Chapter 6

Chapter Six

Kendall’s POV

The atmosphere buzzed with excitement and anticipation among the crowd gathered for the mating festival.

My heart pounded with nervousness, my senses tingling with the knowledge that Alpha Declan was there, just a few feet away from me.

Alpha Declan was my mate, the one I had dreamed of since I could not remember, and now, finally, my dreams were becoming a reality.

As I stood staring at him there in the room, my pulse quickened with every sight of his handsome face and powerful presence.

It was as if the universe had aligned to bring us together, to fulfill the destiny that had been written in the stars.

But my father hovered behind me like a shadow, his disapproving gaze burning into the back of my skull as he continued to demand that I go make introductions to the guests.

Ignoring his persistent demands, I focused all my attention on Alpha Declan, my heart singing with the knowledge that he was mine, that we were meant to be together.

But just as I was about to say something to him, father’s voice cut through the air like a knife, sharp and unforgiving.

“Kendall,” he said, his tone loud and commanding. “I will not allow you to consort with that Alpha. He is not worthy of you, of our family.”

My breath caught in my throat as I turned to face my father, my eyes blazing with defiance. “You can’t control who I am mated with, father,” I said, my voice trembling with emotion. “Alpha Declan is my mate, and nothing you say or do can change that.”

But before I could say anything else, Declan himself stepped forward, his expression unreadable as he addressed my father.

“With all due respect, sir, I believe Kendall and I have a connection that cannot be denied. I would be pleased to have her as my mate.” He said, stopping me from fighting with father, his voice calm but firm.

My heart soared at his words, relief flooding through me like a wave. But as I looked into his eyes, searching for reassurance, I found only cold indifference staring back at me.

“And as for you, Kendall. You shouldn’t fight with your father. You have to be respectful.” He said, barely looking at me.

My countenance changed swiftly. It was as if the Alpha Declan I thought I knew had disappeared, replaced by a stranger I no longer recognized.

Before I could process what was happening, Declan turned away from us, his attention already drifting back to the ceremony before us.

The sting of betrayal cut through me like a knife, leaving me dealing with a pain I could hardly understand.

With tears starting to drip down from my eyes, I turned and fled from the room, the echoes of my father’s demands and Alpha Declan’s rejection ringing in my ears like a cruel mockery of the love I had dared to hope for.

Finding quiet somewhere in the gardens, I collapsed to my knees, the weight of my shattered dreams pressing down on me.

“Please,” I whispered to the silent sky above, my voice choked with tears. “Please, Moon Goddess, help me.”

Several minutes passed, and as I sat there, the mark of dried tears drawn on my cheeks, something strange I hadn’t expected happened.

I felt a hand on my shoulder, gentle yet firm. Startled, I looked up to see my father standing behind me, his expression unreadable.

“Kendall,” he said quietly, his voice filled with regret. “I… I may not agree with your choice of mate, but… but if this is what you truly want, then I won’t stand in your way. Pack your things. You’re leaving with Alpha Declan.”

My heart leaped with a mixture of disbelief and joy. Could it be true? Had my father finally accepted, allowing me to follow my heart and be with the one I loved?

With trembling hands, I rose to my feet, barely able to contain my excitement as I rushed to gather my belongings. The moon goddess had answered my prayers.

Minutes later, I found myself standing beside Alpha Declan, my bags packed and ready to go. Despite the lingering pain of his rejection, I couldn’t help but feel gratitude toward my father for granting my wish, no matter how hard it felt.

Declan still seemed distant, his expression hard as he surveyed the scene before us. But as he turned to me, his eyes softened slightly, and for a brief moment I hoped.

He finally spoke, his voice quiet but filled with a hint of warmth that sent a wave of hope through my chest. “We’re almost ready,” he said, his eyes shifting from his men to me. “Are you ready?”

“Yes… yes. I am ready.” I nodded eagerly, my heart pounding with excitement as I realized that this was the beginning of our journey together.

Without saying another word to each other, soon we made our way to the vehicle waiting to transport us to his pack.

The tension between us was palpable, thick enough to cut with a knife, but I refused to let it kill my spirits.

This was the moment I had been dreaming of, the moment when I would finally be free to pursue my own happiness.

As we settled into the vehicle, Declan motioned for me to sit beside him, a silent invitation that I eagerly accepted.

Despite his cold demeanor, I couldn’t help but feel a thrill of excitement at the prospect of being so close to him.

The journey passed in silence, the only sound the soft hum of the engine and the rhythmic beat of my heart.

As we neared the border of his pack territory, a sudden sense of unease washed over me, like a dark cloud over us.

Before I could voice my fears, sounds of gunfire erupted, shattering the quiet of the evening and sending pieces of glass flying through the air.

Panic surged within me, but Alpha Declan’s steady voice cut through the chaos reaching to my ears. “Don’t worry, Kendall,” he said, his tone calm and reassuring despite the danger that surrounded us. “I will handle this.”

With a sense of terror rising within me, I watched as by Declan sprang into action, his movements quick and precise as he and his men engaged our attackers.

As the rogues kept coming, he signaled to his men, who emerged from their hiding place, weapons drawn, ready to defend their Alpha and his new bride at all costs.

Huddled in the temporal safety of the vehicle, I watched in as the attack raged on around us, my heart pounding with fear.