Olivia
Sean had been seething with anger ever since I slapped Isabelle. He barely spoke to me, his presence cold and distant. But I didn’t care. Let him hate me. Let him burn with rage. None of it mattered anymore.
Tomorrow, I was supposed to become his Luna. The entire pack was preparing for the grand mating ceremony, the moment when Alpha Sean would officially mark me, binding us together for eternity.
But tonight, I had other plans.
I slipped away from the packhouse unnoticed, my heart pounding as I made my way through the streets. My hood was pulled low over my face, my body tense as I moved through the darkness, avoiding the eyes of any curious pack members. I had no intention of being stopped.
By the time I arrived at the hotel, Alpha Theron was already waiting.
He was seated in the corner of the lobby, his dark gaze locked onto me the moment I stepped inside. He didn’t smile, didn’t greet me warmly. Instead, he rose from his seat, his movements smooth and controlled, and gestured for me to follow.
My throat felt dry as I trailed behind him.
There was no turning back now. We entered a private suite, the door clicking shut behind us. The air between us was thick with unspoken tension.
“Are you ready?” Alpha Theron’s voice was steady, his eyes locked onto mine.
I nodded. This was the only way.
I refused to make the same mistakes as before.
He stepped closer, towering over me, his scent strong—earthy, like pine and musk. A true Alpha.
I barely had time to process what was happening before he leaned in, his lips grazing the side of my neck, right over my scent gland.
The moment his fangs pierced my skin, a sharp, burning sensation shot through me, followed by an overwhelming rush of something deeper—something ancient.
The bond snapped into place like a taut string finally being pulled into alignment.
His bite was firm, claiming, and I felt my body react on instinct, my own fangs elongating as the mating bond pulsed between us.
His eyes met mine, the glow intensifying as the bond strengthened.
This was real. I was now bonded to a man I barely knew.
And yet, as the pull between us deepened, as the sensation of belonging settled into my bones, I knew—I had made the right choice.
My turn.
I pressed my lips against his neck, inhaling deeply before sinking my fangs into his scent gland.
Alpha Theron inhaled sharply, his fingers tightening around my waist as his body shuddered. I felt the instant surge of connection, the bond fusing us together in ways words couldn’t describe.
The heat, the undeniable pull—it was real.
It was done. There was no undoing it now.
---
The next day, my entire body was on edge.
The tingling in my neck hadn’t faded. I could still feel the mark, could still sense the presence of the bond thrumming inside me. Every nerve in my body was heightened, every instinct screaming that I wasn’t supposed to be here, standing in front of the pack as they prepared for a ceremony that could no longer happen.
And yet, no one knew.
I kept my face blank as I stood before Sean, his expression still dark with anger. He didn’t offer me a reassuring smile. There was no warmth in his eyes, no affection. If I had ever hoped that he would change, that he would finally accept me as his Luna, his true mate, those hopes had long since died.
But I wasn’t standing here to be loved. I was standing here to end this charade once and for all.
The ceremony progressed step by step, leading to the moment of exchanging rings.
Alpha Sean was the first to pick up a ring, sliding it onto my finger with swift precision.
As the officiant recited the vows behind me, I felt weightless—adrift in a haze of emotions. The events of the previous night still played vividly in my mind, making it difficult to focus.
“I do.” His voice, cold yet impatient, snapped me back to reality. The clipped tone, devoid of warmth, sent murmurs rippling through the gathered guests.
A slight frown tugged at my lips.
I reached for the other ring as the officiant turned to me, continuing with the next vow.
“Olivia, do you take Alpha Sean as your husband and mate? Will you love him and remain faithful to him, in wealth and hardship, in youth and old age, standing by his side for the rest of your life?”
Silence.
The words I was meant to say never left my lips. Instead of lifting my hand, I withdrew it, hesitating.
The sudden stillness was suffocating. Confusion spread through the crowd as all eyes turned to me. Even Sean, always composed, seemed caught off guard—his gaze darkening as if my hesitation unsettled him.
But my attention was fixed elsewhere.
The entrance.
I could feel his gaze following mine, both of us staring at the closed doors. Only an eerie darkness lay beyond them.
Where is he?
What’s taking him so long?
Sensing the tension thickening, the officiant cleared his throat and began again.
“Will you love him and remain faithful, for richer or—”
The heavy doors burst open, slamming against the walls with a resounding crash!
