Marked and claimed

~Aria~

“I Alpha Damon Luther accept you Aria Samuel as my mate,” Damon gritted his acceptance in one sentence and with nothing hatred. 

With a clenched jaw, he strode towards me covering the distance between us. And in another quick movement, he leaned into my neck. Feeling a sudden sensation, I was startled and my body instantly responded by attempting to flinch back. 

But he caught me, held me and brought me to steady. 

“Stay still,” his voice rumbled deep in the scruff of my neck, sending jolts of sensations across me. 

I heard his wolf growl and my wolf growled back in response. In a heartbeat, he buried his fang in my neck and marked me. 

The silver thread immediately locked, bounding us as mates. My wolf gave a low growl. A growl filled with uncertainty for our future. 

It was supposed to be a moment of joy and bliss. It probably would have been, even if it lasted only for a few moments. If Damon didn't just straighten up and walk out of the hall leaving me on the altar in front of everyone. 

Like he didn't just claim me as his mate. I had been humiliated many times in my life but this one hit me the most. 

Beatrice came to my side in time and I held onto her. Just before I finally gave up the will to stay strong and unfazed, she helped me back to my chambers. 

“He's still young. He's only nineteen. He will learn with time,” she tried to comfort me. “You must be strong for yourself and for your wolf.”

Tears rolled down my cheeks in streams. 

I couldn't comfort myself let alone my wolf.

I couldn't help it. The pain was unbearable. 

Maybe it was because I didn't expect that my most anticipated wedding day would be this humiliating. Or that the boy that I fell in love with two years ago would look at me with eyes that could murder. 

He might as well have rejected me. Then I wouldn't have to be in this pain. Then I wouldn't have to scramble for the right words to comfort my wolf. 

A knock sounded on the door. 

Beatrice looked at me as if to tell me to tuck in my weakness–my tears.

Before she opened the door, I drew the curtains closed.

“Lady Bertha wants her in the Alpha's chamber now,” one of the maids that walked in informed. 

“First of all, she's not ‘her’ , she's Luna Aria. And secondly, this is supposed to be her wedding night meaning the Alpha is supposed to come to her chambers…”

Beatrice was saying but was cut short by the scornful snickers of the maids. 

“You still haven't come to your senses? She's nothing but a sacrifice offered to save her useless pack. The Alpha does not care about her. So either tell her to meet him in his chambers or forget about getting any cock for herself in this miserable marriage of hers.”

“And if she's lucky, she will only end up becoming one of his whores. Although I doubt she will even make it as one. Not while lady Bertha is alive,” the second maid added. They chuckled, their tone filled with mockery. 

Behind the curtains, my fist curled. But before I could react, Beatrice acted.

“Shut your mouth, you both!” Beatrice growled at them. 

I chuckled, but sadly. At least someone was defending me. 

The two snickered and sashayed off. 

“Don't tell me you are obeying her orders?” Beatrice frowned when she came back in and saw me preparing.

“You won't go there. You have no idea what Bertha is planning. She's a witch,” she protested. 

I smiled, once again grateful to have her. “There's only much a witch can do. Thanks for looking out for me, Beatrice, but this is my fight.”

She sighed, but nodded. “Yes my luna.”

“You heard them Beatrice. I'm not the Luna yet. You can just keep calling me Lady Aria. Or even better, just Aria is perfect.”

I slipped into a satin long flowing night gown. Then draped a silk white robe over it. 

Damon’s Chambers was opposite to my own but in the same wing of the mansion. So it didn't take me long to arrive. 

Just before I walked through the main entrance doors, strange sounds coming from the room drifted into my ears. I felt the pit of my stomach knot. My wolf winced. As if she was warning me to either abort mission or brace for the worst. 

Dreading the worst, I slowly walked in.

Only to be greeted by a shocking sight. 

Damon’s bedroom doors were wide open, moaning sounds filled the air. Seated on a gigantic chair was him, legs spread wide apart and in-between, a girl bent in his crook with his member buried in her mouth. 

Two other girls ghosted over him, one caressing his exposed chest and the other nimbling on his ears. 

They were moaning loudly and muttering dirty and nasty words. Like when a whore was trying really hard to please their customer. 

My wolf growled, furiously. It was the first time she would be reacting this violently ever since the wedding humiliation. 

I swallowed painfully, frozen on the spot. 

Suddenly, someone breezed past me. It was Bertha. 

She stormed into the bedroom. 

“Get out all of you!” She growled at the whores, her eyes fiery. 

Judging by the way she was in rage, she was as shocked as I was. I bet she had wanted me to walk in on her making out with Damon but got a surprise herself. 

As soon as the girls scampered out, she sneered and slammed the door to my face. 

As she slammed the door to my face, a sense of rage overtook me. My wolf wriggled to be let out causing my body to vibrate and my eyes glowing. 

How dare she! I was the Alpha's wife now and she was only his concubine. I did not deserve anymore of this humiliation!

I stormed towards the door and pushed it open. 

The stupid bịxch has taken over from where the whores stopped. I looked at Damon, in the smallest and faintest of hope expecting him to speak up for me. 

But his eyes merely narrowed, his forehead furrowing in a thick frown. As if disgusted by my presence alone, he stood up, slipped on his robe and marched out of the room. 

It was as if my airflow had been restricted. I couldn't breathe. 

Even though I wasn't expecting him to welcome me with wide arms and smiling face, I still didn't expect this from him. 

But still…it was our wedding night. It was supposed to be our wedding night and the least he could do after humiliating me in front of everyone was not humiliate me the second time in front of his concubine.