Luna's second choice

I stood behind the huge doors of the grand banquet hall fully aware of the merriment going on on the other side. I was fully dressed for the occasion as well. After all, today was the day my mate ascended his rightful position as Alpha and I would become his Luna. But that wasn't the only reason for the huge smile that was plastered on my face. The guards by the doors pushed the doors open, and I stepped in, excitedly hoping to catch Zander's eyes. He would be the happiest man in the world by the end of the evening. "Sarina," an urgent voice called behind me. "Ava," I said to my childhood friend, gathering my dress in my hands. "I need to find Zander." "No, we need to leave." Confused, I finally faced her. "What?" "We need to leave, Sarina," she repeated more urgently. "No, my husband is being crowned Alpha. What are you saying? I should be by his side right now." Hastily, I turned away from her, ready to stalk around the hall in search of Zander. But the scene unfolding in front of me made me freeze. A woman, a tall and gorgeous woman with waist length dark hair had her hand in my mate's and he was tugging her away. Right in front of my eyes. In front of all the wolves present. "I...was trying to tell you," Ava stuttered. I swallowed, already feeling curious and piteous gazes upon me. I was used to women throwing themselves upon my mate. What I wasn't used to however, was him returning the action. "Who is that woman?" "Lilian." Lilian. Lilith. A she-devil sent to destroy what I spent years building. Desperate for an explanation, I followed them, pushing through throngs of people until I got to the terrace. My knees buckled beneath me, and I felt all the air in my lungs being sucked out. Zander, my Zander, was kissing this Lilian. And what's worse? He looked like he was enjoying it. Neither of them had caught sight of me yet. I wasn't sure they knew they were creating a scene. "I command this nonsense to come to an end right now," I ordered in the most steely voice I could muster, hoping to the moon goddess that this was all a mistake. It had to be. Zander and I were mates. I was the one his parents chose years ago and I had given him all I had since then. But as Zander finally opened his eyes, and his blue ones bore into my brown, I could tell that this was no mistake. The lust in his eyes were so apparent and so vile because he was betrothed to me. He shouldn't have had that look in his eyes after kissing another woman. He shouldn't be kissing another woman. "Sarina." The voice that always comforted and soothed me suddenly disgusted me. "Come with me right now." I turned around, my gown swishing in the wind, fully expecting him to crawl after me with the penitence of a child that had been caught stealing candy. It took me only a few seconds to realise that he hadn't moved an inch from the spot I had caught him in. And it took me even a shorter time to realize that Zander didn't look sorry that he had cheated on me at all. Nor that I had caught him. He looked completely engrossed with Lilian who was now standing in front of him with a defensive look. "Go ahead, Zander. You had something to tell your WIFE," she said the word with so much contempt that I dug my nails into my palm. "This has nothing to do with you," I replied, refusing to look at her. "Oh darling, it has everything to do with me." I ignored her, my gaze still trained on Zander. Waiting for an apology. Something, anything to prove that he loved me and this was a mistake. "Come with me, Zander," I repeated, my eyes imploring him to listen to me. "The ascension and mating ritual would begin soon. But first, we need to talk." "We can talk here," he replied, still not looking at me. Frustrated, and exhausted of the whole charade, I raised my voice. "What are you doing? Are you even in your right senses?" He stepped out from behind Lilian and looked at me with dead eyes. Not at all like the lustful way he was ogling this other woman. "I reject you as my mate." I sway on my feet feeling dazed. The evening cold felt like ice, as goosebumps covered my arms. "What?" "I reject you as my mate, Sarina." "You don't know what you're saying. She's…" I glanced briefly at Lilian, frantic. "She's bewitched you. Zander, listen to me, this was all a mistake I'm willing to forgive. Okay? Let's go inside and continue with the ceremony. We can work it out later." I begun to move towards him. Towards...them. "If you take another step, I'll have you thrown out." I swallowed. "I, Alpha Zander Cynric of the Nightshade clan, rejects you, Sarina as my mate." Blind fury washed over me, making my body heavy with hatred. "Are you sure you want to do this?" "Three times is the charm." In one swift move, I unshielded the sword of the guard positioned at the entrance to the terrace and stormed towards them, not fully aware of my actions. Lilian smoothly pushed Zander aside. "What, you can't have him so you're going to kill him?" "Move," I ordered, and she must have recognized the rage in my eyes and tone because she shrunk back in fear. I raised the sword and put it against Zander's neck, ignoring the guard that was trying to stop me. His Adam apple bobbed. "Stop her," he whispered to the guard. "Let's all die," I whispered coldly. My eyes were dark with rage and although my stature was small, it felt like I had all the power in the world. "You, me, and our unborn baby. Let us end it all, Zander."