CHAPTER 3: FATE’S CRUEL JOKE

AURORA

“Aurora, get your ass down here we are running late.” My mother yelled from the dining table. I closed my eyes and sucked in a few deep breaths before opening them again. My bones were aching from having to wake so early to cook and clean the whole house but it didn’t matter, it won’t matter if I’m mated today.

I took one last look at my tired face on the mirror before dashing out of my room. As usual Lila was seated beside my mother and looking like the perfect golden child while I looked as out of place as always.

“You know, if you could just stop eating so much and lose some weight maybe you’ll be bearable to look at.” My mom snapped as I reached the last of the staircase.

“Take it easy mummy, you know she’s fat and that would make her slower.” Lila spoke gently as if she was advocating for me but I could see the hidden smile from where I was standing.

“Oh please she should…”

“Are you going to keep us waiting? Will you move your legs and come serve us or should I come and carry you?” My father snapped, cutting my mother off while Lila smiled triumphantly.

“I…I’m sorry.” I stammered, rushing to serve them while wondering why they never told Lila to do these things. I'd cooked, cleaned and even set the table just what it would take for their perfect golden girl to serve them.

“Oh Lila my darling, I can already see myself as the in law to the Alpha. Luna's mother.” My mother beamed, imaginations etched on her face.

“Oh come on mummy, Xavier is just a good friend.” Lila replied shyly. But I knew better, I knew how many times she had snuck out to see him in the woods and I knew the things that happened right after.

“The Moon Bond ceremony will be starting soon, make sure you don’t disgrace this family. I will not tolerate two more years with you in this house.” My father growled out with a tone of finality.

“Y…yes sir.” I forced out again, my knuckles already very pale from how tight I was holding the serving spoon.

He turned to Lila with a smile he’d never sent my way. “I know you will make me proud today. I, Elder Ronald Blackwood, will become Luna’s father once you mate with Xavier.”

“Daaaaaaad, I already told you Xavier and I are just friends.” She whined dramatically again and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.

“Don’t mind her, she and Xavier would make great leaders.” My mother added, her face filled with pride and smiles.

Holding back tears, I finished serving them and turned to leave for my room but my father’s voice stopped me in my tracks. “Make sure you look presentable at the ceremony. You’re not going to embarrass the Blackwood name, we leave in thirty minutes.”

“Oh no darling, we shouldn’t be seen walking with her. Who will mate with her excess fat, even I as a woman will reject her if she happens to be my mate. So I think it’s best that she goes alone, and much later.” My mother mocked and every restraint I’d managed, cut loose as tears started to flow freely.

I didn’t waste any more second as I ran upstairs to my room, Lila’s triumphant smile haunting me till I closed my door behind me and slid down to sit on the floor while pulling my knees to my chest.

Maybe it would be better if I didn’t go, I should just sleep it off. No one would notice if I wasn’t there anyway. Still crying, I turned to my side and laid down.

…….

I must have slept off because much later, I could feel someone tapping me. “My cutie, my little child, come on. It’s time to go for the ceremony, you should not miss it no matter how sad it makes you feel.”

At first I thought I was just dreaming but when the tapping got stronger, I forced my eyes open and saw Nana Cromwell. The only safe space I had in the whole of Mooncrest.

“Nana, what are you doing here?” I jerked up.

“Come on you silly girl, you shouldn’t be late to the Moon bond ceremony.” She responded, her face filled with smiles and love. Something I could never receive from my actual parents.

“But it won’t matter, no one would bond with a waste of space like me.” I answered sadly.

“You are a special child, my cutie, and any man who doesn’t see that is a fool. Now stand up and let’s go.”

Thanks to Nana, I finally found the courage to stand up and together we walked to the pack field. Immediately we got there, I heard the elder’s voice as he commanded every unmated person to stand in the middle of the field.

Nana pushed me when I didn’t make a move, and reluctantly, I walked into the circle. Immediately I started moving, I heard the whispers and I could even see my sister laughing at me with her friends but for the first time, I raised my head, squared my shoulders and blocked them out.

This is it, no matter what happens or goes wrong today, I’ll be fine. I’ll face it head on like the special one that I am. Even if I was going to be rejected, then I will at least do it with my dignity intact.

Just then the priestess moved into the very center and started saying some incantations.

Soon enough, the moon got brighter and people started connecting with their mates until just a few of us were left which included my sister but I didn’t care for her because the moment Xavier came, the mate bond would show itself.

As the number of those of us in the circle continued to reduce, I started to feel the panic rise in my chest. I was going to be unmated again this Moon Bond.

I was…I was….

Suddenly, my nose tingled and the most intriguing scent surrounded me. For the first time today, I felt a smile spread across my face. My mate was here and I was going to finally be free from my parents' abuse and shackles.

I turned to trace the smell but I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw who it was.

His face drained of color, then came disbelief and then disgust which morphed into anger.

“You…you’re my mate?” His angry voice boomed across the field.

I felt my heart squeeze and the smile on my face immediately vanished. Because right in front of me was a man that I was sure would hate my guts just from the sight of me.

The look of disgust on his face hit harder than any insult I’d ever received.

The field had gone completely silent around us, no one moved and I could literally hear no one breathing.

The entire pack stared in shock and disbelief. Then laughter erupted somewhere behind me.

“Her?”

“The future Alpha’s mate is HER?”

My stomach dropped and at that moment, I wanted the ground to swallow me whole. From the corner of my eye, I saw my parents staring at me as though I had personally ruined their lives.

Beside Xavier, Lila’s face had gone deathly pale.

For a moment, our eyes met and the hatred I saw there made my blood run cold.

Then Xavier took one step forward.

The bond between us pulsed.

His jaw tightened and his already black eyes darkened. And when he opened his mouth, I knew my life was about to change forever.

“There’s no way in hell…”