Chapter 4

When I arrived at the main hall, Kieran and Sera were already waiting at the entrance.

They stood together like they owned the place, their expressions dripping with smugness.

“Well,” Kieran said as I approached. “I knew you’d come crawling back. You blocked both of us, then got your father to arrange this meeting to pressure me into announcing our bonding early.”

He crossed his arms and smirked. “You’re scared something will go wrong at the bonding ceremony, aren’t you? So you want to lock me down now before I change my mind.”

Before I could respond, he shoved me hard.

I stumbled backward and hit the wall behind me.

Pain shot through my shoulder and I felt my dress tear.

“You need to apologize to Sera first,” Kieran demanded. “Apologize for hanging up on her, for blocking her, for being a jealous bitch. Then maybe I’ll consider going through with this bonding.”

Sera’s eyes went wide with fake concern. “Kieran, it’s okay. I’m used to Elisa treating me badly. I’ve accepted that she’ll always hate me for being close to you.”

She touched her chest delicately. “As long as I can still see you sometimes, I don’t mind if she yells at me or pushes me around. I know I’m just a low-ranking omega. I don’t deserve to be treated well anyway.”

Her pitiful tone made Kieran's expression harden even more.

He grabbed my hand and yanked me toward him.

"You hear that? Sera's willing to put up with your abuse just to be near me. The least you can do is show some fucking gratitude."

“Apologize to her now, or you can forget about this bonding entirely. And tell your father to stop trying to force this announcement!”

I pulled my arm free from his grip and met his eyes. “I already told you. I’m not choosing you as my mate.”

“Still playing this game?” Kieran laughed. “Your father invited my entire pack here for the announcement. Everyone knows today is when you’ll officially declare me as your chosen mate. Stop embarrassing yourself.”

Before I could respond, my father’s voice cut through the air.

“What’s going on here?”

I turned to see him standing near the entrance to the main hall.

Beside him stood Damon Thorne.

My breath caught in my throat.

The curse-breaking ritual had worked.

Damon was standing on his own, no longer weakened by the curse that had been slowly killing him.

He wore a dark suit that emphasized his broad shoulders, and his silver eyes found mine immediately.

When he saw the red mark on my wrist where Kieran had grabbed me, his expression darkened.

“You’re hurt,” he said quietly.

He moved forward and pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, offering it to me.

Kieran stepped between us immediately, his chest puffed out.

“Damon, we haven't bonded yet, but Elisa and I have an understanding. There's no need for you to be so concerned about her."

He leaned in closer to me and muttered under his breath, “I’ll let this slide today. But if you ever bully Sera again, I won’t be so forgiving.”

Then he looped his arm through mine and said loudly, “Come on. Our fathers and all the guests are waiting inside. The engagement announcement is about to begin.”

He was putting on a show, trying to claim ownership in front of Damon.

It was pathetic.

I pulled my arm free from his grip.

Kieran never wanted me.

He only wanted the power that came with bonding to an Alpha’s daughter.

The trade routes, the alliances, the status.

Once he had those, he’d planned to discard me completely.

My father’s expression turned ice cold.

He stepped forward and gently took my hand, then turned to address everyone present.

“Let’s go inside. It’s time to make the announcement.”

The main hall was already filled with pack members and allied leaders, all gathered for what they assumed would be the formal declaration of my bonding with Kieran.

My father led me to the center of the room where a raised platform had been set up.

“Today is significant for both our pack and our allies. Elisa will reveal her chosen mate, and with that choice comes control of the Northern trade routes.”

Kieran smiled widely and moved closer to the platform.

He looked like he was already planning his acceptance speech, but my father turned away from him.

My father took my hand, then turned and extended his other hand toward Damon.

The room erupted in shocked murmurs.

Damon stepped forward and placed his hand in my father’s.

“My daughter has chosen Damon Thorne of the Silvermoon Pack as her mate,” my father announced. “The bonding ceremony will take place as scheduled in seven days.”

He placed my hand in Damon’s.

Then he turned to Kieran and spoke with authority. “From this moment forward, you will address her with the respect she deserves as his future mate.”

The room went silent.

then burst into shocked voices.

Damon looked down at our joined hands, then into my eyes. “Elisa, are you ready to be my mate?“​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​