Chapter 6

Ravynna’s POV

“WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!” Alpha Jarrett's voice rang out, gripping the arm of his wheelchair tightly.

Over the couple of days, his health had taken a dive for the worse, he couldn’t stand on his own anymore… Kael didn’t know that.

Seeing as Kael was paying him no heed, his fathers voice thundered that hall, “Kael, have you lost your mind?”, as he tried to stand up before Luna Elara held him back.

But Kael didn’t flinch neither did he even turn toward his father.

The crowd whispers that had died down immediately started stirring up.

His eyes never left mine and with his hands still holding onto Rose’s, he walked towards me with his locking smirk plastered on his face, as if to say, I choose her and not you.

Kael’s silence was louder than any argument.

My pulse roared in my ears as Kael stood in front of me and pulled her closer to his warmth,

“Why… why do you have to keep dragging my dignity to the ground?” I asked, unable to mask the sharp edge in my voice.

‘Does he even know who we are?’ Lyra paced angrily, wanting out.

No he didn’t.

I had lost a whole lot to return to the man I believed still loved me only to constantly receive insults thrown at me without words… yet I hadn’t walked out.

A distant memory flashed at the back of my mind and I held back my tears, he wasn’t going to succeed in frustrating me.

‘Perhaps he thinks the news of the Alpha King overthrowing packs and removing incapable leaders was a joke?’ Lyra scoffed.

Staring at the indifference on his face, I wondered what he thought of me?

“I had promised you that you were going to regret this, Ravynna,” he whispered, leaning in so only I could hear what he was saying.

He then turned to Rose and gave her a reassuring smile, “I accepted your plan to save this pack even though it meant hurting Rose…”

I stared at him in disbelief, anyone that heard this would think he was doing me a favour, who was this man and where had his common sense gone to?

He continued, “You may rule alongside me as Luna, but Rose will remain my wife.”

“She is equally entitled to stand here with me and receive the Moon Goddess’s blessing. So let it be known that everyone under my rule must honor her as wife as they honor you as their Luna.”

A gasp rippled through the crowd as my heart stopped.

‘What insolence and mockery!’ Lyra, snarled violently inside me.

‘Blessing?’

He wanted the Moon Goddess to bless this mockery while I stood beside him?

I should have been more prepared for this but Kael didn’t have to do too much to hurt me even on this day… my throat tightened as a sting spread across my chest.

What was I thinking… I was nothing but a political bride but this… this was Kael making sure to step on my pride.

“Kael,” I whispered, tears slowly escaping my eyes despite my will, “do you truly care nothing for me?”

Just like before, I saw something flash in his eyes or perhaps it was my mind playing games with me…Regret?

Pity?

“I care for you as my best friend,” Kael threw back, in the nicest way he could manage, “And I know how crucial this union is to both our packs hence why I had agreed to marry you.”

A dull ringing filled my ears.

“But my love,” Kael continued, “belongs only to Rose.”

He turned his head toward her, brushing his thumb over her knuckles, his eyes filled with love. “She deserves my devotion… You deserve my respect.”

Respect?

“Respect and you do this to me in front of your people?” I asked and as though on cue, Rose covered the space between us.

Her eyes looked teary even though the pinky person on the receiving end of Kael humiliation was me… I could see behind that fake sweetness was nothing but mockery.

It somehow sparked anger inside me.

“Ravy, I don’t want your title.” she calmly said, her soft hands reaching for mine, “Truly, I don’t and I'm not here to compete with you for… anything.”

She moved back into Karl’s arms, “I just want him.”

Luna Elara, looked as though she were about to tear her son apart with her bare hands.

“Kael…” she cried out, her face red in embarrassment.

“Aren’t you tired of rubbing mud all over this family… bringing your Rose back was already enough but this… what was your plan to ruin the relationship we have with Silverfang Pack?”

“Mother,” Kael warned her under his breath and I could feel the tension between them rising and so did others.

He didn’t dare look around as the energy was already telling, “You have sown this seed in them so if any move is taken here… it’s all on you!”

Whispers had died down and my wedding day had turned to a drama.

I didn’t want to look at my parents but I could sense dads wolf pacing and wanting out…

I had seen my father furious only twice in my life.

Once when I was nearly killed during training at age fifteen and when Kael had promised me forever just before my send off to the Alpha King’s camp.

But this… this was different.

This was the fury of an Alpha defending the pride of his daughter and the integrity of his pack…. An Alpha who was seconds from shifting.

I heard a crack and immediately my eyes met his.

A tear slipped down as I whispered under my breath , “Please no”

I couldn’t make a scene… not here nor now.

I knew trying to reassure him with a smile wouldn’t work but I gave him one anyway and another tear slipped out as my mother gripped his arm.

It was only then, as my parents struggled to contain themselves, that I realized Kael didn’t care not for my dignity or for his pack’s honor.

My eyes trailed around… Kael didn’t even care for his father’s dying body or his mother’s tears because all she sees is Rose.

He loved her so much and I… I was nothing but an imposter in their love story,

My lungs tightened as the priest broke through the tension, “The auspicious hour is passing and we have to begin.”

Turning to Kael he said,his aged brows furrowing, “Alpha prince, tradition states that one the Luna stands alone with the Alpha during the vows.”

“Tradition is man made and it was made because of the sag of someone…” Kael said before his eyes met mine, “ that tradition changes today.”

Gasps escaped everyone's lips and so did whispers.

And before anyone could protest again, Kael reached for my hand… his fingers roughly closing over mine, he raised our joined hands before the elder.

“I, Kael Draven of the Blood moonPack,” he declared loudly once again silencing the whispers, “willingly take Ravynna Astrid Caden of the Silverfang Pack as my one and only Luna.”

Every word sliced into me like a silver blade… he was mocking me and wasn’t done.

“She is to join me in sharing all the rights and honors of the Blood moon Pack.”

I stared at him, numb, as my world spun around me.

The priest turned to me but my eyes were glued to the smirk on Kael’s face… the one that was watching… waiting for me to seal my own humiliation in the eyes of two packs.

My lips parted and almost immediately my vision blurred with tears.

“No!!!” Lyra howled in protest.

I stared at him and back at Rose who had this… look in her face and took a step back causing him to frown.

“We don’t accept this?!” Lyra growled as I took another step backwards.

“Astrid…” he warned as I took yet another step away from whatever this ceremony was and for a second, I went blank as every instinct in me screamed to run, or better still to tear this messed up ceremony apart.

“I refuse… you can’t make me do… whatever this is…” The word barely left my lips before it happened.

Lyra let out a whimper as we felt his aura threaten to make us kneel in submission.

Lyra kneeled and he didn’t stop, staring in his eyes all I could see was pitch black… this was Kael's wolf, he wanted us and didn’t mind forcing us into submission!

I could feel my willpower leave as I heard his command in my head, “Repeat your vow!”

I tried to shake my head, but my jaw trembled, as my muscles betrayed me one by one.

“I… Ravynna Astrid Caden of the Silverfang Pack…”

My vision blurred as tears burned behind my eyes, humiliation sinking in as the murmur in the crowd increased.

Lyra was trembling in forced submission as Kael’s wolf pressed for obedience.

“…take Alpha Prince Kael Draven of the Blood moon Pack…”

Each word felt like a betrayal to myself.

“…as my Alpha and husband…”

The final syllable fell into the stunned silence and just like that he released his hold on us.

My hands shook violently as I stared at the floor, shame and rage danced together inside me.

He had claimed me.

The hall erupted in cheers ringing hollow in my ears as everyone ignored the tears that just couldn’t stop flowing down my eyes.

His hand immediately left mine and without turning back he walked away, taking Rose by the hand amidst everyone’s murmurs and gasps.

Lyra paced as she repeated over and over again, “This was a mistake!”