Chapter 3

Elora

“Under the all seeing eye of Selene and in the witness of your subjects, do you, Alpha Dominic Bellamy, take Elora Turner as your wife and Luna?”

The elder officiating our wedding asks in the packed pack hall teeming with various dignitaries and invitees.

My heart pounds with anxiety and I look up at Dominic but he’s not looking at me or the elder in front of us, he’s looking at Mira who is seated in the front pew with emotionless eyes but their red and puffy state shows how much tears they have been shedding.

Mira catches me staring at her and the eyes that hold no emotion suddenly become filled with hate, so much hate it feels like it punches me in the gut and I quickly look away from her, only to lock eyes with Dominic standing at the end of the hall with eyes as cold as ice.

His black on black attire stands out from the white theme of the wedding and the way his top hugs him deliciously, showing off his sexy frame makes my heart pound and I quickly look down at my feet.

This is the first time since his father died that I am setting eyes on him. I have been avoiding him painstakingly because I know the first chance he gets, he’ll reject me and even if I know it is inevitable especially now that I am getting married to his brother, I’m not sure I have the strength to take it.

“I do.”

Dominic’s curt voice snaps me out of my thoughts and I look up at him.

“Under the all seeing eye of Selene and in the witness of your subjects, do you, Elora Turner, take Alpha Dominic Bellamy as your husband and Alpha?”

I look back at Dante, my heart pounding hard with pain, tears finding its way to pool in my eyes. It’s always been him I wanted as my husband and Alpha, always been him. He looks away from me, pushes the door to the great hall open and he walks out.

My heart sinks terribly as he does. I look back at Dominic, his stoic yet impatient gaze urging me on but I know more than anything that he doesn’t want this, that he doesn’t want me.

“I do,” I reply, my voice barely above a whisper.

“By the power conferred on me, I hereby pronounce you husband and wife, Alpha and Luna, you may now mark yourselves,” the elder announces, beaming with a smile as the crowd cheers.

“The Luna and I will do our marking in private,” Dominic says in a curt voice, taking a quick glance at Mira. Even if without his mark, I can never come into my full power as Luna, I understand why he wouldn’t want to mark me in front of his mate.

—

Later that night, dressed in a ceremonial wedding night gown worn by every Luna before me, I make my way to Dominic’s room, my heart thudding nervously, every step taken with hesitation. Left to me, I’d curl up in my room and cry my heart out which is really what I want to do but tradition is tradition.

The Luna is not supposed to step out of the Alpha’s room for three days from the eve of their wedding. This period of time is meant to foster their bond and intimacy. Even if Dominic and I share neither of those and even if I know there is in no way he is going to touch me nor will I let him touch me, I still have to act accordingly and play pretend for the sake of our subjects.

I push the door open and freeze at the sight before me, Dominic on his knees, holding Mira’s waist, Mira standing with her hands folded against her chest, eyes as frosty as ice, a deadly scowl on her face.

They both turn to face me at the same time and Mira yells at me, her voice full of spite and rage, “get out!”

I stay rooted to the spot, my face calm as ever despite the slight rage I feel being yelled at like some omega slave who overstepped. I understand she is hurt but so am I. I never asked for any of this to happen, so she has no right to speak to me in that manner.

“I’m here to see Dominic,” I reply in a calm tone.

“Elora, please leave, I’ll send for you,” Dominic says in a defeated voice, a sullen look of struggle in his eyes.

I take a step forward, wanting to speak some sense into Mira. If she has Dominic kneeling and apologizing for something that isn’t his fault, then it is just foul of her, we’re all victims here, she shouldn’t portray herself as the ultimate one.

“Look Mira, I don’t know you and you don’t know me but fate has us caught up in this unfortunate situation, I know you are mates and this must be hard for you but Dominic didn’t have a choice, we didn’t–”

“I didn’t ask you to be my advocate Elora, I asked you to leave,” Dominic cuts me off coldly, his tone slightly raised, a look of annoyance in his eyes.

My eyes go agape, my heart clenching mildly. I was standing up for him, why is he mad at me?

Mira scoffs, “of course the whore has something to say.”

I frown, deeply. If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s someone calling me names, especially unmerited.

“Woman, that’s my husband on his knees in front of you. Mate or not, legally he’s mine but I’m not making a case out of it, there’s no need for the name calling,” I reply in a curt voice, attempting to pull Dominic to his feet.

He shrugs me off, “I said get out Elora, you’re only going to make things worse!” His voice is even more firm this time.

“No, she can stay,” Mira pushes his hands off her, “she’s right. She’s your wife, I’m just a scorned and used mate,” her eyes coat with tears and they begin to drizzle down her face. “Goodbye Dominic. I Mira Bane, reject you, Alpha Dominic B—”

“No, no…please don’t,” Dominic springs up and quickly clasps his hands around her mouth, his eyes full of pain and almost teary. He shakes his head pitifully, “please don’t do this baby, I can’t live without you. Forget about what Elora said, she means nothing to me— nothing. She’s just an unfortunate incident.”

An unfortunate incident? My heart clenches and my mouth gapes in shock. Is that really what he sees me as or are these words just to placate her?

“Then prove it to me,” Mira sobs, throwing her dark hair over her shoulder and bares her neck to him, “prove that to me by giving me your mark, let it be an assurance of your love for me.”

“You can’t do that Dominic,” I spit the words out almost immediately, knowing the consequences of him doing that, “if you mark her, you’re taking away my power and authority as Luna. I know how you feel right now but we have a duty to our people and that duty must come first.”

“You don’t know how I feel Elora, you don’t know half of it. I never asked for any of this, you’ve always known you were going to be Luna, you lived your entire life preparing for it. I never wanted to be Alpha, all I’ve ever wanted is her, my mate, and I’m not losing her, not even for the sake of duty,” Dominic replies and bares his canines.

My heart sinks.