Cursed Lycan's Scarred Mate
Chapter 30: Feeling beautiful for the first time

Chapter 30: Feeling beautiful for the first time

Vivian involuntarily gasped from Ronan’s large, rough hand rested lightly on her throat. He tilted her head back so she could half look up at him.

The Lycan Alpha berated himself for snapping his last thread of control. His feelings towards Vivian were a chaotic mix of possessiveness, protectiveness, and ancient grudges.

Nevertheless, his Lycan beast was not a creature she should have been consorting with.

Vivian’s eyes drooped half-closed. As an omega wolf, it was futile to battle against Ronan’s superior strength. The man and his beastly Lycan could snap her bones in a heartbeat if they desired.

The Lycan Alpha spun her around in his arms. Vivian was taken by surprise by his sudden embrace, which tightened ever so slightly, one arm wrapped around her waist and the other draped across her back.

"You don’t understand, Vivian," Ronan said with desperation in his tone, his brows taut with conflict and concern. "My Lycan is too dangerous. I’m sorry for always being such a cold bastard; I’m trying my best here."

Vivian’s heart, which had hardened moments ago, softened, and she relaxed in his arms. Neither of them understood the painful attraction and pull between their shifter sides, nor did it make sense in just a matter of a few days.

Before Vivian could voice her thoughts, Ronan released her abruptly, almost as if a sudden realisation dawned on him. He took a few steps back, clearing this throat awkwardly.

"Forget what I said," the Lycan Alpha said sternly, looking away. "Madame Sunny Shu is waiting for you. Go and try on the dresses and pick out whatever you want for your niece."

And there it was again.

That cold, forced distance she didn’t like.

For a moment, she witnessed his rare reveal of vulnerability when he embraced her so fiercely. His voice was thick with desperation and something else that Vivian couldn’t quite decipher.

However, she didn’t wish to speak to him any further. Much like Dane did in the past, Ronan seemed adamant on controlling her decisions and actions.

The she-wolf shifted on her heels swiftly, taking a few steps towards the exit of the attached bathhouse.

"Your niece," Ronan called out, halting Vivian in her tracks. "Did you ask her why she fled to ShadowFall?"

"She’s being vague," Vivian replied nonchalantly without turning around to face him. "She’ll admit what she knows sooner or later."

Without further ado, Vivian left the bathhouse shortly. Ronan released a frustrated sigh and punched the nearby wall, which resulted in a large crack in the brick structure.

He cussed under his breath, knowing that Madame Sunny Shu would chew his ear off for the damages caused to her bathhouse. Of course, the financial compensation was something he could easily afford, but her nagging would irk him to no end.

Just what the hell was he doing? Why did things have to be so complicated between him and Vivian? It was only a few days since her miraculous intrusion into his life and she was already the source of all his conflict and moral dilemmas.

Vivian, on the other hand, attempted to distract herself from their silent feud by trying on the dresses Madame Sunny Shu selected for her. She wasn’t particularly excited about the beautiful fabrics as she was before. Donning them and searching for approval in their appeal seemed more like a chore now.

Based on practicality and Madame Sunny Shu’s suggestions, Vivian selected three formal designer dresses and three casual travelling outfits.

She picked out a few suitable outfits for Avery as well.

"You know, deary, I don’t know what’s going on between you and the Wolfsbane lad but if you want to get back at him for whatever reason he made you angry, I’d say pick the most expensive dresses," Madame Sunny Shu suggested with a sly smile, accompanied by a wicked laugh afterward. "You ought to strike the lad where it hurts him most."

"I’d rather not," Vivian refused, shaking her head. "I wish I could pay for all this myself. I don’t want to spend more than necessary."

"The Wolfsbane clan is a fairly rich and distinguished family further up North," Madame Sunny Shu said, twirling a strand of her hair around her finger. "A few outfits from my atelier aren’t going to put a dent in Ronan’s pockets."

Vivian was curious about the background and history of the Wolfsbane clan. She was ignorant of any information about Ronan’s family and heritage because the man was mysterious by nature and never cared to divulge anything about himself.

However, she didn’t want to enquire further about him.

Not at the moment anyway.

"We are done now. Can we have these packed up?" Vivian dodged Madame Sunny Shu’s wicked suggestion and forced a smile, to which the lady sighed in defeat.

The Atelier’s owner packaged the outfits and lined up the intricately and exquisitely designed white boxes on the countertop. The lady also selected a range of suitable shoes and boots for Vivian upon Ronan’s insistence while the man waited outside.

"Now now, deary," Madame Sunny Shu started, walking back around the counter to Vivian’s side. "Your mate outside insisted that you wear one of the outfits right now. My assistants will help you and we’ll do something with your hair."

"He’s not my mate," Vivian firmly denied. "I’ll use something that’s easy to move around in."

Madame Sunny Shu’s assistants whisked Vivian away to the dresser room. The she-wolf wasn’t quite familiar with the skin treatments they performed on her, nor the serums they used to repair the blemishes on her skin.

If only they could heal the burns and scars of the Wickan magic.

Madame Sunny Shu chose a soft, dark lavender gown for Vivian. It was designed with a fitted bodice and emphasised Vivian’s figure. The neckline was a modest scooped design and the sleeves tapered slightly at her wrists.

And flowing down from her waist, the skirt fell in soft pleats.

The Atelier’s assistants arranged Vivian’s hair in a half-up, half-down style, braiding a small section from each side and using a silver clasp to hold them together at the back. The rest of Vivian’s hair cascaded down her shoulders.

When they were done pampering her up, Madame Sunny Shu guided her to a large mirror at the other end of the dressing room.

Vivian’s eyes widened in astonishment when she gazed upon her own reflection in the mirror. Even with the bandage across her forehead, her face appeared much healthier and youthful than before.

She shakily brought a hand to touch her own cheek, shifting her head from side to side to gauge the state of her appearance. The dress even complemented the shape of her body perfectly.

Vivian never imagined she would don such a beautiful dress in her life. Even the simple-designed flat pump shoes she wore stood out. She twirled around in excitement, assessing every inch of herself.

"I knew you would change your mind, deary," Madame Sunny Shu said, nodding approvingly. "A woman is always happy when she wears beautiful things. It’s enough to remove all the anger and hurt in her."

"Thank you." Vivian turned to the lady with a grateful smile.

For the first time in her miserable and woeful life, Vivian had felt truly beautiful.