Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 875: Won’t Refuse ()

A flurry of attendants busily moved about Neveah’s quarters. They took down decorations, dismantled furniture and moved chests in a coordinated manner.

It’d been a continuous stream of attendants in and out of her quarters since the first streak of daylight and somewhere along the line, Neveah had zoned out of the flurry of activities.

Dawn this morning had marked the end of yet another day. And the countdown to the public execution had officially begun. 24 hours till the prisoners on death row were publicly executed...in that same timeframe, she would officially become Alessio’s wife, and Alpha Queen.

The attendants had been ordered to move Neveah’s personal belongings to Alessio’s quarters ahead of their wedding.

It was a decision made without her knowledge. She had been informed by the female elders of the pack that she would be sharing Alessio’s quarters following their wedding night, as it was of great importance to conceive heirs as soon as possible.

She would only be allowed to keep her own quarters when she was pregnant with Alessio’s first child. They passed on an endless stream of knowledge on her roles as Queen, her duties to the domain, the exact extent of her authority.

They’d equally discussed the affair of keeping an Alpha King wolf sexually satisfied. Going as far as inviting omegas and pack females he’d bedded.

She’d zoned out at that point. She didn’t care to know about Alessio’s preferences from women who’d previously shared his bed.

She didn’t plan to be added to that list. Her name would sooner be inscribed on a gravestone than on his roaster.

Once again, Alessio didn’t have the decency to break the news to her himself.

Now, she just watched as the place that never felt like hers was stripped bare in order for her to be relocated to yet another place that wasn’t hers. That seemed to be the continuous pattern since she’d opened her eyes to this reality.

But it didn’t matter much. Because while the world counted down to the public execution and the prestigious wedding, Neveah also had her own countdown.

By nightfall, while Alessio presided over a pre-wedding ritual with all the Eclipse Alphas, Dane, Vincent and Lucas Varleston would be broken out of the dungeons by Vilma’s loyalists.

At the same time, Neveah would sneak into the ice chamber and set Lothaire free.

With Lothaire confronting the Eclipse Alphas to defend his title against Alessio, the Eclipse Palace would be thrown into pandemonium.

And while everything fell apart, the Winter wolves would have the distraction they needed to swoop in.

Neveah had made all the necessary preparations. She had strategized and restrategized. She’d tested all loyalties of everyone involved and she’d done everything within and even without her power.

Still, she wasn’t certain how well their plan would go. In times such as this, it was difficult to be certain of anything. But she’d bet her all on this and had chosen to stand up to him this time...with everything she had.

The day after this could only end in two ways. It was either Alessio would be dead...or she would.

Meanwhile another group of attendants displayed clothing items on a rack that had been set up by the wall in the room that would soon cease to be hers.

Today was the final fitting of her wedding dress.

Neveah stood in the midst of the dressmaker and her apprentices. All around her, laces were tugged, strapped and tied till she could barely feel her own skin.

After what felt like forever, they were finally done putting the dress on her.

"There, do you want to see it?" The dressmaker asked, guiding Neveah over to the floor length mirror.

Her reflection came into view, strapped into a dress that looked like it’d jumped right out of a dream. It was an elegant cascade of emerald silk, the fabric shimmering with shifting hues of green. Forest, jade and sometimes midnight green when it was hit by a certain lighting.

The bodice was fitted close to Neveah’s body with such precision, it could have passed for a second skin. Threads of gold embroidery wove intricate patterns around her torso, in the shape of vines.

The curves and swirls of the vine pattern were decorated with real gemstones carved into small, dainty looking beads. The gems caught the light of the room, adding more than a touch of extravagance to a dress that already screamed of status.

The lower half of the dress splayed outwards in layers, tiny crystals scattered across the fabric. The skirt boasted a long train shimmering and shifting in the light.

"By the Creator..." The dressmaker gushed, holding up the veil. "This colour was made for you, My Lady."

Neveah watched her reflection with a blank expression. "Was it?" She asked,

Forest green. She wasn’t silly enough to believe it was a coincidence. Even the fabric of choice for her supposed wedding had been picked out by him.

The dress was beautiful, no doubt. Perhaps more beautiful than any she’d ever seen. At least by what she remembered.

And she wore the color well. She did. Like she didn’t dread it deep to her bones.

But to say this color was made for her... she wasn’t so sure about that.

Neveah guessed she would have been standing in a dreamy blue dress in the shade of the skies, if it would have given off the same illusions of compatibility between them both, that this did.

And the dressmaker would have exclaimed just the same, gushing about how blue was probably the colour of her soul.

That was just how much control Alessio had over everything and everyone.

It wasn’t about her. Or her needs. Not her preferences or what she liked. It had never been about her.

It had always been about what having her meant. That he won... whatever unspoken battle he fought to prove something to himself and the world.

"You are dazzling." The dressmaker confirmed, her eyes tearing up.

"I’m sorry. I just..." She trailed off, "I’ve just never met one who embodies my work so well."

Neveah resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She could understand the dressmaker was proud of how her efforts in such a short timeframe had turned out. But if she stopped for just a moment to read the room, she would have realized there was truly nothing to gush about.

It was a shame that such a beautiful dress was to be worn by an unwilling bride.

"Now, we just need to decide on how to style your hair. I have a few ideas that might suit the dress perfectly... I mean, you are stunning, My Lady and would look absolutely gorgeous in anything. But there’s a few things I want to try out if you feel up to it..."

"Can you take it off now?" Neveah interrupted the dressmaker’s rant, shifting her attention away from her reflection. "And where’s Colleen? She was meant to be back a while ago."

"I’m not sure." The dressmaker replied, quickly wiping her eyes. "She must have gotten distracted by something."

Distracted?

That didn’t sound like Colleen. She’d stuck close to Neveah’s side since Dane was captured and didn’t leave Neveah by herself...ever.

Neveah in turn had been careful not to show how well she’d healed so Alessio didn’t stop Colleen from tending to her. That way, she could always keep an eye on Colleen and make sure she was safe, just in case Alessio changed his mind about letting her off.

But since Colleen had checked in on her by dawn today, she hadn’t returned to Neveah’s quarters. And Neveah had been stuck with the attendants too long to go out in search of her.

"Hurry up with this." Neveah urged the dressmaker. "I need to step out for a moment."

"But your hairdo..." She argued.

"Just do it." Neveah hissed.

The dressmaker looked taken aback but quickly reached for the lace strapping behind, but before she could undo it, she was stopped.

"Don’t...let me see my wife."

Alessio. He had come.

She wasn’t certain how she’d missed his entrance but her thoughts had been on Colleen.

Alessio had barely shown his face to her these days. She’d only seen him once or twice when he’d checked in or her. And they’d barely spoken since she slit her wrist.

"Leave us." Alessio ordered the attendants.

They scurried out and the room was vacated in just a few breaths.

He came up behind her, staring at her reflection in the mirror. Neveah didn’t turn around or acknowledge his presence.

"You are a devastating beauty, my fate." His voice was low, as he rested both hands on her waist.

Neveah stiffened. She kept her silence as he nuzzled the side of her neck.

"Tomorrow...you will truly be mine." He paused, his tongue tasting her skin. "All of you."

"And if I refuse?" Neveah asked blankly. "Will you force yourself on me? Take me against my will?"

Alessio was quiet for a moment, and then he reached around her, placing a piece of cloth in her hand.

Neveah glanced down at it, the recognition was instant, and her eyes widened.

"This is..." She trailed off, not daring to complete her words.

It was a piece of fabric from the dress Colleen wore earlier today. And the fabric itself was stained red at the edges...

Blood... Colleen’s blood!

Alessio’s response came then. "You won’t refuse."