The Luna's Ugly Disguise

Chapter 3 - Lucael

Being an Alpha of near 35 and unmated was never an easy thing. When I say unmated, I do not mean I found a mate and decided she was not right. Or that I had a mate and lost her. I literally mean unmated. Never to have found my fated mate. Unlucky, I suppose you could say. Frustrated was what I said. But, however the circumstances, it left a situation that seemed to greatly concern the pack Elders’ Council. Anyone would think it was something I was controlling with the way they reacted. Forever under question about how I could rule effectively without a mate by my side.

Personally, I found that implication rather insulting. I was more than a capable Alpha, and my Elders’ Council knew it. Our pack was one of the most powerful in the country, so bringing my ability to rule into question was unnecessary, just because there was no woman by my side. But, what they meant was, it was expected that I would have a mate by now. I was viewed with suspicion because there was no Luna by my side.

It irritated me greatly. I would happily have met my fated mate given a chance. Like any werewolf, a fated mate was the one we waited for. Even as an Alpha, I was no different. I waited, like every other. But, for whatever reason, my fated mate had yet to make her appearance, and as the years passed me by, I could not help but wonder if she ever would. I was beginning to accept the fact that perhaps there was no fated for me. That we had slipped by one another, or she had already passed on. I was to be a lone Alpha. And, as time progressed, I became more accepting of this...

But, just because I was accepting of my situation, did not mean others were feeling the same. Pressure had been building from the Elders’ Council until the day they approached me suggesting political marriage with the daughter of the Alpha of a local pack, the Wolf Moon Pack. They advised me it would not only stabilize relations with this pack, as in truth, the Alpha was difficult to say the least, so things were awkward between us. But, also, many of the members of the Elders’ Council reassured me that they believed that while the marriage was more one of convenience than my fated mate, in my older years, a fated mate was increasingly less likely to appear. So, a wife, even be it one I did not particularly want, would bring stabilization to my rule as Alpha too. People may not look at me with the same doubt as they do now, and because of that I had agreed. I wanted to do the right thing for my pack, as I always had.

I had attended many events, some at Wolf Moon Pack, others at varying locations. Meeting Alpha Nolan of Wolf Moon Pack, and quite honestly, he was intolerable. But his pack had contacts that would always be beneficial to my own pack, and that was something I had to consider. The history of his pack was legendary due to the family background of Alpha Nolan's former wife, and through that background alone, the network this pack maintained was impressive and one that could seriously benefit us as a pack. Whilst at these events, I believed I had also met the daughter the marriage had been arranged with. Admittedly, younger than me, by a number of years, but I was keenly reminded by my Elders’ Council that meant she would be more likely to provide me with the heir that my pack was so desperately expecting of me by now. I did not know little else about her. Other than on the occasions I had seen her at these events, and at those, she seemed demanding. Overbearing. An awful lot like her mother, in fact, the current Luna of Wolf Moon Pack.

Alpha Nolan had remarried after his first wife, the former heir of Wolf Moon Pack, had passed away. Quite a complex situation from what I could gather. One I did not delve into, because, quite frankly, it did not interest me. Nor was it my business. But, I knew that the current Luna was far from the woman his first wife had been. And the daughter was equally loud. Almost arrogant. But with them as parents, it did nothing to surprise me, yet I had gone along with the arrangement to gain what was needed. The girl was merely a necessary sacrifice for the alliance. To improve things between the pack, and hopefully to gain a better future for us all.

It was a marriage of convenience for me, and as such, I had allowed them to make the arrangements for the wedding. All I had to do was arrive on the date they had provided. Say what I needed to say, and I would be married. Have the wife that everyone expected of me. And that was what had brought me there. An unsettled feeling took over my body as I stepped from my car. There had been multiple occasions I had contemplated backing out in the days before, but my Beta pushed, as did my pack elders, and I knew I had no choice. I was going to be marrying the girl.

Reluctantly, I arrived, with a heaviness in my heart, knowing this was not how I wanted my life to go. I planned to make this as swift and smooth as possible. With no intention of staying longer than I had to. But, the moment I arrived, things became overwhelmingly suffocating almost immediately. “Alpha Lucael, so glad you are here.” Beta Bryce met me by the front door of the packhouse, as if he had been waiting for me. His beady little eyes watching each car as they approached. “Alpha Nolan is waiting for you.” He added with a smile. His over-friendliness was making me feel uneasy. Like he was trying too hard. But I followed him toward the packhouse regardless...

A frown instantly found my face as my eyes drifted across the packhouse. It was overly adorned with decorations and filled with guests. So many guests. I had been told this was not to be a grand affair, yet it appeared to me that they had invited every damn pack member from every corner of the country. And decorated like they were royalty! Just what the hell had I agreed to?!

That same sense of dread filled my gut, as an overwhelming urge to run took over, but before I could act upon it, I was quickly led along the hallway of the packhouse towards the Alpha office, before being swept inside.

“Alpha. You’re here.” An irritating voice greeted me, as I was met with the face of Luna Celine, the wife of the Alpha of Wolf Moon Pack, and the mother of the woman I was due to marry. “We hope you're ready for today! And liking everything we have done. A little bigger than we first thought, but who doesn’t like a celebration?” She gave me one of the falsest smiles I think I had ever seen. “And what bigger celebration is there than a wedding? Meeting someone you plan to be with forever! We will take the lead. If that is okay, of course?” She began with another smile. “Of course, it is okay, why would it not be? You are wanting this marriage as much as we are. So wonderful to bring two packs together.” She continued with barely a pause for breath. “So you will stand at the end of the room, waiting for Celeste, as she walks in with her father, okay? And trust me, you will be blown away by her!”

Her eyes were burning into me, as if daring me to argue, all while I struggled to follow exactly what she was saying, because she barely paused for air. This all seemed too much for me. Over the top, and everything I did not want. I was beginning to wish I had said we would arrange it ourselves now....

“Come on, I shall take you to the room, things will be starting soon.” Luna Celine began to usher me away from the office before I could disagree.

As we walked back along the hallway where I had just come from, I looked towards the woman in confusion. “Was I not meant to meet with your husband?” I questioned, recalling the words of the pack Beta when he met me, and wondering just when papers would be signed to agree to the terms of our agreements for the wedding.

“Oh, he will speak to you later, I am sure. He has the important job of walking his little girl down the aisle to meet her new man. Now, hurry along, stand at the end, Bryce will show you where.” She said softly, before turning to where the Beta of the pack was wandering toward the large room. “Bryce!” Her voice bellowed sharply, suddenly sounding so much less ladylike. “Take him to stand and wait for Celeste please.”

Before I knew it, I was standing at the end of the aisle, in another that was overly decorated room that was filled with so many guests. Many of whom I had to say I did not even recognize, and as an Alpha I knew a lot. The curious gazes in my direction thankfully did not last long as the over-the-top music selected began to play, and all eyes shifted to the doorway, mine drifting that way too.

But my eyes did not linger upon the overdressed dark-haired she-wolf that was walking through the doorway with her father as the music hung in the air. Instantly they were drawn to the delicate, mousy-haired little thing near hidden behind Alpha Nolan. I had no clue why, but she had my attention almost immediately, and I found it near impossible to pull my gaze off her. As my eyes instantly found her, my senses were filled with an overwhelming scent of gingerbread and vanilla. My wolf became more alive than I think I had ever felt him before.

Atlas was pacing heavily within my mind, as my eyes darted around the room. No. There was nobody else within the room. I had been in the room with these people for long enough already and felt nothing. The moment these girls stepped in, it had happened…

My heart pounded within my chest. My fated mate had come. I knew it. But confusion took over as I watched the weak little thing walk behind Alpha Nolan and his daughter. She was dressed in a gown that looked like she had found it in a dumpster. So tattered and torn. I did not understand why she was there. Was she a housemaid there to assist? Be a bridesmaid perhaps? If so, why did they not at least provide her with a dress suitable to wear? Did they intend to humiliate her?

But my heart pounded heavier within my chest as Atlas whimpered at the sight of this delicate she-wolf. A she-wolf whose eyes were locked upon me. Did she sense the same as me? ‘She is ours.’ Atlas stated so boldly.

‘So I was right?’ I demanded.

‘You were right.’ He confirmed, and a rush of warmth flooded my body. My fated mate had come for me. Finally.

‘Our fated mate?’ My eyes searched the she-wolf ahead, as I saw her reach up to seemingly wipe away a tear. Was she hurt? Scared I was about to marry... No. I knew I had to act. There could be no marriage. Fate came above all else. And the one in front of me was my fated. She had to be. I had met the other one before. But this one, I had no clue who she was. But, she was mine. Frail and fragile as she may be, she was the one the moon goddess had chosen for me. Nothing was going to stop her becoming mine. I began to walk toward them, as all chaos ensued…