My Sister's Fiance Ordered Me To Kneel In Public

"Pull it tighter," Seraphina ordered.

"The fabric will tear," I warned, kneeling on the plush carpet of the master dressing room.

"It's reinforced silk, Elara. It won't tear. Pull it tighter."

I gripped the heavy ivory satin of her wedding train, dragging the edges together. The morning light filtering through the sheer curtains felt entirely too bright. My knees ached. My neck still burned where his fingers had bruised me the night before.

"You're wrinkling the lace," she complained.

"I'm trying to align the seams."

"Well, try harder. The photographer will be here in twenty minutes. I need the silhouette to be flawless."

I slid another pearl-tipped pin into the fabric. "It looks fine."

"Fine isn't good enough for a Dravos," she snapped, turning slightly to check her reflection in the floor-to-ceiling mirror. "Kaelen expects perfection. The entire pack expects perfection."

"They're just looking at the dress."

"They are looking at the future Luna." She smoothed her hands over her stomach. "Do you think he'll like the neckline? It's lower than the original design."

"I'm sure he'll love it."

"You sound bored."

"I'm tired, Seraphina. I was up late."

"Doing what? You barely stayed at the rehearsal dinner."

"Steaming this dress." And surviving an ambush in the attic.

"Right. Well, I appreciate it." She didn't sound appreciative. She sounded impatient. "Are you wearing the gray dress tonight?"

"I planned to."

"Don't. It washes you out. Wear the burgundy one Kaelen bought you."

"He didn't buy it for me. The pack sent it."

"Same thing. He signed off on it. He wants his new family looking presentable."

"I'll wear the burgundy."

"Make sure you steam it. We have VIPs coming from the northern territories. Just fix that fold near the bottom."

The heavy oak door swung open.

"I think the fold looks perfect."

Kaelen stepped into the dressing room. He wore a custom charcoal suit, the crisp white shirt unbuttoned at the collar. He looked exactly like a man about to claim an empire.

Seraphina gasped, her hands flying to her cheeks. "Kaelen! You aren't supposed to see me!"

"I'm not looking at the dress," he said.

He crossed the room. No hesitation. No apology. He stepped right over the pooling fabric of the train and wrapped his massive arms around her waist from behind.

He pulled her back against his chest.

"You're breaking tradition," Seraphina scolded playfully, leaning into him.

"I make the traditions."

He rested his chin on the top of her head. Then, he lifted his gaze.

His eyes found mine in the mirror.

I froze. My fingers dug into the satin.

The playful groom vanished. The black, hollow stare of the Alpha from the attic locked onto me. The air in the room instantly grew heavy, thick with the sharp scent of pine and iron.

"How is the alterations expert doing?" he asked, his voice a low, vibrating hum.

"She's too slow," Seraphina sighed. "She's afraid of ruining the silk."

"She knows how fragile things can be," Kaelen replied. He didn't blink. He just kept staring at my reflection.

I dropped my gaze to the floor. "I'm almost done."

"Look up," he commanded softly.

"I need to finish pinning the hem."

"Look up, Elara." The Alpha edge bled into his tone.

Seraphina laughed. "She's focusing, Kaelen. Leave her alone."

"I want to see my future sister-in-law's face. I want to see if she's happy for us."

I forced my head up. I met his eyes in the glass.

"I'm thrilled," I deadpanned.

"You don't look thrilled."

"It's just my face."

"Smile for us, Elara."

I bared my teeth in a stiff, unnatural grimace.

Kaelen smirked. "Beautiful."

Seraphina turned in his arms. "Stop teasing her. Focus on me."

"I'm always focused on you."

She reached up, her manicured fingers tracing his sharp jawline. She stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips right over the pulse point on his neck.

Right where he had forced my face into the floorboards ten hours ago. Right where his scent gland pulsed with dominance.

My stomach violently twisted.

I clamped my teeth together. The sharp sting of my own fangs cut into the inside of my cheek. Hot, metallic copper flooded my tongue. I swallowed the blood, my throat tight.

My hands started to shake. I tried to steady them against the dress, but the tremors traveled down my wrists.

The silver pearl-tipped pin slipped from my grasp.

It bounced off the hardwood floor with a sharp tink, rolling under the edge of the satin train.

Seraphina pulled away from Kaelen and glared down at me.

"Careful!" she snapped. "Those pins cost more than your car. If you snag the fabric, I swear—"

"I'm sorry," I muttered, scrambling forward on my knees.

"I'll find it." Kaelen released her waist.

He dropped to a crouch right in front of me.

The distance between us vanished. His broad shoulders blocked Seraphina from my view. The overwhelming aroma of crushed pine assaulted my senses, wiping out the floral perfume of the dressing room.

I reached for the silver pin resting near his polished leather shoe.

His hand shot out.

He didn't grab the pin. He slammed his palm flat over the back of my hand, pinning it to the floor.

I flinched, my mouth opening in a silent gasp.

"Got it," he lied, looking over his shoulder at Seraphina.

"Bring it up here," she told him, turning back to the mirror to adjust her hair.

"In a second. It's caught in the rug fibers."

He turned his attention back to me. He shifted his weight forward, pressing down.

The heavy gold band of his engagement ring ground violently into my knuckles.

Bone grated against bone. A sharp, searing spike of agony shot up my forearm.

"Kaelen," I whispered, my voice trembling.

"Speak up, Elara," he mocked, keeping his tone pitched low. "Tell her what I'm doing."

"Move your hand."

"Make me."

He pressed harder. The edge of the ring tore at my skin.

"Tell her," he challenged.

"Seraphina," I choked out.

"What is taking so long down there?" she called out. "My neck is getting stiff."

"Just a stubborn knot," Kaelen answered her, his eyes never leaving mine.

He leaned an inch closer. "You didn't sleep."

"I slept fine."

"You have dark circles under your eyes. Were you waiting for me to come back to the attic?"

"You're insane."

"I'm getting married today. Wish me luck."

"I wish you nothing."

He twisted his wrist. The metal dug a fresh groove into my bruised flesh. I squeezed my eyes shut, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a tear. My jaw ached from clenching it so tight.

"You taste like blood," he murmured, his gaze dropping to my lips. "Did you bite your cheek watching her kiss me?"

"I hate you."

"Good. Keep hating me. It makes this much more entertaining."

"You're hurting me."

"I haven't even started."

He finally lifted his hand.

My knuckles throbbed instantly. Angry red marks bloomed across my pale skin, the faint outline of his wedding ring stamped into my flesh. I pulled my hand back, cradling it against my stomach.

Kaelen calmly reached forward and snatched the silver pin from the floorboards.

He stood up, his towering frame casting a long, heavy shadow over me. He adjusted his cuff, perfectly composed, the picture of a devoted Alpha groom.

He held the pin out to Seraphina.

"Here you go, my love."

"Thank you." She took it with a bright smile, oblivious to the violence that had just occurred two feet away from her.

Kaelen turned his gaze back down to me. The mock warmth vanished from his features, replaced by a terrifying, icy void.

"Don't ruin her dress at the banquet tonight," he said.