11. Eternal Chains

Zenith's POV

I stood at the head of the courtyard altar like a king that I was, hands clasped behind my back, expression carved into perfect cool. Only the entire court, elites, generals, council members had gathered, all dressed in their finest, their eyes hungry for the spectacle of their King finally taking a mate. These were all the people I preferred to be at my mating ceremony, instead of it being public.

It would be announced to the public later that their King had taken a mate.

The courtyard was bathed in soft golden light that did nothing to warm the chill in my veins, because all I could focus on was the faint, traitorous pull in my chest. The damned bond, that cursed golden thread that refused to let me be at peace. At least my wolf was at peace, swelling with pride that we were about to make our mate ours, but my case was something else.

The music started suddenly and the massive glass doors at the far end of the path opened.

I unclasped my hands and stood straight as Silas stepped out.

A soft breath left me at the sight of him. He looked... devastating, that was the only word I could put to it. The white and royal blue ceremonial attire fit his slender frame with cruel perfection, the flowing cape trailed behind him like spilled ink, and the sheer white veil partially obscured his face, yet it only made the sight more haunting. My eyes trailed to his frail hands that clutched the bouquet tightly, and the way he walked… a tiny smirk lifted at the corner of my lips, his steps were hesitant, each one carrying the weight of a man walking toward his execution rather than his wedding.

My chest hummed with dark satisfaction, a deep, primal approval that made my blood run hotter. He knows what he's walking into.

My jaw clenched tightly as I looked at him again. Silas, a male omega, a mistake the Moon Mother had forced upon me, now made useful only because of the womb hidden inside that fragile body. I refused to acknowledge the way my pulse quickened or how my wolf paced restlessly, eager to claim what fate had delivered.

I wanted to scoff. Fate. The word alone felt poisonous.

Silas continued down the lit path, he kept his head slightly lowered, shoulders tense beneath the cape. Even from this distance, I could smell the sharp scent of his nervousness cutting through his jasmine scent. It disgusted me, because, the Alpha in me wanted to pull him close, to wrap him in my scent until that fear dissolved into submission.

I hated it. I hated the bond for twisting my own instincts against me.

He finally reached the altar steps and climbed up to me. When he finally stopped before me, close enough that his scent enveloped me fully, I kept my face impassive.

Storm raged inside me, the hatred for what he represented, fury at the circumstances, and that unwanted, burning pull that made me want to rip the veil away and see his eyes.

The officiant, an ancient Beta priestess draped in silver robes, began the ceremony with the traditional invocation.

“Under the watchful gaze of the Moon Goddess, we gather to bind these two souls. May the eternal light of the moon bless this union with strength, fertility, and unbreakable loyalty. Let the sacred bond of fated mates shine brighter than the stars, weaving their destinies together for all eternity.”

Blessings? I thought bitterly as the words washed over us. There were no blessings here. This union was a mockery, a traitor and a king, hatred disguised as fate. The only value I saw in it was the child he would eventually carry, an heir of pure royal blood. Everything else? Silas remained a criminal in my eyes, and very obviously a male omega. The bond didn’t change that. Nothing would change the fact that I am not gay. But I would go through this because of my future heir.

We turned to face each other and I held my hand out to him. Reluctantly, he placed his smaller hands into my larger ones. I could see his form shaking slighty, but I didn't care.

The priestess continued with the formal vows, her voice ringing clear across the silent courtyard.

“Your majesty, do you take Omega Silas as your fated mate, to bind your life and power to his, to protect and claim him under the moon?”

“I do,” I answered without hesitation, my voice steady and commanding. It echoed through the space like law itself.

She turned to Silas.

“Omega Silas, do you take Zenith, The Lycan King, as your fated mate? Do you vow to submit to this sacred bond, to honor him, and to accept the union the Moon Goddess has ordained?”

No reply came. I waited, and after a few seconds, I could start to feel my anger spiking.

Seconds dragged into what felt like an eternity, and soon the entire courtyard began to murmur faintly. My eyes narrowed, and I glared at him hotly, a clear, burning warning that if he dared utter the word “no,” he would regret it more deeply than anything I had done to him since he set his foot into the palace.

My Alpha growled low in my chest, possessive fury mixed with fear rising at the mere thought of rejection.

Oh he would dare not. I don't care what his reasons could possibly be, I would kill him with my bare hands if he did.