My Greatest Marriage With A Sweet Stranger

~ Eleanor ~

“With the power bestowed on me as the high priest of the Moonshadow Pack, I now declare you both husband and wife. Applause to the new couple,” the priest announced. The large, crowded hall was instantly filled with deafening cheering as Beta Victor and Isabella shared a kiss.

I trembled wordlessly. My expression stiffened in shock. I still couldn’t figure out what was happening. Everything was just fine before I passed out after the rituals.

Why can’t I remember doing anything wrong? Beta himself had marked me. He even suggested that we consummate before the final ceremony, and I agreed. So why am I not standing beside him at the altar? I have been waiting for this moment my entire life.

I secretly loved him and wished to be with him. I even prayed to the Moon Goddess in the hopes of becoming his mate. Everything was going smoothly when I discovered my life partner was the Beta I’ve always had a crush on.

What went wrong, and why? What kind of tricks did Isabella Ashford use to take my place as Beta's wife?

Various thoughts kept running through my mind. I still could not figure out what was happening. We have already marked each other and spent days curled up under a sheet in bed.

He is supposed to be my beta, mate, and husband. Why is everything moving in the opposite direction?

I staggered backward as Isabella Ashford and Beta Victor walked forward hand in hand.

Isabella is my fiercest rival and the biological daughter of my adoptive father. Her victorious expression made me feel uneasy.

Isabella chuckled at me, and I realized she was mocking my confusion and vulnerability.

"You have lost Eleanor. Beta Victor is mine, now and always," she sneered.

Isabella sauntered away with her hands in Victor’s—something I should be doing.

I felt discomfort, with hatred brewing in me. My stomach churned as tears brimmed in my eyes. I despise his silence. He looked as if he didn’t care, and everything was fine with him.

“Stop right there!” I said, ignoring the questioning and mocking stares directed at me as I fought back tears.

“Why did you choose to marry her? I am your mate. We’ve gone through the rituals, and you’ve marked me as your mate. So why did you get married to her?” I questioned, pointing fearlessly at our Moonshadow Pack's respected young beta.

I heard gasps from the crowd. Beta Victor turned around, staring deeply into my gray eyes.

“I choose whoever I want as my mate. And today, I choose Isabella Ashford,” he declared without batting an eyelash.

“But you've marked me and even dared to sleep with me. This means you've accepted me,” I retorted, not caring about the heavy tension in the ballroom.

“Then, I, Victor Darkmore, Beta of the Moonshadow Pack, reject you, Eleanor Sinclair, as my beta and my mate.

“Consider what happened between us to be a three-night stand. Now, accept my rejection,” he ordered, locking eyes with me.

I took several steps back in shock. Isabella smirked, walking towards me in calculated steps.

“Don’t you understand? Accept his rejection. After all, it’s your beta’s commands,” she taunted.

I frowned, thinking of how to retort, but I couldn’t find any words. My brain seems to have gone completely blank.

I haven’t even comprehended the entire situation; how am I now supposed to give a perfect face-slapping reply to my most dreaded beauty rival?

I wanted to wipe away the pleasant smirk on her face. Gosh, Eleanor, when did you become so helpless and pathetic?

I needed to give a befitting reply to my two-faced step-sister and this betraying Beta in front of me.

"I, Eleanor Sinclair, accept your rejection," I said through gritted teeth, trying to keep my tears from flowing. Murmurs erupted once again. I knew at this point, my entire life had just taken a turn for the worse.

****

I walked quietly into the pack house, with several maidens and unmated she-wolves snorting and pointing fingers at me.

These were the same people who always curry favors from me. But today, they’ve all turned against me.

Without replying to the criticism, I strode inside the chamber, which was specifically built for my father.

“Father, tell me all this is not happening to me. This is all a bad dream,” I mumbled helplessly.

My face was dry, with not a single tear, but my eyes were red and puffy, shadowed with pain, hatred, and confusion.

My father stared at me as I tried my best to hold back my tears.

I remember he would always say, “Eleanor, only the weak shed tears.”

Father sighed as he approached the doorway, pulling me into his arms as he closed it.

Those protective arms are something I desperately crave.

“Let it out, dear daughter. You don’t have to act strong in front of me. I am your father, and I understand you better than anyone. So let it all out. My shoulders are for you to lean on when you feel like crying,” he cajoled, gently patting my back.

I hiccupped and burst into tears as I vented all of my grief and disappointment. Until now, I could not believe everything was happening.

"I am truly sorry, dear daughter," he said in a shaking voice.

"But I do not have a mate and will never have one. In a few days, I will be thrown into the dungeon for being an undeserving rejected mate. Father, you tell me, what kind of cruel fate is this? Why did Isabella have to do this to me?”

I sobbed harder, hitting his chest with my balled fist, and I could feel his body stiffening as he tightened his grip on me.

****

I could say that the last few days have been the most difficult of my life. People mock and shoo me everywhere I go, and they use all kinds of foul language against me.

As the saying goes, ‘A flying phoenix that falls is worse than a chicken that never flew,’ the same word now applies to me.