Unfeeling Luna, Ruthless Alpha

CHAPTER 11: The Wedding

FORSYTHIA’S POV

Seeing me recoil, Mak placed a hand on my shoulder to reassure me. "You can stay here."

"No, I am the future Luna, am I not?" It was a reminder to him as much as it was to myself.

"Good. Come with me." Mak flashed a satisfied smile. His hand slid down to the small of my back, guiding me forward.

The closer we got to the drawing room, the harder my heart pounded. I felt as if the air was being sucked out of my body. What would he say? What were Gianis and Draco trying to strip away from me this time?

Gianis and Draco were waiting in the drawing room, flanked by two brawny, solemn Vanguard betas.

"Alpha Makarios, thank you for agreeing to meet with us." Alpha Gianis extended his hand. "Beside me is my son, Draco."

"It’s nothing, Alpha. Welcome to Vanguard." Mak shook his hand. "The beautiful woman beside me is Forsythia Greenwood, my future Luna."

"Ah..." Alpha Gianis let out a soft exclamation as the two leaders stepped apart.

We all sat down. Draco glared when he saw me sitting on equal footing with them.

"What a coincidence, your future Luna happens to be a former servant of my household, the one who fled a few days ago after attacking my beta." Gianis looked at me, a sorrowful smile playing on his lips. "Luckily, Jack is fine, Forsy. You should visit him. You know we have to punish you because you were the one in the wrong."

"Please, elaborate." Mak leaned back against his chair, crossing one leg over the other, his hand still gripping my waist tightly.

"Well... Forsy attacked my son when my foolish boy made a request that didn't suit her. His fault, of course. I was forced to put Forsy in the dungeon—my fault, admittedly. I made her believe we would punish her severely. She probably thought she'd have to write a self-assessment or something." Gianis laughed aloud. "It was all a misunderstanding. She has been sensitive and difficult to control since her parents died in the storm. Oh, she stabbed my beta and ran. You were lucky to find her, otherwise, I don't know how she would have survived in the forest."

"I am the lucky one. Fate has ordained everything. I believe that sensitivity stems from our mate bond growing stronger. Isn't that right, darling?" Mak caressed my cheek.

I played along, leaning my head into his hand. My throat gave a soft, responsive purr. "Yes, we are drawn to each other. It's so intense; it’s frustrating we didn't realize it sooner."

Draco let out a low, cynical chuckle. I wondered why he didn't just blurt out the truth. What was he holding back for?

"It’s good to see our haughty girl found her mate. She used to cling to my son constantly." Gianis patted his son's thigh. "The two were very, very close."

"Hm?" Mak’s hand tightened on my hip, pulling me flush against him. Pressing his lips to my hair, he asked, "Is that so, honey?"

I looked down at my hands. My body stiffened as I imagined Draco’s previous touches. Mak gave my hip a squeeze, pulling me back to reality.

"Yes," I confessed.

Both Gianis and Draco looked surprised.

My lips curled into a smirk, though I knew I could no longer feel anything else. "Draco and I were very close. Gianis and I were too. Even so, I was just a servant in their house; they surely know how much I enjoyed serving them."

Gianis slapped his thigh. "Haha, this girl. We call her a servant, but she was always family."

"Yes, I received many favors." This time I looked toward Draco. Leaning close to Mak, I murmured, "He ‘served’ his family member—even in her role as a servant—exceedingly well."

Mak and I chuckled. Draco’s cheeks turned a deep flush—a mix of embarrassment and shame.

"I still don't know why you two are here." I straightened my back, asking as if I were already the master of this house.

"Well, as your guardian, I came here to take you back—that was the original goal. But after hearing about the wedding, I’m quite sad you didn't inform me. I always wanted to be the one to walk you down the aisle." He was playing the victim again.

Disgusting!

I asked, "How did you know I was here? Do you have an acquaintance in the Vanguard pack who told you?"

Gianis's face went pale.

"Oh, interesting. I was wondering the same thing," Mak added. "If there isn't a mole, you must have been monitoring my pack very closely."

"Well, no." Gianis wiped the sweat from his forehead. "There were rumors that the strongest Alpha in the south had just met a beautiful blonde girl in the forest. A father's instinct told me it was her."

"How wonderful, then. The wedding will be held next Sunday at 8 PM. Please come, Alpha! Of course, I don't want you to walk me down the aisle. I am not a piece of merchandise that needs a seller's confirmation." I shrugged.

Mak let out a sigh of relief. The touch on my back made it very clear that he was satisfied with everything I had done. And so was I.

***

The following Sunday.

The test results were in; I wasn't pregnant. Furthermore, neither of us was ill. The dress made by Unila and the other servants was finished, and it fit me perfectly.

All my belongings had been moved to the room next to Mak’s. Everything was ready.

From four in the afternoon, Ema had isolated me from Mak to have me all to herself. She stayed by my side as the servants dressed me. She applied my makeup and styled my hair with her own hands. She was also the first to tell me how beautiful I looked.

Ema was like the sister I never had. Being with Mak didn't just give me protection and power; he had given me a lovely family member who truly cared for me.

"It’s time, Goldie. Let's go." Ema led me to the floor where the wedding hall was located.

When I reached the hallway with the grand double doors leading into the ballroom, Mak was already standing there. He glanced at me for less than a second before looking straight back at the closed doors. Ema stood behind me; Kraven stood behind Mak.

On either side of the doors stood two imposing omegas in suits, each with a rose pinned to his chest.

"You should be up at the altar," I whispered.

"We are going in together. This isn't just a wedding. This is the ceremony to announce your role to everyone."

"Right," I muttered, my hands clutching the bouquet against my stomach. My heart raced with nerves.

Mak nodded. The omegas opened the doors. The music swelled. My vision swayed at the sight of the lights and flowers before me. All eyes fell on us, and a spotlight flashed as we began to walk.

I forced my mouth into a smile. The only thing that made me bitter was the fact that this grand wedding was not the result of a passionate love. It was the genesis of a cruel revenge and political wars that would never end.

Mak and I now stood facing each other. His face showed no expression; I guessed mine was the same. The lights kept flashing, capturing invisible photographs.

Joel was the one who spoke.

"Alpha Makarios Dalloway, Omega Forsythia Greenwood. I declare, before the Elders, betas, and omegas as witnesses of Vanguard, that you are husband and wife. Omega Forsythia officially becomes Luna Forsythia based on the appointment and trust of Alpha Makarios. Now is the time for the Alpha and Luna to deliver their oath to the pack."

Mak and I had memorized it beforehand. We looked into each other's eyes and spoke in unison:

"Before the pack, we bind our fates as one. We do not just marry; we unite. We swear to lead Vanguard with an iron will and a single heart. We vow to protect our blood, to crush our enemies, and to never falter in our ascent. Together, we will forge an empire from this palace, and we will not rest until Vanguard stands at the pinnacle of this world. What we build, no one shall break. What we rule, no one shall take. From this moment until our final breath—we are the Alpha, we are the Luna, we are Vanguard."

Cheers and roars erupted throughout the hall. My throat tightened after the solemn vow, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on my shoulders. In front of me, Mak calmly led me down from the platform. He took me to meet important people. They talked while I stood aside, trying to find my breath and my composure.

Suddenly, someone tapped a wine glass to get everyone's attention. When I finally regained my calm, I realized it was Draco. His face was flushed red. He seemed drunk.