Chapter 8: Wolves, Wedlock, and Wishful Thinking

“Are you still in bed!?”

I screamed and thrashed against my blankets. I sat up, meeting a red-faced Wendy, and her eyes flickered in rage.

I looked over at the clock, which I must have turned off at one point while I was pacing back and forth after realizing I had no way out of marrying Mordecai, and it read 8:23 AM.

Shooting out of bed, I scrambled for the bathroom with Wendy right behind me, yelling at me “I set an alarm! An alarm!” I stripped out of my nightgown, almost slipping on the helm of it, and grabbed the yellow morning dress she prepared for me the day before.

I had three outfit changes for today: a yellow morning dress, a blue evening dress and my wedding dress.

“I know, I know, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” I pulled the dress over my head, and Wendy came behind me to tie the ribbon in the back and touched my hair. “No! We don’t have time for that. Just leave it in braids.”

“There’s rose petals in your hair.” I touched my hair and pulled out a blue petal. My mood sank again.

“I went to the garden last night.”

“With who?” How did she know someone else was there? I guess my confusion was evident because she then said, “There’s the faint smell of another male wolf on you, but it’s mostly covered by rose petals.”

My stomach dropped right then and there.

“I don’t care who you meet but have some decorum, Luna,” she sneered and turned away. I sat down at my vanity and hugged myself. “Oh, stop that. I’ll spray perfume. It’s a small scent. It will go away.”

I can’t believe I forgot about scents! Robertson wasn’t too close to me, but he did lean in when he threatened me. Of course, his scent had to stick to my skin. I’m so lucky it was Wendy who found out and not another maid. If it was someone else, and if they told Mordecai...

I put my head in my hands, willing the shivering to stop. My heart started racing, but I was breathing fine. It’s getting harder to keep cool about all of this. I’m marrying Mordecai today, whether I like it or not, so I must keep cool about this. No matter how hard it is...

“There,” Wendy declared, spraying me with a rose perfume. It clogged my nose with its heavy scent. There goes my best ability. She placed my white heels on the floor before me.

“Beta Robertson was with me,” I finally said and slipped into my heels. When I looked back at Wendy, I saw her face go blank.

“B-Beta R-Robertson?”

“Yes?” Did Wendy just stammer?

“He was with you? Why?”

“We bumped into each other and just talked.” I looked at the clock and blanched. “Let’s go, Wendy! We must hurry!” I started to run as fast as the heels allowed me and hurried for the door.

“About what? What did you talk about? Tell me!”

xxx

I think if I ever meet the real Melania St. Belmont again, I’m going to claw her face. She may be a jaw-dropping beauty, but I will mess her up.

Getting married to the Alpha of Nox is no simple ceremony. All day, I had to meet every member of his Inner pack, every servant, every cook, every Guard, every Warrior, and thank them for their service and cast my authority and honor as Luna onto them, which is just me saying that to each one of them.

The heels Wendy chose for me were murder on my feet, and the heels for my evening dress were even higher. I had to concentrate so hard not to stagger when I had to walk from the castle to the temple, which was an *hour* walk, all while I smiled and waved to pack members who observed me.

Which was another tradition. I couldn’t even ride a carriage. I had to show my “resilience and strength as Luna by marching for the temple.” An Elder’s words, not mine.

After praying to the Moon Goddess, which was so nerve wracking because I’m basically deceiving all of Nox and lying to Her face, I was starving and hobbling to my changing room in the temple. The wedding would take place there as per tradition or whatever.

I begged Wendy for no more heels. I knew a noble wolf would never, but if I’m put in another pair, my wolf was going to burst out and throw a tantrum. I could feel her readying herself up for it. Wendy looked like she wanted to object, searched my face for a minute, and agreed to sandals.

The sandals were perfect, and there was a maid rubbing my feet while Wendy did my hair and make-up. Another maid, a cute shifter with black curls, hand fed me peaches drenched in honey. Another tradition was that the Luna-to-be couldn’t eat anything but their favorite fruit before the ceremony.

I had never been so pampered in my life. It was a little awkward at first, but my eyes closed when another maid started rubbing my shoulders.

“Dress!” The maids swarmed around me, pulling me up and wrapping me in my new wedding dress. Their hands went by me in a blur, and before I knew it, I was in a dress and in front of a mirror.

“Oh! So beautiful!” a maid whispered. She’s not wrong.

The woman before me was wrapped in a light periwinkle gown that flowed from her waist in streams of silk. The top had sleeves covering her arms but a plunging neckline, showcasing her chest in a sexy way. The sleeves were sheer and flowy, and the dress seemed to twinkle.

My shiny copper hair was flowing free down my back and around my face, which was made up perfectly. My eyes, which I also thought were my worst feature, seemed to pop against the silver eyeshadow. Wendy put a tiara on my head, and there was a sheer veil attached to it.

I looked so beautiful I almost cried.

“Thank you.” I turned to Wendy. “Thank you so much.” I never felt this beautiful before in my life. Wendy blinked at me and curtsied as did the rest. I guess she doesn’t take being thanked well.

Another maid called me out, saying it was time for me to walk. I was handed my bouquet of white and blue roses and felt sick looking at the blue ones. Straightening my back, I walked out the door.

The temple was filled to the brim with pack members, each dressed up and waiting patiently for me. I walked down the blue carpet with ease, but my heart was beating so hard it drowned out the sound of the music.

This was it. I had no choice but marriage. It was nothing like Melania had promised, and I wasn’t sure what I was going to do about being Luna. I have no powers, so I don’t know how to grant fertility or how to manage peace relations.

As I was walking, I spotted Phoebe. She was dressed in a gorgeous lavender gown and trying so hard to smile, but the concern she flashed me was obvious.

I looked away from her and looked up to see Mordecai standing at the head of the altar. The moonlight from the sunroof above illuminated him. His midnight hair was pulled back, and he was wearing a fitting black suit with a red dress shirt. He looked breathtakingly handsome standing there.

His emerald eyes were homed in on me, making my heart race.

I stepped up to stand beside him. The music stopped. An Elder stepped up, and I took Mordecai’s arm. He pulled me close, letting me smell the pine scent wafting off him. My heart alternated between hammering and settling down. I could barely listen to the Elder talk as Mordecai’s very presence sent me in a spiral.

“Now, the Marriage Bites,” the Elder announced. My mouth went dry as I felt Mordecai stiffen beside me before pulling away from me. He took my right hand in his and rolled the sleeve up to find my wrist. I tried hard not to shiver and did the same for him, undoing his cufflink.

The Elder poured a purple powder on our wrists, causing my skin to turn feverish. Mordecai’s eyes caught mine. I almost choked on my own words.

“I-I’ll go first,” I said. I bent down, cradling his wrist as gently as possible, elongated my fangs and bit down. I bit down hard, knowing he could take it, and allowed my saliva to breach his veins.

That and the powder would establish our mate bond. I pulled up and licked my lips.

His eyes were glowing green and snapped at my lips.

Oh, f*ck! Is it improper to lick my lips after!?

We blinked at each other, and I could feel my face blush. Before I could say another word, he picked my wrist up to his mouth, skimming his hot lips against my skin and bit me. Hard.

Electricity shot from my hand to my head. My body buzzed in pure delight, and my wolf wrestled inside me. I could feel her breaching the surface as the feeling of connection weaved itself through my bones and then to my heart. My head went warm, and something clicked as I felt Mordecai and my souls connect.

He licked the skin of my mark with a hot tongue, causing another jolt to shake me, before staring me straight in the eyes.

“Now, you may kiss.”

We stared at each other for a moment. Finally, Mordecai stepped forward, so I did the same, meeting his eyes again and trying my hardest not to look at his lips. His hand found my chin and the other my back as he leaned in. My hands gripped his suit jacket as I leaned in to meet his lips.

When our lips touched, the same bolts of electricity seared me once again, and I couldn’t help sighing but was cut short by him pressing his lips harder on mine. He kissed me hard, so I responded in kind, feeling warm all over. My wolf was expressing all her excitement and eagerness at being with our mate. I kissed him one last time before he pulled back.

As our eyes met again and the pack applauded, I suddenly felt like things wouldn’t be so bad.