CHAPTER TWO
1186 Words
Matilda’s pov
“Watch out!” Assami yells as a wooden sword was thrown in our direction.
We dodged the sword and laughed loudly.
The whole crescent square was packed with pack members all jumping around excitedly for the long awaited day.
Children held their parents tight so they wouldn’t get lost in the thick crowd, fathers held their daughters who weren’t old enough to mate tightly, while women and older girls danced around the square in revealing clothes all waiting for the Alpha and his son, Luke, to appear.
After everything last night, Luke took me back to Silver Hollow safely.
We both exchanged goodbyes and I had to go back home to prepare for today’s activity.
“Have you seen Roses yet?” Assaami yells into my ears.
I frown.
Since I got back home last night, I hadn’t seen Roses or my stepfather, which was very unusual because they would have been on my neck for coming back home late.
“Both her and Derek weren’t home last night,” I say as we both make it to a more quiet environment.
“I’m sure they’re probably both drunk under a tree or something. I saw both of them celebrating a lot more than the other pack members last night, like they won the lottery or something. It was very suspicious.”
I shake my head. “Whatever it is, it's none of my business anymore.” I informed her.
Assami grins so hard her lips might fall off. “Oh! I can’t believe our future Luna is standing right beside me!” She shakes my arm.
The gong sounds then, signifying that the Alpha and his son have arrived at the Alpha hall.
We both share knowing looks before joining the migrating crowd.
Once we were in the Alpha hall, the noise hit me all at once.
Wolves filled every space. Shoulder to shoulder, low voices buzzing with excitement and anticipation.
We squeezed forward. Assami held on to my wrist, pulling me forward so we won’t get swallowed up by the crowd. The stone floor berated beneath our feet, the weight of so many wolves pressing in.
The doors behind the podium opened, and Alpha Desmond stepped forward.
The noise stopped instantly.
“Everyone.”
He didn’t raise his voice, he didn’t need to, the pack was attentive before he even spoke.
The spine of everyone straightened as conversations around the hall began to die.
His gaze sweat through the hall like he is counting every heartbeat present here.
“Tonight,” he continues, voice steady. “This pack gathers not for war, or mourning but for choice.”
A murmur ripples through the hall.
“The choosing of a mate for the future Alpha is not just a celebration, it is a tradition, a duty. One that binds blood, pack and fate.
His eyes that scanned the crowd stop briefly, just for a second, and it lands on me.
My stomach tightens for some reason I could understand.
It was supposed to be a good thing, it signified that I would soon be on that podium, next to Luke.
But for some reason that stare wasn’t something that held promise or anticipation, it looked like it held disapproval.
“Let no wolf forget,” he finishes, “that the moon watches all choices made under the light.”
The hall fell silent for a moment before it was consumed by the screams and cheers of the wolves in it. Even Assami was hyped.
Yet I still felt quite uneasy.
Then there’s a shift in the hall.
I feel it before I even see Luke.
He steps onto the podium with the ease of someone who has never questioned where he belongs.
His dark hair, broad shoulders and warm eyes pull you in immediately. I’m instantly reminded of what those hands and mouth did to me last night.
My chest tightens.
Assami exhales beside me. “He’s here!” She murmurs. “Luke.”
I swallowed hard as my gaze followed him till he stopped right at the center of the podium.
An elder spoke. “Future Alpha, pride of our pack and man of valor, make your decision.”
His face was neutral, void of any emotion.
He didn’t look down or sideways, he didn’t even bother to search for my eyes in the crowd.
It was like the Luke before me was a different person entirely.
“I, Luke Darken, have found my mate,” Luke said, voice steady and deep.
Everyone is silent, waiting to hear the name of the future Luna.
I was about to make my move toward the podium when his next words left me dead in my tracks.
“Roses Burnt,” he stretched out his hand, and to my greatest surprise, Roses appeared from behind him and grabbed his hand.
Roses smiled and stepped closer to Luke.
My wolf howled inside of me, crying out betrayal and pain.
This can’t be true.
But as I turned to a very shocked Assami it began to dawn on me that this was as real as it gets.
I waited for Luke to at least look at me, just once, to show some sign that this was a mistake, a kind of test. But he kept his gaze forward, and his jaw set, as his father and the elders began the formal words of acceptance.
I could feel my chest twist from the pain of the rejection. Every single instinct in me screams for me to run to that stage and claim what was mine, but I don’t.
Around me, the pack explodes in cheers and celebration.
Some girls were sighing out of jealousy, others were relieved and admired the couple on the podium. A few eyes glanced my way with pity and confusion.
My vision began to blur, and I could feel everything around me begin to suffocate me.
I didn’t want to be here anymore, I didn’t want to stay where I could still smell the rejection.
When his eyes finally met mine, he didn’t waver or frown, only for a split second did I see something flash through his eyes. Apology, regret or pain, then it was gone, just like that.
He turned away again, greeting the crowd and holding his new bride, my half sister, close to his chest.
Chest that pressed into me just last night. Hands that held me in the most intimate way possible.
I pushed through the crowd, shaking my head in disbelief and anger as Assami tried to hold me back.
I didn’t wait for her or anyone for that matter, I just kept moving till all I could feel under my feet was grass and branches.
I still kept moving, I didn’t stop until all I felt around me were trees and the cool evening breeze.
It was only then did I let the tears escape from my eyes and the wailing leave my body.
It was only then did I realize that, as an omega, I would never have anything more than my own miserable life.
- Writer
