Reed raised his eyes hearing Marietta he got to his feet as the young woman approached him. "Sorry for dropping by unannounced but I wanted to speak with you."
"It's alright Sir, want to come inside?" Marietta opened the door and walked into the house.
Reed walked behind her, he closed the door on his way in and took a seat around the table. He glanced around the house, the oak wood that made up the walls was as healthy as he remembered, the cabinets had little specks of dust on the tops, the floor was sparkling clean he could almost see his reflection. The house was cosy, he found himself enjoying being in the house.
Marietta went to the kitchen and prepared them coffee. She came back after several minutes placed the cup of coffee in front of Alpha Reed and took the seat across the table. "You said that you wanted to talk to me about something Alpha Reed, what was it?"
Reed took a sip from the coffee, he looked inside the cup and then at Marietta as a burst of flavour infiltrated her taste buds. The coffee had some blueberry taste in it not too sweet just the right amount. "You made this coffee?"
Marietta nodded in agreement, anxiously waiting to hear what the alpha had to say.
Reed placed the cup on the table. "I know we haven't spoken much in the past but I wanted to ask you to bear with him... he's not in his right mind, once he realises the mating bond between you two like his wolf he will come around."
.
Marietta looked into her coffee, Silasʼ reflection appeared and it had a scowl with hateful eyes. She sighed and looked at Reed. "I'm not sure if he even likes the idea of me being his mate, I'm a weak, omega that stumbled on a star to be the Alpha's fated one. Sounds like a fairytale the more I say it."
"But you are not a weak omega,"
A surprised gleam flickered in her eyes as Reed rebutted against her claim of being a weak omega. "What do you mean Alpha?"
"I mean what I said, you are not a weak Omega, you are special. A one in a million years special, remember when you awakened your wolf - -"
Marietta nodded again.
"There was moonlight around you and the rose petal. I did some studies based on the books my father and his predecessors left. That phenomenon wasn't just a coincidence, it happened several hundred years ago, when the first wolf to ascend became who we call the moon goddess today. Selene was the name of that wolf."
Marietta's mouth formed an I shape as she listened to the tale, she leaned onto the table balancing her upper body with her hands, the coffee she was drinking forgotten.
"Not to be disrespectful, but Alpha what does that have to do with me and Silas?"
Reed chuckled, he drank the last of his coffee and placed the mug on the table. "Thank you for the delicious coffee. The reason I was telling you that, is because I wanted you to see that you are more than an omega, you are a special omega, one that has the qualities of a Luna and my heart would remain at rest knowing that someone as intelligent as you is the Luna of this pack."
For some reason, Marietta's analogy started to shift, Reed's words made her eyes slightly open up as realization hit her. "Alpha, why do you believe in me so much? Everyone in the pack looks at me like I'm a plague, a creature to not be around."
Reed stood up and fixed the creases on his shirt. " I can see beyond hatred, I see the mountain for what it is not what it shows and also because I once knew someone like you - -"
He made his way to the door, before he left he stood at the door for a moment and turned to look at Marietta. "Come to the ceremony tonight."
Reed left the house, leaving Marietta with too much to think about.
Marietta groaned as she ran her hands through her hair, she tried to piece together the puzzle made by Reed's statements but she always came around in a loop. After five minutes of thinking, she sighed in defeat and leaned back into the chair.
You know pup, why not give that ceremony thing a try, who knows maybe you will enjoy yourself. Monica interjected snapping Marietta out of her trance.
Marietta rolled her eyes, she knew that obnoxious, excited tone Monica was using. "You just want to meet Silver again."
Monica howled laughing. Is it wrong for a girl to want to meet her husband? Silas is your husband too you know.
"First of all, it is bad because 1. I am the one having to experience the emotions that made my stomach feel foreign 2. Silas hates my guts and you and his wolf enjoy your lovely time together while I have to suffer the consequences and 3. He has a girlfriend."
Sheesh, you complain a lot. It's not good for your health to complain that much, you will grow white hair before you turn 25 and that would be bad for you.
"Whatever you say!"
So are you going?
"I'll think about it," Marietta replied and she severed the connection between her and Monica not wanting to hear Monica's complaints.
****
Silas marched around his father's office. Sitting next to the window with the drawn curtains was his mother, Thalia.
"That disgusting little - -" Silas spat as he furiously wiped his mouth trying to remove Monica's Strawberry flavour from his mouth.
"Don't worry, just follow the plan and she will no longer be a thorn in your side." Thalia encouraged her son, a smile forming on her lips.
Silas turned to his mother. "What was I supposed to do again?"
"Normally, the mate bond from the moon goddess cannot be broken without consequences but there's a way to break it and escape its repercussions. One, you have to rely on a witch but witches have not been seen in twenty years. The second one is to show her love."
Silas choked when he heard his mother say that, he raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "Mother I don't think you understand, I'm trying to not fall in love with her,"
"I know, I know what I mean by that is when you show her that you genuinely care, her wolf will be tricked into thinking that yours has convinced you and you turned a new leaf thus it will strengthen the bond. The strength of the bond relies on a she-wolf's affection toward her mate. She has no one to turn to, never knew the difference between fake love and true love - -" Thalia paused as she got up and stood in front of Silas. She placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Once she is tricked, all you have to do is say under the oath that you deny her as your mate. That will sever the mating bond and she will take the punishment for the both of you, there's a likelihood that she is going to die in the process."
Silasʼ eyes widened as he caught onto his mother's train of thought. The corners of his lips tugged upward into a smirk. "With her dead, that will mean I am free from the mate bond. But... why don't we just kill her?"
Thalia shook her head. "That's not going to break the bond, the best thing that would do is take you with her and that's not good."
She patted Silasʼ shoulder and left the office attending to some of the duties for the ceremony.
I wouldn't do that if I were you, Silas. Silver voiced his displeasure, his dark eyes glared at Silas.
"Quiet Silver, this is for the better. I can't be seen with an omega like her," Silas retorted, his stern tone left no room for Silver to negotiate.
Silver grunted and disappeared into Silasʼ subconsciousness.
****
I told you that you'll see it the way I do. Monica said as she pounced around in Marietta's mind.
Marietta sighed as she stared at herself in the mirror, she allowed Monica to convince her to go to the ceremony after the multiple instances where she changed and made up her mind that she was not going.
In her right hand was a yellow dress with a low V-cut shape running from the neck to the chest, the dress covered the front up to the middle of the thigh and the rest of the fabric diverted to the back making a shape similar to a peacock tail. On the right thigh, there were flowers embroidered into the dress and behind just below the open back area were sets of diamonds sworn into the fabric.
In her left hand was a matching two-piece. The black top had straps running from the neck crossing to the chest area and fishnets around the uncovered areas of the top and just below the belly. The top was with a matching skirt the skirt reached Marietta's ankles and had a slit splitting the dress into two on one side.
"So which one should I wear?" Marietta asked Monica as she shifted the dresses while looking at herself in the mirror.
The black two-piece and add that jacket too. Monica chose the outfit between the two. Marietta nodded and she threw the two-piece on the bed. She returned the yellow dress
into the wardrobe and returned to dress up.
After several minutes Marietta was dressed. She adjusted the skirt covering her long, unblemished legs. She applied a bit of blush on both cheeks and a lip gloss to accentuate her natural lip colour.
She huffed her chest in pride; her handiwork had paid off and she was satisfied with the outcome.
I'm positive he would be wowed when he sees you. Monica complimented as she looked at Marietta's reflection in the mirror through Marietta's eyes.
Marietta laughed a bit, she didn't reply to Monica as she didn't want to drag the conversation further. She checked her wristwatch; it was 19:30, and she only had 30 minutes before the ceremony began.
Gathering her things into her handbag, Marietta left her house and made her way to the packed hall where the ceremony would be held...
****
She arrived with 15 minutes to spare, she looked around her, everyone was giving her a look she could not comprehend. It was different from the usual look of dislike and disgust, it was as if no one recognized her which was a relief for her.
Marietta decided to take a detour before going into the hall, she wanted to get inside there when the ceremony was about to begin. For now, she was going to enjoy the scenery and the 15 minutes she had remaining...
She strode into the garden, her left hand stretched out as she ran it across the trees gently caressing their leaves, a smile visible on her face. She stopped and gazed at the moon, the Cresent moon was mesmerizing to look at, even the twinkling stars in the night sky made the moon look more regal.
"Well... I never anticipated I would find you here?"
Marietta jumped a bit and an eep sound escaped her lips as she turned on her heel to look at the intruder.
Her throat lost all moisture, she swallowed her saliva trying to moisten her dry throat as her eyes landed on Silas.
The black t-shirt he wore hugged his torso making his muscles more refined, the two unbuttoned buttons gave Marietta an eyeful of his chest and the first row of abs the man had. His hair, tamed and slicked back made his natural dark eyes pop out even more.
"Alpha... Silas." Marietta stuttered trying to keep the blush threatening to show on her face at bay.
He's hot!! Monica howled and wiggled her tail as she stared at Silasʼ through Marietta's eyes, her crimson eyes swallowed every inch of information about Silasʼ Adonis-like physique burning it into her mind.
Silas stared at Marietta, he had rushed to say something that he never took the chance to see what she was wearing. He had to admit, black-suited her. His eyes travelled all over her body, taking note of her assets and long flawless porcelain-pigmented skin. She was appetizing to look at, a treat for sore eyes.
"Call me Silas, or do you prefer to call me Daddy?" Silas joked as he closed the distance between him and Marietta till he was standing just a few inches away from her.
Marietta blushed and took a step back, she could smell his cologne and his strong forest-like scent. It overwhelmed her nostrils making her feel lightheaded.
"What do you mean daddy?"
Silas smirked seeing her reaction, it was too easy to put up a pretence to fool her. "I mean Daddy, you are my destined mate,"
"You didn't like me a few hours ago, what changed?"
"I realized that I was being an unnecessary jerk to you. I saw the kindness and beauty you had so I decided to give you a chance and Silver was on my case anyhow."
"What about Lolla?"
"What about her?"
"Aren't you two dating?"
"Well technically yes but you are my mate so I can't date her. Care to dance?"
Silas extended his hand to Marietta.
Marietta looked at the hand and then at Silas, her stomach started to do backflips as she locked eyes with him. Even after he told her about the situation with Lolla, she felt happy and a sense of triumphant. She was his number one choice, the scepticism she had about his sudden change forgotten.
She took his hand and gasped in surprise as Silas pulled her to him, his other hand wrapped around her waist. Something deep within her compelled her to do the same, Marietta hugged Silas and they both began swaying to the melody created by the wind, and the trees.
"I could get used to this." She whispered as she closed her eyes leaning her head into his chest, listening to his heartbeat.
"Likewise," Silas replied, his chin resting on top of Marietta's head, a smirk visible on his face as his plan shifted into motion.
"Marie..."
"Hmm?"
"Do you want to come on stage with me when I get named as the next alpha?"
You better say yes! Monica yelled in Marietta's mind showing her that no was not an option.
Marietta sighed and gently nodded. "If that's what you want then yes."
As they were dancing, they failed to see a shadow in the distance with a camera. The camera shadow took several photos and disappeared into the shadows.
15 minutes passed and the alarm on Marietta's watch rang bringing her out of her epiphany. She looked up at Silas after moving back a bit.
"Shall we?"
"Absolutely," Silas answered and gave Marietta his arm to hold onto. Marietta did just that and the two mates went inside the hall.
Every eye turned to the two as they entered, many were startled by their presence as they had witnessed Silas be cruel to Marietta at the Lyncan peak two weeks earlier and now they were arm in arm, smiles visible on their faces.
Reed smiled as he watched his son and his future daughter-in-law and Luna stride into the hall and to the podium where he and his Luna were.
Thalia, on the other hand, had a victorious smirk and she locked eyes with Silas briefly before nodding her head.
The stage was set, the only thing left was the execution.
"Fellow shifters. I would like to thank you all for arriving to witness the crowning of our next alpha. I have stood before you all for more than twenty years, and I've led the Laufey pack and those under it to prosperity in times of war, I've singlehandedly brought an end to the struggles we as shifters had, our prejudices and animosities toward one another. But as the saying goes, the old shall have to make way for the young. And that is why, I stand here tonight in front of all of you to hand the helms of leadership to our next alpha."
Reed turned to Silas and mouthed "It is time" to him ushering the signal for Silas to come stand by him.
Silas nodded and made his way to Reed's right. Behind him was Marietta who held a small smile on her face.
"Under the oath of the moon goddess, our protector, I Reed Laufey II pass on the mantle of leadership to my son Silas William Laufey III. Do you accept?"
Silas felt pride swell up in his chest, everything he had done was for this moment. The moment he became alpha, every blood he spilt, and every sweat he excreted were stepping stones for this moment, for this hour.
"I accept."
The hall exploded with a chorus of claps and all hail the new Alpha, every shifter associated with the Laufey pack was congratulating Silas, even Marietta was clapping her hands.
Her smile was bright as she stared at her mate. The dance they shared was still fresh in her mind, his comforting words and how he chose her instead of Lolla made her look at him from another angle; an angle of adoration.
Silas raised his hand and turned around to look at Marietta. He extended his hand toward her and the girl took it.
Silas pulled Marietta to him. He and her stood before the quiet attendees and a smirk appeared on his face. He was going to shatter her and what better way than doing it in front of everyone?
"Marietta Halls, it's by fortune that you and I are bound together by the blessing of the moon goddess. I, however, can't see the blessing within the bond, I only see a curse. Cursed to have someone that would sire pups that aren't strong enough to be the next Alphas. I, Alpha Silas William Laufey II reject you, Marietta Halls as my mate in the presence of the moon goddess!"
Marietta's eyes went wide, she stared at Silas. The sound of her heartbeat was the only thing she could hear, she couldn't hear the sound of the audience gasping the cheers of those who hated her or the words from Monica.
"I, Alpha Silas William Laufey II reject you, Marietta Halls as my mate in the presence of the moon goddess!" played like a recording in her mind. The loathing in Silasʼ's voice made him wonder where she went wrong.
She was so swayed by his words that she opened her heart and he crushed it. Blood started leaking from her ears, nostrils and mouth; she collapsed to her knees and clutched her throat choking herself as she felt something get torn forcefully from her being.
Marietta's eyes flashed red and she roared to the top of her lungs her roar influenced everyone in the hall subjecting them to her command, overwriting the compulsion Silas as their alpha had on them freezing even the Alpha and their betas in the hall to their core.
Her roar lasted for a brief moment and she tumbled back, Marietta fell on her back and her hair sprawled out on the floor mixed with her blood turning her once blond hair pure crimson.
"What have you done?" Sylvie and Reed asked as they both got to the position Silas and Marietta were in.
Silas folded his arms and looked at the two kneeling beside Marietta. "I did what was right for me,"
"Do you understand the gravity of your actions?" Reed's eyebrows furrowed as he yelled at Silas.
"He simply chooses not to be bound to her." Thalia came into the spotlight and stood by Silasʼ's side. She had a smirk on her face, her revenge was finally completed.
"You told him to do this?" Reed asked, his eyes softening as his shoulders slumped in defeat.
"Yes, I did."
"I know you hated her parents but to do this? That's beyond cruelty even for you Thalia." "You know nothing about my desire!" Thalia yelled as her eyes flashed cyan.
Smoke emanated from Marietta's body and it took the form of Monica. She glared at Silas and howled silencing everyone. Hatred rolled off her body in waves, the bloodlust she was experiencing was being subjected to the others forcing them to kneel while the weaker ones passed out under her influence.
Everyone bowed under the presence of a true alpha.
Silas, Thalia, Sylvie and Reed turned their attentions to Monica but none said a word. They just observed the wolf before them with wide eyes, none had ever experienced what was happening, they had never seen such a phenomenon where one's inner wolf was physically outside their subconscious.
Monica growled, smoke emitting from her nostrils and her body distorted taking the shape of a woman with an angelic face, long eyelashes, full lips shaded blue and blue flowing hair.
"You dare hurt my child?"