My Contract Mate

The Day Of Coronation

Chapter: The Day of Coronation

Seraphina’s POV

I stood before the mirror, looking at myself. Today was different. I wasn’t wearing my usual warrior clothes—the dark leather pants, the armored vest, the boots that had carried me through so many battles. Today, I wore an elegant dress, a long, flowing thing in a deep shade of blue. The fabric felt soft against my skin, a stark contrast to the usual roughness of my warrior attire. My hair was down, cascading in soft waves around my shoulders, held back by a silver pin that glinted in the light. It was a strange feeling, this dress, as though I wasn’t the same person who fought in the woods or trained with my fellow warriors. But today wasn’t for battle. Today was for celebration.

Ronan, my mate, was about to be crowned the new Alpha. Today, everything would change. The whole pack would recognize him as their leader. And he would announce me as his mate.

I tried to push aside the feeling of unease that kept rising in my chest. Something felt off, but I couldn’t place it. I had been there for Ronan through everything—the fights, the struggles, the bloodshed. I was his strength, his constant, the one person he could always rely on. I knew this day was coming, but why did my heart feel so heavy?

I took one last look at myself in the mirror, trying to calm the growing anxiety. The dress looked good. I didn’t need to worry about that. Today wasn’t about what I wore or how I looked—it was about Ronan. He was going to be Alpha. I was going to stand by him. And everything would be perfect.

Ronan knocked on the door before stepping inside. His eyes softened when he saw me, and a smile spread across his face. “You look beautiful,” he said, his voice low and warm.

I felt my heart flutter despite myself. I had always known that Ronan was special. He had always been the one I looked up to, the one who made me feel safe, the one I knew I was meant to be with.

I smiled at him, trying to ignore the tightness in my chest. “So do you,” I replied, glancing at his clothes. He wore the traditional attire of an Alpha—fitted pants, a shirt embroidered with symbols of power, and the leather vest that was a symbol of his strength. He was tall, strong, and confident—exactly what an Alpha should be.

He walked toward me, taking my hand gently. “Are you ready?” he asked, his voice filled with hope.

I nodded, my throat suddenly dry. “Yes. Let’s go.”

Together, we walked to the ceremonial grounds. The whole pack was gathered, a sea of eyes all fixed on Ronan. The air was thick with excitement and anticipation. There were cheers and claps as we entered, but I couldn’t help feeling the weight of the moment. This was more than just a celebration. It was a turning point for Ronan—and for me.

Ronan’s victory in the recent challenges had earned him the title of Alpha, and now the time had come for him to take his place officially. The elders of the pack stood at the front of the stage, their faces solemn. They had watched Ronan grow, and they had witnessed his strength. But today, they would pass the title of Alpha to him.

The ceremony began with cheers and applause as Ronan was called to the center of the stage. He was tall, strong, and every inch the leader I knew he was. The pack looked to him with respect, admiration, and loyalty. I stood a few feet away, watching him as the ceremony continued. I could feel the pride swelling in my chest. This was the moment he had been working for. He was about to be crowned as the Alpha, and I—his mate—would stand by his side.

But then, the moment came. It was time for Ronan to announce his mate to the entire pack. This was the part I had been waiting for, the part I had dreamed about.

The elder turned to Ronan and spoke, “Ronan, it is time. Announce your mate to the pack.”

The entire crowd went silent, waiting for him to speak. My heart raced in my chest as I stepped forward, eager for the moment to come. I could feel the pack’s gaze on me, but all I could focus on was Ronan, standing tall in front of the crowd. I could almost hear his heart beating with the same excitement I felt.

Ronan’s voice filled the silence, but as he spoke, the words hit me like a punch to the gut.

“My mate is…Sophia,” he said, his voice steady but cold.

I stiffened my body. I couldn't breathe. Sophia? His mate was Sophia? My head was empty as I tried to process what I just heard. I never expected him to claim anyone else. We had always been a team. We had fought together. I was the one who was meant to be by his side as the Alpha's mate. But now… now he was laying claim to Sophia.

The woman whom I had always presumed to be his friend's partner, not his, I had never discerned a suggestion that Ronan was in love with her—yet there she was standing alongside him.

My heart shattered, fragmenting into pieces. It felt like the world around me was falling apart, the ground opening up beneath my feet. I couldn't make sense of it. I couldn't understand. My breathing came in ragged gasps as I fought to hold back the tears. I had a scorching ache in my chest, a searing feeling I'd never known before.

I opened my mouth, but it was empty. I wanted to scream. I wanted to yell for explanations. I wanted to know why he'd done this. But nothing came out. Only a ringing in my ears as the world around me blurred.

I swayed back, dizzy and light-headed. My legs shook under me, my body unable to stay upright. My vision began to fade, the periphery of life closing in dark. My heart beat faster, wild. The surprise, the pain—it was too much. I seemed to be suffocating.

Why? The sound echoed inside my mind, but I lacked the strength to say it out loud.

And then, before I knew what was happening, it all went black.Yh