ZELENA THE MOON GODDESS REBORN

'She was supposed to be my maid of honor,' Elora thought bitterly in her mind as she stared at the ornate mirror before her, sitting still in the dressing room, numb, with her eyes sharp and unyielding.

' A friend like a sister, the one who's always there by my side even on my darkest day, my best friend with the purest heart, Scarlett. She was supposed to be here, doing my makeup like she promised, laughing and teasing me,' her breath quivered, ' but they took her away, they took her away from me, killed her most cruelly and brutally,' she clenched her fist against her wedding gown and released it after a second.

With nothing but emptiness in her eyes, she scanned the room with a clinical detachment, and her crimson-painted lips suddenly curved into a perfect smile, too controlled as if trying to forcefully control the brewing rage in her and her heavy thirst for something dark.

Every gesture of hers was memorized, calm, and unnervingly charged, as if it, too, was complicit in whatever thoughts she concealed beneath her flawless exterior. This was no nervous bride preparing for her big day, this was a woman donning her armor, readying herself for something far darker than vows.

As the makeup brush danced across her face, her ears were filled with her friend's laughter and teasing while they put their effort into making her a perfect bride of the day.

" I can't believe this day is finally here," Cynthia said, her voice thick with emotion. "Our beautiful Elora is getting married."

"Hey, hey! Don't let that tear drop," Karine warned, voice sharp, though it betrayed a flicker of vulnerability.

Elora and Misha burst into laughter, breaking the moment's tension.

" Don't cry, Cynthia," Misha teased, "even the bride isn't crying."

"I know, I just can't believe it," Cynthia sniffled, "I thought the wedding would be canceled, but here we are. Never even thought I'd end up being the maid of honor."

" Which I'm now starting to think might be a mistake," Karine quipped, eyeing Cynthia as she dabbed at her eyes.

The words hung in the air like a sharp sting. Elora, unperturbed, gave a small, controlled laugh.

"Oh, come on, Karine," Misha interjected, trying to steer the conversation back. "It's normal to be emotional, right?"

Karine snorted. "Normal to be grateful for being the maid of honor? Almost like she's glad Scarlett died."

"Karine!" Misha, Cynthia, and Elora all shot her disbelieving glares.

"Say what?" Karine raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "Isn't it true?"

"That's not true!" Cynthia's voice cracked with hurt. "Stop it, Karine."

Karine's blood boils, eyeing Cynthia, whose tears she strongly believes were fake. The three of them were friends with Elora but not with Scarlett, whom they detested with every cell in them. She knows how much Scarlett means to Elora, she expected her to be shook up after Scarlett's sudden death but Elora remained completely unfazed and if there's something Karine hates more than her own poop, it is actions, words, or emotions, that is faked.

The room fell into a heavy silence, thick with unspoken accusations. Elora's fingers curled into a tight fist at her side, her knuckles turning white beneath the silk fabric.

"She warned us," Misha said softly, breaking the silence, her tone a quiet defense. "She was the reason we stopped bullying Scarlett."

"Was she?" Karine scoffed her words like a sharp blade. "Or was it because Scarlett married one of the most powerful Alphas?"

A charged silence settled over the room as everyone cast angry glares at Karine.

"Karine, that's enough," Elora finally said, her voice a calm but firm command. "Respect the moment."