All Chapters of After My Alpha Mate Missed Our Mating Ceremony 7 Times, I Chose His Uncle: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

8 Chapters

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The reply came in a second.[Okay.]I stared at that single word, and most of the suffocating pressure I'd carried in my chest for so long suddenly lifted.Chris was still soothing Lucy."Where did the beads roll off to? I'll help you look."Lucy's eyes were red, her voice thick with hurt."It's all my fault. Today of all days, I shouldn't have worn this bracelet.""If you and Sheila miss the ceremony again because of me..."Even as she spoke, her tears spilled over.Chris rushed to comfort her."Don't cry. It's not your fault. The cord was just worn out.""There's still time. No rush. Take it slow."Vivian lost it."Chris, no rush? Seriously?""The mating ceremony requires both of you to receive the Moon Goddess's blessing within the appointed time. Miss it and it's gone. The Moon Goddess doesn't grant extensions!"Friends from both packs chimed in, urging him."Chris, go on up first. Right now nothing matters more than receiving the Moon Goddess's blessing."Even the priest stepped o

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Chris's brow furrowed, and he had just opened his mouth to say something.Lucy suddenly let out a cry.Eyes red, she looked at Chris, the picture of wounded innocence."Sheila was so harsh just now, she scared me. The last moonstone rolled into a crack between the flagstones.""Chris, what do I do? The bracelet can't be one stone short. If the moonstones aren't complete, neither is the Moon Goddess's blessing."Crying, she wedged her fingers into the crack, groping around.Without a word, Chris crouched down with her, searching bit by bit for that last moonstone.Moonlight spilled across his back.Three years ago, on a moonlit night just like this one, Chris wasn't yet the Alpha of the Grayfang pack.Blushing, he had handed me a moonstone necklace.He said, "Sheila, I'll make you this pack's Luna. I'll give you the grandest mating ceremony there is."I believed him.Then I spent three years collecting seven broken promises.Vivian finally snapped."Enough!"She charged over and seized

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Seeing that I wouldn't budge, Chris fell silent for a few seconds.Then he looked at Lucy, still crouched on the ground."Lucy, how about you put away the beads you've found, we go up and complete the ceremony, and I'll help you find the rest afterward?"Lucy bit her lip, tears falling without a sound.The air froze.Only six minutes remained before the blessing window closed. Then my phone rang.It was my mother, Ella."Sheila, is the ceremony over? The bonfire feast is all set. We're just waiting for you two."Before I could speak, Vivian, right behind me, snatched the phone, her voice sharp with fury."Ella, the ceremony hasn't even started!""Lucy scattered her bracelet in front of the altar, and Chris refuses to go in until every last bead is found!"The other end went quiet for two seconds. Then my father, Daniel, came on the line."Is Chris there?"I glanced at Chris.He had just risen from the ground, the moonstone beads he'd recovered clutched in his hand.He looked at me, a f

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Chris closed the distance in a few strides and clamped his hand around my wrist, gripping hard."Sheila, stop this. How are you going to complete the ceremony alone?"I looked down at his hand, then slowly pulled my wrist free."Then I'll find someone else."The air went still for a beat.Chris's mouth twitched into a stiff smile."Sheila, that's not funny."Whispers rose from below the steps."Sheila's probably just trying to push Chris a little.""I'd lose my mind too. This is the eighth time."Everyone assumed I was talking nonsense, that I was forcing Chris to make a choice.Only I knew I meant every word.I truly didn't want to wait for him anymore.That was when Lucy stepped forward, wiping her tears."Sheila, how could you threaten Chris with something like this?""After all your time together, how could you say something so hurtful? How could you threaten to choose someone else for the mating ceremony over one little thing?""Talking like that, you're going to break Chris's hea

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The newcomer was Victor, Chris's uncle.He had confessed his feelings to me three years ago, but by then I had already fallen for Chris.After I turned him down, he left the Grayfang pack.Before leaving, he told me, "If you're ever single again, give me a chance."Victor had once been the strongest warrior of the Grayfang pack.It was his departure that opened the way for Chris to become Alpha.Chris's expression shifted abruptly."Victor, what are you doing here?!"Victor didn't so much as glance at him.He only looked at me, steady and serious."One minute left. Let's receive the Moon Goddess's blessing first.""I've already arranged everything else. I'll make sure you get every step you missed."In that moment, something ached in my chest.So I didn't have to push for every step.And I didn't need to keep waiting.So there really was someone who would have everything ready for me.The priest froze for a moment, then glanced at Victor."Well, since he's here... come on up."Victor b

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Victor didn't set me down until we were alone."Thank you for today.""I didn't come today out of pity."We spoke at the same time.Then I froze.Victor looked at me, his expression serious."Sheila, what I said three years ago still stands.""I know this looks like I took advantage of the chaos. But honestly, I've been planning it for a long time."Moonlight traced the clean lines of his profile.My heart suddenly skipped a beat.I stayed silent.Something dimmed in Victor's eyes. Then he put on a calm front."We've only received the Moon Goddess's blessing. We haven't marked each other yet.""If this really was just an impulse, you can walk away anytime."With that, he stepped back half a pace, leaving me plenty of room.I smiled, stepped forward, and took his hand."My pack is still waiting to celebrate with me."Victor froze.A rare look of fluster crossed his face.His lips moved, and it took him a long moment to get the question out."You mean... me?"I shrugged."If you'd rather

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The color drained from Chris's face, inch by inch.But Lucy suddenly lunged toward me and seized my hand, tears falling right on cue."Sheila, it's all my fault. Go with Chris.""You can't gamble your own future just to spite us!"I pulled my hand back in disgust."Who's spiting anyone?""Who I choose as my mate has nothing to do with you."Her tears spilled over again."I'm only looking out for you two. Why do you always have to think the worst of me..."My father had finally had enough.He snorted and waved a hand.Several pack warriors appeared behind Chris and Lucy, their faces blank."Please leave. The Moonshadow pack does not welcome you."Chris opened his mouth.My father cut him off. "If you don't go now, I'll have you thrown out."Chris looked at me one last time, then stumbled off with Lucy.At the door, he suddenly turned back."Sheila, I won't give up."I didn't even look up."Suit yourself."Late that night, after seeing Victor off, I sat on the edge of my bed, lost in tho

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That day, Victor and I went back to the Moonshadow pack.The moment we stepped through the door, we heard shouting.Chris stood in the middle of the hall. Lucy sat on the floor, silently crying.My father was livid. If my mother hadn't been holding him back, I think he would have gone after them.I walked over and saw a stack of printed chat logs scattered across the table."Sheila..."My mother looked at me, words failing her.I shook my head to tell her I was fine.Then I looked at the chat logs on the table.The first page.Messages Lucy had sent her best friend.[They've booked the mating ceremony again tomorrow.][I'll make up some excuse. Chris will definitely come.][Sheila? She'll wait. She can't live without Chris.]The second page.[What excuse this time... let's go with a twisted ankle.][Chris can't stand seeing me hurt.]The third page.[Oh, the cat was never missing. Don't worry.]The fourth page.[As long as they keep missing the Moon Goddess's blessing, I still have a c

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