Chapter 3: The Mating Ceremony

The garden was unrecognizable beneath the silvery gaze of the full Hunter’s Moon. Once vibrant flowers now drooped and curled as though wilting under the weight of Erika’s apprehension. Clouds rolled sluggishly across the sky, dimming the moonlight. Rows of darkly clad Lycans gathered, their golden eyes gleaming like embers in the shadows. The air was thick with expectation, and Erika’s skin prickled with an uneasy awareness of every gaze trained on her.

She shivered, though the night wasn’t cold. She stood in the center of the garden, her delicate gown billowing faintly in the breeze.

Diego stood beside her, his presence as imposing as ever. His suit was sharp, his movements effortless, but there was a detachment in his posture, a distance that Erika couldn’t ignore.

The officiator, a wiry man with a voice like gravel, began the ritual. Erika’s fingers trembled as Diego’s hand closed over hers, cold and firm, for the handfasting. His grip was perfunctory, devoid of affection, as though holding a stranger’s hand. Her heart ached at his distant demeanor, but she pressed her lips together, willing herself not to falter.

The binding cord was tied, the officiator spoke solemn words, and then came the final act: the marking. Diego stepped behind her, his movements swift and precise. Erika barely had time to brace herself before his teeth sank into her shoulder. Pain lanced through her, raw and visceral, but she bit her lip to suppress a cry. The sound of tearing fabric and Diego’s low growl echoed in her ears as the ritual reached its peak.

When he pulled away, blood trickled down her shoulder, soaking the fragile fabric of her gown. She stood trembling, her body marked, her soul unsure.

“Let the games begin,” one of Diego’s men declared, his voice rich with anticipation.

Before Erika could question what he meant, the bridesmaids surrounded her, their faces alight with glee.

“What’s happening?” she asked, her voice shaky.

“It’s tradition,” one of them explained, leading her toward the woods. “We hide, they hunt. And when they catch us…” She trailed off with a mischievous grin. “That’s when the fun begins.”

“Fun?” Erika echoed, her pulse quickening.

“Don’t worry,” another chimed in, her grin impish. “It’s all part of the ceremony.”

The women pulled her along, their skirts rustling as they darted into the dark forest surrounding the mansion. Erika’s shoulder throbbed as she stumbled into the undergrowth. The pain from Diego’s bite was a constant reminder of what had just occurred—and what was expected next.

The forest was alive with shadows and sounds. The bridesmaids scattered, their laughter echoing like mischievous spirits. Erika found herself alone, heart pounding as she crouched inside the hollow of an ancient tree. The air was cool and damp, but her skin burned as though set alight.

She waited, listening intently. The sound of distant howls sent shivers down her spine, mingling fear and thrill. She imagined Diego’s dark eyes searching for her in the moonlight, imagined him finding her and claiming her fully. Despite herself, she felt a flicker of excitement—an almost feral yearning that she didn’t fully understand.

The women’s shrieks and laughter grew louder as one by one they were found. Erika’s chest tightened with anticipation as she waited for Diego’s footsteps, for his voice. But as the minutes stretched into an hour, no one came for her.

The forest grew quiet. The others had returned to the mansion, their roles in the ritual fulfilled. Erika remained alone, shivering and feverish, her gown clinging to her damp skin, and the pull of the Hunter’s Moon wasn’t helping, either.

A twig snapped nearby, and her heart leapt. Finally.

“Luna, is that you?”

The voice wasn’t Diego’s.

A figure emerged from the shadows, and Hugo’s familiar face came into view. He regarded her with calm detachment, though his golden eyes gleamed with a knowing look.

“I’m here to return you to your chambers,” he said, his tone neutral. “The Alpha is waiting for you at the banquet.”

Erika’s stomach twisted. “He’s… waiting for me?”

Hugo nodded, holding out a dark cloak. “You’ll want this.”

Erika swallowed her confusion, disappointment threatening to bubble over. She draped the cloak over her shoulders, hiding the torn gown and the bloodstains. Hugo led her through the forest, not back to the grand entrance of the mansion but to an obscure metal gate concealed by ivy.

“This way,” Hugo said, opening the gate to reveal a narrow corridor that snaked upward.

They moved in silence through hidden passageways that smelled faintly of damp stone and old wood. When they emerged into her chambers, Erika found a new gown laid out neatly on her bed—a simple dress in muted tones.

Hugo turned to leave but paused at the door. “The guests believe the ceremony was consummated. It would be best to maintain that impression.”

Erika nodded, though her throat felt tight. “Thank you, Hugo.”

The banquet hall was alive with chatter and clinking glasses when Erika entered. Heads turned briefly to acknowledge her, their smiles polite and oblivious. Diego sat at the head of the table, his posture as imposing as ever. His eyes flicked to Erika as she approached.

“What took you so long to get changed?” he asked, his tone almost teasing.

Erika lowered her eyes, her expression calm despite the storm raging inside her. “I’m sorry, dear Alpha,” she replied, her voice soft but steady. “The Hunter’s Moon got in my way. Won’t happen again.”

Diego’s lips quirked in a lopsided grin, and he said nothing more.

Erika took her seat beside him, the weight of the night pressing down on her. Around her, the guests laughed and drank, oblivious to the truth. Only Hugo, standing silently near the door, met her gaze briefly—a flicker of understanding passing between them.

As the banquet continued, Erika’s resolve hardened. Whatever this life demanded of her, she would endure. She would make him proud, even if it meant burying her own desires. For now, she would play the part of Luna, even if her Alpha had left her in the woods.