"Are you on your way somewhere?" Alpha Luciano inquired, causing Katherine to freeze while clutching the door handle.
"I... I noticed something in my room, and it frightened me," she stammered. Beta Damien exchanged a glance with Alpha Luciano, suspecting he might reveal the truth, knowing it was one of his favorite pranks.
"Oh, it seems my soon-to-be wife doesn't acknowledge my quirks," he smirked, and Katherine swallowed hard, remembering the unsettling creature she had seen.
"I suggest you return to bed; tomorrow is a significant day, Kat!" He extinguished his cigarette in the ashtray, and she nodded in response. "Good girl," he smiled as she turned to leave for her room.
Upon reaching her room, Katherine sighed, contemplating whether she was truly prepared to spend her life there.
"I must escape; I cannot marry him. He's a monster," she murmured, sitting on the bed, biting her fingernails as fear and curiosity consumed her.
Nestled in bed, despite her drowsiness, she resisted closing her eyes until daybreak. As the door quietly creaked open, three maids entered her room.
"Luna, wake up," one maid whispered, while the others hissed disapproval.
"Why call her Luna? I heard she's an omega. Can't fathom what Alpha Lucinao sees in her," scoffed the second maid.
"Hush, she might hear you," the youngest interjected, tapping Katherine gently.
"Leave me be," Katherine mumbled, turning away in her sleep.
"Luna, it's time for your bath," the maid urged, but Katherine yawned and turned to the other side.
"Luna!" the other maid exclaimed, causing Katherine to jolt awake.
"What? Who are you?" Katherine recoiled, fear evident in her eyes as she tried to shield herself.
"Good morning, Luna. We're here to assist you—bath and dress you up," the maids explained.
"Oh, but I don't need all three of you; one is sufficient," Katherine replied.
"But..." the youngest maid began, earning a stern glare from the middle maid.
"Fine, let's go," the middle maid said, ushering the youngest out of the room.
"By the way, why do you persist in addressing me as Luna?" Katherine inquired, slipping into her slippers as the maid guided her into the bathroom.
"In a few minutes, you shall become our Luna, and I am obliged to show you the same respect I extend to Alpha Luciano," the maid replied.
"What is your name then?" Katherine asked as the maid began to undress her.
"Esther," she smiled warmly, and Katherine nodded.
"Ma'am Esther," Katherine acknowledged, but Esther shook her head.
"Luna, please address me as Esther; I am forever at your service," Esther insisted, kneeling down as Katherine helped her up.
"I can't call you by your name; you're likely my mother's age," Katherine remarked, entering the bathing tub and sighing.
Esther added roses and fragrance to the tub, and Katherine inhaled deeply. "This smells delightful," she commented.
"Thank you, Luna," Esther gracefully replied, scrubbing Katherine's back with a sponge.
After the bath, Katherine adorned herself in a stunning red gown, her hair styled in a ponytail.
"I must escape today," she thought inwardly, staring at the door.
"Luna, Luna!" Esther's voice interrupted her thoughts. Katherine sighed, calculating the consequences of her escape.
"You're not paying attention; how do you like the makeup?" Esther inquired, applying lip gloss.
"Nice, Ma'am Esther. Can I ask you a question?" Katherine turned with teary eyes.
"Yes, go on, Luna."
"Is it true the Alpha killed his two chosen mates? Ate them?" Katherine widened her eyes, awaiting an answer.
"I can't answer such, Luna. We are not allowed to discuss the Alpha; it is a grave crime," Esther bowed her head, and Katherine groaned.
"Okay, you may leave if that's all," Katherine muttered, and Esther excused herself.
Katherine waited, then opened the door cautiously, ensuring no one was around. She tiptoed out.
"How are the wedding preparations going?" Beta Damien questioned.
"Very well," Mister Paul responded.
"Good, and about the ritual?" Beta Damien inquired, making Katherine eavesdrop from behind a pillar.
"Going well," Mister Paul nodded as Beta Damien walked away.
"Rituals? Are they planning to use me for some kind of ritual?" Katherine wondered.
She turned back, heading to the backyard. When she looked around and noticed no one was present, she decided to run away.
"Are you running away on your wedding day?" Alpha Luciano's voice startled her, and she froze.
"Oh no," she mumbled, turning around to face him. The Alpha was just steps away.
"Kat, did you plan on leaving me at the sacred altar?" Alpha Luciano raised his eyebrows, approaching her.
"No, I... I was, um, trying to..." she stuttered, moving backward until her back hit the wall.
"What were you trying to find in the backyard?" he teased, leaning closer.
"I was just..." she started, but he interrupted with a kiss.
"Come on, we've got a wedding to celebrate," he said, holding her hands and leading her away.
As they entered the sacred altar of the moon goddess, Katherine's heart began to crumble, and she breathed out heavily.
Inside the sacred altar of the moon goddess, the atmosphere was charged with an otherworldly energy. The soft glow of moonlight illuminated the space as Alpha Luciano and Katherine stood at the center, surrounded by the pack members.
The shaman, a venerable figure with a long, white beard and a weathered face, approached them. His eyes held ancient wisdom as he began to speak in a deep, resonant voice.
"Alpha Luciano, Luna Katherine, today, under the watchful gaze of the moon goddess, you are bound in the sacred union of werewolf matrimony. This union signifies not only the joining of two souls but the strength of our pack and our connection to the mystical forces that guide us."
The shaman continued with a series of rituals, involving the exchange of vows, symbolic gestures, and the offering of sacred herbs to the moon goddess. The pack members, clad in traditional werewolf attire, watched with a mixture of reverence and excitement.
Alpha Luciano looked into Katherine's eyes, his gaze intense yet filled with a strange tenderness. "Katherine, my chosen Luna, I vow to protect and cherish you, to honor our bond even in the face of the challenges that may come."
Katherine, though apprehensive, felt a connection to the moment. "Luciano, I promise to stand by your side, to be your strength when you are weak, and to share in the responsibilities of leading our pack. Together, we shall navigate the complexities of our world."
As they exchanged vows, the moonlight seemed to shimmer with approval. The shaman then instructed them to drink from a chalice containing a potion made from moonflower essence, symbolizing the merging of their spirits.
"Now, as you embark on this journey together, remember the strength that lies in unity," the shaman proclaimed. "May the moon goddess bless your union with prosperity, love, and unwavering loyalty."
The pack members howled in unison, their voices echoing through the sacred space. It was a mystical moment, and Katherine couldn't shake the feeling that her life had taken a surreal turn.
After the ceremony, as the festivities continued, Katherine left the place unnoticed. She entered her room and changed into a simpler dress. As she was done, she slowly opened the door, looked around before sneaking out.
"Luna? Do you need anything?" One of the maids questioned her, and she held her breath, as if she had been caught in a crime.
"I wish to explore the pack house, familiarize myself with the new environment," she replied hesitantly.
"Should I accompany you, Luna?" the maid offered.
"No, thank you. I'll manage on my own," she smiled awkwardly, leaving, murmuring, "I hope no one sees me," while gripping the hem of her dress."
As soon as she made it out, she ran. She quickly changed into her wolf form, although being an omega made it hard for her to be fast, she didn't care less. By the time they notice she's missing, she must have reached her pack, or maybe somewhere safer, she thought, running towards the North Pole, the land of the dead.
Upon crossing the border, an ominous chill enveloped her. What would be considered normal elsewhere was tainted by an eerie smoke. Halting her sprint, she nonchalantly strolled through the desolation, scrutinizing her surroundings.
A gasp escaped her as she detected a presence tailing her, not someone, but something. Hastening her pace, she attempted to flee, yet the colossal, menacing black wolf, approximately 7 feet in stature, closed in. Overpowering her, he pinned her to the ground, his grip unyielding as Katherine whimpered in distress.
Sniffing her, the wolf wore a sinister smirk upon recognizing her scent. "Care for a ride, little one?" he taunted, laughing and delivering a harsh blow to her head. Succumbing to unconsciousness, he ruthlessly dragged her away.