The Luna Queen's Rebirth (Ellie and Dominic) novel Chapter 184

Chapter 184

Ellie POV

My mother rushed past me like I wasn’t even there.

For a moment, I just stood frozen, watching the hem of her deep purple gown sweep across the floor as she dropped to her knees beside Vivian, her white-gloved hands hovering helplessly over Vivian’s cheek, which was already swelling an ugly, angry red beneath the smear of blood.

“Vivian,” she breathed, helping Vivian to her feet. “Oh, gods, sweetheart… what happened to you?” Vivian sniffled, giving me a dirty look, but said nothing. My mother stared at me in shock, then looked down, and gasped.

I dropped my gaze without meaning to, and that was when I saw it

Blood.

It spread across the pale fabric on me in slow, uneven blooms, soaking into the delicate stitching Mom had spent weeks stitching as a young wolf.

My fingers lifted, trembling slightly as I touched the edge of the stain, as if I could undo it by being gentle enough.

My mother’s dress… ruined.

I regretted that more than anything else. But my mother made no move toward me. She just stood there, holding Vivian like she was the most precious thing in the world.

The music grew louder, waiting for me.

My mother was still staring, Vivian still leaning heavily on her.

Without a word, I turned and walked toward the chapel.

“Wait-Ellie!” my mom called out, but I didn’t look back.

I had a wedding to get to, and I was going to find no sympathy here.

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Dominic’s POV

The music had been playing for a bit before the doors open.

Everyone was getting antsy.

Including myself.

The sound settled into my bones, into the hollow space behind my ribs that hadn’t felt steady since that morning, since last night, or since leaving her side.

I stood at the front of the aisle, shoulders squared, hands clasped behind my back so no one saw the restless flex of my fingers.

+30 Bonus

If only I didn’t feel like a man waiting for a verdict.

The guests shifted in their seats behind me, silk whispering against silk, jewelry clinking softly as heads turned toward the doors in anticipation.

She’ll come.

She will.

It’s fine.

Still, my pulse betrayed me, ticking faster, harder, every beat echoing in the quiet space beneath the music.

When the the doors finally began to open, I almost felt a flash of relief shower me.

The light spilled through first.

The breath left my lungs so abruptly it almost hurt. Ellie entered the room and stood there for a moment. A gasp rippled across the crowd as the light caught the red stain on her dress. But she didn’t stand there for long. She lifted her chin, eyes glinting, and walked up the aisle.

She never stopped looking at me the whole time.

Her opal eyes caught the sunlight pouring down from the ceiling, and for a second it felt like the entire room disappeared, like the sound, the people, the ceremony, all of it fell away until there was nothing left but that

look.

Something inside my chest loosened.

All the anger I carried. All the frustration. All the helpless, useless rage that had nowhere to go but inward.

Gone.

Stripped clean in an instant I hadn’t prepared for.

She looked like home, even with a crimson stain on her wedding gown.

Ellie hesitated only briefly before placing her hand in my waiting one.

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Her fingers were warm.

Softer than I remember.

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