Chapter 11
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CHAPTER II
This wasn’t happening. This couldn’t be happening to me again. My heart pounded in my chest as the words from the pack. member sliced deeper into me. Why can’t I just get my wolf? WI meant to remain wolfless for the rest of my life? Could I be human and I’d been deceived into believing I was special?
A voice rang out from the crowd, louder than the others, interrupting my thoughts.
“She’s not fit to be Lunal She’s weak!”
Oh my gosh! Had I been brought to be made a laughing stock again? Was I disgrace to myself and the pack? At that moment, doubt crept up in me. What if the seer had seen wrong? What if she misunderstood the prophecy? What if the illness wasn’t as serious or mysterious as everyone thought and the sick would stand up tomorrow? From my visit to the clinic, only about ten people were sick, it could have been coincidental.
The crowd started to stir once more, while some nodded in agreement and wouldn’t stop talking, others gave me a look of disdain. At that moment, I could feel the lump forming in my throat. I couldn’t breathe. I was even finding it difficult to stand. No, I won’t be vulnerable at this time, I won’t return to my old self. I need to stand high and remain optimistic. Maybe we’d missed the time, maybe my wolf wasn’t supposed to come during the mating ceremony and the full moon. Maybe it would come some other time, probably when I’m in danger or scared, there’s no other time it can’t come, I’ve heard stories from others and it wasn’t the same. I was special
The seer tried to calm the crowd, her voice desperate. “It will happen. The bond is real. She is meant to be Luna-”
But they weren’t listening anymore. I wasn’t sure if even I was listening.
“Dawn” I whispered, turning to him. “Please, say something. Tell them I’m not a fraud. You were the one that came to me.
For a moment, I thought he might. His eyes softened, just a flicker of something that might’ve been compassion, but then it was gone, replaced by that same cold indifference then he let out a scoff.
“Did you plan this whole charade with the seer?” He asked in an accusatory tone and I huffed in disbelief.
“What are you saying? You were the one that brought me here…
He cut in.
“That doesn’t mean you didn’t meet the seer before, what if you guys contacted each other? You could have planned this for your benefit for all I care.”
I shook my head.
“And why will I do that?”
“To earn the most coveted position of becoming my Luna,” he stated like it was the obvious and I rolled my eyes.
can’t be serious. I’ve never coveted that position. I’ve never wanted it. Even when I realised we were fated mates, L…
“A wolfless, lowly servant like you can’t be my fated mate. There’s definitely something under your sleeve, no wolf, no healing power and yet you expect me to believe you’re an intregal part of a prophecy? Tell me, how did you convince the seer or is it the other way round? What will you pay her with? Are…
Anger welled deep inside me. Traised my palm to slap him but he was quick to act on impulse as he grabbed my hand and pulled me closer to him.
“You have just few days. Few days to g
get your wolf and the healing powers. None of the pack members must die if not…” He
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Chapter II
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threatened and I tried to talk, tried to fight back but just couldn’t utter a word, I couldn’t do anything. It felt like I was really at fault. It seemed like everyone was right. Before I could gather my thoughts, he let go of my hand abruptly, the force sending me falling to the ground. He didn’t bother looking at me, instead, he walked away.
While I remained on the floor, the pack dispersed around me with murmurs and whispers. I felt rejected once again. I felt abandoned. I was cold, numb and all alone again. This shouldn’t be repeating itself.
I had just failed in front of everyone–failed to become the Luria they expected, failed to gain my wolf, failed to harness my healing powers, failed to fulfill the prophecy and failed to prove to myself that I was worth it.
I got up slowly while struggling to empty the different thoughts racing through my head, a familiar voice sliced through the crowd–sickly sweet and dripping with mockery.
“Well, well, well… look at our future Luna,” Devlin sneered, sauntering toward me with that ever–present smirk on her face. Her long, dark hair swayed with each step as she eyed me like I was prey. “Or should I say, the girl who “thought” she could be Luna.” She ended it with a mocking laughter while I scowled at her. She was the last person I wanted to see.
“I’m surprised you haven’t disappeared yet, Iris,” she continued, circling me like a vulture waiting for its next meal. “After that disaster. I’d think you’d be hiding in shame.”
I swallowed hard, my throat dry as I tried to muster some kind of response. But the words caught in my throat. The humiliation of the night was still too raw.
“What’s the matter?” Devlin pressed, her voice oozing false sympathy. “Oh, I know. You thought your wolf would magically awaken, didn’t you? That you’ll get the stupid healing powers and start acting like a god here? That everyone will see you as someone fit to be our Luna even though you don’t have that blood and you’re nothing but a slave. That everything would be perfect, and you’d suddenly be worthy of Alpha Dawn.” She laughed, and it was cruel and sharp, like shards of glass cutting into me. “Poor, delusional Iris. You really thought you could become something, right? Sorry to burst your bubble but slaves would always be slaves”
Her words hit me like a blow to the gut. I opened my mouth to speak, but she didn’t let me.
“You’re nothing but a pathetic replacement,” she hissed, stepping closer until she was inches from my face. “A weak little human who can’t even summon her own wolf. Dawn should have never believed in the stupid seer. He should have just married me instead. You’ll never be Luna–not in this lifetime or the next.”
I flinched, her words sinking deeper into the already gaping wound left by tonight’s failure. Every word she spoke was like poison, seeping into my veins, making me doubt everything I thought I was.
She chuckled darkly, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction at the hurt on my face. “You know what the pack is saying now, don’t you? They think you’re a fraud. That you received the Alpha into marrying you. That you’re nothing more than a liability, it would be best to divorce you.” Her lips curled into a cruel smile. “I couldn’t agree more. Wouldn’t that be so sweet? A divorce just a few hours after the wedding? I can’t wait. She cackled like a hen, obviously enjoying it.
My chest tightened, and I felt the burn of unshed tears behind my eyes. But I wouldn’t cry in front of her. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction.
“Why don’t you just leave?” she suggested with a mock tilt of her head. “Spare us all the embarrassment. No one here wants you. No one ever will. Go back to the rogue pack you came from, divorce the Alpha yourself What am I even saying? The moon goddess didn’t bless the marriage, it’s not a real one, jest nullify the contract and disappear.”
The weight of her words bore down on me, pressing into the ache that was already forming in my heart. I tried to steady my breath, to hold on to whatever pride I had left, but it felt impossible.
I clenched my fists, anger bubbling up beneath the hurt. “I’m not going anywhere,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. but laced with as much defiantee as I could muster.
“Let’s see if you’ll go or not. I’m sure the pack members would frustrate you out of here.”
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Chapter 11
With one final look of smug satisfaction, Devlin turned on her heel and walked away, leaving me standing there, a hollow shell of the woman I thought I was.
The ceremony ended in a cold, bitter silence. No wolf. No healing powers. Only doubt.
