The Luna's Secret Identity

Chapter 4

Bianca's POV

The dreaded hour of Dimitri's mating ceremony arrives, and I am sitting in the living room watching as guests in different attires fill up the all white painted living rooms of the mansion. Chandeliers and wall bracket lights glow up the entire commodious space. The plush leather sofas are gradually becoming occupied, and some female guests sit on the laps of their mate frolicking.

Some guests lean and chitter-chatter in different locations: on the wall; railings on the overlook and those on the stairs. A clatter of different range of voices and laughter intermingles chaotically with the slow jazzy music that serves our listening ears. Servers saunter around the guests refilling wine glasses and offering a variety of meats, chicken and fish.

Not a moment too soon, Ansel takes precedence on the center space of the black and white patterned floor of the living room. He tinkles his shot glass with a spoon and gradually the noise in the living room diminished.

Ansel draws a sharp breath. “Ladies and lycan-men!”

"Aye, that's right! Lycan-men." A lanky dude in an ash-colored sleeveless shirt with the words 'Kill Shots' inscribed in bold red letters, bangs the dining table repeatedly, prompting cheers from some of the guests.

Ansel smirks and nods at him before continuing. "On this auspicious night, we gather to witness the sacred mating ceremony between Alpha Dimitri and his Luna. Let us drink to that!"

“Drink up,” Peter says and others repeat the words after him.

Ansel downs his shot, tosses the glass, winces, and says with a loud voice, “Whoops!”

“Damn, this shot hits hard!” says an Asian girl sitting beside me, who turns to me curiously as she notices my lack of participation. She's from another pack.

“Please don't ask,” I say to her and she nods.

“Shall we all please rise in acknowledgement to the man of the hour, Alpha Dimitri,” Ansel declares.

Everyone rises, including me, as Dimitri descends the stairs with one hand tucked into his pocket, taking one step at a time. He is dressed in a black tuxedo paired with fitted black jeans and black loafers. A resounding round of applause fills the room as he continues his descent.

Following Dimitri closely is Stacey, who is dressed in a red embroidered gown. As she comes down the stairs, she waves and smiles politely at the guests.

My breath stops and my heart sinks when I see Stacey. She avoids my gaze briefly, then boldly makes eye contact. I smile bitterly and shake my head at her, but she doesn't flinch. She turns her gaze from me and blows kisses at the guests with both of her palms. A guttural growl escapes my mouth, my claws protrude then retracts.

The Asian girl turns to me again curiously. “Are you alright?”

“Mind your business!” I retort, coldly.

The Asian girl angrily steps away from me to another position just as Dimitri and Stacey join Ansel to stand in the center of the living room.

“Welcome everyone, please sit,” Dimitri says. “Thank you very much Ansel for the introductions. Thank you all for honoring me with your invitation.”

“It's my pleasure,” Ansel replies softly.

Dimitri cast a brief look in my direction and smirks. “Ansel, begin.”

Ansel clears his throat. "Stacey Wood, born pure-blood, not turned or made, born without status, kneel and bow at the feet of your mate and Alpha.”

Stacey goes down on her knees and lowers her head which touches the ground at Dimitri's feet. A fresh wave of anger washes over me at her submission.

Dimitri steps around Stacey whose head remains bowed and says, “Stacey Wood, this will be the last time you bend a knee or bow to anyone I swear it before the moon goddess and everyone present. Rise, my Luna.”

Stacey rises and Dimitri halts behind her. He brushes aside her hair, exposing her neck, and then gently sinks his teeth into her skin. Blood briefly pours out, but the wound quickly heals. Stacey's pupils glow silver, changing from their usual yellow, and completing her transitioning into Luna.

Stacey beams as her eyes change back to normal. Cheers and applause fill the room as Dimitri kisses her. Unable to take it anymore, I run, tears streaming down my face.

I run without any real direction, my legs move on their own accord. After running for a while, I find myself close to a dead end, the edge of the cliff of a waterfall. I lift my head up towards the silvery moon and yowl out the pain that's been eating inside me.

As pathetic as life feels right now, I try to overcome the desire to throw myself off the cliff. So, instead I sit there and cry out all the frustration I have gathered.

“Bianca, where are you?” Stacey calls out and I growl. I definitely don’t want to see her right now. I'm not sure if I'd be able to control myself.

“Stacey, don't come near me,” I say as she steps out from the trees.

“Bianca please I need you to listen” she moves closer trying to touch me but I slap her hand and get up.

“I swear to God Stacey, don't make me kill you. Just leave me alone.”

“Ah, for goodness sake, will you just listen to me?” Stacey says. “I couldn't resist Dimitri's offer. It was either me or Martha and I'd rather die than let Martha become my Luna. I had to accept.”

“Bullshit, you accepted because you wanted to. You've always been jealous of me. You always want to have what I have. Gosh, how could I have ever been so blinded? You were never a friend.”

“That’s not true Bianca. You know I've been a good friend. I love Dimitri, but I suppressed my feelings for him because you loved him too. I have loved Dimitri for a long time, but I let you have him because I saw how happy you were with him and I didn't mind you guys ending up together.”

“Stop talking,” I warned her, pointing a finger at her.

“I didn't want you finding out like this, like I betrayed you. I would've told you right after Dimitri asked me to be his Luna, but I didn't want to add to your pain. I was hoping you'd get over him, and then I'd get my chance–”

My hands involuntarily deliver a backhanded slap to her face. She recoils and retaliates with a slap of her own. I lose my balance and fall over the cliff.

As I fall I wonder, “Is this how I'm going to die? Is this how it really ends? People will remember me as the bastard girl who lost everything.”