REJECTED YET CHOSEN

Chapter 39

_Lyla's POV_

The morning air was filled with excitement as the preparations for the wedding began. The entire packhouse was bustling with activity. Everywhere I looked, people were rushing around, making sure everything was perfect. I could hear voices giving instructions, laughter echoing through the halls, and the occasional sound of footsteps running across the wooden floors.

Aaron’s mother had taken charge of everything. She wanted the wedding to be flawless.

I stood in the center of my room as Elise, the pack’s designer, measured me for my wedding dress. She worked quickly. She was wrapping the measuring tape around my waist and shoulders, occasionally making notes in her little book.

“You have a lovely figure,” Elise said with a smile. “The dress Aaron picked for the Luna ceremony suited you well. Do you have any thoughts on how you want your wedding gown to look?”

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say. “I… I haven’t really thought about it.”

Aaron’s mother, who was sitting on a nearby chair, gave me a warm smile. “That’s alright, dear. Elise is the best. She’ll make sure you look perfect.”

Elise nodded. “We should go for something elegant. Maybe lace details, a fitted bodice, and a flowing skirt. What do you think?”

I nodded slowly. “That sounds beautiful.”

Aaron’s mother clapped her hands together. “Wonderful! But you’ll need more than just the wedding gown. There is also the reception, the formal dinner, and the celebration after the ceremony. We’ll need extra dresses for those.”

I blinked. “Extra dresses?”

She laughed lightly. “Of course! A Luna’s wedding is a grand event. You can’t wear just one dress.”

I smiled at her enthusiasm, though I wasn’t used to this level of extravagance.

“We’ll also go shopping for jewelry, shoes, and accessories,” she continued. “Everything has to be perfect.”

Elise continued taking my measurements while Aaron’s mother started talking about her own wedding.

“I still remember the day I married Aaron’s father,” she said with a nostalgic smile. “It was the most beautiful day. But you should have seen him! He was so nervous. He kept fixing his cufflinks over and over again.”

I chuckled. “Aaron doesn’t seem like the nervous type.”

She smirked. “Oh, trust me, dear. Even the strongest men get nervous on their wedding day. When the time comes, Aaron will be just as anxious.”

I let out a small sigh, running my fingers over the sleeve of my dress. “Everything is happening so fast. Two weeks isn’t a lot of time.”

She reached over and patted my hand. “It will all come together beautifully, you’ll see.”

After a while, Elise finished her work and packed up her things. “I’ll start working on the designs right away,” she said. “Your first fitting will be in a few days.”

“Thank you, Elise,” I said, offering her a small smile.

Once she left, Aaron’s mother stood up. “I have some matters to attend to. I’ll see you later, dear.”

I nodded, watching her leave before heading toward my room.

As I walked through the hallway, I passed by Aaron’s study. The door was slightly open, and I heard raised voices inside.

I slowed my steps.

Aaron was yelling.

“How did that happen?” His voice was sharp and filled with anger.

I froze.

“She got caught?” He sounded frustrated. “She was supposed to be careful!”

I took a small step closer. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. Who was he talking about?

“She was such a fool,” he continued angrily. “I thought she would be able to get the job done.”

I swallowed hard. The tone of his voice sent a shiver down my spine.

Another voice spoke, but it was too quiet for me to recognize.

Aaron let out a harsh breath. “This could ruin everything.”

There was a long pause. My hands trembled slightly as I tried to understand what was happening.

After a moment, Aaron spoke again, his voice lower but still filled with frustration. “No, we can’t afford any more mistakes. If this doesn’t get handled soon, everything we worked for will fall apart.”

Silence filled the room again.

I took a step back, my mind racing.

I had never heard Aaron like this before. He was always calm and in control. But now, he sounded furious… and worried.

I debated whether I should knock and ask if everything was alright. But a part of me hesitated. What if I wasn’t supposed to hear this?

Before I could make a decision, the other voice spoke again—still too quiet to make out the words.

Aaron’s response was sharp. “No. We stick to the plan. No more slip-ups.”

The tension in his voice made my stomach twist.

I stepped back further. I didn’t know what was going on, but something about this conversation felt… wrong.

I knew I shouldn’t be eavesdropping. Aaron was busy, and whatever this was about, it wasn’t my place to intrude.

Taking a deep breath, I turned to leave. But as I did, my foot made a slight noise against the wooden floor.

For a second, I froze.

Did they hear that?

I waited, but no one came out. The voices continued, though slightly muffled now.

Relieved, I quickly walked away, my mind still spinning.

Aaron had always been secretive about his work, but this was different. He sounded genuinely upset—almost desperate.

I didn’t know what to think.

By the time I reached my room, I had convinced myself that I was overthinking. Maybe it was just some political issue within the pack. Maybe I had misunderstood.

Still, a strange feeling lingered in my chest.

I shook my head. This wasn’t the time to worry about things that didn’t concern me. The wedding was in two weeks. I had enough to think about.

And Aaron was clearly busy with important matters.

I shouldn’t bother him right now.

But later… I would ask him about it.