The Alpha’s Rejected And Broken Mate
Chapter 26

Sophie

POV

We make our way into town, to the only bridal shop, there is, Amber, sulking in the back. I know she doesn't want to come with us, but too bad. She's stuck being my maid of honor whether she likes it or not. I feel a large spurt of satisfaction, knowing that she'll be forced to watch Darius and I exchange vows and get married right in front of her. Thanks to me, she has a front-row seat, so to speak. Tony, the added security for Amber, sat next to her, ramrod straight, his eyes sweeping the outside scenery every so often. I roll my eyes. At least he's quiet.

Mother pulls into the parking lot and we file out, Tony right next to Amber who barely even glances at him. We all walk inside, Luna Marian patiently waiting for us in the waiting area. "Sophie" she exclaims "Marissa, I'm so glad you've made it. Are you ready for dress shopping" she laughs.

I notice that she avoids talking about Amber, as though she's not there.

Tony sits on a sofa, keeping his eyes fixed on Amber as she stands there, fidgeting with the chunky gold bracelet on her wrist.

"I think we should find Amber's dress first," I say firmly and she glances at me, then looks away.

When a sales assistant comes over, Luna Marian waves her away. "We can find our own way around, thank you," she tells the woman firmly.

I have the desire to put Amber into the ugliest looking dress I can and she won't have any choice but to wear it. I glide over to a rack of dresses and absent-mindedly begin to flick through them. Luna Marian joins me.

"Do you have an idea of color? That way we can help" she asks me.

I look over at Amber. Her red hair would look horrendous with an orange or yellow dress, I think to myself gleefully.

"I was thinking maybe a burnt orange or pastel yellow color," I say offhand.

Mother looks scandalous but bites her tongue. It is my wedding after all, so what I want or say goes.

Amber swallows looking extremely pale at the idea.

Luna Marian smirks, obviously liking the idea. "I'll go check on the other rack," she said pointing to it and wandering over. Mother joins her and soon the two of them begin to talk in hushed voices, having a grand old chat as they look.

Amber begins to absent-mindedly pace back and forth, her jaw clenched and her eyes shooting daggers at everyone. It was so obvious how she didn't want to be here, but she didn't have a choice. I spy an orange dress at the back and pull it towards me, taking it off the rack with a flourish. It's hideous, like seriously ugly. A burnt orange color with a sweetheart bodice that gathers tightly at the waist and then flows down to about knee length from the looks of it. It has spaghetti straps and a ribbon around the waist. I grin triumphantly. "This one looks perfect" I gush, Luna Marian and mother coming over to look at it.

"Very um different" mother comments weakly.

"I think it will look fabulous on Amber" Luna Marian exclaims delightedly, turning towards her.

Amber says nothing.

I thrust the dress at her and motion towards the dressing room. "Well go on, you have to try it on" I urge "we have to see what it looks like. It might need altering" I add, shooting a glance at her rather large bosom.

She takes the dress with a trembling hand and disappears into the dressing room, while the rest of us wait patiently.

"Well, what's taking so long?" I call out, "do you need help?"

"No" comes back Amber's muffled voice "I'm um, coming out now" she adds quietly. We're the only ones in the store and it's not until later that I realize Luna Marian organized it that way.

Amber comes sauntering out slowly and my mouth drops open in shock. I didn't think it was possible, but even in such a damn ugly dress, she manages to look gorgeous. Instead of the burnt orange making her look washed out, it made her skin look like it was glowing and the bodice made her cleavage look impressive. The dress clung to her curvaceous figure and she looked radiant. I frown. This wasn't what I had planned at all. Luna Marian takes one look and shakes her head.

"It's not the one," she says firmly "go and take it off."

"Ready" I call out and then step out of the dressing room, my hands on my hips and beaming at them both.