Scarlett
With a loose tie hanging around his neck along with a black suit and crisp white shirt beneath the waistcoat, he barged into my room before pulling me in a bone-crushing embrace.
I fastened my arms around his hips tightly, not saying anything but feeling the warmth of his body against mine.
"I…I did it," he whispered in such a low voice that I didn't know if I was meant to hear it or not but I had heard it anyway.
Running my hands down his back, I nuzzled my nose into the crook of his neck, inhaling his strong cinnamon and pine scent that soothed me.
Plastering a smile on my face, I hid my pain. The emotions I was dealing with were beyond mere jealousy and hurt.
Imagining him kissing another woman in front of everyone broke my heart. I hadn't seen her yet and to be honest, I never wanted to run into her.
She was lucky because she had my mate and that too, rightfully, unlike me who will have to fight to have him.
"I have had enough of everyone, now. I'll tell them that they can force a marriage on me but not love. You're going to stand beside me during my Alpha ceremony," he said firmly, stabilizing my shaking shoulders.
Thrusting his hands off my body, I took a step backward. "That's impossible. I'm not your wife. People will make fun of me if I show up after everything that has happened."
Greg had already asked me to take leave for today as it was their Alpha's wedding and ceremony so they had the reason to celebrate and take leaves from the training.
Nevertheless, I went for a run in the morning and the pack members stared at me with scornful peeks. I didn't know what wrong I did until Sasha told me that they were thinking of me like a whore who seduced their Alpha and became a roadblock in his wedding.
This pack cared just about the rank, powers, and their own benefits. They wanted Klaus to marry Amber because it would benefit them as Amber would bring a fortune to this pack and they'll get respect among the other packs.
"You're my mate and only a mate is the rightful person to be Luna," Klaus said with a perplexed expression on his face. He knew that once I made up my mind, it would be impossible for him to make me change my mind.
I didn't want to tell him that I was hurt by his pack so I made an excuse, "that's not what the pack or your family think. A mate can't fight against a wife to be Luna and I don't care about the ranks."
"This isn't just about the rank, Scarlett. It's my pack and their emotions," he said, scratching his head and turning his face in the opposite direction as he failed in persuading me.
I didn't want him to know that the pack he cared about the most hated me.
"Look, I have come directly to you after the wedding. If you're not with me in my Alpha ceremony, I don't find any reason to attend anyway," he uttered and shrugged before making a move to leave my room.
"Fine," I extended my hand in front of my chest. "I'll attend but won't be your Luna. I have my dignity, I don't want to fight with any woman to be with you."
He turned to face me with a sad smile on his face. “Okay, I’ll wait for the day when you’ll be my Luna and wife both. I won’t force you.”
“Alright. That makes the two of us. Waiting for so many things,” I replied, putting a smile on my face and he left my room.
My heart ached at the mention of his marriage each time. I wanted to live in a world where I wouldn’t have to deal with the people and his marriage. My back and chest were aching but I was neglecting the pain.
“You need to take a shower, Letty,” my mother lunged into my room and I rolled my eyes.
Nobody needed to knock on the door before entering my room, did they?
“Are you okay, Letty?” My mom pulled my hands into hers, making me sit on the edge of my bed while she sat beside me. “You don’t have to be always strong and deal with everything alone. I know that it’s tough to see your mate with someone else.”
As soon as she spoke those words in her tender voice, the pools of tears started flowing and I hid my face in her chest. She didn’t shush me instead she let me express my pain in silence whilst her hands patted my back in soothing strokes.
“I wished you wouldn’t have been a lantern and would have a wolf so you could survive after the rejection. You don’t deserve this pain, honey.” She muttered slowly, calming me down.
I had to raise my head to look up at her. How could she say that?
“It’s not his fault, mom. He is suffering with me, too. Klaus didn’t want to marry another girl, his family had forced him and the next person is the Alpha King’s daughter. If he refuses to marry her, he’ll back off from his word which will cause a war among the packs. He is doing this for his pack,” I explained everything to her, she needed to know it. I didn’t want her to hate my mate though we weren’t on good terms currently.
“That’s the thing, sweetheart. He has chosen his pack above you and you’ll see this pack talking shit about you behind his back. Rachel told me about the matter and how their pack members are. You’re a second choice to him,” she said and cupped my cheeks.
I stopped her from touching my face. How could she talk like that about my mate? How could he choose me at the risk of war?
Her words pierced through my heart, a part of me wanted to agree with her but another part knew the whole story. I couldn’t blame him for anything, perhaps I loved him a bit too much.
“Mom, he tried to kill himself when he got to know that there is no other way than marrying someone else rather than his mate. He loves me,” I disclosed to her, hoping that after knowing this, she might understand and agree with me.
As I told her about his suicidal attempt, she gasped and her eyes broadened in panic. “Oh, my Goddess! How could he? I’m sorry, honey. You were out last evening, I thought that you were talking with a pure mate. No one told me about this.”
“We wanted to keep it a secret, and didn't want the Alpha King to be involved in anything. When I left the house, I found him lying on the floor lifelessly, he had poked a silver dagger in his chest,” I divulged the truth, and the pictures swayed in front of my eyes as if it just happened.
“I don’t know what to say, you have made me speechless. I would just say one thing if an Alpha chooses to show you his vulnerable side, you’re so special to him. He must love you so much,” she said with teary eyes and trembling lips that broke into a smile as she hugged me again.
"You stink, honey. You’re in badly need of a shower,” she giggled and walked to my wardrobe. “I’ll choose your dress for tonight’s Alpha ceremony, can I?”
Shaking my head dramatically, I blew her a kiss before walking to the bathroom. “Of course, my Queen.”
Getting a quick shower, I came out of the bathroom and my mom helped me wear the violet gown which had a beautiful neckline bordered with sheer. She insisted on doing my make-up and hair which I had to allow to not to hurt her.
“Our future Luna is ready, huh?” Rachel commented as we walked downstairs.
Greg and Sasha complimented me before my father joined us and we left for the ceremony.
My heart was thumping in my chest. For the first time, I was feeling nervous while attending a ceremony. I was the girl who always escaped from parties and formal functions but tonight, I had to attend it for my mate's sake.
As soon as I entered the packhouse hall, I could feel all the eyes on me. As I walked further, the eyes pricked my back and when I raised my head to look at the people, everyone had the same grimace and disdainful faces to offer, which was disheartening.