Chapter 179: Wedding night
"The eyes can be deceptive, Yuki."
The words seemed to carry more meaning than Aevia was willing to explain. She sighed, placed the tray on the floor beside the bed and sat on the edge of Yuki’s mattress. Yuki remained at her desk, her fingers resting against the wooden surface as she studied her sister.
"Have you ever researched ancient mythology?" Aevia asked.
Yuki blinked. "Ancient mythology?" Aevia nodded.
"I’m not really interested in shifter myths," Yuki admitted, her brows drawing together.
"I know." Aevia gave her a faint smile. "If you had been, you might have come across something called the In Between."
Yuki’s expression shifted. "The realm between life and death," Aevia explained. "According to some ancient texts, it is a place souls can pass through when they are caught between the two. Most people never see it. Most don’t even believe it exists."
Yuki’s fingers curled against the edge of the desk. "Then how did I get there?"
"You were in a coma," Aevia said. "Your consciousness was caught somewhere between your body and whatever comes after. So, in a way, it makes sense that you found yourself there."
Yuki nodded slowly. "But seeing him there doesn’t make sense," Aevia added.
Yuki’s head lifted. Aevia’s expression had become serious.
"Not everyone can enter the In Between. If he was able to find you there, then he has a way of moving between realms that most beings don’t have."
"But he looks like you," Yuki blurted. That was the part she couldn’t let go. The resemblance had been too striking. The same familiarity she felt whenever she looked at Aevia had existed in that man’s face, and it had unsettled her more than the strange realm itself.
Aevia’s gaze softened, but something guarded remained behind her eyes. "That’s why I’m telling you not to trust appearances."
Yuki stared at her.
"How sure are you that what you saw was real?" Aevia asked.
Yuki opened her mouth, then stopped. She was sure. At least, she thought she was. Aevia noticed the hesitation and released a tired breath before standing. She picked up the tray from the floor.
"I’ve had a long day," she said gently. "Don’t spend the entire night trying to solve something you don’t have enough information to understand."
"But Aevia..."
"Good night, Yuki."
The affectionate smile Aevia gave her stopped the question before it could leave her mouth.
"Good night," Yuki murmured.
Aevia walked out and closed the door behind her. Yuki remained seated at her desk, staring at the spot where her sister had disappeared. Instead of answering her questions, Aevia had somehow given her even more. And that bothered her.
*******
The long-anticipated night finally arrived.
The wedding of Aevia and Alexander had transformed the entire pack house into a hive of activity. Servants hurried through the corridors carrying flowers, fabrics and last-minute decorations while guests arrived from different territories. The ceremony would be televised throughout the pack, making it more than a family celebration. It was an event everyone was expected to witness.
Yuki had spent most of the day trying to stay out of everyone’s way, but there was no hiding from a wedding of this size. She stood before the full-length mirror in her room, one hand resting lightly against the polished frame as she studied her reflection. Her dress swept across the floor in a rich shade of blue, the fabric falling elegantly around her figure. Tiny gemstones were sewn into the bodice and scattered across the skirt, catching the light whenever she moved. It was a stunning dress. Tonight wasn’t only Aevia’s wedding. It was also Yuki’s official debut as a member of the Ravencourt family. The thought made her stomach flutter.
"You look stunning."
Olivine’s voice came from behind her. Yuki looked at the mirror and caught her reflection. Olivine stood behind her in a beautiful lavender gown, the colour chosen to complement the purple decorations Aevia had selected for the wedding. The dress had clearly been tailored for her, fitting neatly around her figure while allowing her enough freedom to move. Her hand rested around Yuki’s walking stick.
Yuki turned and smiled. "You look beautiful too."
"Thank you." Olivine held the cane towards her. "And look at you. You’re standing for much longer now."
Yuki accepted it, resting her hand around the handle. "All those exercises finally paid off."
"They certainly did." Olivine smiled. "A few weeks ago, you could barely stand without getting tired."
Yuki glanced down at her legs before looking back at the mirror. "I’ve improved."
"You have."
Yuki gave herself one final look, then released a breath.
"Ready?" Olivine asked.
"As ready as I’ll ever be," Yuki replied.
A knock sounded at the door. A maid’s voice came from the other side. "Lady Yuki, Lady Aevia is almost ready."
"I’ll be there soon," Yuki called.
She smoothed the skirt of her dress before turning towards Olivine. "Let’s go."
They stepped into the hallway. The usually quiet corridor had been transformed for the occasion. Red flowers lined the walls and decorated the tall windows, their petals catching the silver glow of the full moon outside.
The cool breeze slipped through the open windows, stirring the curtains and carrying the scent of fresh flowers through the residence. Yuki’s cane tapped against the polished floor as they walked towards the staircase. The sound echoed softly through the hallway.
"Are the brothers still around?" Yuki asked.
Olivine shook her head. "No. They left the Alpha Residence yesterday."
"Yesterday?" Yuki arched a brow.
"They probably couldn’t tolerate another day of wedding preparations." Olivine smiled. "They have private residences in Raven City, so I’m sure they were happy to escape."
Yuki couldn’t blame them. She knew the brothers had little interest in the wedding, even though none of them could afford to avoid it entirely. As members of the Ravencourt family, their presence was expected.
"They’ll still be there tonight," Yuki said.
"Of course."
They reached the bottom of the staircase and stepped outside. The cool night air brushed against Yuki’s bare shoulders. She inhaled quietly, allowing the breeze to settle some of the nervousness twisting inside her. The car waiting to take them to the Obsidian Hall stood nearby. Before Yuki could reach it, the passenger door opened. Terence stepped out.
He was dressed in a perfectly fitted navy tuxedo, the dark fabric making his broad shoulders look even more defined. A crisp white shirt showed beneath the jacket, paired with a dark tie and polished shoes. His hair had been styled neatly for the occasion, giving him a more mature appearance than the boy Yuki had spent most of her childhood chasing through the halls. He looked handsome. Very handsome. His gaze lifted. The moment he saw Yuki, he stopped.
Yuki’s heart skipped. She hadn’t seen him since his confession. Not properly. She had spent the entire day avoiding him, hiding in her room whenever she heard his footsteps nearby. She had convinced herself that enough time apart would make the awkwardness disappear. Apparently, she had been wrong. Terence stared at her for a moment, his expression changing as his eyes travelled over her dress before returning to her face.
"You look stunning," he blurted.
Yuki’s fingers tightened around her cane. The compliment shouldn’t have affected her. Terry had complimented her countless times before. She should have been able to smile, thank him and move on. But after what he had confessed, the words sounded different. Her heart gave another uncomfortable flutter. She quickly pushed the feeling aside.
"Thank you," she replied, forcing a small smile.
Terence seemed to notice her hesitation. His expression softened, but he didn’t say anything else. For a moment, they simply stood there looking at each other. Yuki cleared her throat and glanced towards the car.
"We should probably go. Aevia will be waiting."
Terence nodded. "Right."
He stepped aside to let her pass, his gaze lingering on her for another second before he followed. Yuki climbed into the car with Olivine beside her, carefully arranging her dress before settling back. She stared out of the window as the vehicle pulled away from the residence. She had hoped seeing Terry again would make things feel normal. Instead, one compliment had reminded her that things between them had changed.