Chapter 14

Chapter 14

VIOLET’S POV

The morning sun streamed through my window, and for the first time in weeks, I woke up without dread in my chest.

Today was my ceremony day.

I stretched and walked to the wardrobe where my dress hung in its protective covering. The seamstress had outdone herself—white silk with silver embroidery that caught the light like moonbeams.

I unzipped the covering carefully, eager to see it one more time before the ceremony.

My heart stopped.

A large dark stain spread across the front of the dress, right over the chest area. It looked like wine or some kind of oil. The delicate fabric was completely ruined.

"No, no, no," I whispered, my hands shaking as I touched the stain. It was still slightly damp.

This couldn't be happening. Not today. Not again.

I sank to the floor, tears streaming down my face. This was exactly like my first ceremony—something going wrong, something ruining everything. Was I cursed? Would I ever actually complete a mating ceremony?

A knock on the door made me jump.

"Violet?" Elena's voice called. "Can I come in? I brought breakfast."

I quickly wiped my tears. "Come in."

Elena entered with a tray, but her smile faded the moment she saw my face. "What's wrong?"

I couldn't even speak. I just pointed at the dress.

"Oh my God," Elena gasped, setting down the tray and rushing over. She examined the stain carefully. "What happened?"

"I don't know," I choked out. "It was fine last night. I checked it before bed. And now…"

"Hey, hey, breathe," Elena said, gripping my shoulders. "We'll fix this. I promise."

"How? The ceremony is in three hours!"

"My mother is a master at removing stains," Elena said quickly. "And I know a seamstress in the next territory who owes me a favor. She can be here in an hour if I call her now."

She pulled out her phone immediately. "Don't panic. We've got this."

I watched her make rapid phone calls, her voice calm and efficient. Within minutes, she had a plan in motion.

"The seamstress is coming," Elena said. "And my mother is bringing her stain removal kit. We'll have you looking perfect by ceremony time."

"Thank you," I whispered. "I don't know what I would have done without you."

Elena hugged me tightly. "That's what pack is for. Now let's get you some breakfast. You need your strength."

True to her word, Elena's mother arrived within twenty minutes with an array of cleaning supplies. The seamstress showed up shortly after with replacement fabric and her sewing kit.

I sat nervously while they worked, watching them carefully treat the stain and reinforce the damaged area with new embroidered panels.

"Good as new," the seamstress announced finally, holding up the dress. "Even better, actually. The new embroidery adds more detail."

I could have cried with relief.

"See?" Elena said, squeezing my hand. "Everything worked out."

Two hours later, I stood in the ceremonial hall wearing my dress. My hair was styled in loose waves with small white flowers woven through it. The prosthetic arm that had once made me feel incomplete now felt like a part of my story—proof that I'd survived.

The hall was packed with pack members, all dressed in their finest. Flowers and candles created a warm, magical atmosphere.

Then the music started, and I saw Damian waiting at the altar.

He looked breathtaking in his ceremonial robes—deep silver and black that matched his Alpha status. But it was the way he looked at me that made my breath catch.

Like I was the only person in the world that mattered.

I walked down the aisle slowly, my heart pounding. Unlike my first ceremony, nobody whispered or looked away. Every face I passed was smiling, genuinely happy for us.

When I reached Damian, he took my hand—both of them, prosthetic and real—and kissed my knuckles gently.

"You're beautiful," he whispered.

The Elder began the ceremony, speaking about bonds and loyalty and choosing each other every day. I barely heard the words. I was too focused on Damian's face, on the warmth of his hands holding mine.

"Do you, Damian, Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, take Violet as your mate and Luna?" the Elder asked.

"I do," Damian said firmly. "I vow to protect her, honor her, and choose her every single day. She will never doubt her worth again."

His eyes never left mine as he spoke, and I felt tears streaming down my face.

"Do you, Violet, accept Damian as your mate and Alpha?"

"I do," I said, my voice strong despite the tears. "I choose you freely."

The Elder smiled. "Then by the power of the Moon Goddess and the Council of Alphas, I declare you bonded mates."

Damian cupped my face and kissed me, and the entire hall erupted in cheers.

For the first time in my life, I felt truly cherished.

The celebration afterward was joyous. Pack members congratulated us, children ran around with flowers, and music filled the air.

A long table had been set up with food and drinks. In the center sat two ceremonial chalices filled with wine—one for Damian, one for me. It was tradition for the newly mated pair to drink together as a symbol of unity.

"To our new Luna!" Beta Julius raised his glass, and everyone cheered.

Damian picked up his chalice and handed me mine. The wine inside was a deep red, almost purple in the candlelight.

"Together?" he asked with a smile.

"Together," I agreed.

We raised the chalices to our lips and drank.

The wine was sweet and warm going down. I smiled at Damian, who was already being pulled away by pack members wanting to congratulate him.

I set down my empty chalice and turned to thank Elena for all her help, but the room suddenly tilted sideways.

"Violet?" someone said, their voice sounding far away.

My legs gave out beneath me. Someone caught me before I hit the ground.

"Damian," I tried to say, but my tongue felt thick and heavy.

Everything was spinning now. Faces blurred together. Voices echoed strangely.

"She's collapsing!"

"Get the healer!"

"What's wrong with her?"

I heard Damian roar my name, felt strong arms lifting me up. My vision was darkening around the edges.

Damian's face appeared above mine, pale and terrified. "Stay with me, Violet. Stay with me."

I tried to tell him I would, but darkness was pulling me under.

The last thing I heard was chaos—people screaming, furniture crashing, Damian's desperate voice calling my name over and over.

Then nothing.

DAMIAN’S POV

Hours later, I paced outside the healer's room like a caged animal, my ceremonial robes stained with Violet's blood where she'd bitten her tongue during the collapse.

Julius approached with a grim expression. "Alpha, we've examined the chalice."

"And?"

"Definitely poison. We are still trying to determine the type though."

"Who had access to the ceremonial wine?" My voice was deadly quiet.

"That's the problem," Julius said carefully. "Only pack members. Only people we trust."

My hands clenched into fists. "It was an inside job."

"It appears so."

"Find them," I growled. "I don't care what it takes. Find who did this to my mate."

Behind me, through the cracked door, Violet lay unconscious on the healer's table. Machines beeped steadily, monitoring her failing vitals.

And in the shadows of the hallway, unseen and unnoticed, someone smiled.