The next two weeks went by quickly.

Although Adam had promised me that he would focus on the more important issues, I had not seen Diedrick since the incident in Adam's office.

I never asked Adam, but I was starting to think Diedrick might have been killed. The thought, while relieving to a degree, worried me. However, I didn't have time to worry about it too much.

While Adam was hard at work trying to find the source of the red tulips, Liu and I had put our heads together to plan the wedding of the century.

The flowers had been ordered, the cake was in the process of being made and the ballroom had been completely refurbished to hold the multitudes of people that would be in attendance.

Vega, of course, was thrilled because it meant that Nwabueze and his family would be returning. Liu, on the other hand, seemed annoyed by all the guests.

"Where are we going to put them?" She asked me, irritated. "This is your wedding, for Christ's sake. You should have the castle to yourself afterwards, not dealing with an overflow of people."

We stood in the foyer, mapping out where all the flowers would be and where the guests would enter.

"Relax," I said laughing. "It's not that big of a deal."

She crossed her arms and shook her head as I pointed to show the florist where we would be putting the large crystal vases.

"I think you're giving too much grace, letting all these people stay here. I don't know why Adam doesn't just hole them all up in an inn in the village," she muttered.

"He is," I said. "Only the important people are staying in the castle. Speaking of the village, what time is my fitting?"

She looked down at her watch.

"In thirty minutes."

I groaned.

"We need to find Vega and Mrs. Chandler so we can head out."

Vega, her mother, and Liu were all going with me to Laura's shop for my final dress fitting. Liu and Vega were also going to try on the bridesmaids dresses I had ordered them.

After making final arrangements with the florist, Liu had someone fetch Mrs. Chandler and Vega so we could leave.

The trip into town took only a few minutes. We parked in front of Laura's store as the guards that came with us went inside to make sure it was safe.

Adam, much to my disdain, had ordered an around-the-clock security detail to accompany me everywhere. While the two burly and intimidating men were never too close, nor did they ever come into the bedroom, the thought of being followed did not appeal to me.

They always went into rooms before I did, they never let me go anywhere without them, and I found their ever present stoic facial expressions to be rather unsettling.

One of the men, whom I affectionately called 'Bear' due to my lack of knowledge of his actual name, came out of the shop and gave the all-clear to the driver who unlocked the car doors and let the four of us out.

The snow that was falling managed to get caught in my hair, despite the fact that it was a brief, ten step walk from the car into the building.

As I walked inside the store, I brushed the snowflakes from my hair and looked around at all of the wedding dresses. There were so many of them, one would have thought there weren't enough women in the town to buy them all. Laura had every size, every design, every fabric and cut that a girl could dream of.

I walked over to look at one of the dresses as Vega, Liu, and Mrs. Chandler all hurried inside as well.

Bear and the other man, whom I called 'Moose', followed them into the store and locked the door behind them as they stood guard beside it.

I rolled my eyes as I saw this and tried not to think about the fact that they were practically my babysitters while Adam worked.

Laura came out of a back room and smiled when she saw us.

"Hello, ladies! Are you ready to try on dresses?"

Vega and Liu nodded enthusiastically while Mrs. Chandler sat down on the couch.

"I'm just here for moral support," she said to Laura.

Laura smiled and went over to a tall, closed-door closet. She reached into her pocket and produced a ring of keys to unlock the closet door before pulling out the two crimson red bridesmaid dresses.

"Woah," Vega said.

They were both chiffon dresses colored a deep red. Along with a flowy, floor-length skirt, the dress had a strapless neckline with a beaded corset.

"I told you that you would like them," I said, elbowing Vega.

"I love it," she said, walking over to Laura and taking her dress from her hands. Liu did the same.

"This looks amazing," Liu said to Laura.

Laura smiled. "I'm glad you like them."

I sat down next to Mrs. Chandler as the girls went into the dressing rooms to change.

When they came out, Mrs. Chandler and I applauded.

"You two look beautiful," I said, smiling.

They stood in front of the mirrors as Laura checked the measurements and made a few notes to hem Vega's skirt and tighten the corset on Liu's dress.

"I can't wait to see yours," Liu said to me excitedly.

I looked at Laura who smiled.

"It's ready if you are."

I took a deep breath and stood up as she led me back over to the locked closet.

She pulled out the huge, white dress and helped me carry it into the dressing room so I could change. The skirt was long and heavy, making it difficult to carry alone. It easily weighed fifty or sixty pounds.

Laura helped me change, tying the back together.

"Are you ready to show them?" She asked me once she was finished.

I nodded slowly, mesmerized by the intricate beading that my fingers gently danced over.

She pulled back the curtain and gathered up the long train so I could walk easier.

I bit my lip nervously as I walked around the corner into the room where Liu, Vega, and Mrs. Chandler sat.

Immediately, Liu's jaw went slack and Vega gasped.

"Oh my God," Mrs. Chandler whispered.

I smiled anxiously as I turned to look at myself in the mirror.

I watched as Laura went around and flared the back of the dress out behind me. The cathedral train nearly reached the back of the store.

I got tears in my eyes as I looked at the wedding dress of my dreams.

The off-the-shoulder neckline was beaded intricately with diamonds and plunged in the back to reveal a delicate design of crystals that continued down the skirt.

The scalloped fabric in the back stretched on for what seemed like miles. I placed my hands on my waist and twirled slightly, nervous at how unexpectedly heavy the dress was.

"It's all hand-sewn," Laura told me. "I called in some help from a few friends who helped me do the beading once I had sewn together the skirt itself. I hope you like it."

I smiled and wiped away a tear that fell down my cheek.

"I love it," I said earnestly.

It was beautiful and all I ever wanted, plus more.

I looked in the mirror to see Mrs. Chandler wiping her eyes with her shirt sleeve.

I frowned and turned around.

"Please don't cry," I said, tearing up again.

She laughed.

"These are happy tears, baby girl."

I gulped and looked at Vega.

"And to think," she said softly. "I thought I was going to be prettier than the bride in my dress..."

Liu laughed. "You sure about that now?"

Vega shook her head, still admiring my dress.

"I don't want to take it off," I said laughing, looking back into the mirror.

I saw Laura smile in the reflection.

"I'm happy you like it."

I took a deep breath.

"One more day," Liu reminded me.

I nodded and Vega sighed.

"My best friend is getting married in one day."

I noticed the guards staring at me in the reflection of the mirror and I turned around.

"Don't you dare tell Adam you saw the dress," I said to them.

Bear laughed.

"Ma'am," he said. "I wouldn't ruin that moment for him for anything in this world."

- - -

Adam's P.O.V.

"Damn it!"

I sucked in a sharp breath and slung the paper across the room. It joined a few dozen other books and files on the floor.

I was getting nowhere with my investigation.

No one knew anything about the tulips; where they came from, who put them there, or why they were there.

The security cameras had been tampered with and there was no record of any footage being taken that day.

A guard was dead, his mate and four children were now dependent on me, their Alpha, to take care of them and find out who killed their father and mate.

Not to mention, my soon-to-be wife was now being followed by security detail because I couldn't bear the thought of leaving her alone again.

The thought of what could have happened while I was in Utah made me sick to my stomach.

Evelyn wasn't strong, not physically. She wouldn't have been able to defend herself if whoever had put those bloody flowers outside our bedroom door had decided to come inside the room.

I closed my eyes tight, trying to keep my mind from wondering further.

It wasn't just the flowers we had no clue about, it was also the investigation into the man who had ventured into the post office.

Had I not been so rash and he not have threatened Evelyn, I would have spared Barret Schneider's life to find out exactly who that man had been.

Now, with Ludwig Schneider and his son, Barret, dead, I only had one other person who possibly knew anything about the unknown character: Diedrick.

This was the only reason he was still alive.

Although Evelyn wanted me to believe his advances towards her meant nothing and were unimportant, I thought otherwise.

What kind of self-righteous bastard thinks he could get away with sleeping with an Alpha Superior's mate?

Evelyn wouldn't even let me touch her intimately. I couldn't imagine what it was like to be on the receiving end of her propriety as someone who was not her mate.

The thought of another man putting his hands anywhere near her made my blood boil to a point I didn't think I would be able to control myself.

It made me sick.

It made it easier, however, to know that I could trust her.

In the same way I had easily fought off advances from the Chandler girl, I knew Evelyn wouldn't hesitate to put any man in his place if he dared to make any suggestive comments.

I cringed at the thought of Vega.

Normally, I didn't associate myself with women outside of a professional circle. Of course there were women in my life during my younger years, but not since I had taken over as Alpha Superior. But I was forced to associate with women like Vega now that I had Evelyn.

As an Alpha, avoiding the lustful gazes of women was nearly impossible, but I felt much more uneasy when those gazes came from the best friend of my future wife.

Vega had attempted to seduce me twice.

It angered me to a point of rage to know she had no decency to at least avoid a taken man, much less the mate of her best friend.

However, I had no problem ignoring Vega. Her advances were meaningless and dull. She wasn't Evelyn, not even close.

No one would ever compare to Evelyn's allure.

Although I was unamused and untempted by Vega's charm, or lack thereof, it still weighed in my conscience.

I knew not telling Evelyn was a mistake, but I also knew she had planned for Vega to be in our wedding as a bridesmaid.

They had been best friends since middle school, and I couldn't ruin that relationship knowing Evelyn had already lost so much with the disappearance of her mother and bastard father.

I had decided I would wait until after the wedding, when Vega no longer mattered, to tell Evelyn. But until then, it was a terrible secret that I held with immense guilt.

I heard my office door open and close and then Jace's footfalls echo down the hallway.

I looked up to see him enter the room, immediately taking note of the mess I had made.

"Not getting anywhere?" He asked.

I glared at him.

The answer should have been obvious.

"Well, I have good news," he said.

I sat down in my chair and waited eagerly to hear it.

"Dr. Zosak confirmed that the cause of death for the guard was an injection of lethal poison into the bloodstream, so that means no Vampires."

I sighed in relief.

"That's not all," he continued. "He also says he thinks he's found a way to help Warren Chandler, perhaps even restore his memories."

I raised my eyebrow.

"How?"

"He didn't say," Jace shrugged. "But if we can get Warren Chandler's memories restored, we might get a lead on any Vampires in the area where we found him."

I nodded.

"Good work."

"Are you nervous?" He asked me.

I looked at him in confusion.

"About what?"

Jace pursed his lips in annoyance.

"Your wedding tomorrow," he said incredulously.

I smiled.

"I don't think so."

"Well, I'm nervous for you," Jace said. "I can't imagine being tied down to one woman for the rest of my life."

My mind immediately went to Liu as he said this.

"You'll get there one day," I assured him.

Jace was still young. He had a lot to learn about life and love before he would understand how foolish he had been to treat Liu the way he had.

He shrugged in response.

"Maybe one day."

- - -

Evelyn's P.O.V.

It was the night before my wedding.

After showering, I came out of the bathroom to find Vega and Liu entering the bedroom with armfuls of snacks and blankets.

"What on earth are you doing?" I asked them.

Vega dropped the bags of potato chips and her pillow and blanket onto the bed.

"Pre-wedding sleepover, duh," she said.

Liu rolled her eyes.

"We figured since Adam couldn't be in here that you would appreciate the company."

I smiled, having forgotten about the traditional rule in which the groom was unable to see his bride the night before their wedding.

"Sounds fun," I commented.

I walked over to the wardrobe and changed into my pajamas.

"Where is Adam anyways?" Vega asked.

"Probably staying late in the office if I had to guess," I answered.

I wasn't sure why she cared.

"Are you nervous?" Liu asked me, taking a seat on the couch.

I nodded, trying not to grin like an idiot.

"I'm so excited, though."

"I'm excited for you," Liu replied.

"Just think," Vega said. "In twenty-four hours, you will no longer be a virgin."

I rolled my eyes.

"We were talking about the wedding," I said.

She shrugged.

"Wait," Liu said. "You mean you and Adam haven't had sex yet?"

I shook my head, laughing at the confused look on her face.

"My mom made Evie and I make this stupid promise before we were even old enough to know what it meant and we had to promise to wait until we got married to have sex," Vega said, rolling her eyes.

"I'm guessing you didn't keep it?" Liu asked her.

Vega waved her hand dismissively.

"I had sex for the first time when I was sixteen," she said.

"And she didn't tell her best friend," I added.

Vega shrugged.

"I knew you planned on keeping the promise and I didn't want to deal with your judgement," she said.

"I wouldn't have cared," I replied.

Vega didn't respond.

"I'm still surprised you haven't slept with Adam yet, though," Liu said. "Jace and I slept together a few hours after we met."

"Yeah," Vega added, "and Adam's got the body of a god. I don't understand how you managed to keep that stupid promise."

The body of a god?

It irritated me, however truthful the statement was, that she said that about Adam.

I was the only one allowed to think that.

I heard the door open and looked up to see Adam walk in.

Confusion swept across his features as he saw Liu and Vega.

"You're not allowed to be here," I said, laughing.

"Why?" He asked slowly.

"You've never heard of the groom not being able to see his wife the night before their wedding?" Liu asked.

Adam looked at me incredulously.

"You've got to be kidding me... I swear you're making these rules up as you go," he said groaning.

I shook my head.

He huffed and turned to leave.

"See you tomorrow, Mr. Deveraux," I said smiling.

He winked at me.

"Sleep tight, Mrs. Deveraux."

I smiled and bit my lip as he left the room and closed the door behind him.

Vega gagged.

"That was disgusting."

"That," I said, "is what building a relationship on something other than sex looks like."

She rolled her eyes.

We stayed up for a few hours, talking a bit. Soon everyone became tired and we all went to sleep.

I slept peacefully, knowing what the next day was bringing me.

I'm getting married tomorrow.

- - -