She still hadn’t told him the truth-that Michael, the future Alpha, was her Goddess given mate, her fated. That the man walking toward his destiny at the altar had once been promised to her by the Moon Goddess herself. That the woman Michael had chosen instead was her own sister.
Why hadn’t she told Darius? Perhaps because speaking it aloud would make it more real. Perhaps because a part of her feared what he would do with the knowledge.
“About the promise I made you,” Darius said suddenly, his voice steady but low enough for only her to hear. “I’ll fulfill it tomorrow.”
Elaine’s lips trembled into the faintest smile. Relief washed over her like a fragile wave. Finally, there was a light at the end of this endless tunnel. She only needed to survive this day, endure this final cruelty, and then she would be gone. She would leave everything-the betrayal, the rejection, the loneliness-behind.
She would never come back.
She thought of Crescent Moon Pack, where she could start anew. Or perhaps the human world, where no one knew her name, her bloodline, or her pain. Anywhere but here. Anywhere she could finally breathe.
“Ah,” Darius murmured, shifting his attention forward. “Here come the happy couple.”
Elaine’s heart twisted painfully at his words.
Happy indeed, she thought bitterly.
Down the aisle walked Michael and Kathy. Michael’s shoulders were squared with pride, his suit perfectly tailored, his every step exuding authority. Kathy glowed in her pristine luna gown, the fabric glittering as it caught the light. She held her belly with one hand-the faint swell of her pregnancy obvious now-while the other clung to Michael’s arm.
The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, voices blending into a chorus of joy. Even Darius clapped beside her.
But for Elaine, each cheer was like a dagger. Her heart felt as though it would rip itself from her chest. Around her, smiles bloomed on every face, while her world crumbled into dust.
Just one more day, she told herself, digging her nails into her palms. Just one more day, then all this pain will end.
At the altar, Michael’s voice rang out, strong and certain. “Council Lucius, in front of all the pack members, I present my mate and future Luna.”
His eyes glittered with pride as he looked down at Kathy. you and
Council Lucius nodded, his expression solemn. “Young Alpha, future Luna. The council acknowledges your union. With this bond, your pack’s future is secured.”
The hall thundered with another cheer, louder this time. Elaine swayed where she stood.
“And now,” Lucius continued, lifting his hands, “the final step. Mark each other.”
Elaine’s breath caught. Her vision blurred. This was not what had been told to her. She had been assured she would not be forced to witness this most intimate act. Her knees weakened.
Her wolf stirred violently inside her, panicked.
‘Pup. Must protect pup.’
Elaine’s hand flew to her stomach.
Pup? Oh, Goddess, she thought, her whole body trembling.
I can’t survive this. My pup can’t survive this. How can they be so cruel? What have I done to deserve this punishment?
Her tears spilled unchecked, her chest tightening with unbearable pain.
She turned to Darius, her voice breaking. “Alpha… please. Hold me. Don’t let me go.”
Darius froze, startled by the sudden desperation in her tone. Just moments ago, she had smiled at his promise of escape, and he had felt her relief. Now, what he felt radiating from her was nothing but raw pain, terror, and… something else he couldn’t name.
When she begged him to hold her, it sent a wave of confusion through him. His brows furrowed as he caught her trembling shoulders, steadying her.
What is going on with her? Darius thought, searching her tear-streaked face. What pain is she carrying that no one else can see?
Council Lucius lifted his hand in solemn authority, his voice ringing through the grand hall. “
Proceed.”
A hush fell over the crowd, so heavy it seemed even the flames in the lanterns flickered more quietly. Every wolf leaned forward, eyes unblinking, as though afraid to miss even a breath of this sacred moment.
This was more than a ritual. It was the birth of a new era for the pack.
Elaine, hidden in the shadows at the back, felt every gaze turn into a blade slicing into her soul.
Michael’s eyes found hers across the hall. For a fraction of a second, his golden gaze softened-pleading, begging her to understand. He didn’t speak, but she read the silent words in his expression: Forgive me.
Her parents’ eyes followed, meeting hers as well. The Alpha and Luna stood beside them, faces carved with regret, yet their resolve was unshakable. Their message was clear: this would happen. The marking would proceed, no matter what it did to her.
Elaine’s heart clenched violently, her wolf snarling in her chest.
Michael tore his gaze away, turning fully toward Kathy. His eyes glowed faintly gold as his wolf surged forward, answering the call of the ceremony. Kathy, radiant in her Luna gown, tilted her head, baring her neck with practiced grace. A collective murmur of admiration swept through the crowd like a wave of reverence.
Elaine’s nails dug so deep into her palms she broke the skin. Blood slicked her fists, dripping onto her dress, but she barely noticed. Her breath came in ragged gasps, each inhale burning like fire.
Her wolf thrashed wildly, howling in despair. ‘That’s ours. He’s ours.’
Her stomach seized with a sudden cramp, so sharp she doubled slightly. Pain lanced through her abdomen, white-hot, and for the first time she realized-her pup was reacting too. The tiny life inside her, the life she had discovered only moments ago, cried out at its father’s betrayal.
Her knees wavered. A cold sweat broke over her brow.
Michael lowered his head toward Kathy, his lips grazing her skin. The crowd erupted in excited whispers, their joy like a rising tide.
More Rewards
Elaine bit down on her lip until it bled, trying to choke back the scream clawing at her throat. Then Darius’s arm slid around her shoulders, steady and unyielding. His presence was a wall against the crashing storm, but it did little to soothe the devastation ripping through her chest.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.