Chapter Four
1081 Words
Bella POV
I listen, trusting my wolf’s instincts. She will be able to catch scents and sounds which me as a human would miss. But she doesn’t catch any trace of Nicholas, either.
The realisation my son is not here hits me like a powerful wave.
I move before thinking. I left my spot. I had practiced for the ceremony for months - I had learned every step of it to perfection. I had to make sure everything went
well and I could leave no space for Olivia to criticise me.
But nothing could have prepared me for Nicholas’ disappearance.
I walk away from the dice and start searching for my son blindly.
My wolf is chaotically moving inside me, the fear is indescribable.
As my eyes scan the huge crowd that has gathered for the ceremony, I finally sense my son's presence.
“ He is here, near… Safe… ” My wolf sings.
Thank the Moon Goddess. I take a deep breath of relief before I turn around and see him in the distance, his hair is standing out, impossible to miss. And he is not alone.
My son is led to the ceremonial dice by Emma.
Nicholas is smiling, holding her hand. My boy’s hair is combed - and he never lets anyone brush it, not me nor the servants.
He is also dressed according to the tradition. And I was not the one who prepared him.
Emma is dressed in a beautiful long gown that hugs her body perfectly. She looks so confident and beautiful. Emma also looks like she has been preparing for this ceremony like I have. She knew exactly where she was going.
I recognise that feeling that’s rising inside me. Jealousy.
But I cannot be jealous of this woman. She is just a stranger. Someone that just showed up here out of the blue. Her presence at the ceremony tonight does not mean anything. Caleb is my mate, we are bound together by fate and this is our son. Nothing can change this. Nicholas is going to be Caleb’s heir, he is his oldest son. And I gave it to him. I made Caleb a father for the first time.
I try to stop the images of Emma with my husband flooding my mind. The sounds she was making.
I turn back around, straighten my shoulders, lift my chin and do my best to look like the Luna I am going to be one day.
And that day is approaching.
As I near the dice, Olivia is walking towards me, the same displeased expression is plastered on her face.
I am prepared for her usual, offensive words.
But she simply stands before me. Then my mother- in -law slaps me in front of everyone.
No one even makes a sound- I myself am not sure if I said anything. I only know my hand went directly to my burning cheek, the skin underneath my palm pulsing.
“You are an absolute failure - as a woman and as a mother !” She declares, lifting her chin. She is looking down on me and she has all the right to. Olivia goes on, I know she will not just stop there. This is her opportunity to publicly disgrace me.
“You can’t even take care of your own son!” The fires around are reflected in her eyes, the voice of the powerful Luna she is travels through the crowd.
Everyone has fallen completely silent as she yells at me.
“What kind of Luna do you think you can be when you can’t take care of such simple tasks?! You don’t even know where your son is during such an important day! “
I don’t speak. There is no point of making excuses or trying to explain.
My eyes search my mate. Caleb is standing only a few feet away from me.
But he doesn’t meet my gaze. He has turned to Emma, who is still holding Nicholas’ hand.
“Everything is ruined! ” Olivia continues with her accusations, “And it’s all your fault!”
Maybe my wolf felt what was coming long before I did. I suddenly feel sharp pain in my chest. It’s growing with every beat my heart makes.
“You are unworthy of the title!” My mother-in-law declares “You are an Omega- and let’s be honest. You were never even meant to be here in the first place and you only proved you are what everyone thought you were!”
Ruined… my fault…. The words drum inside me. She is right. It’s all my fault, I failed at the ceremony . It’s my biggest fear coming to reality.
Caleb still doesn’t look at me. And his silence is what hurts me the most. I have loved him more than anything, the fact I am his mate has been my biggest happiness. I was always grateful for this, always acknowledged how lucky I am.
Right now Caleb doesn’t come to my side, he doesn’t defend me.
I would never expect him to confront his mother because of me, let alone in front of the pack and all the guests that have come for the ceremony. But his complete, undeniable silence is too painful. At this moment it’s like I am not even there.
Then Caleb takes a step closer to Emma and she looks up at him, smiling.
I just stood there, watching the man I had loved all my life take this woman’s hand. As if she is not the stranger here.
I am.
The piercing feeling inside me rises. Nothing I have experienced before compares to it but I have always imagined this is what losing a limb would feel like.
Irreversible. Final.
Caleb eventually turns to face me, the flames are so high I feel their scorching heat. I can barely breathe.
His voice is like a roaring thunder. This is also the first time he meets my eyes tonight. And his next words unhinge my world entirely.
“I, Caleb, the rightful heir and the future Alpha of the Bloodflame pack reject you as a mate and my Luna!”
I feel like falling - an endless free fall.
Caleb comes forward, Emma is walking proudly by his side. He continues speaking in the same voice of finality, addressing everyone present.
“And Emma would replace Bella as my future Luna.”
That’s when the pack starts cheering and I feel my vision blurring.
- Writer
