Chapter 5

On the day of the ceremony, a fleet of the Sterling family's black SUVs pulled up early to the private beachfront estate in the Procktoms.

The lawn was decorated with white sage for warding off evil and delicate baby's breath flowers. The sea breeze was gentle that June evening as the silver moon began to rise.

I fully expected Harrison to roll up to the altar in his wheelchair. So, I was surprised when I saw him standing at the other end of the red carpet, aided by a custom-built neural exoskeleton brace from some Scoron Valley lab or perhaps by the sheer force of his will alone.

Through my thin lace veil, I could see him giving me a gentle smile.

His warm, large hand held mine as he slowly walked with me toward the sacred altar, where the Moon Goddess would witness our vows.

As I looked up, I caught the fine sheen of sweat on his forehead. I knew forcing himself to stand despite his damaged nerves had to be agonizing. My heart stirred, and my protective instincts as a she-wolf began to surface.

The High Priest's voice was deep and solemn. Just as I turned around to recite the ancient bonding vows, a harsh wolf howl and loud commotion suddenly came from outside the estate.

"Get out of my way! That's my Luna!"

A figure forcefully shoved past the werewolf guards responsible for security. It was Blake, who had taken Sophia to a yacht show in the Procktoms.

With his tie askew and his hair messy, he looked utterly disheveled in his expensive suit, the sharp claws he'd forgotten to retract only adding to his pathetic appearance.

Only at this very second did he finally fish the invitation he'd shoved into his pocket carelessly and hurriedly check the two names printed side by side beneath the wax seal. Stella Lane. Harrison Sterling.

Those were the names he had personally made sure were printed on the declaration letters. It had been a joke he thought could never become reality.

Yet here they were, engraved in the most formal lettering on the gold-embossed invitation he held in his hands.

When he saw me standing at the altar in my white wedding dress, his eyes immediately turned red with fury. He roared, "What the hell are you doing? You're actually bonding with another wolf out of spite just because I'm a little late?"

Over 200 North Aforian werewolf elites stared at him in dead silence, looking at him like he was a clown.

Every single werewolf present knew that today was the day Stella Lane and Harrison Sterling would make their vows before the Moon Goddess.

The declaration had been sent out to all of North Aforia a whole week ago. And the Sterling family's ceremony preparations had been known by all. Harrison even had white roses from Cafodio flown in to carpet the entire aisle.

As Harrison's nephew, Blake should technically be showing respect right now and addressing me respectfully.

But he was obviously no longer thinking straight. Completely unaware of how ridiculous he looked, he wore an expression of smug condescension.

"You should know that I actually showed up late on purpose today. I wanted to leave you hanging to wear down that temper of yours. Now come with me. If you behave, I'll still let you be my mate in the future.

"And Uncle Harrison, how could you go along with her tantrum? Stella, what are you still standing around for? Let's go!"

As he spoke, he tried to unleash his aura to force me into submission.