Chapter 5

ELENA POV

My heart beats hard. Alpha Lukas lets go of me, but I can feel his eyes lingering on me.

“Smile,” he leans down to whisper like he hadn't just threatened me, his lip grazing my ear. I shiver, looking up at the audience gathered.

There are at least a hundred, filling the small room, beta enforcers lined at every door, and everyone is watching. I feel lightheaded. Lukas's hand rests on the small of my back, cold and grounding as he leads me forward.

I force a smile on my face. He nods at Malric and Calista, who grin and clap like they're on the moon. Seated next to Malric, surrounded by beta wolves, my eyes meet the Alpha King, Eldan Montclair—Lukas's father. Our gazes lock. Something in me shifts, a feeling like he's someone I should know… someone dangerous. He gives me a cold smile.

I quickly look away, fear pounding in my chest. I should run, my insides scream. This is a trap.

Lukas's hand moves to my waist, like he can sense my thoughts. “Relax,” he mutters in a low drawl.

“...relax.”

The word sounds familiar. I picture the stranger from last night, the blurred kid running through a field. The memory hits me again like a boulder.

It's all I can do to keep my feet under me. Lukas's hand tightens around me. Murmurs pass through the crowd.

“Get your act together, or someone is going to pay for it,” this time, his voice is harsh.

I gulp, the air suddenly feeling cold.

We reach the altar, where an old gamma wolf in a white robe is waiting to bound me to Lukas forever.

“Today, we witness the mating ceremony of Alpha Lukas and our future Luna.” The pack elder, Avenor, steps forward.

He has a scroll in his hands. The vows. The elder clears his throat, and the pavilion falls deadly silent.

“Under the gaze of the Bloodmoon, alpha and mate are bound. Let the pack witness.” His voice carries across the grand hall. Malric and Calista are literally at the edge of their seats.

There's nothing romantic about it, only a deadly chill. I want to close my eyes, to run, but I lost that chance last night.

The elder steps forward, opening the scroll. “Alpha Lukas, do you claim this mate before the pack?”

Lukas's gaze doesn't leave me. I don't dare breathe under his intense stare. When he speaks, it's a cold and commanding seal to my fate. ‘I claim her. Her voice, her scent, her silence. All mine to guard and command.”

“Elena Graymoor,”

My head reels.

“Do you accept the alpha's claim?”

“I…” I hesitate. The pack watches. Lukas's hand tightens on my waist.

I go over the countless times I rehearsed this with the tutor. Everything I needed to be a submissive alpha's mate.

“I accept.”

The rest of Avenor's words are drowned out by the loud ringing in my head.

I feel like a ghost through the rest of the ceremony. I don't take note of anything. I remember Alpha Lukas leading me out after the congratulatory messages.

My fingers tremble as we step into the car. I know what's next.

Alpha Lukas will mark me, sealing our vow under the full moon.

Tonight, I will belong to him.

We arrive at the Montclair mansion. Lukas steps out, not sparing me a glance. I stumble out of the car. The mansion feels cold and deadly. The three omega wolves from earlier meet me in the halls. I spot Lukas, some few feet away, talking with his beta wolf.

“Take her to her chambers,” he turns, instructing the omegas. His eyes lock on mine, scanning me head to toe.

His beta whispers something in his ears and he nods before walking off.

“This way, Luna,” one of the girls bows, leading me forward. I follow behind them. They're not much older than me. Half an hour ago, we were all omegas.

My chambers are huge, opening into a huge bedroom. I can't bring myself to appreciate the grandeur. Not when everything has already fallen apart. They leave a white nightgown on the hanger and a cup of hot chocolate on the table.

“The alpha will send for you,” one of them says as they file out, closing the door softly after them.

I sit at the edge of the bed, clutching the cup of chocolate with both hands. It's supposed to calm me down, to bring down my nerves, but all I can feel is the chill creeping up my spine as I wait.

The minutes pass by. The door stays closed. No one came to summon me.

Slowly, my eyes grow heavy with drowsiness. My stomach felt empty. Maybe he isn't coming... It feels too good to be true, but relief floods through me either way.

Maybe he didn't care enough to consummate our bond. Those are my last thoughts as I drift off to sleep.

***

When morning comes, however, it doesn't make sense. I sit up, staring at the other side of the bed, the sheets unruffled. Alpha Lukas didn't show up.

A knock sounds on the door.

“Come in.”

There's only one of the omega wolves this time. "Luna," she stands at the door, her head lowered.

Under the bright light, or perhaps with my mind more focused, I notice the servant's uniform: a white apron over a deep blue gown, her hair held back in a ponytail. I make out her name tag quite clearly. Bianca.

“Breakfast will soon be ready. You're required to come down.”

“What happened last night?” I ask, standing up.

She doesn't reply.

“Please,” I move closer to her, watching in horror as she steps back. “Please, I need to know.”

She hesitates. “The mating ceremony ended. A few important families were here to congratulate the alpha.”

“And after that?” I probe.

“Alpha Lukas added some names to the selection for the rogue mission.”

My blood runs cold. Dread fills my stomach. I swallow hard. “Who?”

She doesn't meet my gaze. “Tess Hale.”