Chapter 145

Ella

Logan glanced at me as though asking for permission. Right now, I wasn’t horribly keen on continuing our conversation about the fake wedding, so I nodded almost imperceptibly, grateful to have a few moments to myself to digest everything.

“Very well,” Logan said with an almost inaudible sigh, turning back to face his brother. “Let’s go.”

“Excellent,” Harry grinned, draping his arm around Logan’s shoulders. I watched as they walked away, but then my stomach sank. Marina wasn’t going with them. Her eyes assessed me, a smile curling her lips as if she were looking at a puzzle she was intent on solving.

“Your dress is… lovely, Ella,” she began, her voice laced with a tinge of something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. Was it jealousy? Sarcasm? “It… suits you. Surprisingly.”

Surprisingly?

I can sense the sarcasm in her voice, and for a moment, I want to ask her what she means. Now, more than ever, I wish I had my wolf in the back of my mind to help me navigate the emotions I’m feeling, but I don’t. And maybe because my wolf isn’t here, that’s why I’m able to restrain myself.

“Thank you,” I replied, forcing a smile. “You look stunning as well, Marina.”

She nodded and took a step closer. “Say, this party is getting stuffy.” She jerked her head toward the door leading to the sprawling gardens outside. “Come on. Let’s go.”

Before I could even resist, I was being led away once again, our high heels clicking against the marble floors as we moved towards the French doors that opened out into the garden. As we stepped outside, the cool night air greeted us.

I hated to admit it, but despite the company, it was a relief from the stuffy, perfumed atmosphere inside. Maybe some fresh air was what I needed after all.

The garden was nothing short of magnificent. Strings of fairy lights hung from the trees, illuminating the pathways and creating a dreamy atmosphere. The scent of blooming hydrangeas and roses filled the air, their colors a vibrant backdrop against the dim night sky.

Marina led me down a cobblestone path, her demeanor shifting subtly. “So, how are things going with Logan? You two seem to be getting along well,” she said, although I could still sense that hint of something unreadable in her voice.

“Considering we’re engaged, getting along is the least we can do,” I lied, my eyes watching her closely. I sensed that she was fishing for something.

She chuckled, and we walked a few more steps. “How did you meet, again?” she asked, her voice having that telltale lilt to it.

I blanched slightly. “It was fate, really,” I said, recalling the night that Logan and I just happened to stumble upon each other—or rather, when he just happened to stumble upon me. “We just… ran into each other.”

Her eyes met mine for a moment before she looked away. “Oh, I see. How… romantic.”

I could feel her probing, her questions inching closer to something she was clearly dying to ask. Deciding to flip the conversation around, I jumped in. “What about you and Harry? How did you two meet?” I asked.

She hesitated, her eyes narrowing for just a split second before she replied. “Oh, you know, the usual way. Social event. We just clicked.”

“That’s... nice,” I said, curious about her vague response. “So, what drew you to him?”

“Ah,” she paused, looking uncomfortable for the first time that night. “Harry is… he’s different.”

“Different how?”

She looked up, as if searching for an answer in the night sky. “He’s just not like the other guys I’ve known. He’s more, you know, complex.”

“Complex,” I echoed, intrigued not only by her choice of words, but also her obvious reluctance to delve deeper into her past with Harry.

“Yes, but enough about me,” she switched gears abruptly. “Tell me more about you and Logan. Have you set a wedding date yet?”

“Why the sudden interest in our wedding plans?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I’m just curious. Is that a crime?”

“Oh, no, it’s perfectly natural to be curious,” I said. “But we haven’t set a date yet. We’re… taking our time.”

Her gaze was sharp, too keen. “And what does ‘taking your time’ entail, exactly?”

“Just that,” I smiled, the lie slipping from my tongue. I had no intention of marrying Logan, fake or not. I wasn’t about to get involved in a fake wedding. “We’re in no rush.”

“Hmm, intriguing,” she said, her eyes scanning my face as if trying to read between the lines of what I was saying. I felt oddly exposed in front of her, as though she could see right through me, right through my lies. “You’re not like the other girls Logan has dated, are you?”

“What makes you say that?”

She shrugged. “Just an observation.”

We continued our walk through the sprawling garden in silence for a while. The further we moved away from the party, the more the scent of roses, lilacs, and jasmine mingled in the air, creating a scent that felt oddly intoxicating. Marina seemed to know this place well, her steps confident as she led me down various winding paths.

Attempting to break the palpable tension, I ventured a question. “Are you enjoying the engagement party?”

“It’s… as expected,” Marina said tersely. The so-called ‘compliment’ hung in the air like an arrow poised to strike.

There it was again; Marina’s sarcastic nature. Was she like this with everyone, or only me? Right now, I was leaning toward the latter—and for a moment, I was tempted to call her out on her rudeness, but I checked myself.

But some battles simply aren’t worth fighting, especially not when I already had so much on my mind.

We walked in silence for another minute, and I realized we were farther from the party than I had anticipated. The flickering lights and murmur of conversation were now obscured by a veil of trees and shrubs, and the air was still and quiet.

“I should probably head back,” I said, stopping in my tracks and pointing over my shoulder with my thumb. “My parents might be wondering where I disappeared to.”

“Oh, but I just want to show you something,” Marina said, grinning. “It’s not much further.”

I paused, taken aback by her sudden enthusiasm. It was as though there was a part of me that wanted to follow her, but there was another part that was unsure. But finally, realizing that it was likely nothing, I decided to follow. After all, what was the worst that could happen?

“Alright,” I said, nodding. “Let’s go.”

We continued a little further. Soon, when we turned a corner and the forest of foliage opened up, my worries were momentarily quelled.

In front of us us lay a beautiful Koi pond, framed with stone and surrounded by elegantly carved statues. The fish glided gracefully through the water, their orange and white scales shimmering beneath the soft light of the lanterns that hung from the surrounding trees.

“Wow. It’s lovely,” I exclaimed, surprised by the unexpected sight.

“This is my favorite spot at this establishment,” Marina revealed, a slight smile gracing her lips.

I leaned over the edge of the pond, fascinated by the delicate swirls of color weaving through the water. The fish seemed to dance, their motions oddly entrancing. I felt myself grow still, the serenity of the scene seeping into me.

And it was then that I saw it—a reflection in the water that froze my heart.

Marina was holding a small knife, its blade glinting menacingly in the dim light.

Before I could react, her arm was around me, the knife pressed tightly against my throat.

“Don’t scream,” she whispered in my ear. “Don’t move. Or I’ll slice your neck open.”