Cinta Untuk Sang Pengantin Pengganti

Today is a good day for me. Not only did I just get my wolf, but I also got to bind with my mate and live forever with him. For me, this is one of the best days of my life because I have been looking forward to this day forever.

“C’mon, Loraine. Get your ass moving or we are going to be late.” My best friend, Jennifer, calls out to me, and I flip her away.

I can’t seem to step away from the mirror. I want to appear perfect for him. I can already imagine the look on his face when he sees me standing in front of him in the tight-fitting, curving, accentuating ball gown I have chosen.

Anxiety is causing me to break out in sweats, and I know I have to calm myself down or I’ll ruin the little makeup I’ve managed to put on.

My best friend appears beside me suddenly and pulls me away. “That’s enough!” she says sternly. She has taken up the role of being a mom to me ever since my parents passed away in an auto crash two years ago, and the role fits her well.

After all, she’s a bit older than me, and she cares a lot about me.

“Everyone’s waiting.” She snaps, pulling me towards the door. “You don’t want to keep the entire pack waiting.”

I try to struggle out of her grip and run back to the comfort of my mirror, but her grip on my wrist is too tight. Jennifer has always been the strong one among us both, so I know that my actions are futile.

Although I’m ecstatic to meet my mate and finally be bound with him, I’m also really shy, and the thought of the crowd of people waiting for me behind those doors whose eyes will be on me as soon as I step into the room is overwhelmingly choking.

‘I’m right here.” Jennifer whispers in my ears reassuringly, and my stiff shoulders release some of the tension they have been holding, but not all of it. I tighten my grip around her arm more than I should, and I notice from the corner of my eye that Jennifer is pulling a face, but she does not complain or move to stop me.

We stop in front of the door, and Jennifer gently lets go of my arm. “You can do this.” She purrs affectionately. Then she rolls her eyes. “I don’t know why they have to make such a fuss about a mere binding ceremony. Inviting the entire pack as though its something big and making you feel so nervous.”

"It's customary in our pack.” I remind her, just in case she has forgotten. “We always do this for everyone who is meeting their mate for the first time. You too will do it when you meet him.”

She sighs. “At least I won’t be a nervous wreck like you.”

A minute later, Jennifer is gone, and I am left alone to face my fears. Taking a long and deep breath in, I pull the double doors open and mentally prepare myself for the onslaught of eyes, which I know would be resting on my form.

Walking towards the moon priestess, who is standing on a platform that, for some reason, resembles an alter, is like walking on an aisle towards your groom. The only difference in this case is that I have no escort and my groom is not standing on the alter.

I have never met my mate before. I might have met him since our pack is quite small, but I don’t know who he is. That is why the ritual is organized every month so girls who get their wolves can also meet their mate.

I have an idea who I think it might be, and as I walk slowly towards the platform, I lock eyes with him. It is only for a few seconds, but I feel like it lasts for eternity. My breath is knocked out of him as I meet his forest green eyes, and my body explodes with different kinds of emotions.

My wolf, who I am yet to name, is prancing about inside of me, eager to go over and smell him; maybe even a little cuddle would be nice.

But when I blink again, I am standing right in front of the priestess, and her all-seeing eyes are appraising me. My breath catches in my throat, and anxiety snakes up my arm. I have never been this close to the priestess before, and now that I am in front of her, I feel as though I have gone through all levels of hell.

There is a frown on her face, and her lips curl up as if in disgust as she studies me. I want to stop and ask her if there’s any problem, but then I know that is not right for me. The ritual for meeting your mate has several rules that are to be adhered to strictly.

She starts the ritual soon after, chanting some tings in a language I don’t understand and in-between asking me several questions that I don’t think should be mentioned here. After thirty minutes of impatience, she finally concludes and turns towards the crowd.

“The Goddess has given her reply.”

There are a few murmurs and nods that go around the crowd, and she waits until it dies down before speaking again.

“Loraine Kellen.” My heart skips a beat at the mention of my name. “Your true mate is to be Gordon Graylock. Alpha of the Withall Pack.”

I had known it for quite some time—I have no idea if it’s the same for other werewolves—but to hear it confirmed like this from no other person but the priestess catapults me to another level of ecstasy.

I am overjoyed to the point where I almost did not hear when she said that I could either accept or reject the bond. But who, in their right senses, will reject a bond with someone as perfect as Alpha Gordon? He is everything a woman could ask for.

Kind, a great leader, and most of all, perfect in every sense of that word.

I want nothing but to

“Alpha Gordon Graylock.” Again, my heart misses a beat at the sound of his name. At this rate, I might end up in the healer’s ward, or worse, a hospital. “Would you please get over here?”

I shift my eyes towards where he is seated and watch as he slowly pulls himself from his seat. When I say he is perfect, I mean every word of it. His eyes are riveted on my form as he strides towards us, and that makes me blush even harder.

When he stops in front of us, I feel as though all of my world has stopped too. But when he says the next words, I feel my world drop to the ground and shatter into a million pieces.

“I, Alpha Gordon Graylock...” I squeeze my eyes shut and clench my hand tight beside me. “Reject you, Loraine Kellen, as my mate and Luna of the Withall pack.”