Bride of the Cursed Alpha - Chapter 37: Chapter 37
You are reading Bride of the Cursed Alpha, Chapter 37: Chapter 37. Read more chapters of Bride of the Cursed Alpha.
Auren POV
Lucien led me down the bustling street of the pack’s market square with his grip firm around my wrist as we left behind the Joyce’s ruined boutique.
As we walked away, I overheard Tarian giving orders quietly to the warriors. "Seal the shop as soon as we leave. No one is to step foot inside again," he commanded. “Once everyone’s out, burn it!”
My heart pounded as we walked from the sheer force of Lucien's wrath that I witnessed only a few moments ago. I had never imagined that someone would take such a fierce stand for me. What was I? Just a wallflower, a breeder, a woman who was rejected because of my omega status. And only an Alpha, the strongest Alpha, had the grit to stand for me. It was rightly said the strongest people are not those who show strength in front of us, but those who win battles we know nothing about.
Emotions choked my throat and I just stared at Lucien as he pulled me away from that toxic place, silently thanking the moon goddess and telling her that I’d die happily in his arms. I wished that Alpha Lucien was my mate, but only if wishes were horses…
He took me through the maze of streets and into a small alley. We stepped into a much smaller boutique which was nestled between two towering buildings. Unlike the grand, pompous atmosphere of Joyce’s boutique, this one felt warm and inviting. Soft golden lighting bathed the delicate fabrics that lined the walls. A faint scent of rose and sage lingered in the air.
A woman in her late fifties looked up from behind the counter, her warm brown eyes widening in surprise. She hurried forward with a respectful nod. Her excitement and shock were brimming to the extent that I almost giggled.
“Alpha Lucien, it’s an honor,” she said, bowing. “And you must be the Luna-to-be.”
I blinked, caught off guard by the genuine kindness in her tone. No sneers, no backhanded remarks. Just… respect. And she called me Luna-to-be. My heart flipped.
Lucien nodded curtly. “Auren, this is Marion. She has been the best dressmaker in the pack for years. But keeps a very low profile.”
Marion beamed. “Thank you for your appreciation, Alpha Lucien. I’m just a small-time shopkeeper,” she chuckled.
Lucien jerked his chin toward me. “I want you to create the most beautiful wedding dress for my Luna.”
Marion nodded eagerly, a blush rising on her cheeks in pure enthusiasm. “Absolutely!” she chirped, motioning toward the rows of wedding gowns displayed along the boutique. “It would be my greatest pleasure to dress the Luna for her wedding. Please, take a seat. We’ll find the perfect gown for her.”
Relief flooded through me. She made me feel truly happy, her eyes shining with undeniable respect. Unlike before, there was no hostility in the air, no lingering humiliation.
“Go with her,” Lucien murmured, leaning toward me.
As I hesitantly went with her, my excitement that had snuffed in Joyce’s store, returned. I walked to the aisle where the dresses were hung, my fingers trailing over the delicate fabrics.
Vivi, who had insisted on coming with us, grinned and nudged me. “Now this is more like it.” I couldn’t help giggling, and shoved all the negative thoughts of Joyce and Sable from my mind.
Lucien settled into a nearby chair, his legs spread wide, his arms draped over the armrests in an air of complete authority. His penetrating gaze never left me as Marion guided me toward the fitting room, holding a selection of gowns that best suited an Alpha’s bride.
The first dress was simple—an ivory satin gown with a modest neckline and a flowing skirt. It was elegant but plain. I stepped out, feeling uncertain as Lucien’s eyes trailed over me. He exhaled through his nose, shaking his head once. "No."
Marion quickly handed me another. This one was slightly more intricate, with delicate lace sleeves and pearl embroidery along the bodice. It was lovely but still I wasn't confident. I came out of the fitting room and walked in front of Lucien again, only to be met with another slow shake of his head. "Not this one either."
I sighed. What did he want? Marion gave me a few more gowns to try on, but instead, I looked at them and felt like something was missing. “Can you bring a few more?” I asked politely.
Finally, Marion brought out the last gown, and I felt like I found it, but I didn’t know if Lucien would like it. But the moment I stepped into it, I felt different. It was breathtaking—an elegant white gown with an off-shoulder design. The bodice hugged my curves before flowing into a cascading skirt of the softest silk. There were tiny silver moon and star embellishments shimmering in the fabric, catching the light with every movement.
“Goddess!” Marion rasped. “You look so beautiful!” She smoothed the skirt and adjusted my sleeves. When I came out to show it to him, Lucien’s stare darkened.
His jaw clenched, his fingers curling slightly on the armrest as his gaze roamed from my bare collarbones to the curve of my waist and down to the skirt. My throat went dry under the weight of his scrutiny.
“This one,” he finally said, his voice rough, filled with an emotion I couldn’t figure. His eyes flickered over the intricate details—the stars and moons and the way the fabric hugged my body.
The longer he looked, the heavier the air between us became. Under his intense gaze, my heart hammered wildly. A nest of traitorous butterflies exploded in my stomach. And a blush crept on my cheeks. Gosh, why did his gaze affect me so much?
Marion hummed in approval. “A perfect choice, Alpha.” She turned to me, adjusting the gown slightly. “What do you think, dear?”
I swallowed hard, unable to tear my eyes from Lucien. “I… I love it.”
And I did. But what sent a shiver down my spine was how much he seemed to love it, too.
Marion began making the final adjustments, speaking with Vivi about last-minute alterations, but I barely heard a word. Lucien’s gaze never left me, and with every second that passed, my pulse quickened.
“What about the train?” Vivi asked Marion.
“Oh, I’ve got the loveliest fabric for it,” Marion replied. “Would you like to see it, Vivi?”
Vivi nodded, and Marion took her to an aisle toward the left. As they disappeared talking to each other, with my hands wringing in front of me I said, “I’m—”
Lucien shifted in his seat, his knuckles whitening on the armrest as if battling an invisible force. For a moment, it looked like he was about to rise, to come to me—but then he stopped himself, his jaw tightening. The air between us snapped.
Embarrassed, I bit my lower lip and then disappeared behind the changing room curtain, my breath uneven. What were you thinking, Auren? I chided myself. But before I could fully process the tension, the curtain rustled, and Lucien stepped inside. I gasped. His presence overwhelmed the confined space. His gaze burned into mine, dark and intent.
“Lucien!” I rasped, goosebumps lining my skin.
Lucien led me down the bustling street of the pack’s market square with his grip firm around my wrist as we left behind the Joyce’s ruined boutique.
As we walked away, I overheard Tarian giving orders quietly to the warriors. "Seal the shop as soon as we leave. No one is to step foot inside again," he commanded. “Once everyone’s out, burn it!”
My heart pounded as we walked from the sheer force of Lucien's wrath that I witnessed only a few moments ago. I had never imagined that someone would take such a fierce stand for me. What was I? Just a wallflower, a breeder, a woman who was rejected because of my omega status. And only an Alpha, the strongest Alpha, had the grit to stand for me. It was rightly said the strongest people are not those who show strength in front of us, but those who win battles we know nothing about.
Emotions choked my throat and I just stared at Lucien as he pulled me away from that toxic place, silently thanking the moon goddess and telling her that I’d die happily in his arms. I wished that Alpha Lucien was my mate, but only if wishes were horses…
He took me through the maze of streets and into a small alley. We stepped into a much smaller boutique which was nestled between two towering buildings. Unlike the grand, pompous atmosphere of Joyce’s boutique, this one felt warm and inviting. Soft golden lighting bathed the delicate fabrics that lined the walls. A faint scent of rose and sage lingered in the air.
A woman in her late fifties looked up from behind the counter, her warm brown eyes widening in surprise. She hurried forward with a respectful nod. Her excitement and shock were brimming to the extent that I almost giggled.
“Alpha Lucien, it’s an honor,” she said, bowing. “And you must be the Luna-to-be.”
I blinked, caught off guard by the genuine kindness in her tone. No sneers, no backhanded remarks. Just… respect. And she called me Luna-to-be. My heart flipped.
Lucien nodded curtly. “Auren, this is Marion. She has been the best dressmaker in the pack for years. But keeps a very low profile.”
Marion beamed. “Thank you for your appreciation, Alpha Lucien. I’m just a small-time shopkeeper,” she chuckled.
Lucien jerked his chin toward me. “I want you to create the most beautiful wedding dress for my Luna.”
Marion nodded eagerly, a blush rising on her cheeks in pure enthusiasm. “Absolutely!” she chirped, motioning toward the rows of wedding gowns displayed along the boutique. “It would be my greatest pleasure to dress the Luna for her wedding. Please, take a seat. We’ll find the perfect gown for her.”
Relief flooded through me. She made me feel truly happy, her eyes shining with undeniable respect. Unlike before, there was no hostility in the air, no lingering humiliation.
“Go with her,” Lucien murmured, leaning toward me.
As I hesitantly went with her, my excitement that had snuffed in Joyce’s store, returned. I walked to the aisle where the dresses were hung, my fingers trailing over the delicate fabrics.
Vivi, who had insisted on coming with us, grinned and nudged me. “Now this is more like it.” I couldn’t help giggling, and shoved all the negative thoughts of Joyce and Sable from my mind.
Lucien settled into a nearby chair, his legs spread wide, his arms draped over the armrests in an air of complete authority. His penetrating gaze never left me as Marion guided me toward the fitting room, holding a selection of gowns that best suited an Alpha’s bride.
The first dress was simple—an ivory satin gown with a modest neckline and a flowing skirt. It was elegant but plain. I stepped out, feeling uncertain as Lucien’s eyes trailed over me. He exhaled through his nose, shaking his head once. "No."
Marion quickly handed me another. This one was slightly more intricate, with delicate lace sleeves and pearl embroidery along the bodice. It was lovely but still I wasn't confident. I came out of the fitting room and walked in front of Lucien again, only to be met with another slow shake of his head. "Not this one either."
I sighed. What did he want? Marion gave me a few more gowns to try on, but instead, I looked at them and felt like something was missing. “Can you bring a few more?” I asked politely.
Finally, Marion brought out the last gown, and I felt like I found it, but I didn’t know if Lucien would like it. But the moment I stepped into it, I felt different. It was breathtaking—an elegant white gown with an off-shoulder design. The bodice hugged my curves before flowing into a cascading skirt of the softest silk. There were tiny silver moon and star embellishments shimmering in the fabric, catching the light with every movement.
“Goddess!” Marion rasped. “You look so beautiful!” She smoothed the skirt and adjusted my sleeves. When I came out to show it to him, Lucien’s stare darkened.
His jaw clenched, his fingers curling slightly on the armrest as his gaze roamed from my bare collarbones to the curve of my waist and down to the skirt. My throat went dry under the weight of his scrutiny.
“This one,” he finally said, his voice rough, filled with an emotion I couldn’t figure. His eyes flickered over the intricate details—the stars and moons and the way the fabric hugged my body.
The longer he looked, the heavier the air between us became. Under his intense gaze, my heart hammered wildly. A nest of traitorous butterflies exploded in my stomach. And a blush crept on my cheeks. Gosh, why did his gaze affect me so much?
Marion hummed in approval. “A perfect choice, Alpha.” She turned to me, adjusting the gown slightly. “What do you think, dear?”
I swallowed hard, unable to tear my eyes from Lucien. “I… I love it.”
And I did. But what sent a shiver down my spine was how much he seemed to love it, too.
Marion began making the final adjustments, speaking with Vivi about last-minute alterations, but I barely heard a word. Lucien’s gaze never left me, and with every second that passed, my pulse quickened.
“What about the train?” Vivi asked Marion.
“Oh, I’ve got the loveliest fabric for it,” Marion replied. “Would you like to see it, Vivi?”
Vivi nodded, and Marion took her to an aisle toward the left. As they disappeared talking to each other, with my hands wringing in front of me I said, “I’m—”
Lucien shifted in his seat, his knuckles whitening on the armrest as if battling an invisible force. For a moment, it looked like he was about to rise, to come to me—but then he stopped himself, his jaw tightening. The air between us snapped.
Embarrassed, I bit my lower lip and then disappeared behind the changing room curtain, my breath uneven. What were you thinking, Auren? I chided myself. But before I could fully process the tension, the curtain rustled, and Lucien stepped inside. I gasped. His presence overwhelmed the confined space. His gaze burned into mine, dark and intent.
“Lucien!” I rasped, goosebumps lining my skin.
End of Bride of the Cursed Alpha Chapter 37. Continue reading Chapter 38 or return to Bride of the Cursed Alpha book page.