Alpha's Deception

Chapter 6: The Ceremony

Aurora

If someone had told me two weeks ago that I’d be living in a new pack, far away from my parents and the world I’d known, I would’ve laughed.

But now?

Now I stood beside Marcus as he met with one of the oldest council members of Pine Ridge, and all I felt was pride.

It hadn’t been easy getting here. The wolves in this pack didn’t trust me at first. I could see it in their eyes, the way they glanced at me like I was some foreign object Marcus had dragged in from a world too polished for theirs.

They whispered when they thought I wasn’t listening. She’s the Matel heir. What’s she doing with us? Why would a girl like that run away for him?

But I didn’t care.

Because I knew who Marcus was.

He wasn’t perfect—not yet—but he had the strength, the vision, the hunger to be something great. I saw the way he worked—how he fought, how he led. He just needed the right people to believe in him.

And if no one else would?

Then I would.

The first time I offered to help him, he refused.

We were in the study. Papers were scattered across the desk, reports from border patrol, supply shortages, and a half-written letter he kept hesitating to send to the Alpha Council.

“You’re doing too much,” I said, moving to gather the pages. “You don’t have to carry all of this alone.”

“I do,” he said flatly.

“No, Marcus. You don’t.” I stood in front of him, folding my arms. “You’re not just leading anymore. You’re leading for two. I’m your mate. Let me help.”

He didn’t answer at first. Just stared at the wall like he was calculating ten steps ahead.

“Your name carries weight,” he said finally.

“I know.”

“If I let you speak for me, some might say I’m hiding behind you.”

“Then let’s make sure they don’t.”

The next day, I wrote to one of my mother’s old allies—a neutral Alpha named Aldric who owed my family more than a few favors. I didn’t mention the details, just asked for support: a shipment of resources, an updated alliance list, and recognition of Marcus’s leadership in exchange for my trust.

He responded the same evening.

A Matel heir stands beside Marcus Stone? That makes him worth listening to. Consider it done.

I showed Marcus the message with a smile.

His fingers tightened around the parchment, jaw clenched.

“What?” I asked, confused.

He shook his head quickly. “Nothing. I just didn’t expect it to be that easy.”

“It’s not,” I said. “But this is how it starts. One name. One bridge. Then the others follow.”

He looked at me then—really looked at me.

And for the first time, I saw something like fear flicker behind his golden eyes.

Maybe he wasn’t used to people fighting for him.

Maybe he thought he’d always have to take everything by force.

But I wasn’t trying to take anything.

I just wanted him to stand tall.

And maybe, finally, see himself the way I saw him.

Over the next week, more letters came in—Alphas offering reluctant but polite recognition, a few small alliance offers, and even a trader from the East who agreed to re-open routes through the Pines.

Marcus met with them all.

And I was there at his side for every meeting.

I wore my name like armor, but I spoke softly—never above him, never instead of him. Just beside him. I knew how to play the game.

Let them think I was just a doting Luna with the bloodline of a queen.

Let them underestimate me.

All that mattered was that when they looked at Marcus, they started seeing more than a disgraced Alpha from a forgotten pack.

They started seeing a leader with backing.

With power.

With me.

I remember the night Marcus stood in front of his full council for the first time and none of them interrupted him.

That had never happened before.

He told me after the meeting, “They’re finally listening.”

And I said, “Good. Because you have something to say.”

He looked at me for a long moment, then reached for my hand.

“Why are you doing all this for me?”

The question caught me off guard.

I blinked. “Because you’re my mate.”

“That’s not a reason,” he said softly. “That’s an excuse.”

I shook my head. “No. It’s a promise. When the Moon Goddess ties you to someone, it means you don’t give up on them when things get hard. It means you believe. Even when no one else does.”

He didn’t speak again after that.

But he kissed me.

Like I was the only thing in the world that made sense to him.

There were nights I stayed up organizing logistics for him—talking to his lieutenants, smoothing over old feuds in the pack that had nothing to do with me but everything to do with keeping him on top.

I helped train his warriors.

I showed them how to hold their ground in battle, how to channel strength more effectively.

Some of them hated it at first.

A few of the older ones openly refused to take orders from me.

But when they saw what my amplification could do—when I laid my hand on a young warrior’s shoulder and made him strong enough to pin down two guards—they changed their tone.

They started calling me Luna after that.

And not because I told them to.

Because I’d earned it.

I didn’t notice at first how much Marcus changed.

He smiled more—but only in public.

He touched me more—but never when we were alone.

And when I asked him if he was okay, he always said the same thing.

“I’m just thinking.”

I wanted to believe it was stress.

Pressure.

Leadership.

But sometimes, when I walked into a room unexpectedly, I’d find him talking to Elena in hushed tones. Or pacing with old letters in hand, reading them like they carried more weight than they should.

Once, I saw him burning a scroll before I could ask what it was.

When I asked, he just kissed my forehead and said, “It’s nothing important.”

And I believed him.

Because I wanted to.

Because love can be blind.

Especially when you’ve already given your whole heart away.