(Lyra's POV)
My alarm kept ringing for what felt like the hundredth time. I groaned and shoved my pillow over my head.
"It's too early."
The wind blew my curtains, and rays of sunlight suddenly hit my face.
"Traitor." I reached for my phone and almost knocked it off the table before the alarm finally stopped. The room was finally silent.
I barely slept that night. Every time I tried, I would remember what Andre said, the way my arm kept glowing, the way my windows cracked.
For a moment, I just lay there staring at the ceiling as the sun slowly warmed parts of the room. I looked at the window; it was back to normal.
Weird, maybe it was just a dream. I reached for the mark on my arm; it had gone back to normal again.
"Lyra?"
"Lyra, are you in there?" "Iris said," as she knocked on the door.
"Yes, come in."
"Iris?" The door opened slowly.
"I brought something for you," she squealed.
"You really didn't have to."
"Of course I did," she grinned before throwing the bag onto my bed.
Unlike everyone else in this pack, Iris never looked at me with pity or disgust. She treated me like a normal person, and honestly, that alone was enough to make me love her so much.
"Iris, what's in this?" I frowned and unfolded the bag. It was a very beautiful silver dress.
My eyes widened instantly. "Iris..."
"Don't start crying yet. "I borrowed it from my cousin before you ask."
I ran my fingers over the soft fabric carefully. It was beautiful, too beautiful for me.
"I can't wear this."
"Of course you can and you will."
"It's too expensive."
"And? You don't deserve nice things?"
"And people will stare."
She crossed her arms. "People will always stare, Lyra."
I hated that she was right.
I looked down at the dress again before shaking my head. "The mark."
"We'll cover it," Iris said quickly. "Like always."
My chest tightened, "Like always," almost like it was our slogan. I was so tired of hearing those words: hide the mark, hide yourself, hide every piece of you that people might hate.
I would be doing that this time, "You know what."
"What?"
"Let's not hide it this time. I mean, if I'm meeting my mate today. He should know me as me; if he doesn't want me, he can reject me. I'm not going to be the first person to be rejected."
"Atta girl."
"I'm loving this new you.
"You deserve one good night," Iris said softly this time.
By the time it was night, the entire pack stood under the full moon, saying their prayers to the Moon Goddess
Lights glowed across the mansion while music echoed through the courtyard outside. Wolves filled the halls, dressed in expensive clothes and jewelry, all waiting for the mating ceremony to begin.
I stood near the staircase, nervously pulling at the sleeves of my dress.
The silver fabric hugged my body softly; it made my boobs and hips stand out more. Iris had even curled my hair, though I still felt painfully out of place compared to every other woman in the room.
Especially Aurora; she looked stunning tonight. Of course she did.
Her tight red off shoulder dress clung perfectly to her boobs while warriors practically tripped over themselves trying to speak to her, even though she was standing with Alpha Dylan, future Alpha of Moonstone Pack.
The moment I saw him, I stopped breathing. He looked so handsome tonight. His black suit fit perfectly on his broad shoulders, while his icy blue eyes scanned the crowded room calmly. Girls couldn't stop staring at him.
Honestly, I understood why.
"Stop staring at him like that," Iris whispered beside me.
I quickly looked away. "Like what?"
"Like you're imagining his cock inside you." I couldn't help but blush.
"Well, maybe I am." She laughed, "Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?" Before I could answer, the loud voice of Elder Raymond echoed through the room.
"Tonight, the Moon Goddess will reveal the sacred bonds between destined mates."
"As you pass this cup, prick yourself with your needle, let your blood flow into the cup, and wait for your mate to find you," he said as he left the room.
The room instantly became silent, then a line formed as people started moving towards the cup. My stomach kept doing somersaults.
Some people found their mates immediately, while some people cried happily after finding their mates, and some cried when they were rejected.
I watched quietly from the back, trying to ignore the growing anxiety inside my chest as I watched my blood fall into the cup. My eyes scanned the room. Nothing. Nothing happened.
I lowered my head quickly, embarrassment creeping through me.
Maybe Andre was right; maybe fate didn't want me either.
Then I suddenly felt pain in my chest; my heart was beating so fast, and the room started spinning. My body started feeling warm, then my eyes met his.
Dylan Ashford froze, his icy blue eyes locked with mine instantly.
"Mate."
The word echoed inside my head like a whisper from the Moon Goddess herself. My mate, for one beautiful second, I forgot every horrible thing people ever said about me because fate had finally chosen me.
The future Alpha was my mate. "Oh, fuck! The future Alpha is my mate." I muttered under my breath.
"What!!!" Aurora screamed; her screams brought me back to reality. Around us, people were already whispering.
"Lyra?"
"No way..."
"The wolfless girl?"
"This can't be real."
I barely heard them. I couldn't stop looking at Dylan; his expression had completely changed. Shock filled his face as he stared at me.
Fear crawled into my chest. What if he rejects me? right here in front of everyone. Okay, best case scenario, he accepts me publicly, then rejects me privately.
"Silence." Dylan walked toward me. The crowd immediately moved aside for him; every step he took made my heart pound harder. When he finally stopped in front of me, I could barely breathe.
He was so close, close enough for me to notice the faint scent of pine and smoke oud perfume, close enough to see confusion burning behind his eyes.
The room had gone completely silent now; everyone was waiting, waiting for him to reject me. Aurora was crying in her mom's arms, and Aunt Irene looked at me with pure hatred.
Then Dylan slowly reached for my hand, and the moment his fingers touched mine, it felt like an orgasm flowed through my body.
His jaw tightened before he spoke loud enough for the entire room to hear. "I accept you, Lyra Vale, as my mate and Luna." Gasps and uncomfortable clapping filled the air. I felt like I stopped breathing for a while.
He accepted me; he actually accepted me. I couldn't help but start crying, and he pulled me into his chest. For the first time in years, I felt wanted, chosen, and loved.
Dylan gently hugged me tighter before lowering his head slightly toward mine.
"You're shaking," he murmured quietly.
"I'm sorry. I'm just scared." I admitted, his eyes softened for the first time that night.
"You don't have to be." And for some reason, I believed him.
Later that night, after the ceremony ended and most guests had gone home, Dylan led me quietly to his room. My heart wouldn't stop racing, and everything still felt like a dream. He accepted me, not Aurora. Me, the moment the bedroom door closed behind us, silence filled the room.
We were standing so close to each other. Dylan kept staring at me carefully, like he was still trying to understand something; maybe he was about to reject me. I thought to myself.
"You're nervous," he said softly.
I laughed shakily. "Can you blame me?" he smirked.
"You're my mate now, Lyra." Dylan reached up and brushed a strand of hair away from my face. His fingers moved gently against my skin, nothing like the roughness I was used to.
I shuddered. "No one has ever touched you before, have they?" he asked quietly. "Do you want this?"
Embarrassment flooded me immediately. I've had the conversation about the mating ceremony night with Iris millions of times, but I didn't actually have any experience. I nodded my head.
Something dark flashed through his eyes at my answer, then his hand moved to my waist, pulling me closer carefully.
"So you're a virgin. "I nodded my head.
"I'll be careful, I promise," he whispered before he kissed me hungrily and loosened my corset. "Holy shit! I'm kissing Alpha Dylan.
