Chapter 9

The omegas carefully bows to the floor, avoiding the royal party's raging eyes as they make their way through.

They all needed not to be told what to do. Clair Anderson could not take another moment with the priest going about his boring incantations.

“This should be her and not me” she murmured to herself, making sure her voice was low enough not to be heard by others.

“The ceremony is now complete and the young alpha can go ahead and burn the sheets, to bring good luck and a prosperous marriage to his elder brother.” the priest announced taking his leave.

“Take this to your fiance” Luna Camfrey hands over the stained sheets to Clair who holds on to this tightly, her long nails digging into the sheets creating holes of anger and jealousy.

She is gently courteous to the Luna before storming her way out. Slamming the door behind her, she tosses the dirty sheets to the figure on the bed. Mark yawns annoyed.

“Who dares' ' he hissed, opening his eyes only to meet the fury of Clair Anderson standing above him, her hands crossed over her chest and eyes staring daggers into his skin.

“You shouldn't do that babe” Mark spoke calmly, getting up and tossing the duvet off his body.

“What's wrong?” he asks picking up his shirt off the floor.

“Mark.. I thought you loved me... I thought you said I would be the only woman you would make the pack proud of but look at me. I have been turned into nothing but a public ridicule…. I have been turned into a woman lost enough to give myself to a man who Isn't my mate and certainly not my husband” Clair laments, staring at the man before as hot tears sprinkle from her eyes staining her soft cheeks.

“No…. you know I love you” Mark assures her, dragging her into his embrace. Clair was no virgin and everyone was more than aware of it.

She had not only foolishly given herself to a man who had not married her but it was a topic to brag about almost all her friends and the constant hickeys from her night adventures with the young Alpha had never undergone the cues of concealer.

“No dont love me, Mark.. You've never loved me because if you did I wouldn't have been humiliated today like the way I was” Clari cried some more, burying her face in the arms of her lover.

“Why would I say such a thing? I do love you because you will be my Luna. I love you to make you my wife and let Emelia marry my brother” “Let her?” Clair spat disdainfully. She pushes herself off Mark, turning her back to him.

“You did not let her Mark, she dumped you in favor of the one you hate the most. I don't know why or what others see in him but Mark can't you see he will use her to get back at you?” Claire's words rang like a warning in Mark's head.

Fred was his brother, but no one had been brothers. The constant comparing, the constant fight for the throne, and the recognition from their father have always kept both brothers at each other's necks.

“Emelia is the only woman my brother will have for a while. Yes, they may be married but I know her like no one else. She is shy and won't be able to keep up with a man like Fred who has a good number of ladies just for the weekend.

Emelia has always loved me and I know she is only but angry, soon she will be back in my arms and Fred will have nothing” Clair Anderson turned to the man before her pity was written all over her.

Mark was smart but she was cunning like a fox. There Was no way she would let Emelia come back into their lives, not even as a concubine.

“You should have taken her virginity and not let Fred do it. I won't be having this ceremony on my day and today I had to serve her. Your mother had to go to the one place she hates the most in her pack just to be a slave for a girl who doesn't deserve it and an ungrateful son.

Mark, don't you feel bad for putting your mother and me through so much already? Don't you feel bad for making her have to see the place she vowed never to be in her life?” Clair asked and Mark only frowned even more.

Marrying Emelia had been the plan and it only bettered and smoothed his way when she had turned out to be his mate. Love had never been the bargain and the mate bond was certainly not going to tie him down.

“This is believed to bring great marriage and love?” Mark asked, picking up the stained sheets.

“Well why don't we drown it, so their marriage drowns with it” he smirks, taking hold of the sheet. Clair beamed with joy walking hand in hand with him as they walked out of the pack horse and made their way to the river.

Unlike the river on the eastern side of the pack which was very navigable and most crowded throughout the year, the northern path wasn't the theme.

Not only was it reserved for the Alpha’s family, but it was strictly accessed under the Alpha's command.

The ride to the river was quick, with very little traffic around the forest area, Mark and Clair swiftly made their way to the blue waterfall with flowers its way from different directions.

“They say love brings and unites two hearts to become one and so does the secret consummation night of a newlywed couple. I am not a fan of their love and today I do not come with blessings but rather I carry curses ready to be leached out upon them.

The mate bond is indeed sacred and should not be made mockery of, but here I stand with a heavy heart and the blood of my mate given to another.

I seek vengeance... With a heavy heart, I pray nothing but sorrow and sadness dwell in this union, as I drown these sheets, stained with her blood... So shall her marriage with him drown in the depths of pain and suffering, help me oh goddess' ' Watching the sheet descend deep into the bottom of the lake Mark turns to his lover with a triumphant smile.

“Now we wait and watch”