Freeing Starr✔️

Chapter 36 ~ My new diary

Being with Zion for as long as I did, I always felt like time was moving at a slow pace. I didn't know if it was because of how much I anticipated getting through another day unscathed or if it was my anxiety of something else going wrong but whatever it was, it was gone now. Time was moving at a fast pace and as I continued training and making preparations, the day before the big event finally arrived.

I was drowning in nerves.

"Did we set the flowers right?" I asked Stacia as I busied myself with scanning the ballroom that was decorated splendidly for my mating ceremony.

I loved every single piece of decor and I thanked Stacia constantly for helping me set everything up. I wouldn't have been able to finish everything in time if it weren't for her and Leona's help.

Stacia, who was speaking on the phone with goddess knew who glanced at me casually, "everything is perfect, love. You're just looking at it too long."

"Really?" I sighed in relief, tapping my pen against the notepad in my hand, "maybe I should go take a breather."

"You need it," Leona muttered, slipping up behind me to peer onto my notepad, "is everything accounted for?"

I nodded, "yup, we have everything."

She took the notepad from my hand and flipped a page, "Great, your dress is also finished. Remember to be up by eight am. That gives us four hours to get you ready. First is the greeting of the guests and then we'll start the ceremony by twelve pm, finish by 2pm, take family photos, then have the reception and end everything by six pm to give you and Leon time to... settle down in your room."

My face heated as I nodded along, "got it. By the way, did you invite Michael and Alex like I asked?"

"Yes, they said they'll be here."

"Great, perfect. I can't imagine how uncomfortable they've been since they settled down here. Everything must be so unfamiliar to them. It'd be nice if I could check in and see how they're doing."

"They seemed to be doing pretty well. Leon asked to keep us posted to make sure that they settled in alright. He figured they meant a lot to you since you brought them along."

My heart warmed at that and I smiled, "We aren't necessarily close but they helped me out when I needed them so I'm just returning the favor."

"Alright," Stacia clapped her hands as she pocketed her phone in the pocket of her dress, "That was your brother. Him and my parents should be arriving back by tomorrow. Barely in time to attend the ceremony. I should lock him out when he's here."

Leona sighed, "you're just going to spark another argument with grandma at that rate."

Stacia huffed, "who told her to take my son away from me? Then she brings him back here late for his own brother's mating ceremony. Just see what I do to the prideful witch. As a matter of fact, let's make it so she falls into the river when she arrives," Stacia's eyes lit up in excitement at the idea.

I furrowed my brows in confusion and leaned over to whisper to Leona, "Isn't that her mother she's talking about?"

Leona grimaced, "they're not on the best of terms. Their personalities just don't clash. Grandma is prideful, strict and a die hard perfectionist but mom is the complete opposite. She's not as strict as grandma and she's caring and honest. She's like a free spirit and grandma's the cage that wants to keep her from roaming. Or that's the way she sees it at least. You'll know more when you meet her. My brother chose to leave with them because he wanted to leave the kingdom and explore. My grandparents were the only reason he was allowed to leave. Since they wanted to travel a bit as well, their plans aligned perfectly and my brother grabbed onto their legs. My mother didn't quite like that he chose grandma over her so their relationship took an even bigger dive."