Chapter 8: A Façade In Motion

DOMINIC 

I was two seconds away from killing her. 

The goddess knew it was taking all the self control and discipline I'd mastered in my twenty nine years on earth to keep from grabbing the Omega and flinging her halfway across the banquet hall. 

Instead of the hiss that hovered impatiently on the tip of my tongue, a fake hollow laugh escaped my lips as I shook hands with the next set of Alphas that had just arrived.

“Alphas James, Newton, Saul…good to see you all,” I welcomed them. 

“We wouldn't miss it for the world,” Newton said in an overtly animated tone. 

Beneath their smiles I could sense the questioning looks hanging in the air. The slight raise of eyebrows as they glanced at the Omega before heading to their seats. 

They were laughing at me. 

Hell, the entire fucking world was laughing at me right now. 

The news of my mating ceremony was enough of an embarrassment. Now, I was forced to publicly claim a mate I despised. As though that wasn't bad enough, I had to do it with a phony smile on my face the entire time.

It was humiliating. 

I wrapped one arm around her waist and felt her stiffen. My Lycan, seemingly oblivious to this disaster of a night, jumped at the close proximity and that tempting scent of hers wafted past my nose, almost prompting me to nuzzle her neck. 

I forcefully subdued my Lycan and pulled the Omega even closer to me, still keeping my hand on her waist. I would hold my damn breath if I had to, as long as I got this over with. 

I smiled as I motioned for the music to be turned down. 

“Keep your chin up and stop fucking embarrassing me,” I hissed at her under my breath, the smile still plastered on my face. 

She made a sleazy attempt to straighten up, but she seemed to have a perpetual slouch, with that deer in headlights look about her. 

I hated to admit it but she confused me. There was such an alarming disparity between who I thought she was and the attitude she portrayed. 

Didn't she cunningly force herself into this position?

She'd gotten what she wanted, and naturally, she should be happier, flaunting her new title and trying to rub shoulders with every person of importance. 

But instead she was just…there. Aloof. Almost scared, even. 

What game was she playing?

I was yanked out of my thoughts when I realized the music had faded. The hall was silent now, waiting for my cue. And I had just spent long seconds staring at her. 

Clearing my throat, I raised a champagne glass. 

“Alphas, Betas, honored guests, I welcome you all. As you all know, tonight is a night of celebration. The ancient laws decree that a King is incomplete without a Queen, a Lycan or Alpha incomplete without his Luna.”

The idea of shooting myself in the throat had never been more appealing. 

Nevertheless, I continued. 

“So, it is my honor to introduce you all to my chosen mate–”

I froze. The realization that I did not know her name hit me in the face. 

Shit. 

To me she was just an Omega. A nobody. It didn't occur to me that she even had a name. I glanced at her as if seeing her for the first time. 

“Uh…My Queen and Luna of Whitewolf Pack,” I quickly added to conceal what would have otherwise been an embarrassing situation. 

The entire hall burst into applause, but I could feel the bewilderment in the air. 

At this rate, I wasn't even sure I could make it through the night. 

ADELINE 

I wasn't sure I'd ever been so overwhelmed in my life. The banquet hall was crowded with people, some of them staring at me curiously, others with disdain and a few regarding me with amusement. 

It was a disaster, being paraded before a pack that hated me. 

To my greatest shock, Alpha Dominic seemed to be taking it better than I expected. I watched him fleet across the hall, greeting guests, making polite conversations and laughing at intervals. 

When he'd wrapped his arms around me earlier, I'd felt a shiver run down my spine. Fear and an emotion I knew I definitely shouldn't be feeling made me tremble. 

But then he shot me a warning and I knew this was just all for show. I'd heard what the oracle said that day at the mating ceremony. The bond could not be broken. But of course, the rumors had spread, so he was forced to play into the illusion. 

I was just a pawn.

A temporary one at that. And there was no telling what would happen to me once he was able to break the bond. 

I swallowed and tried to keep my head up like he instructed. But it was almost impossible. I'd been a servant for so many years, so this sudden transition to Luna was a lot to take in. I couldn't even beckon to a waiter for a drink. 

If anything, I envisioned a time when I was the one serving drinks. 

“Stand here until I return. I have to mingle,” Alpha Dominic's voice floated into my thoughts. 

“You're leaving? Where are you going?” I asked panickedly. 

He regarded me with irritation, making me shrink back. 

“I-I'm sorry..” I apologized, but he had already walked away. 

Without him by my side, I felt exposed. I rubbed my arms and retreated to a less crowded corner of the hall, praying for this to be over with. I felt anxious, jumpy and exhausted. 

My eyes were lazily scanning the crowd when they landed on a familiar figure in the crowd. A man clad in blue traditional wear; the same one I had laundered so many times before. 

I stood up straighter, refusing to believe my eyes. 

It couldn't be.

But how could I ever forget the face that still haunted my nightmares.

I let out a strangled gasp. All the air drained from my lungs as I staggered backwards.

Hilton.