Hi readers! Let me answer a couple of questions I received in the reviews. First of all, I will be writing about the Maxon and America's wedding and their life after marriage. Kiera Cass did write about the wedding in the epilogue of The One, so that chapter will just be for those who never read the series or have forgotten! It will be less original because she already wrote it, but I will also be writing a chapter about America's coronation. I will be aiming for about 2,000 words per chapter. Thank you!

It was five weeks to Maxon and my wedding, and I could feel tension growing in the air. The palace staff were curt when addressed and seemed like their minds were in another realm of wedding planning. Maxon and I had approved the guest list for our wedding, so all I had left to do was be fitted for and choose a dress. My fiancé would have a meeting after breakfast about the Southern Rebels, and I was glad this one wouldn't be in the middle of the night.

"How are you feeling about the meeting?" I asked, finishing the last of my muffin.

"I'm not too excited," Maxon chuckled. "Truthfully, I don't think there's really anything we can get done. As I told you, the advisors are getting antsy because the last rebel attack was five months ago. They think the rebels are rebuilding and something big is about to strike, though we have no new information. The meetings are literally pointless."

I ran my fingers along Maxon's arm, comforting him. "Maybe the rebels are over," I mused. "Maybe their last, big bang was taking out your parents, and now they're done. Has there ever been such a long time frame between attacks?"

"Other than now, the longest time frame was about four months. You could be right, America, but there's nothing we can do about it because we don't know," Maxon answered thoughtfully. "I have to be getting to my meeting soon. What will you do for the day?"

"I don't know," I shrugged. "I'll probably check in with Silvia about the wedding and get fitted for my dress today. I have to choose a dress soon because the designers need time to make adjustments," I explained.

"Sounds like you've got your hands full," Maxon grinned and gave me a peck on the lips before walking out of the Dining Room to his meeting. A few minutes later, I was ready to leave and walked down the hall to Silvia's office.

"Hello, Silvia," I greeted her as I stepped in.

"Good morning, Lady America. Can I do anything for you?" she asked pleasantly.

"I was wondering if I could get fitted for my wedding dress today. I'm free all day."

"That's wonderful. Why don't you come back in two hours? By then, the designer team will be ready with all of their tools and a model for you to try on."

"That sounds great. Oh, and is there anything else I need to look over or decide?"

"In about a week, I'll be ready for you to come in and choose the flower arrangements for the tables. You also have to choose a song for your first dance with Maxon. Think it over and please give me an answer in no later than two weeks."

"Will do. Thank you, Silvia."

"Of course. See you soon." I wandered around the palace aimlessly for a couple minutes before resolving to go to the gym. Maxon and I now worked out together once or twice a week, and he went on his own twice on top of that. We'd both been busy, so I hadn't been in our regular workout schedule.

After changing into leggings and a breathable shirt, I headed down to the gym. Twelve guards were working out with only tight, white tank tops, so I felt uncomfortable. I felt like I was being judged by them. Sighing, I powered up a treadmill and started my two miles.

After finishing my run, I didn't want to hang around in the gym any longer. Ten more guards had joined, and I felt like I didn't belong there. It had only been twenty minutes, so I still had a lot of time to kill before meeting up with Silvia. Suddenly, as I started to walk back to my suite, a familiar siren began to wail a warning. It was the rebel alarm.

Panic surged through me as I thought about Maxon in his meeting. These were surely the Southern Rebels, because we already had an alliance with the Northern Rebels. I just stood there, rooted to the spot, unsure of what to do, when the guards dashed out of the gym and started yelling commands at me.

"Come here, miss! This way!" they shouted over the din of the alarm. I tore after them, running through the halls of the palace until they reached one of the safe rooms. A guard patted around the wall and felt a button. A door popped open and the guard shoved me inside.

"Wait! What about Maxon? Let me out!" I screamed. We couldn't be separated. Not now. Not after everything that had already tried to come between us. I couldn't lose Maxon. "Please, let me get him!"

"Stop wailing!" the guard barked. "His Majesty is probably already in a safe room. We will have him under maximum security." I was too worn out by fear and helplessness to argue. I stepped further into the safe room and sank into the cot, burying my face in the pillow. The door closed with a click. I looked up, and to my surprise, the same guard who had helped me inside was standing there with a sly grin spreading across his face.

"Excuse me?" I asked, confused. "I'm perfectly all right in here alone."

"I'm not at all worried about your safety," the guard said slowly, smiling. The badge on his tank top read "Hunter Bersole."

"Hunter Bersole," I said, tasting the name. "Thank you for your dedication as a guard, but your help really isn't needed here. I'm sure the other guards need your help to fight off the rebels. I'm completely safe."

"Princess, I don't care about your security. If any of the other guards did, they would be in here right now, because you're not safe." I was growing impatient. All I wanted was some space to worry by myself, while this man was pestering me with preposterous statements. Hunter cautiously untucked his tank top from his pants and pulled it up swiftly so I could see his bare chest.

"What are you doing?" I gasped. "Get out! This is ridiculous, Hunter. I will have you fired right away when we get out of this mess." He rolled his eyes sarcastically and began to remove his belt. I froze and then regained my composure, bristling with anger. What was this guy thinking? I was completely devoted to Maxon. "GET OUT RIGHT NOW! AND KEEP YOUR DARN CLOTHES ON!" I exploded.

"No, thanks," he replied, unnervingly calm. As he unzipped his pants, I realized I really was in danger. This guard was much stronger than me and had me trapped in a room. I inched away from him to the back of the cot and suddenly felt very small. At last, Hunter completely stripped down.

"Get away," I sobbed, knowing I had no chance. My future was ruined. Only a virgin could marry the prince. This horrible man was about to take that away from me. I couldn't let him. I had to do something. I would not let Maxon slip away again.

"Undress," Hunter commanded sharply. My breathing hitched. I could not do this. I would not undress for him. I was shivering with fear at the thought of my happy ending with Maxon being torn away.

"No," I declined feebly.

"Undress!" He snapped, making me flinch. The only way I could get out of this was by tricking him. I had to be smart.

"All right," I whispered, carefully taking off my shirt so I was only in a sports bra. "Before I go further, who are you?" Hunter's eyes narrowed darkly and he reached to the floor for the pin with his name on it.

"Hunter Bersole. If you rearrange the letters, you will find that I am a Southern Rebel."