Chapter 308

AURELIA’ POV The dress weighed more than armor. Layers of silver fabric cascaded down my body, threaded with gold that glimmered faintly in the sunlight filtering through the window. A Luna’s gown, they called it. A gown worthy of Alpha Draven’s wife. But to me, it was nothing more than chains sewn with silk. The maids fluttered nervously around me, tugging here, pinning there, until finally, they scattered away at the sound of the door creaking open. Seraphina stepped in. I froze. She wore a gown of her own, pale blue and modest compared to mine, her hair swept into intricate braids. She looked radiant—like the golden daughter she had always been, the one Father adored, the one everyone wanted to praise. But there was something wrong. Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Well,” she drawled, walking closer. “Look at you. Our blushing bride.” Her words carried the usual sting of mockery, but her tone lacked its usual gleeful bite. Instead, it sounded hollow, forced, like a mask that didn’t