Episode 9

The ceremony takes place in a small stone chamber hidden in the pack house. It’s clear that Ryan wants this hidden as much as I do. There's no aisle to walk down, no flowers, no music. Just cold walls, candles, and a handful of witnesses: people that Ryan trusts the most. In his pack, I am nothing but a stranger. I don’t have friends to witness this wedding, no one on my side.

High Priestess Morrigan stands at the front.

"Everything has been prepared," she says. "The blood moon is rising. The magic is strongest now."

Ryan is already waiting for me, wearing a black suit that makes him look like he's attending a funeral instead of a wedding. He's devastatingly handsome, I'll give him that, but every inch of him radiates danger. When he looks at me, I see no warmth, no kindness, nothing but cold hatred.

"You look beautiful," he says, but his voice is flat. Empty.

"You look like the devil himself."

The witnesses stand in a semi-circle around us. I recognize some of them from earlier - pack members, warriors, advisors. All of them stare at me with undisguised hatred. Just like Ryan, they hated me because of my father.

"This is it?" I ask, looking around the bare chamber. "No decorations, no ceremony, no—"

"No time," Ryan interrupts. "The magic won't wait for your preferences."

High Priestess Morrigan raises her hands. "We begin."

Ryan takes my hand, and I jerk.

"Relax," he murmurs. "This will be over soon."

"I hate you," I whisper before I can stop myself.

He smiles, and it's not a nice smile. "I hate you too, sweetheart."

The witnesses shift around us, but no one seems surprised by our exchange. If anything, they look pleased.

"Good," Ryan continues, his voice getting louder. "I'm glad we understand each other. I hate you, I hate your family, and I hate everything you represent."

"Ryan…"

"No, let me finish. I can't wait to be married to you so we can finish this business and you can return to your pack and we never have to see each other again."

His words are heard over the room, and the witnesses nod like this is exactly what they want to hear.

"But first," Ryan says, his voice dropping so only I can hear, "I will keep my promise. I will get my father to help save your father. I will make sure Marcus and Rebecca pay for what they've done."

Hope flickers in my chest, despite everything.

"And then," he continues, his grip on my hand tightening, "when all this business is finished, I will exact the revenge I have always wanted. I will come after your father and your pack and destroy them all."

The hope dies instantly. "Wh…what?"

"You heard me." His voice gets louder again, carrying to the witnesses. "Once my father is healed, once he helps you save your pack from your step mother and ex-fiance, I will finish what was started fifteen years ago. I will destroy the Silvermoon pack completely."

The witnesses murmur in joy and approval, one of them actually claps.

"Why are you saying this in front of everyone?" I hiss.

"Because they all know, Aria. They all know about my father's condition. They all know what your mother did to him. Every man in this room is itching to get revenge against you and your pack."

I look around at the faces surrounding us. Cold, hateful, hungry for blood. My blood. My father’s blood, my pack’s blood. Innocent lives would be lost in this battle.

"They've been waiting for this moment for fifteen years," Ryan continues. "Waiting for you to come here so we could complete the contract and heal my father. So he could lead us to war against your people."

"Then why help me at all? Why not just let Marcus and Rebecca destroy my pack?"

"Because that would be too easy. Too quick. I want your father to watch his enemies fall. I want him to think he's won. And then I want him to see me coming for him."

High Priestess Morrigan raises her voice, speaking over us. "The blood binding requires truth from both parties. Speak your vows now."

Ryan turns to face me fully. "I, Ryan Ravenwing, Prince of the Shadowmoon pack, take you, Aria Stone, Princess of the Silvermoon pack, as my wife. I promise to honor the contract signed by our fathers. I promise to use our bond to heal my father's mind."

He pauses, then speaks louder so everyone can hear. "I promise to help you save your pack from your enemies. And I promise that when this is done, I will destroy everything you love."

The witnesses cheer like they're at a sporting event.

"Your turn," Ryan says to me.

I stare at him, my heart pounding.

"I..." I start and stop.

"Speak your vows," High Priestess Morrigan commands.

"I, Aria Stone, Princess of the Silvermoon pack, take you, Ryan Ravenwing, as my husband. I promise to honor the contract signed by our fathers. I promise to use our bond to heal your father's mind."

My voice shakes. "I promise to be your wife until our business is finished."

"And then?" Ryan prompts.

"And then…’’ I pause first, I think of everything. My father raised me to be warrior, even though I’ve never gotten the chance to defend myself. When our pack is at stake, and the lives of our people lay in my hands, shall I remain the weak damsel in distress?

“I promise to destroy you and your father before you can destroy mine.’’

The room quiets, everyone gasps. This is it, I’m done letting everyone push me around.