MoonBound to the Alpha

The Ceremony

Serene's Pov

"Dad!" I came in screaming. My dress had been covered by mud, Kael had purposely torn and made it look like his lowlife, disgusting human stupid mate! "Aargh!" I groaned in annoyance.

"What's wrong sis? Why do you look like you've been playing catch with your pet friends in the mud?" Great! Just for my twin brothers to start pissing me off at the wrong time...

"Darian, Lucian? Please say now is not the time! I just want to see dad immediately. Where is he?!" Just then my dad came out looking at me as if to ask himself, what happened to this one?"

"Why do you call me as if we are in a marketplace? Have you forgotten, your manners, Selene?" Only for his eyes to drop on my dress, his eyes widened, "And then? Are you okay?!"

Uh, now that's my favorite dad who knows me and loves me well! Finally catching his attention, I started venting. "I'm so glad you realized, can you believe this is all Kael and his pack are doing!" "What and why would they attack you like that? Please don't tell me war broke out..."

I smiled as if so innocently, "No Dad, no war at all. But something worse!" I screamed, losing my breath. My dad awaited my answer patiently. "They treated me like trash! Can you believe it dad Kael has strongly refused me to become his Luna. Instead, he chose some human bastard he met and had in his bed before even the ceremony and all the vows!"

"What? How disgraceful!" he spit on the floor. Truly humans really have no morals, and that's what Kael wants to make his mate?" I smirked. My dad was beyond disgusted. He was where I exactly wanted him. Interfering the beta would mean there's no luck for flipping Diana. "You don't know how we wolves work, you weakling bastard! You have lost the battle, Diana," I spoke under my breath.

"You really want trouble with the Elara Silver claw pack? Our collaboration with them could be at risk. He's Alpha the moon. Makes no mistake!" Lucian protested. "Lucian, shut up, you don't understand what you are saying! You are young and less intelligent right now, human mate, are you serious?!" On the verge of scolding him, but luckily my father got me off the workload. A smile slowly landed on my lips. "And plus, we've been planning this arrangement for a while now. Just a falling out would be unprofessional now, wouldn't it?" I rolled my eyes in annoyance. "Huh, is that the girl you guys have been whining about?" As if to mock this boy mocking me right now? "And why are you laughing if I may ask Darian?"

"When are you planning to start your little opposition? I hear the ceremony is going on." "Wait what?!!! Darian, you are joking. Why would you just let us know now?!!!"

Kael's Pov

The moon was swollen and shining bright, its silver glow was visible across the hall. I noticed how Diana's midnight-blue gown shone as if the stars themselves had been connected to the gown. I watched her closely. She wasn't settled, and this burden overwhelmed her. Every step she took felt heavier than the last, as if the weight of her being the chosen person pressed against her chest.

I walked beside her, hand in hand. I took authority and responsibility over her as this was my woman. I could feel my eyes burn with rage, as I waited for anyone who was daring to question the woman beside me.

The doors burst open.

Inside, the hall was large and crowded, the wolves' eyes were intense on us. You could feel the tension from the wall shining in the flicker of torchlight. Incense pulled upward, sharp and heavy, filling her lungs with something that was meant to cleanse but seemed like she was struggling to breathe. She gasped for air. I held her hand tight, encouraging her to be strong and stay calm. At the far end of the table sat the five elders. They each had a throne of oak that was shaped with crescent moons. Their faces showed that truly they had gained wisdom and scars from centuries from the battles they won since their time of reign. The eldest, his hair, was white as he leaned on a staff that was crowned with silver. I noticed his fierce gaze deliberately piercing through Diana.

"The moon has chosen!" his voice thundered across the hall. It echoed through the chamber. "Today we will witness if the 'so-called' bond is true. If the human heart can truly handle the luna's crown. "

Silence came across the pack. No one dared to speak. The warriors watched with curiosity and confusion. "Tonight we will witness if the "so-called" bond is true. If the human crown can carry what it takes to wear the luna's crown. "

The pack went silent. Warriors watched their eyes sharp with curiosity and suspicion. Just then Selene burst in! Her jealousy filled the room looking at Diana's wedding dress as if eyes that bursted with poison.

I held Diana's hands in mine, firmly letting her know her mate was right there. As for Selene, still furious as ever with fiery eyes, she turned to the elders, "What kind of joke have we made ourselves? Accepting a human mate as our Luna?" she rolled her eyes. "This flipping bastard slept with our Alpha before the vows could be made. Are we seriously going to let them bring their disgusting manners to us?!"

I was now burning with anger. Seems Selene won't go down without a fight. "Would you shut up Selene? For the hundredth time, I did not sleep with her. She was injured, hurt and fainted. Must I have let her die of pain and starvation? Literally slept on the sofa as I put Diana to lay down on the bed to heal. Must I have left her to die am I selfish like your heartless dark heart of not even a tiny bit of sympathy?!"

The crowd gasped. The girls whispered as if to mock Selene's pathetic behavior. "Girl got embarrassed trying to go for a man who didn't want her yo." "She tried so hard to show 'choose me, I got everything!' but he found a hotter rookie!" They giggled.

"You're speaking to me like that? I'm not powerless like your little whimp! I'm the only beta's daughter and disrespect is what I have zero tolerance for!" Before I could even speak. "Enough!" the eldest elder commanded. "Relax yourself Selene, the ceremony must continue!" From her expression I could see the rage burning from her eyes, folding her fists as if she wanted to punch someone.

A silver bowl was brought forward, filled with water blessed under the full moon. Its surface shone faintly, which reflected the light in small waves that seemed alive.

"Dip your hands," the oldest elder commanded. "It's time for the bond to reveal itself."

Diana almost denied stepping back. Her hands were shaking as she was trying so hard to hold the bowl. I took her hand slowly and let the water touch her skin. It looked faint. At first, I panicked. Selene smirked as if to say finally she would be the one with the crown, but nope! It glowed brighter, pulsing with the light, then it shone across the whole hall. The crowd gasped! Others burned with anger, some faces were amazed, while the others watched in fear.

The elders stood and approached us, narrowing their eyes in shock.

"The bond is strong, but strength will be dangerous," one of the elders whispered. "Do you have what it takes to protect the pack or destroy it?"

All eyes were on Diana. She swallowed hard. Where was that brave girl I had witnessed earlier? It's as if she couldn't do this, like there was a mistake, like she wasn't prepared to be Luna? My gaze fell steady on her. I looked straight into her eyes sternly. Not cute, not romantic but as if daring her to claim her place!

The ritual continued. The chants rose, filled with deep rhythm that went across the hall like a spell. The elders formed a circle, their voices blending together, inviting Diana to tradition. A second bowl was brought forward filled with ash from what we called "the sacred fires." They told her to mark her forehead as a symbol to symbolize unity.

She was shaking once again as she pressed the ash against her skin. The mark had a faint glow, but then finally connected with the light from the water.

From the shadows, Selene was at it again...she spat in disgust. "We cannot let a human bear the mark. This is blasphemy to our tradition!" Damn slay queen never gets tired, huh? I let out an evil smirk.

"When will you stop complaining, Selene? Haven't you had enough? Why do you defy the moon's choice? She was the chosen one, the destined Luna! And if you defy it, you also defy me."

The elders raised their hands, commanding silence in the hall. They spoke again:

"The bond can't be ignored. Yet the choice is still in your hands." They looked straight at Diana now, "So tell us Diana, do you accept the crown of the Luna, knowing it will bind you to this pack forever?"