The Alpha's Weakling Daughter is a Reborn Goddess

The moon was full. It hung over the Moon Palace and didn’t blink. White light spilt across the marble until the floors looked like bone. It caught in the fountains and turned the water to glass. It made everything look clean. It lied. Tonight was the Lunar Binding. I stood at the altar and the silk weighed more than my crown. It was white and hand-stitched by the legend herself. The train pooled behind me sort of like spilt milk. Moonstones were braided into my hair. Each one was cold against my scalp. The crown pressed down on my temples but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle. In front of me, my mate held my hands. King Alpha Cain. His palms were warm. Too warm tonight. Black hair fell to his shoulders. His gold eyes were only fixed on mine. I’d spent 200 years not letting him see me flinch. Tonight, I did. I wanted to finally heed the Moon’s call and open my heart to someone else. It was a very raw moment as we were to be bonded before the powerful Moon Rock. My throat was dry. His jaw was sharp. I knew every line of it. I’d traced it with my fingers when we were young and the wars were over and I thought peace meant safety. These were the same hands that had wrapped linen around my knuckles after I broke them on a traitor’s face. These hands were holding mine now. The High Priest’s voice cracked. “Do you still take her?” Cain didn’t look at him. “Amyra Veyne.” My name. He said it like it was the last word he’d ever get to say. Soft. Reverent. Heat climbed my neck. Stupid. I was 500 years old and I still blushed. My heart did something traitorous. It hoped. “I do.” My voice didn’t shake. The court erupted as the attendees cheered. Clapping. The sound bounced off the marble and came back too loud. Cain smiled. It didn’t reach his eyes. It was just a flicker before I blinked it was gone. _We’ll talk after,_ I told myself. _This is just nerves. First night stuff._ He stepped in closer to me. His chest touched mine. I could feel his heartbeat through the silk. His lips brushed my ear. His breath was unsteady. Then, “Forgive me,” he whispered. In a very quick, calculated move, the world narrowed to a point between my ribs. I felt Steel. Silver and moonstone. The only thing that could kill me. It slid in quicker than I could ever have thought. They always say you don’t feel it when you die. They’re liars. The silver dagger went straight through my heart when I least expected it. Cold. Then fire. I gasped and gulped on my own blood as I looked down at the hand holding it. The silk tore first. A soft sound. Like paper. Then the air left my lungs. Not in a rush. It leaked out. I tasted copper. Then moonlight. Somewhere far away, 400 people gasped. Then nothing. No one moved. Cain didn’t let go. He held me up. His arm locked around my back like he was dancing me. He held me as my blood dripped into the moonstone. He chanted something inaudible to me. “You’re too dangerous to live, Amyra,” he finally murmured to me. For me only. His lips barely moved. “A Goddess with a conscience is a liability. The 12 packs need a King. Not a Queen. And your power is all I need.” I tried to speak. Blood filled my mouth instead. It ran over my tongue. His gold eyes flickered in guilt but only for half a second. Then he leaned in and pressed his mouth to my forehead. “Goodbye, my Queen.” He slowly opened his hands and I fell. The crown hit the marble first. The sound was high and wrong. White silk went red, spreading from the centre out. My vision tunnelled. At the edge of it, past the feet and the robes, I saw her. My hand maiden Selene. Her hand was in his and she was smiling beautifully. Then the moon went out.