Bound by Fate, Divided by Choice

The silver light vanished as quickly as it had appeared, but the silence it left behind lingered like a storm waiting to break. Every noble in the grand hall stared at us with expressions ranging from disbelief to awe, while the elders exchanged knowing glances that needed no explanation. The Moon Goddess had spoken through the mate bond, and no wolf alive could mistake what they had witnessed.

My pulse refused to settle.

The warmth that had rushed through my body moments ago still lingered beneath my skin, pulling me toward the man standing beside me with an invisible force I had never experienced before. Every instinct urged me to move closer, yet my heart resisted with equal determination. The sight of the fresh lipstick staining his collar was enough to crush whatever tenderness fate had tried to awaken.

Damon’s jaw tightened as though he were fighting something inside himself. His golden eyes remained fixed on mine for a brief moment before he looked away with obvious irritation.

“This is ridiculous,” he muttered under his breath.

Only I heard him but the words struck harder than I wanted to admit.

The High Elder of Shadowfang stepped forward, leaning heavily on his carved oak staff. His silver hair fell to his shoulders, and despite his advanced age, the authority in his gaze silenced every whisper in the hall.

“The Moon Goddess has revealed her will before every witness present,” he declared. “Alpha Damon Ashbourne and Lady Samantha Walker are fated mates.”

A wave of murmurs swept across the gathering and some guests smiled as though they had just witnessed a miracle while others looked uneasy.

Fated mates were rare enough to become legends. Most wolves spent their entire lives without ever meeting the person destined for them. For two leaders of powerful packs to discover their bond on their wedding day was almost unheard of.

My father was the first to recover “This is wonderful news,” Alpha Rowan announced with a broad smile that never reached his eyes. “The alliance between our packs is now blessed by the Moon Goddess herself.”

Vivianne clasped her hands together as though overcome with emotion “What a beautiful blessing.”

I knew better because neither of them cared about blessings instead they cared about power. A mate bond made this alliance nearly impossible to break, and that suited their ambitions perfectly.

Damon’s Beta stepped beside him and lowered his voice “Congratulations, Alpha.”

“There is nothing to congratulate,” Damon replied coldly.

Gabriel frowned. “She is your mate.”

“I can see that.” His tone carried more annoyance than wonder.

The sting in my chest deepened because I had prepared myself to marry a man who did not love me, but I had never imagined being rejected the very moment destiny tied our souls together.

The High Elder raised his hand for silence once more “The ceremony must continue.”

The officiant nodded and opened the ancient ceremonial book resting upon the altar.

“Alpha Damon Ashbourne, do you accept Samantha Walker as your Luna, to protect her, honor her, and stand beside her before the Moon Goddess and every pack?”

A long pause followed then I heard it, everyone heard it. Damon’s hesitation stretched painfully through the hall before he finally answered.

“I do.” His voice was steady and emotionless.

The officiant turned toward me “Lady Samantha Walker, do you accept Alpha Damon Ashbourne as your Alpha, to honor him, support him, and stand beside him through prosperity and hardship?”

Unlike him, I answered immediately.

“I do.”

Not because my heart believed those words anymore but because Silvercrest depended on them.

The elder smiled gently “Then exchange your vows.”

This part had not been written and these words belonged only to us. Damon looked at me for several seconds before speaking.

“I will provide for you as my Luna and ensure no one under my authority harms you.”

That was all, no promise of affection, no promise of loyalty, merely bligation.

When it became my turn, I swallowed the ache rising in my throat “I will serve both our packs faithfully and protect those entrusted to my care with everything I have.”

His eyes flickered briefly, perhaps he had expected me to speak about love, unfortunately love had no place here. The officiant presented the ceremonial rings.

Damon picked up the silver band and slid it onto my finger with careful precision. His fingers brushed mine again, awakening another wave of warmth that neither of us acknowledged.

When I placed his ring upon his hand, a faint pulse of moonlight shimmered around the metal before disappearing into our skin.

Several elders bowed their heads in reverence “The bond has accepted them,” one whispered.

The officiant smiled “Before the Moon Goddess and every witness gathered here, I declare you Alpha and Luna of Shadowfang Pack.”

Polite applause echoed through the hall but It sounded hollow to my ears.

The officiant glanced between us “You may seal your union.”

Damon looked almost irritated by the instruction but yet he stepped closer. I remained perfectly still and his hand rested lightly against my waist, careful enough to avoid any genuine intimacy. Then he leaned forward and pressed a brief kiss against my lips. It lasted no more than a heartbeat, there was no tenderness, no passion only duty.

As soon as he stepped back, I noticed several noblewomen watching with obvious disappointment. They had expected romance but instead they witnessed a contract.

The celebration began almost immediately afterward. Musicians resumed playing while servants filled crystal glasses with wine. Guests crowded around us, offering congratulations and blessings that blurred together until I could barely distinguish one voice from another.

Damon disappeared within minutes, I watched him cross the ballroom surrounded by influential Alphas, nobles, and wealthy merchants eager to gain his attention. He smiled easily among them, carrying himself with effortless confidence. It was the first genuine smile I had seen from him all day but none of them were directed at me.

“You should stop watching him.”

I turned to find Clara standing quietly beside me with a tray holding two glasses of sparkling juice.

“I wasn’t.”

She gave me a knowing look but chose not to argue. “You have hardly eaten.”

“I’m not hungry.”

She sighed softly “You will need your strength.”

Before I could answer, another familiar voice interrupted us “My dear sister.”

Lyra approached wearing a shimmering emerald gown that attracted nearly as much attention as the bride’s dress. Her golden curls framed a face beautiful enough to make strangers trust her within seconds.

I knew better.

She embraced me gently before stepping back with practiced elegance “You look lovely.”

“Thank you.”

“I was worried Alpha Damon might not arrive at all.” The sympathy in her voice sounded convincing,  too convincing.

 “But everything worked out perfectly in the end.”

Her gaze drifted toward Damon across the ballroom “He certainly is handsome.”

Something in the way she smiled unsettled me, it was subtle and almost impossible to notice. Yet it carried a confidence that did not belong on the face of a woman admiring her new brother-in-law.

“You seem impressed,” I said quietly.

She laughed “Can you blame me? Every unmarried woman in the Northern Territories dreamed of marrying him.”

She leaned closer “You are very fortunate.”

Fortunate, the word echoed bitterly in my thoughts. Fortunate to marry a man who had arrived from another woman’s bed, fortunate to discover he was my fated mate only to watch disappointment fill his eyes and fortunate to begin a marriage already cracked beyond repair.

Lyra squeezed my hand before walking away to greet other guests. As I watched her disappear into the crowd, I noticed something peculiar, Damon’s gaze followed her, not casually, not politely, his eyes lingered long enough for unease to settle inside me.

Then Lyra looked back at him and offered a smile so small that almost no one would have noticed it. He returned it, a quiet exchange, brief and familiar.

My stomach twisted with an emotion I refused to name. Perhaps I was imagining things or perhaps I was simply exhausted. Yet deep inside, an uneasy voice whispered that my marriage had begun with more than humiliation.

It had begun with secrets.