The Wedding of Fate    

[IRIS]

The morning of the wedding arrived, and the Bloodmoon Pack was abuzz with activity.

Despite its simplicity, the ceremony in the open plaza was breathtaking. Red and white roses adorned every surface, their delicate petals catching the morning light.

The air was thick with anticipation as the pack gathered to witness a union that would cement their strength and alliances.

Lorcan stood on the podium, a vision of power and perfection. Dressed in an immaculate white tuxedo that hugged his muscular frame, his long silver-gray hair was styled flawlessly, framing his chiseled features.

Even beside the current Alpha—his father—Lorcan's commanding presence overshadowed everyone.

I watched from the sidelines, standing among the maids and omegas who were there to serve the guests. My heart raced as my gaze lingered on him, my mind betraying me with fleeting fantasies of standing at his side instead of in the shadows.

For a brief moment, I allowed myself to imagine being the one he waited for at the altar.

But the illusion shattered as Ember arrived.

Alpha Ember of the Ember Howl Kin was nothing short of stunning. Her fiery red curls cascaded down her back, and her emerald green eyes sparkled with confidence. Her tall, statuesque figure exuded strength and elegance, and her crimson dress clung to her in all the right ways. The crowd murmured their awe.

"She's as beautiful as the rumors said," someone whispered.

"And strong," another added. "She's held her pack together after her mate's death. If anyone deserves to be Luna of our pack, it's her."

Their words felt like daggers to my chest. I knew they weren't wrong—Ember was everything a Luna should be. Strong, capable, confident. But Lorcan's mate wasn't Ember. It was me.

There had to be a reason the Moon Goddess chose me. She didn't make mistakes.

I clenched my hands at my sides as Ember reached the altar. She smiled warmly as she took Lorcan's hand, her presence seeming to light up the entire plaza.

The ceremony began, each word a countdown to my heartbreak.

When the Shaman of the pack spoke the familiar line—"If anyone objects to this union, speak now or forever hold your peace,"—my breath caught.

This was my moment.

My feet moved before I could think, but the sharp glare Lorcan shot me froze me in place. His amber eyes darkened with warning, daring me to speak and face his wrath.

I hesitated, my heart pounding so loudly I was certain the entire pack could hear it.

The shaman continued, and I felt the walls of my world closing in. My chest tightened as the words became a blur, my vision clouded by tears I refused to let fall.

Finally, it was time for Lorcan to seal the union with a kiss.

"No," I whispered, my voice breaking.

My knees felt weak, but as Lorcan leaned toward Ember, I couldn't take it anymore.

"STOP!" I screamed, my voice cutting through the murmurs of the crowd like a blade.

Gasps rippled through the plaza. All eyes turned to me, and I stood trembling, my heart racing. Lorcan's glare sharpened, his fury evident, but I didn't care anymore. This was my chance to reclaim my mate, my bond, my destiny.

The tension in the air was thick, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.

"Are you nuts?!" one of the servants hissed at me, their voice dripping with incredulity.

"What are you doing, you idiot?" another sneered, and soon, a cacophony of insults and accusations rained down on me like a storm.

But just as the crowd's uproar reached its peak, a commanding voice cut through the chaos.

"Let her speak!"

The crowd hushed, and all eyes turned to none other than Ember herself. Her emerald eyes settled on me, like a predator inspecting its prey.

I felt my breath hitch, my mind going blank under the weight of that piercing gaze.

"I'm curious," Ember said, her voice calm yet laced with authority, "why a servant would dare interrupt the wedding of her future Alpha and Luna, knowing full well that the punishment for such insolence is death—unless, of course, you have a valid reason."

My hands trembled at my sides, my nails digging into my palms as I struggled to summon whatever courage remained within me. My lips quivered as I forced myself to speak.

"I-I . . . L-Lorcan . . . Lorcan can't marry you."

My voice was barely above a whisper, meek and fragile, yet in the sudden silence that blanketed the plaza, every werewolf present heard my words loud and clear, their heightened senses ensuring no sound was missed.

Gasps rippled through the crowd like a wave, followed by murmurs and growls of disapproval.

"Ember, let's not waste time on her," Lorcan said, his tone dripping with contempt. "Guards, take that maid to the dungeons. I'll decide her punishment later."

But Ember raised a hand, her fiery red curls shifting as she turned her commanding gaze to Lorcan. "No," she said firmly, silencing him with a single word. "I want to hear what she has to say."

Lorcan's wolf surfaced in his gaze, its golden eyes flashing with raw disapproval. A deep growl rumbled in his chest, primal and angry, but he clenched his fists and forced the beast back down.

Ember ignored him and his wolf, her piercing gaze returning to me. "Why can't Lorcan marry me?"

This was it. My moment to seize. My throat felt dry, my heart pounded so loudly I thought it might drown out my own voice, but I couldn't back down now.

I swallowed hard, the weight of countless gazes bearing down on me.

"B-because . . . because . . . I-I'm his mate," I said, my voice cracking under the strain but ringing with unmistakable sincerity. "We're destined to be together."