"You girls talk about it," Daryn replied, trying his best to wriggle out of the situation. "I will join the party."

Caleb's wife, Pia was a passionate woman. On a moral level she believed that one should stand for their right and had a deep sense of responsibility. Born and brought up in the royal family of the Storm Furs Pack, she was a very refined woman and groomed for the society she belonged to. Having studied in a boarding school, she had once involved herself in social and political activities. She came with her shortcomings. Pia usually expressed herself without thinking about appropriateness. In one word she was pretty stubborn and determined. Unless she achieved her goal, she worked steadily for it.

​​

"Come on Daryn, you cannot ignore today's meeting. I have so many designs with me. You have to come. I want both of you to select the dress. This is your wedding after all!" she pushed him.

Daryn snapped, "What am I going to do choosing a wedding gown for Maya? She is capable of doing it herself."

"You have to come. You can't let all my efforts go just like that. What if Maya doesn't like anything? In that case we have to go and select dresses," she was almost tearful.

Daryn looked up with a deep sigh. He gritted his teeth. "Okay, I'll be there," he replied and disconnected the call.

An hour later Daryn pulled in the car parking of their mansion. The Georgian style mansion with the same theme decorations spanned across ten thousand square feet. It had a vegetation enclosed garden that opened into an orchard. A river flew on the east side. The mansion had a large room on the first floor that opened on the terrace. The river view terrace added to its fine elegance and this was the room, which belonged to Daryn. There was a tennis court in the southern garden. An indoor pool on the terrace with glass on all the sides indicated the luxury. An outdoor pool was right next to the river with its own deck. Along the shoreline, two boats and a yacht were anchored.

As soon as he stepped out of the garage, he tossed the key to the guard and walked inside. He heard the girls squealing. Avoiding them, he went straight to the bar of the living room and poured himself a glass of whiskey.

Maya and Pia were talking excitedly about her wedding gown. There were several that Pia had brought with her from a famous designer shop in the downtown and all of them were now displayed on the various sofas in the living room. Maya rushed to him and intertwined her hand on his arm. She swayed lazily and asked, "Which one do you like?"

Pia walked up to them. With her hands across her chest she narrowed her eyes and said, "Hello Daryn."

Daryn lifted his glass. "Hello," he replied rather dully. "You can choose anyone you like. Why ask me?"

"What?" Pia lamented. "You have to choose for me." She tried to drag him to the gowns.

The sight of them appalled Daryn. He resisted and kept standing stubbornly. "I am not good at this," he said, removing her hand from his. Not even bothering to see the disappointment on her face, he gulped the whiskey down his throat and turned to make another peg.

Maya walked back to the wedding gowns along with Pia.

Why did she return? His mind was not functioning right. He gulped down another peg and poured the third one. He would marry Maya. She was a princess and a deserving candidate for the Prince of the Silver Crescent. He would forget her. His reverie was broken when Maya shrieked, "This is so beautiful!" I will wear this one!" She danced holding a white gown with meters and meters of tulle. It looked ethereal. "Should I try?" she asked Pia while hoping that Daryn listened to her.

"Of course!" Pia was happy that she liked one of them. "Try and show it to Daryn. You are going to be his bride in a month's time. You have to look best." She laughed.

Daryn rolled his eyes. He didn't want to see Maya in the wedding gown. He picked his glass and went upstairs to his bedroom. Pia and Maya instantly picked two more gowns they had previously liked and hurried after him. The two girls helped her change into the gown when they reached the room. Daryn walked out to the terrace and looked at the river that was flowing quietly. He sipped the alcohol and a thought crossed his. How about finding where she lived? He pursed his lips at the stupid thought and took another sip. He turned to look at the cool and blue water of the pool. "No," he said aloud. He was determined to get married to Maya and go ahead with his life. She was just a passing thought. She is after all a lowly girl and had no place in the world of purebloods. Daryn closed his eyes to let the intention sink in when suddenly her parted lips flashed in his mind.

His grip on the whiskey glass tightened and it shattered. Frustrated, he clenched his jaw. His posture stiffened and his throat closed up. Annoyed at himself for not being able to control, he walked to the pool and jumped into it. He didn't swim, but just let his body sink to the ground. It cooled him. Yes that's what he needed. Suddenly he saw someone swimming towards him – a girl in her jeans and white blouse. The girl he had seen at the airport. She extended her hand to him and he reached out for her. As soon as she touched him, he pulled her towards him.

Daryn opened his eyes. It was a dream. There was not a place she wouldn't haunt him. Angered, he came out of the pool and jumped off the balcony. He shape shifted and ran towards the forests.

That night Daryn didn't return home. The party was held without him.

---

The much anticipated weekend came. Dawn was dressed in a silk, midnight blue colored dress that had stars sequined on the neckline. A single row of stars was sequined across the dress. She had tied her hair in a bun. Her long silver earrings that touched her shoulders accentuated her neck.

When Azura saw her, he gasped. Kissing on her cheeks, he said, "Thanks. You look lovely." The party would be sufferable with Dawn by his side.