Claimed.
1064 Words
Laura's POV.
Today is the rescheduled date for the mate claiming ceremony of some friendly packs, one of which is the Golden Emerald Pack. It would be the first that I would be attending since I came back to the world.
Ironically, the very last one I attended in my past life was where I was poisoned to death together with six of my associates from my former Pack.The ceremony could not continue due to the incident so it had to be put off till another time. By popular agreement, our pack would still be hosting this edition.
Ordinarily, there is nothing unusual about a mate claiming ceremony as organized among Werewolves. As the name implies, it is an occasion in which eligible Werewolves claim their mates. No more, no less.
It is usually organized by Werewolf packs, especially the ones that are friendly with one another to promote friendship among the various packs and more especially to get to know one another.
Participating packs would usually rotate the hosting among each other.
At the Alpha's mansion, I had prepared breakfast for myself and eaten it before I walked the very short distance to our Pack house, which would serve as venue for the ceremony. In this my new life, I have to be very sensitive and alert.
Food would be served as it is usually the practice, but I would not touch it. I can't afford a repeat of what happened the last time. Anyone or group thinking towards poisoning me again should have a rethink. I'm sure others who fell victim would also be vigilant.
When I arrived the pack house, it was already brimming with wolves who had come from about four packs, including ours. I was ushered to my seat, a section reserved for the Luna who were present.
It was on a row directly behind the Alphas and just in front of the Betas. My husband was already on his seat in the front row reserved for the Alphas.
I took my seat and shifted a little bit to make myself comfortable. I made a quick glance at the area where the non ranking wolves were seated and my gaze landed on Shirley. Yes the same Shirley Marshall who has shifted my husband's attention away from me. The same person who orchestrated the poisoning of me and my six associates. I did not let my gaze dwell on her for long so she would not be able to guess that I was in the know of what they had planned.
I shifted my gaze quickly away from her while trying my best to soak in the atmosphere.
The program started in earnest and food and drinks were served while proceedings continued. With what I had already decided, I didn't touch the food. I only fiddled with a bottle of Brandy that accompanied the food, to keep myself busy.
When I was done fiddling with the bottle, I signalled to one of the servers to come take away the whole thing. The young wolf took away the untouched food and drink, without saying a word.
Someone who was the watching the scenario as it played out is my friend and fellow Luna, Patricia Duncan. She was sitting close to me. Her husband, Duncan Morris is the Alpha of the Crystal River Pack.
"You didn't touch your food, Luna Laura?" she asked, wiping her brow with her right hand.
"Yep, Luna, I don't really feel like eating anything now," I replied.
She looked into my eyes with some kind of compassion in her eyes and said, "I do understand you perfectly, my dear. You don't want a repeat of what happened the last time."
I chuckled and nodded my head.
Luna Patricia was actually present at this venue when I was poisoned in my past life. Then also the fact that I came back. That's all what she knew.
The claiming was in full swing. One after the other, claimants would come forward, extoll the one to be claimed for just a few minutes, and then do the claiming.
Then it came! The moment I knew would definitely come. The moment when my Alpha husband would make a mockery of himself.
Alpha Josh stepped up towards the MC and collected the microphone. Then he started to speak.
I decided to let him speak though that wasn't my original plan. My earlier thought was to reject him before he rejects me but I had to jettison that plan because it would backfire. Going ahead with that plan would make me the aggressor, rather than the victim.Whatever sympathy I hope to get from the community of Werewolves would be lost. So I would have to let him say whatever he wants to say.I would let him make a mockery of himself so the entire community of Werewolves would be the judges.
Talking about sympathy, there should be no mistake about it. I'm not needing it because I want to continue with the marriage, far from it. I only need for everyone present to know that their well respected Alpha Josh is claiming another woman in his Luna's presence.
"I Alpha Joshua Andrew of the Golden Emerald Pack hereby claim Shirley Marshall, who is also among us here as my mate, effective from today."
A chill descended on the entire gathering. Wolves could not not believe what they just heard nor could they believe what was playing out right before their eyes.
Immediately he made the announcement, Shirley stood up, made her way to the high table and threw her arms around my husband. He hugged her back and they held each other tight, smooching and feeling each other's warmth.
I had enough of all this. Acting on an impulse, I stood up from my seat, hissed and began to move out of the hall.
As I looked back momentarily, I saw Alpha Josh coming after me with pleading eyes, muttering some words I was no more interested in listening to. I increased my pace towards the entrance and in no time, I was by the door.
I went out of the hall and within a few minutes, I was at the Alpha's mansion.
I went into my room, closed the door behind me as I plopped on my bed. I buried my head in my pillow as tears flowed from my eyes.........
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- Writer
