, my mum and everyone else insisted I leave with Griffin and spend a few days. Usethe opportunity to get to know each other.
The car ride was quiet, except for the soft hum of the engine and the faint rustle of trees outside. Griffin sat beside me, his posture relaxed yet commanding. The air between us felt charged, though neither of us spoke. My neck still tingled where he had marked me, a reminder of the bond we had just sealed.
I tried not to fidget, clasping my hands tightly in my lap. The silence was growing heavier, so I finally decided to break it.
“Where are we going?” I asked, my voice soft but curious.
Griffin glanced at me briefly, his silver eyes unreadable. “You need a dress,” he said simply, his tone matter-of-fact.
“A dress?”
“For tonight’s banquet,” he elaborated. “It’s tradition for the newly bonded to present themselves formally to the pack.”
Of course. A public display to affirm my place within the Ludwig Pack. My wolf stirred uneasily, the prospect of being under scrutiny daunting. Still, I nodded.
The car pulled to a smooth stop in front of an upscale boutique nestled between towering glass buildings. The shop’s display windows showcased elegant gowns that practically radiated sophistication and wealth.
Griffin exited the car first, moving with a grace that made it impossible not to watch him. He walked around to open my door, a gesture that seemed out of character given his reserved aura.
“Thank you,” I murmured, stepping out.
Inside the boutique, the air was perfumed with the scent of fresh flowers and expensive fabric. A tall, impeccably dressed woman greeted us with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Mr. Ludwig,” she said, her tone deferential. “What an honor. How can we assist you today?”
Griffin gestured toward me. “She needs a dress for tonight.”
The woman’s sharp eyes turned to me, assessing me in a way that made me feel both self-conscious and defiant. “Of course,” she said smoothly. “Right this way, madam.”
I followed her into the main showroom, where racks of gowns in every imaginable shade and style awaited. The woman began pulling dresses that she deemed “appropriate,” each one more extravagant than the last.
Griffin remained near the entrance, his arms crossed as he observed silently. His presence was a constant weight, a reminder that this wasn’t just shopping—it was preparation for stepping into a role I hadn’t asked for but had chosen nonetheless.
I tried on dress after dress, each one more ornate than the last. The boutique staff flitted around me like bees, adjusting hems and draping fabric over my shoulders. But no matter what they brought, nothing felt quite right.
When the woman held up a midnight blue gown with intricate silver embroidery, I hesitated. The color reminded me of Griffin’s eyes, deep and piercing.
“This one,” I said, surprising myself.
The moment I stepped out of the fitting room, Griffin’s gaze flickered to me. His expression didn’t change, but there was a subtle shift in the air around him, as if he’d momentarily forgotten to keep his mask in place.
“That’ll do,” he said after a pause, his voice steady but quieter than before.
The staff quickly packed the gown, and soon we were back in the car. I leaned my head against the cool glass of the window, my thoughts swirling.
Just as I began to relax, Griffin’s voice cut through the quiet.
“Do you still feel uneasy about the bond?” he asked, his tone unexpectedly gentle.
I turned to look at him, startled by the question. “It’s… a lot to process,” I admitted. “But I don’t regret it.”
His lips pressed into a faint line, as if he were weighing my words. “Good,” he said simply.
We got back to the car and got in.
The car pulled into a parking lot outside another boutique, this one catering to bridal wear. My brows furrowed in confusion.
“A dress for the banquet wasn’t enough?” I teased, attempting to lighten the mood.
Griffin gave a small, almost imperceptible smile. “You’ll see.”
We stepped into the store, where rows of white gowns shimmered under the soft lighting. Brides-to-be floated around the showroom, their laughter and excited chatter filling the air.
As we walked further in, something caught my eye—or rather, someone.
Across the room, a woman stood on a small pedestal, surrounded by attendants. Her auburn hair was swept into a loose updo, and the lace of the gown she wore glinted under the lights. She radiated confidence, her smile easy and genuine.
It was Emma.
The blood drained from my face, my wolf growling softly in the back of my mind. I hadn’t seen her for a while, not since the fallout with Jason. Yet here she was, trying on wedding dresses.
She hadn’t noticed me yet, too engrossed in whatever her consultant was saying. But as if sensing my presence, her gaze suddenly lifted, her green eyes locking onto mine.
The air shifted, the lively chatter around us fading into the background. For a moment, neither of us moved, caught in the tension of an unspoken history.
Griffin noticed the change in my posture and followed my gaze. His expression hardened slightly, though he said nothing.
I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Emma, memories of betrayal and heartbreak flooding back in an instant. My wolf bristled, protective and wary.
Emma’s smile faltered, her confidence replaced by something else—unease, perhaps? Or maybe guilt.
The weight of her gaze pinned me in place, and I suddenly felt like the air had been sucked out of the room. Whatever came next, I knew it wouldn’t be simple.
