The wind carried the scent of burning cedarwood as I strode down the aisle, the weight of a hundred eyes pressing upon me.
The wedding was held in the Sacred Lunar Courtyard, an open ceremonial space where only the highest-ranking wolves were wed. A towering stone archway stood behind the altar, engraved with the ancient symbols of the Moon Goddess.
All five royal Alphas were present:
Alpha Magnus of the Moonstone Pack-Healers. They are good with medicine, herbs and poison.
Alpha Solas of the Bloodfang Pack-The warriors. Known as the Hunters, Protectors and Guardians. Brutal in battle, unmatched in raw strength. They are fast, ruthless and relentless. Their wolves are as swift as the wind, their attacks unpredictable.
Alpha Victor of the Silvercrest Pack-Engineers. Weapon crafters.
Alpha Ulric of the Ashfang Pach-The wealthiest pack. They control trade and resources.
And then my father, Randall Oatrun, ex Alpha of the Mystic Furs Pack-The strategists. Cunning and precise, known for unpredictable tactics. Our pack was built on intelligence and careful maneuvering.
And above them all, watching from his elevated seat, sat King Alderic, the current Werewolf King.
I did not miss the disapproving gazes from the Council Elders, or Meredith’s father, Gabriel Carter. His expression was a mask of stone, like he had been forced to attend his own daughter’s wedding, which was true.
They were all waiting. Watching. Judging.
I took my place at the altar without a care as I waited for my bride.
Then, finally, she appeared.
Meredith walked down the aisle alone, her white gown trailing behind her.
Her face was hidden beneath the veil, but I could still feel the weight of her stare.
“Mine.” My wolf, Rhovan growled in my head, surging forward.
“Not now,” I ordered.
“She’s ours.”
“You must be joking,” I said to him.
“Claim her!”
“Control yourself!” I raged.
Rhovan snarled, resisting.
Just then, Meredith reached the altar and stopped beside me. I could hear the subtle hitch in her breath, but she kept her posture straight.
The priest stepped forward, his presence commanding.
“Under the gaze of the Moon Goddess, we are gathered to witness the sacred union of Alpha Draven Oatrun and Meredith Carter. Their bond, sealed by vow and blood, shall be honored by the spirits of our ancestors and the laws of our kind.”
A moment of silence passed, the wind whispering through the trees.
Then, the priest turned to me.
“Draven Oatrun, do you accept this woman as your mate and wife? Do you vow to protect her, honour her, and stand beside her through war and peace, through shadow and moonlight?”
I looked down at Meredith through the veil. Her breathing was steady, but I could feel the tension radiating from her.
My jaw tightened. “Yes.” The words didn’t matter. The outcome did.
The priest turned to Meredith.
“Meredith Carter, do you accept this man as your mate and husband? Do you vow to stand beside him, to share his burdens, and to honor the bond of the Moon Goddess?”
The silence stretched.
The guests stirred.
I clenched my jaw, my voice low but commanding. “Answer the question.”
Still, she did not speak.
The priest hesitated, then repeated himself. “Meredith Carter, do you take Alpha Draven Oatrun as your lawful husband?”
And then- she lifted her head.
Through the veil, her violet eyes locked onto mine.
Silence stretched into eternity.
Then in a voice that cut through silence like a blade, she said-
“No.”
The world stopped.
Draven.
A stunned silence filled the air. Then, like a wave crashing against the rocks, the whispers erupted.
“Did she… she just refuse?”
“A cursed, wolfless disgrace rejecting an Alpha?”
“This has never happened before!”
“How dare she?”
Murmurs of shock rippled through the gathered werewolves, their voices rising in disbelief. The council elders exchanged tense glances, their expressions a mix of outrage and intrigue.
A few scoffed, whispering about how foolish I was for choosing a woman like her. Some simply watched, waiting to see how I would react.
But I barely heard them.
Because my gaze was locked on her.
Meredith stood before me, her posture straight, her chin tilted slightly upward. Beneath the white bridal veil, I could see the faintest glint of defiance in her violet eyes. She wasn’t shaking. She wasn’t cowering.
She was daring me.
Her rejection echoed in the air, defying centuries of tradition, defying the entire werewolf hierarchy, defying me.
My jaw clenched. A slow, burning heat curled in my chest, my wolf, Rhovan, stirring in agitation.
“She belongs to us,” he snarled. “She has no right to refuse.”
“She thinks she does,” I murmured back.
Rhovan growled. “Fix it.”
And so, I did.
Turning away from Meredith, I faced the priest and spoke.
“Yes.”
The effect was immediate.
Gasps erupted from the crowd, even louder than before. A fresh wave of murmurs spread through the guests as they struggled to comprehend what I had just done.
The priest blinked, his wrinkled face twisting in confusion. His gaze flickered between me and Meredith.
“Alpha Draven,” he hesitated, his voice unsure, “that is not how-“
“I accept Meredith Carter as my wife.” My voice was firm. Unyielding. “Proceed with the ceremony.”
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