Asami smoothed down the artfully overlapping folds of fabric at the front of her wedding dress, desperate for something to do with her hands. They continued shaking, so she gave up, clenching her fingers into white-knuckled fists. Over the past month, she had tried to pretend this day wasn't looming on the horizon, but no amount of tinkering with her inventions could keep her mind off her impending nuptials.
In most respects, her family was progressive. Her mother had given her plenty of freedom as a child, and her father had always encouraged her thirst for knowledge. However, on this issue, he had been absolutely firm: she needed to marry and mate with an alpha—and not just any alpha, either. After several months of negotiations, Asami had been promised to Korra, daughter to Chief Tonraq of the Northern and Southern Water Tribes.
Logically, it made perfect sense. The South Pole had oil, the black gold that made most of Future Industries' machines work. Her father had the advanced drills needed to access it. A marriage between her and Korra would cement their trade alliance with blood instead of mere ink on a contract. But that fact didn't offer Asami much comfort as she puttered around the dressing room. She hadn't even gotten the chance to see her mate before their wedding day.
Her father had met Korra, of course. "She's a fine alpha," he had said. "Smart as well as strong. A fierce warrior and a powerful leader."
Those assurances were little comfort. Moving from Republic City to the South Pole would be a difficult adjustment all on its own without worrying about catering to some stubborn alpha's whims. Some people claimed female alphas were less aggressive, but others claimed the opposite. Asami hadn't met enough of them to form her own conclusions, considering how rare they were.
Asami swallowed, glancing at her reflection in the mirror. Her dress was blue and white, Water Tribe colors rather than her usual red, and there was a fair amount of pale skin on display. Her arms were bare except for the decorative bracelets on them, and the sharp neckline plunged low between her breasts. Her cheeks heated up. That was another problem. She knew the purpose of this marriage wasn't just to cement a trade agreement, but to produce heirs. That meant in a matter of hours, she would be mating for the first time, not just with an alpha, but with a total stranger.
The prospect was terrifying, even more so because the wedding had been scheduled to coincide with her cycle for the best chance at conception. Her heat hadn't started yet, but Asami could feel it coming, a warm tingle that lived beneath her skin and coiled deep in her core. She hoped it would hold off just a little longer. Common sense dictated that her heat would help her enjoy her new mate's touch, but she wasn't sure she wanted to enjoy it. Although if she went into heat immediately after the wedding, it might mean she and Korra would need to try less before she fell pregnant...
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. A moment later, Senna slipped in. Asami had only met her future mother-in-law that morning, but so far, the older omega seemed nice. She had been polite and even sympathetic, for which Asami was grateful. Life at the South Pole would be easier with at least one friendly person to keep company with.
"Have the omegas finished preparing you?" Senna asked, pausing to sniff the room. Asami blushed. Was her scent changing already?
"Yes," she said, forcing herself to hold Senna's gaze.
Senna's fingertips grazed her arm, causing her to shudder. "Everything's ready, except this." She withdrew something from her dress, and Asami's eyes widened. It was a betrothal necklace, much like the one that hung around Senna's neck. The blue beadwork was stunning and the white ivory shone like moonstones.
Despite how beautiful it was, Asami's stomach lurched. "Thank you," she murmured, doing her best to force an appreciative smile.
"Korra made this for you. Here, let me put it on."
