Chapter 1
Aurora:
“Charlotte, it is only for the deal. The two of us are not going to…”
“You are going to be touching her, Dimitri. The packs expect to see a fucking mark on the woman.” I heard my best friend’s voice, making me frown as I walked toward Dimitri’s office. The two of us were getting ready to go out to the mating ceremony, and I couldn’t help but find myself frowning when he disappeared.
However, I knew that he had a few things to tend to, and because of that, I chose not to make a fuss out of it. But when he took as long as he did and we were being called, I knew that I had to go and at least check where my mate went.
“I am merely going to give her a temporary mark. It will be enough for them to see, and I will be rejecting her. The woman would be my ‘mate’ for duties, but the last thing that I am going to do is be in a relationship with her.” He said, and I took a deep breath, trying to process what I was hearing. The man couldn’t be serious. MY mate, and my best friend couldn’t be seriously saying what I was hearing.
“You are saying this now, but it is only a matter of fucking time before the two of you are suddenly lovers.” Charlotte said, raising her voice at him. “Today, you are telling me this, you are angry that you are being forced into a relationship that you don’t want. You hate who she is and where she comes from and that is something that I understand. But that fucking bitch is smart and if she doesn’t manage to seduce you now, she will in the future. What the fuck am I going to be doing by then?”
“Charlotte, you know that I have my duties as Alpha…”
“You are not the only Alpha out there.” She said, and I watched through the crack of the door as he cupped her cheeks, pulling her closer to him. Tears brimmed my vision as he connected his lips with hers in a gentle kiss that stopped her from talking. She looped her fingers with his belt loops, pulling him closer, and he smiled into the kiss before biting her bottom lip before pulling away to rest his forehead against hers.
“You know that being the Alpha of Alphas, I have my duties to fulfill. But trust my word, the last thing that I am going to do is look at an orphaned omega who was adopted by the Alpha and his Luna out of pity." He said, making my heart race against my ribcage. My lips quivered and I took a step back, shaking my head as his words pierced my chest.
I opened the door, catching the two of them off guard as Dimitri’s eyes met mine. His eyes showed visible hatred, and for the first time since I’ve met her, I’ve seen the hate in my best friend’s gaze.
“Charlotte, get out.” Dimitri ordered, and the woman frowned.
“Dimitri…”
“I said a word.” He said, stopping her. She looked down at her feet for a second before nodding as she took a step back. His eyes met mine and I shook my head in question.
“Why?”
“You shouldn’t have expected any less.” He said, taking me off guard. “Surely, you didn’t expect me to be with an orphan omega like yourself, did you?”
“The two of us agreed…”
“I agreed and am still agreeing for both the benefit of MY pack and the public eye. But our mating would only be one for that.” He said, and I looked down at my feet as he took a step toward me, towering over my body as he glared daggers at me. “One word of this, and I will be sure that you regret ever agreeing to the mating bond, am I making myself clear, Aurora?”
I didn’t respond, I couldn’t, as I took a step back. His eyes were fixed on me as I walked out and close the door, knowing that he wouldn’t be able to follow me. Charlotte’s eyes met mine and I closed mine for a second as I fought back my tears.
I walked back toward MY changing room and couldn’t help but scream the second that I closed the door. A sob escaped my lips and I watched as the door opened, revealing my mother, whose eyes widened in surprise at my sight.
“Aurora?” She asked, shaking her head in question as she ran toward me. Two of the servants who were within the pack frowned at my sight, but she wouldn’t allow them in as a low growl escaped her chest. “Aurora, child, what is going on?”
“He is cheating on me with her.” I said, looking away and mom frowned. “I heard them talking in his office, and he doesn’t even want to marry me. The man just wants me for his alliances, and I am going to be nothing more than a…”
“Surely, you didn’t expect any less, Aurora.” She said, taking me off guard. The fact that her tone was now harder than it was made my chest burn. “You are no pure blood, your father barely managed to arrange this agreement for all our safeties.”
“Mama…”
“Do not be stupid enough to think about backing out now.” She said, making my heart race against my ribcage. If I thought or believed that anyone would be supporting me in this world, it would be her. I didn’t expect her to be willing to throw me into the flames and watch. “You have been chosen to marry him to ensure that you live a decent and strong life, but if you are going to be acting like a toddler who had her toy taken away from her, then you are going to be finding me in front of you. And believe me, the last thing that you would want is for your father to find out about this attitude.”
“I am not going to share a bed with a man who was just kissing my best friend…”
“Your best friend is a beta blood. She is of higher rank, and you know that very well.” Mom said, and I gulped. “As for sharing his bed, you are going to be doing as told, and as a GOOD mate would do. I do not care whether or not you enjoy it, but you are going to fulfill your duties as his mate. Otherwise, all your father’s efforts would be going in vain, and YOU are going to be suffering consequences that you do not want to deal with.”
“So, I am just required to bloody accept a fate that I did not even choose? One with a man who not only lied to me, but is to be having an affair with my best friend?” I asked, and mom got up from the ground. She nodded at me to get up before grabbing me by my hair the second that I did. She pulled me to her chest, making me frown as she hurt me.
“You are going to listen to my words very closely, and I am going to give you this warning once.” She said, looking at me through the mirror as she tightened her grip around my hair. “If you choose to mess this up, I will be sure that an exile is the punishment that you dream of. Therefore, you are going to wash that face of yours and I will send in the cleaners, hair dressers, and makeup artists, and IF anyone hears of what happened here, I am going to be cutting that tongue of yours off, am I making myself clear?”
I didn’t respond for a second before she tightened her grip around my hair, pulling me back until she was sure that I cried out.
“Yes, yes, you are.” I said, wanting to wrap my hand around her wrist and she nodded.
“Good, we are expecting you outside in an hour. And I expect to see a smile on your face when I see you…”
Chapter 2
Dimitri:
“Are you sure that she isn’t going to say a word?” Charlotte asked, shaking her head in question. “You know, it can get very ugly when it comes to the elders…”
“You know that I do not like being questioned, my love.” I said, stopping Charlotte who took a deep breath before nodding. She looked down at her feet, avoiding my eyes and I put my finger under her chin, making her look at me. Her heart raced against her chest and I connected my lips with hers. “Be a doll and fix my tie for me.”
She nodded and grabbed my tie, fixing it, making sure to take her slow time as she tried killing it off as to spend the most of it with me before I walked out.
“One night and I will be by you side again, my love.” Was the last thing that I told her before coming undone in the condom. It was one thing to be her lover, but the two of us knew, and thankfully agreed, on the fact that we needed to be careful. Otherwise, we both knew that the consequences could and would be dire, and that was not something that we wanted to deal with.
“Dimitri, where the hell were you? We’ve been looking everywhere.” Mom asked, glaring at me. I cupped her cheeks and kissed her forehead, wanting her to relax and she sighed. “I thought that you bailed.”
“You know me better than that, mama.” I said, my voice softening as I looked at her and she nodded at Aurora as she walked down the stairs. She wore a knee long white dress, and an elegant flower crown on her head. Her pack sigil was on a pendant around her neck, and when her eyes met mine, I couldn’t help but notice the frown that formed on her lips momentarily before she smiled.
Her heart raced against her ribcage and I kept my eyes on hers, counting the minutes to when this was going to be done. Her mother walked toward the staircase to look at her daughter, and I watched as Aurora’s eyes stayed on me, clearly avoiding the woman’s hard gaze.
I extended my hand to her as she reached the bottom of the stairs and I watched as she hesitated for a moment before extending hers.
I kissed her knuckle as the two of us rehearsed, and I couldn’t help the frown that formed on my lips when I saw her eyes glistening for a second before she took a deep breath as she forced a smile on her face. The woman was playing a dangerous game, and I knew that if she didn’t cut off the act, we would be in more trouble than we could afford. Her heart was still racing and her hand shook in mine, but she made no attempt to pull it away.
I pulled away and turned to the crowd, smiling when I saw that they had their attention on us. Charlotte, who stood in the front line, smiled and nodded at the two of us. Her eyes met mine for a second before she lowered her gaze to the ground as a small smile played on her lips.
Soon, baby girl. Soon…
“I do suggest that you cut off the tears and replace them with a smile. We have guests watching, and the elders too.” I said, and she shook her head at me, her heart racing against her chest as she looked at them then at me.
“I am curious about how you would feel if you were in my same shoes.” She said, and I let out a low growl for her ears only. It was one of warning, and she looked down at her feet, avoiding my eyes.
“I dare you to try, and I give you my fucking word that I will be sure that you not only pay for it in private, but that I make you and your pack regret this.” I said, whispering my words. She didn’t respond as the two of us reached the elders. Her heart raced and Lord Alpha Sirius looked at the two of us for a second too long before smiling.
They would be the ones to elope our mating, and make it official.
“Alpha Dimitri,” he said, extending his hand toward me. I smiled and shook his. “I take it that the two of you are ready to elope?”
“Indeed, we are.” I said, not waiting for Aurora to speak. It was customary that the Alpha or the person of higher rank, responded to the elders when spoken to, and that was when even she knew her limits when it came to responding to those who were of higher ranks.
“Well, how about the two of you get ready, and we can proceed?” He asked, smiling at the two of us. “I believe that the two of you are well aware that you are to perform the marital act before everything is finalized tonight. Therefore, I do recommend that we not delay you any longer as to get everything settled with tonight.”
“You needn’t worry, Lord Alpha, we are to tend to everything tonight.” I said before Aurora could open her mouth to say a word. She looked down at her feet, and the Lord Alpha chuckled.
“It seems to me that your little woman seems to be a little more or less nervous.” He said, and Aurora blushed. “Anyhow, you have a few more minutes to mingle around with the guests. I will be informing the elders to prepare for you to say your vows.”
He walked away without waiting for us to say a word to respond, and I tightened my grip around Aurora’s waist before glaring at her.
“One mistake tonight, Aurora, and I give you my fucking damn word that you are going to be wishing that you were never born.” I said, lowering my voice to above a whisper before I leaned in to her ear. “Am making myself clear, orphan?”
Chapter 3
Aurora:
Our guests smiled at us, some cheering, others inviting us for drinks with them to have a small ‘chat’ as the two of us walked past them.
“Aurora,” Charlotte called, taking me by surprise. I looked at her and she took my hands in hers before squeezing them gently. I knew that she was doing this for the public eye, especially since we were everyone’s center of attention right now.
It has been a while since our vows were said, and I knew that I was to count the minutes before we were ordered to head to the bedroom. And that was something that I both feared and dreaded right now.
“I didn’t see you before the ceremony, I’m sorry.” I said, trying my best to lie. She smiled, her smile both bright and devious, and I could swear that she and Dimitri shared a glance before she turned to look at me.
“No, no, don’t be.” She said, squeezing my hands gently. “You have no idea how happy I am for you.”
“I can tell that you are.” I said, flinching slightly when Dimitri put his hand on my lower back, giving me his silent warning to stop my sarcasm. I looked down at my feet for a second before taking a deep breath as I knew that not only was I the center of attention tonight, but I knew that everyone was looking for my mistake this evening.
“I take it that I interrupted the two ladies?” He asked, smiling at me, his eyes giving me his silent warning not to say anything about it.
“Not at all, Alpha.” She said, looking down at his feet, giving him a quick nod before looking up at him with the brightest smile.. “I was just coming to congratulate the two of you.”
My chest ached and the air felt thick around me, but I knew better than to react. I clenched my fist for a second before forcing myself to loosen my grip as I looked at Dimitri whose eyes were fixed on mine.
“I am indeed lucky to have been able to win the most beautiful woman of them all.” He said, nodding at the elders who were watching., and I smiled at him as he put his finger under my chin. He connected his lips with mine in a gentle kiss before pulling away to rest his forehead against mine.
“I take it that the two of you will be dismissing yourselves for the evening?” Lord Alpha Jordan asked, approaching us. “You know what has to be done, and the faster it is, the better the process.”
“We have guests, Lord Alpha.” I tried persuading, wanting to delay things as much as I could. The last thing that I wanted was to be having my first time like this. I knew that I wasn’t allowed to speak to the Lord without being addressed, but this was beyond what I could actually accept on myself.
“I believe that they are all well aware of what is to happen, and would be dismissing themselves shortly, Aurora.” Elder Jordan said, looking at me. “Now you have the choice of choosing five of the elders and your mothers being in the room…”
“What?” Dimitri asked, frowning in confusion.
“You know that it is in tradition for us to ensure that you two have mated. Therefore, you have the freedom of choice. Normally, it would have been the female elders, but considering that us as females are more than five, you have the right to choose.”
“Surely, we wouldn’t need anyone chaperoning over us while we mate.” Dimitri said, shaking his head at the woman. His mother, Maria, looked at him, shaking her head at her son and he looked away from her before turning to Elder Jordan.
“I believe that if the Luna would be comfortable…” Lord Alpha Sirius said, walking toward us. “We can be fair enough by suggesting that they at least show us proof that it has been performed. I believe that would be a fair deal if they wish to have their privacy.”
“It is not…”
“Our time is different from theirs, and just as many things have been altered, I believe that this can be modified too.” he said, looking at Aurora. She looked down at her feet and he cleared his throat. “What do you wish? Privacy, or should you and your Alpha choose the women who would escort you to the bedroom?"
I gulped for a second as I looked at Dimitri before shaking my head. My mother glared at me, urging me to respond and I blushed.
“I would wish for privacy, Lord Alpha.” I said, and he nodded.
“Then it is granted.” He said, looking at the two of us. “You have an hour.”
“An hour?” Dimitri asked, and he raised an eyebrow.
“Otherwise, you are to be chaperoned.” He said, taking a step back toward the bar. “Fifty-nine minutes…”
Dimitri wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me to the room and I looked at my mother one more time, watching as she glared at me not to make a mistake in this. In her mind, right now, I was nothing more than a girl to bring them their peace.
Dimitri pushed me inside the room the second we walked in, and it took me a second not to stumble on my footing before I turned around to face him. His eyes met mine for a second before he leaned in to kiss me.
I took a step back, flinching, and he chuckled, shaking his head at me.
“I doubt that you would want the elders to be watching us.” He stated, making my heart race. He kissed my neck, and I couldn’t help but find myself flinching for a second and he frowned, glaring at me.
“What is your problem, omega?” He asked, glaring at me. “Because I believe that our time is running and your childish acts will not lead us anywhere…”
