Alpha Rhys POV
I laid with my mates for as long as we could before we had to go to this Goddess forsaken mating ceremony.
Mateo on my left, Jett on my right. Both of them laying on my chest with my arms wrapped around both of them. Trying my best to hold them to me forever, which clearly would never come for us.
"I can't believe you have to do this babe." Jett whispered, his breath touched my ribs.
"I know.. but we're going to figure this all out I promise."
"It's not like we're ever going to really be together Rhys.. this freaking sucks. As soon as you mark that, that shewolf, our bond will expand. I don't want to feel anything for her." Mateo said sitting up enough to look into my eyes.
"You won't feel anything for her Tayo. Only I will."
"But the bond will affect you, we're your mates too, so it will affect us too. Whatever you feel for her, your urges, everything, we're going to feel too." Jett whined pushing off me then stood up and glared at me.
"J, it's not like I have much of a choice in this shit. Kano's stupid fucking law prevents us from fully being together and he's already made up his mind about me taking a chosen mate and producing an heir. I have to do this, I hate this shit too but what else can I do? I don't want to mark that tramp either, but what can I do?" I growled, throwing all my frustration into the air.
"You didn't even try to fight it Ry." Jett accused, pointing at him and baring his teeth. Oh don't do that Jett..
"Jett you need to calm down right now." Mateo said getting off the bed walking over to him.
"No Tayo, he didn't even try to fight this! He's just going to give in! He's not even trying to fight for us, for our bond, for what we mean to each other! This is bull and you both know it!" Jett yelled again. I closed my eyes trying to take a deep breath. I don't want to hurt my mate, but he's fucking pushing it.
"Jett! He doesn't have a choice! You need to mind your tongue!"
"No! Fuck that, he's just going to give in! He's not an Alpha, he's a punk."
"Jett Calder! Have you lost your mind?!" Mateo yelled shoving him backwards and before I knew it, I had rushed off the bed, knocked Mateo down and had Jett pinned against the wall. My hands wrapped around his throat.
"Rhys!" Mateo yelled getting off the floor and rushing over, touching my shoulder. I looked at his hand then growled in warning. He took the hint and removed his hand but stared between me and Jett.
I turned my attention back to my little disrespectful mate. He was clenching my hands and gasping for air, as my grip tightened around him.
"Don't you ever call me out of my name again Jett! If you even think about disrespecting that way again, I will turn your ass red! Do I make myself clear!" Shoving the force of my aura out, Jett whimpered in my grasp, turning his head and nodding.
"I'm sorry babe.. I messed up.. I'm just so emotional about this.. I'm so sorry." He gritted through clenched teeth. I had a right mind to tighten my grip even more so that really he got the point, until I felt Mateo wrap his arms around me from behind.
"Please babe, he didn't mean it. This is an emotional time for all of us. Please don't let this be apart of the last memory we share together. Please."
Shit.. I know he's right, but I couldn't help getting upset. Jett crossed a line. They both know better than anyone how serious Magnus and I take disrespect.
After taking a few deep breaths, I loosened my grip on Jett, but I didn't let him go completely. Just enough for him to inhale the air he needed. Then I leaned closer to kiss him, desperately. Mateo rubbed my chest from behind and I broke my kiss with Jett to turn and bring my lips to his with the same amount of desperation I had with Jett.
Mateo was right… I didn't want this to be apart of the last memory we shared together, I just can't fucking believe this is actually happening!
5 hours later, the mating ceremony had started. Mateo, Jett and I got dressed back in the packhouse, they just put the clothes back on that they had on originally. I had to wear a dumbass suit for this and if I'm going to be doing all of this against my will, I was going to make sure I didn't look good doing it. So I ended up just wearing some black jeans and a white tshirt. That should be enough to piss Alpha Kano off.
I kissed my mates one last time before we parted ways and I walked into the clearing that held the ceremonial Blood Rose stone. I took my place on it, next to Madison. I noticed she had the biggest goofiest grin on her face, her blue eyes shined in the moonlight but I couldn't help scoffing.
This was bullshit.
I seen Alpha Kano sitting on the platform where pack leaders would, his seat right next to my fathers. My mother was on my fathers left. My brothers were next to her and Mateo and Jett were at the other end of the table where my seat would be at the head. Oh yeah and unfortunately a second seat was empty for what would be my….. Luna.
One of the elders started the ceremony with the same dull speech we've all heard before how our pack started and where our name comes from and all that. Blah blah blah.
I tuned out after he started talking about me and Madison and how even though the fates haven't brought us together, our choice of being bound to each other for life would be just as eternal. Yeah the fuck right dude.. this isn't my choice.
Never once did I pay attention after that, my eyes were locked onto my mates the whole time, until I heard someone clear their throat. I blinked a few times and focused on where the sound came from. Looking down, of course it came from her!
"What was that? I apologize." I said with the most kindness I could pull out my ass in that moment.
"Alpha Rhys, I said now is the time to perform the ceremonial blood bonding, then accept Ms. Madison as your Luna and mark her forever forging your bond." The elder spoke clearly again but all I could hear was Luna, Madison, mark, forever.
So I held out my hand over the Chalice as did Madison. He handed me the blade, I sliced my palm pooling the blood into it, then sliced Madison's. I made sure to get her really good too!
She winced in pain and I couldn't help but snicker. The elder then grabbed our hands and brought them together, effectively making us hold hands.
There's alot better things I could be doing then holding this woman's hand right now.
"I, Rhys Dalton, Alpha of the Blood Rose pack, hereby accept Madison.."
Oh shit I don't know her last name! Ha!
"What's your last name?" I asked her through the link.
"Haller." She sneered out loud and I narrowed my eyes at her, then resumed my speech.
"I, Rhys Dalton,Alpha of the Blood Rose pack, hereby accept Madison Haller as my chosen mate and Luna, forever and always." I gritted through my very much clenched jaw.
"And I, Madison Haller, hereby accept Alpha Rhys Dalton as my chosen mate and Alpha forever and always."
There was applause that filled the clearing and I looked out the corner of my eye to see my mates had tears in their eyes. Fuck..
The elder let our hands go then turned to face my pack.
"Now we shall complete the ceremony with Alpha Rhys marking his Luna, forging their bond forever and always."
I looked down at Madison at that moment, I really looked at her for the first time in years. She wasn't anything that I wanted in a damn Luna man. This woman would completely ruin my pack, everything I've worked hard for, everything I am, she would ruin it.
I grabbed the back of her neck to pull her closer before taking another glance at my mates. Their eyes were glued to mine like I was their lifeline. I seen a tear fall down Jett's cheek as Mateo was clenching his jaw, probably trying to hold back his own tears from falling. I wanted to do nothing but run over there and hug my mates in that moment. This shit sucks!
Slowly I turned my attention back to Madison who was staring up at me with those irritatingly common blue eyes of hers. I mean blue eyes are beautiful, but maybe I just didn't like them because they're on her.
My hand tangled into her hair and I yanked her head back, more roughly than I should have, but I didn't give a shit right now. I took a deep breath before leaning down into the crook of her neck where my mark would lie.
I felt my canines elongate, then I licked her neck. Her skin tasted like sandpaper and she smelled like strawberries. I hate strawberries! Would this be what I would have to smell the rest of my life? Seriously?
Hesitation filled my mind as my mates faces flashed before my eyes. Everything they were, all we had, what we've been through.
I had to blink away the tears that crept up on me. Magnus was eerily quiet this whole time. He didn't want this either.
Before I sunk my teeth into her flesh, I opened a link to my mates.
"I love you both and I'm so sorry."
"We love you too." They both said in unison, their voices full of emotion.
I nod to them hoping they can see me, then I sunk my teeth deep into Madison's flesh, my grip goes to her arms holding her steady as I complete this stupid ceremony.
There was a warmth that rushed through me as I felt the bond snap in place with her. All of her emotions smashed into me, giving me a serious headache instead of feeling completely in love.
I don't love this woman, I never could. This wouldn't work and I would make sure of it. There's no law that says I have to love her or be around her. Only that I have to take care of her, provider for her, protect her. All of which I could do by keeping her locked in the packhouse, never sleeping with her, never sharing my bed with her, never playing a loving couple, only touching her when I needed her to produce my pups and then letting my staff tend to her.
The moment I felt my serum leave my body, sealing my body to hers, I waited until the cold feeling washed through me, effectively calming the warmth I felt earlier, then I pulled my canines from her flesh. Licking my mark, sealing it and held her at arms length.
"I give you all Alpha Rhys and Luna Madison. May they watch over us and rule us all with a gentle hand and understanding heart." The elder spoke shin addressing my pack and there was another wave of applause.
I grabbed Madison's hand and led her to the platform where Alpha Kano, my family and my mates sat. I took my seat at the head of the table, Madison on my right. Mateo on my left, Jett sat next to him.
I knew with Mateo being my beta, it would be his duty to obey Madison now and Jett being my Gamma, that made him apart of my pack guard, more importantly he was to guard the Luna with his life. I hated looking in their eyes right now. I could tell they both knew what this meant as well. None of us wanted this leech to rule by my side.
I used to entertain Madison a lot before we marked each other, all because she was a good lay, but then that night happened a year ago and I bound myself to Mateo and Jett, completely turning me off to Madison. Even with that though, we knew that we had to keep the charades up in the pack and for Alpha Kano. Same sex bonds weren't allowed, especially not with Alphas. We knew that.
Even though any night that I had to entertain Madison, it would taint our bond. I would have to give my mates sedatives so they wouldn't feel the pain of it all. Their bodies were riddled with taint marks though.
Kyle, our pack doctor is the only one who knows about us, but he's been sworn to secrecy. He would have to treat my mates anytime I touched that bimbo.
Looking around the table right now, I'm literally living a nightmare.
Once this Goddess forsaken ceremony was over, I led Madison back to the packhouse, knowing we would have to complete the mate bond. Alpha Kano would know if we didn't. Mateo and Jett weren't far behind.
I hated the sparks from the bond I felt when she held my hand. They completely disgusted me, unlike when I felt them with my true mates.
I told Madison to go upstairs to my bedroom and wait for me, then linked Kyle to bring 2 sedatives to the house. He did as I asked and I gave them to my mates. I wanted so desperately to kiss them before I went upstairs and ruined my life even further.
They both just hugged me instead, I'm sure we all thought Madison would be able to feel if we did anything else. They didn't share a bond with her, so I didn't exactly know how all of that worked.
Once they both headed to their rooms, I walked upstairs as slow as I could. I seriously wished I could just slip and chuck myself down all of these stairs.
Opening my bedroom door, she was laying on my bed in a white lace bra and panties. You would think that would be sexy, but my mind wasn't into her. Only my body and sure enough my dick had betrayed me, getting an immediate erection with one look at her.
This would be a long damn night…