Chapter 3
Sheila's POV
*Two days later*
I sat down inside a cold old cellar with shackles bound to my wrist and ankles. Darkness swirled in my mind, my body aching from the previous day's ordeal after spending a full day yesterday locked in a cell like a common criminal.
After I had recovered and Shirley had helped me get a little bit acquainted with how things worked in the territory I found myself, Luca immediately got to hear I was fully recovered and ordered the guards to bundle me and keep me behind bars until the night of the Moon bonding ceremony inorder to prevent me from scurrying away like his other Lunas did. Taking me to the dungeon didn't go down without a fight. I tried to fight my way out of being dragged into a rathole but that ended with blows and kicks to the face that made my jaw hurt so badly I thought I would fall off.
And now, I was seated in a cell,all alone, frustrated and ignorant of what the future had installed for me.
The clanging keys echoed down the corridor , signaling their approach forced me to stand up from where I sat and approach the cell's iron rails. Hunger pangs gnawed at my belly.
Hardin approached the cell with two guards. One of the guards came forward and opened the cell, leading me outside while holding me roughly by my left upper arm. His grip burned the tender layer of my skin.
"Took your Alpha long enough to realize I was not a thief." I said to Hardin immediately I knew he was staring at me with lone brown and soulful eyes.
He kept mute, swallowing hard. His Adam's apple moved with rhythm.
" I guess everyone In this pack is sick in the head." I muttered to myself,my words came out of my mouth like fire. A pang of hurt shot through my chest ,my heart heavy with uncertainty.
" Why don't you shut up?." The guards belted at me rudely. Disgust flared his amber eyes,his lips curling in distaste.
My brows arched and a smirk found its way to my upper lip.
" keeping your pretty mouth shut will help us both." Hardin spoke after a long while. His voice is firm and assertive, commanding a lot of authority.
I forced a tight smile. My heart sank. My breath hitched.
"Lead her to get changed. Her maiden is waiting with the ancient gown." Hardin ordered ,while maintaining a safe distance away from me. He stuffed his hand into his pocket and smiled faintly.
The guard bowed before leading me away.
★‡†
The beats of the orchestra. The booming sounds of moonlight worshipers. The air vibrated with tension ,each orchestral note heightening my anxiety. I was dressed in tattered black, ceremonial robe and surrounded by the entire pack members of the Dark Moon pack as they chanted an archaic chant in mysterious incantations.
It was a full Moon tonight with the moon reaching its climax and illuminating the dark sky. Shadows seemed to writhe across the wall,an eerie presence lurking just out of sight. Something that etched around how unhappy the pack members were.
My hands were bound together by a light weight shackle to prevent me from escaping like the other Lunas did. I had actually planned on getting away but Luca thought ahead of me, and was smart enough to outsmart me and decided to bind my hands with chains even before I was escorted into the Hall.
I stood beside Luca at the altar, forced to confront the disapproving stares of the pack members . Their collective gaze weighed on me like a powerful force.
The chant seized and synchronized silence enveloped the entire hall.
The pack's oldest member stepped forward and began to walk around Luca and I while offering strange prayers to the moon goddess in strange tongues. This made the Moon flinch twice and this caused an uproar from the crowd. For the fact that the Moon flinched twice was an indication that the Moon goddess was present in the midst of her beloved physic worshippers.
" This night__ is yet another night when our Alpha will take another Luna. His third Luna. We are gathered to rejoice as a new Luna resumes as queen over our pack!."
Silence followed in . It felt as though they were all having innermost meditations at that moment when they all decided to zip up their mouths in synchronizing effects.
"Sheila is now declared Luna of the Dark Moon pack." The woman announced and a few of the pack members, jubilated to what they regarded as great news.
"She now wields the power to govern our pack."
I swallowed hard. My eyes scanned the crowd. There among the crowd was Shirley smiling sheepishly __ innocently and genuinely at me.
Luca turned and faced me. His gaze pierced deep into my soul. An evil leer perched on his lips. He stretched out his hand and clutched mine. A shiver ran down my spine ,my skin crawling with unease.
He came a little bit closer so we could stand just an inch apart from each other. Our closeness sent my heart racing , my senses on high alert. my heart racing with every beat .
"In accordance with and acceptance to the goddesses' will , the Alpha now has to seal this sacred mate bond before the entire pack by giving his Luna a kiss. " The woman's announcement made my stomach churn immediately.
I swallowed hard,veins bulging out on my forehead,my temperature rising . Sudden nervousness washed over me.
Luca palm faced me before pulling me to a deep kiss that lasted for seconds. My stomach churn and the urge to puke washed over me. When we finally broke away,he leaned his mouth to my ear, his chin grazing my open shoulders.
"Now that I have marked you– consider it a confinement." He whispered. His words dripped with sinister intentions.
His words and breaths made my entire body shudder to the uncertainty of my future with a beast.