Chapter 1 Bloody Wedding

Seraphina's POV

The rhythmic click of my stilettos echoed through the grand hall as I ascended the stairs, each step carrying me closer to my destiny. Today would be etched into history—the day I finally claimed the mate the Moon Goddess had chosen for me.

And there he stood.

Darius Harlow—heir to the Blue Ridge Pack, my childhood friend, my first love, and soon, my eternal mate. Dressed in a black tuxedo that hugged his powerful frame, he watched me with an intensity that stole my breath. His emerald-green eyes, the most mesmerizing shade I'd ever seen, locked onto mine, unblinking.

A rush of warmth spread through my chest. After ten years of sacrifices—pouring my wealth, strength, and soul into securing his place as heir—this moment made every struggle worth it.

As I reached for his outstretched hand, a jolt of electricity surged through my fingertips, racing straight to my heart. The mate bond flared to life between us, fierce and undeniable.

He's mine.

And I'm his.

Finally.

"You're stunning," Darius murmured, his lips curling into that familiar, mischievous smirk. Heat flooded my cheeks, and I bit back a giddy laugh.

The ceremony was nothing short of extravagant. Pack members from both territories filled the hall, their cheers vibrating through the air. My parents, Alpha Bastian and Luna Athena, stood proudly beside Darius's parents, Alpha Julian and Luna Soraya. Their approving gazes only deepened the joy swelling inside me.

Elder Delon Rahen of the Blue Ridge Pack stepped forward, his voice resonating through the sacred space.

"Under the moonlight, before the spirits of our ancestors, and by the blood of your pack—do you, Darius Harlow, choose this woman as your Luna, your soulbound mate, and the guardian of your power?"

Darius never looked away from me. His grip on my hand tightened as he answered, voice rough with emotion.

"With my blood, my soul, and my body—I choose her. Today and forever."

Tears pricked my eyes, threatening to spill over.

Then the Elder turned to me.

"And you, Seraphina Luminara—do you accept this bond? Will you stand as his mate and protector of the pack he leads?"

I inhaled deeply, my heart pounding in sync with Darius's.

"With all my heart, I accept. I will be his mate, his strength, and his sanctuary."

The hall erupted in cheers, but all I heard was the steady rhythm of Darius's heartbeat—and his whisper, meant only for me.

"From this moment on, you are my true mate. You are my home."

Then his lips met mine, sealing our bond in front of the world. A single tear slipped free as warmth flooded my chest.

I was no longer just Seraphina Luminara.

I was Luna of the Blue Ridge Pack.

The rightful mate of Alpha Darius Harlow.

Joy overflowed in my heart when we returned to our wedding room after the ceremony was over. The wedding suite was a dream—bathed in candlelight, the bed strewn with crimson rose petals. The sweet floral scent was nothing compared to the intoxicating cedar-and-spice aroma that clung to Darius, making my head spin.

'I can't wait any longer, Sera,' Lily, my wolf, purred in my mind. 'He's ours now.'

I sat on the edge of the bed, pulse racing as Darius locked the door behind us. The silence was deafening, my nerves alight with anticipation.

"Hey." His voice was soft as he sat beside me, tilting my chin up. "Nervous?"

I shook my head, though my traitorous heartbeat betrayed me. "Just… adjusting. We were friends for so long, and now—"

"Now we're mates." His thumb brushed my lower lip, sending a shiver down my spine.

He leaned in, inhaling deeply. "Vanilla and milk," he murmured. "Your true scent."

I laughed, breathless. "And you smell like—"

Before I could finish, he pressed a teasing kiss to my cheek.

"Thief!" I swatted his chest, giggling as he caught my wrist and pulled me down onto the bed with him.

For a moment, everything was perfect.

Then, he was somehow already on top of me—our gaze locked, and a strong urge to have him completely pulled at my soul. Our breaths quickened, and I closed my eyes as Darius moved his head forward.

However—

A sharp sting pierced my neck.

I gasped, jerking back. My fingers flew to the spot, pulling out a syringe.

Purplish-green liquid glistened in the dim light.

Wolf's bane.

My blood turned to ice.

"D-Darius?" My voice trembled.

His smile twisted into something cold—something cruel.

"You owe me a life," he hissed.

The poison hit like a blade to the gut. Fire erupted through my veins, seizing my muscles, locking my limbs. A scream tore from my throat as my wolf howled in agony inside me.

Why? Why would our mate do this?

I collapsed to the floor, writhing. Tears blurred my vision, but I still saw him—looming over me, his face a mask of hatred.

"Y-you'll regret this," I choked out. "M-my father will—"

"Your father is weak," Darius snarled. "And so are you."

The acrid stench of gasoline filled the air. I watched in horror as he drenched the room, the liquid soaking into my wedding gown.

No. No, no, NO—

"P-please…" I begged, my voice barely a whisper.

He crouched beside me, gripping my hair, forcing me to meet his merciless gaze.

"This is for Vesper."

The name was a dagger to my heart.

Vesper Eclipse—his mistress. The woman who'd died in a plane crash three months ago.

The woman he'd never stopped loving.

A match flickered in his hand.

"Burn in hell, Seraphina."

Then he dropped it.

Flames roared to life, swallowing the room, the heat searing my skin. My wolf's cries echoed in my skull, but worse than the pain was the betrayal.

Ten years of love.

Ten years of loyalty.

All ending in fire and blood.

As the smoke choked my lungs, one thought consumed me:

If I survive this… I'll make him pay.