Throughout the period Lyanna danced, I couldn't help sweeping my eyes over her slender frame. There was something about the way those hips wiggled in that costume she wore that stole my attention. I could barely dart my eyes to the rest of the dancers, or respond immediately when a question was thrown at me. I was completely colonized by the blue-eyed, five feet and two inches tall lady.
It was difficult to deny the sizzling attraction we felt towards each other and I didn't fight it. I reveled in the sight of her body until the dance came to an end, and the dancers dismounted the stage but she still held my mind captive.
"Shall I make the announcement?" The compere inquired, standing a few steps away from me, with his head slightly bowed.
"Go ahead," I replied, wrestling hard to subdue the excitement of choosing one woman amongst the desperate thousands.
I was cognizant of the young women's desperation to be my mate. I hoped they'd all prayed harder and had made vows on the altars of Athena and Medusa, but sadly my heart knew where it belonged. My wolf form had already picked a mate.
It wasn't the thought of choosing a mate that fascinated me, it was seeing the disappointment crease on the faces of other women. They deserved it, and whoever I choose should consider herself the luckiest woman on the entire planet.
"Gentlemen and ladies, finally the hour we've been anticipating. Alpha Damien Green will now announce his mate." the compere's voice blared into the microphone.
Everywhere grew still and as my senses heightened, I could hear some heartbeat palpitate crazily. What joy that was as the heel of my boots slowly approached the podium.
There was absolutely no need to be dramatic, but I owned the city, I was lord of the night. I gazed up at the moon hanging loosely in the night sky and smiling down at me. Nature seemed at rest and everything else grew still like they wanted no distraction.
This is going to be fun, I muttered under my breath and a cynical smile flashed on my face as I went to stand by the moss-covered rock we improvised to be our platform. The pack's grand hall would have worked, but we wanted to stand right under the moon, our very essence.
"Moon family, I do not call you ladies, or gentlemen, but I call you brothers because it is what you all are to me." That was a lie, none of them were my brothers, they were all my subordinates, my subjects, but tradition had to be observed.
"We've gathered according to tradition to observe the moon dance but more so to witness a momentous occasion that will shape the future of our pack." I continued, exciting murmurs of curiosity that rippled through the crowd. "It is my honor to announce that I've finally found my mate, your Luna."
Again, murmurs rose in the crowd as anticipation heightened. My eyes swept across the assembly, consciously delaying the announcement as I locked eyes with everyone. I loved the look on their faces, and I loved the suspense.
I could literally hear the sounds of each person's beating heart, I could sense their fear and I could hear the questions ringing in their minds, and I loved it even more that I was going to ruin their dreams.
With a loud voice, and my eyes locked possessively onto a figure about five feet three inches tall, I echoed, "I've chosen Vina Ferguson as my mate."
I'm aware that it sounded like a bombshell. I knew I'd dropped a bomb. The entire arena went still for a fraction of a seconds, then impulsively, roars and cheers erupted from the crowd as legions of lips widened in laughter and excitement.
Vina stepped forward in her red flowing gown, her silver hair dancing from her head and dispersed by the wind. Those pairs of silver eyes flickered in the moonlight and her cheeks flushed as she smiled towards me. She looked nervous, as should be. I was alpha Damien Green anyway. I was certain she couldn't believe her luck - that I chose her as my mate, she should live the rest of her life worshiping me, I thought as I watched her waltz towards me.
She curtseyed the moment she was inches close to me and flashed me a pretty smile. I thought her teeth appeared more milky, thanks to the red lipstick she wore.
"Let's lead our pack together, away from sunyata, to nirvana. Will you walk with me, Vina Ferguson?" I asked, not that I needed her approval to mark her.
"Gladly, alpha." She responded, with a smile, and a slight bow.
The air was burning with anticipation, and I couldn't wait as I gently swept a strand of silver hair behind her ears, my fingertips brushing softly against her skin. With all eyes on me, I nestled closer to her neck, loving the silky feel of her skin. Vina's pulse quickened, and her heart raced with excitement.
I cast my head on her shoulder, and breath on her neck, then with a firm but gentle pressure, I sank my fangs into the tender flesh of her neck, just above her shoulder. She let out a short gasp, a blend of pleasure and pain that serenaded my senses.
A smile perched on my lips as the venom coursed through her veins. The crowd went wild with claps and howls as I withdrew my teeth and stared at the wound as it slowly healed.
I pulled her into my arms and she melted, her eyes fluttering shut as the pain slowly stopped. I'd marked her as mine in the full glare of the entire pack. Vina was now mine, and mine alone, the seal on her neck was proof enough.
"Let the celebrations begin." I roared, spinning her around and leading her down the platform.
Folks of the pack threw blooming wildflowers on our path as we descended the podium, but it wasn't even our wedding yet. I would require that of them, I thought, they should save it for my wedding.
Vina was all smiles, giggling and throwing her hands up in the air as we both marched to my spot under the mistletoe. Thinking about it now, I think my night with her was much more palatable than with Lyanna.
***
"Who do we have here?" I quizzed, with a hint of amusement in my voice as Vina and I walked hand-in-hand majestically into the assembly hall where Theron and some of my trusted soldiers were waiting. "Lyanna Skye, what are you doing here?"
Lyanna stood up slowly as if her feet were swollen, her hands clasped together just below her waist and her face red with disappointment. Her jaws fell even wider at the sight of Vina, then her eyes dropped to our hands tangled into each other.
"What is this about?" I asked, observing her face and pretending I had no idea what it was that brought her before me.
"You promised me," she started, her voice tearing up at the end.
"Did I make any vows to you under the moon, Lyanna?" I asked, furrowing my brows.
Maybe I'd made a promise to her in the heat of the moment when our bodies had tangled together in intimacy, but who takes the words of a man who's near release seriously?
"Don't you remember?" She cried, her lips shut but her eyes searching mine, pleading for recognition.
I looked around the assembly hall just in time to catch the lips of my soldiers suddenly stop moving, and they all went about their duties pretending they weren't eavesdropping.
Lyanna chose the perfect place to disgrace herself and I wouldn't make it any less embarrassing for her. She asked for it.
"What exactly did I say to you, Lyanna?" I asked in a crisp voice and a stony expression on my face.
"You said I was yours, and you were mine." She replied, tears pouring down her eyes as a lump stuck in her throat.
"Really?" I asked, pretending to be deep in thought. "Then did I mark you?"
"No." She replied but only realized she'd run into my trap.
"Then maybe you should have coaxed me into doing that. That should have worked, but I cannot help you right now." I analyzed, making a face.
"I can't believe this," Lyanna broke down, covering her face with her hands. "Don't do this to me, please."
"I don't know what you're referring to, but I already have. Don't miss my wedding though, and be sure to congratulate your friend outside." I said with a cynical smile, and that was it.
"And you, Vina, you're supposed to be my best friend." Lyanna lashed out at Vina, her eyes hot with hate, for a moment I thought she would grab her hair, but she didn't.
"Leave me out of this, Lyn, I did nothing wrong." Vina shrugged off the guilt so easily.
I watched the display with so much interest, laughing at the desperateness of the heart. It was wild and ominous but I couldn't blame anyone.
With a final glance at me, Lyanna whooshed towards the door and slammed it shut with a loud noise that startled my soldiers.
"I'll go to her now." Vina offered, and breezed towards the door, after Lyanna.
There was a moment of silence after she walked out before the audacious Theron Kim decided to chirp in his fifty cent.
"Why go through such an ordeal, when she's only an Omega? You could choose a more suitable mate." Theron suggested, marching forward to stand in front of me.
"Do you not understand me?" I fired back at Theron, holding his gaze with a fierce look on my face. "My wolf chose Vina, I didn't do it because I wanted to."
My eyes lingered on the door that Lyanna had slammed shut, anger coursing through my veins.
"What should we do about her?" Theron asked again, studying my face.
I could sense that the gamma was ready to execute any assignment I tossed at him. He was as ruthless as I loved my soldiers.
"Let her be," I said, my eyes still at the door, and my teeth gritting angrily in my mouth. "She's already a mess."
She was. It was so pathetic.