I stared at myself in the mirror. The new dress that I had changed into looked beautiful. It looks like something that was made specifically for me.
I took a tissue and tried to fix the smudged mascara around my eyes. My aura is already pitiful. I need to at least look presentable.
A knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts. "Come in," I said before taking a deep breath.
The door opened, letting the calming Jasmine scent reach me. I turned back to see Luna Evelyn standing there with a small smile. "I came here to get you. Do you need any help?"
I looked down and threw the tissue in the trash can. "Can you help me run away?" It was a dumb question I know, but at that moment that's what I felt. I wanted to run away.
Thinking about being in a loveless marriage like this makes me feel sick.
"Oh, dear…" Luna Evelyn whispered, her shoulders slouching. She walked up to me and pulled me into a hug. "I know you feel like everything is falling apart. I know that feeling. I have been there. I wish I could do something for you but I am helpless…"
I wrapped my hands around her, hugging her tightly. She possessed an unexplainable kind of warmth. "I feel so scared. How am I going to spend my life with a person who doesn't even acknowledge my feelings? He doesn't even see me as a person…"
"He does. I'm sure he does," Luna Evelyn consoled me. "He's just not ready for a new mate. He's still stuck on his previous mate's death so all this second chance thing is still not digestible to him. But I know as time goes he will see you for who you are. It's inevitable. No matter how much he tries. He won't be able to run from his other half."
"What if he hurts me or my mother? I have so many stories about him. He hates rogues. I'm one of them. What if he—"
"You're not a rogue. You are the Luna of the Darkwood pack now. You are alpha Cassian's mate. I know you must have heard about him being a ruthless killer and fighter but he will never hurt you physically. He won't hurt his mate. I can promise you that…"
I looked down. I feel so conflicted. Can I trust her words?
"Let's go. Everybody is waiting for you. You're their new Luna. You have to get to know the people," She took my hand as she pulled me along with her.
"Do you think they will accept me as their Luna?" I bit my lips as I asked. The question has been pounding my head for so long.
"I cannot speak for the people, dear. Some people might not accept you easily but that doesn't mean you're not suitable. In the early days of becoming a Luna, I wasn't accepted too but that's not the case now. I'm sure you'll make a great Luna. You just have to prove yourself. I'm sure you are capable of that." Luna Evelyn smiled. Sometimes I wish I had the trust and confidence she had in me. How is she so sure that I'll be able to prove myself?
We stopped in front of the grand hall. "Let's go in. Be confident. Remember no one can make you feel inferior without your consent. Don't ever feel like you are beneath anyone." She squeezed my hand.
I took a deep breath. Filling myself with the courage I needed before stepping inside. Heads turned towards me, the chatter died and hushed whispers started. At the very end of the hall was my mate, talking to someone without even paying a mind to me.
I stood closer to him and offered a smile to the person who he was speaking with. The guy turned to me and said hello before continuing the conversation. My mate didn't even bother to introduce me to him or him to me. I stood there awkwardly for a few minutes before I saw a waiter walking with a tray of wine.
"E-Excuse me," I stuttered when he came close to me. The guy stopped and immediately gave a glass to me.
I looked around to see if anyone was looking at me. Luckily, there was no one paying attention to me. I took a sip out of the glass. A sweet but strong taste invaded my mouth. I closed my eyes in surprise. It burned my chest as I downed it.
No one was talking to me no matter how many times I approached them. The people I tried to talk to, only gave me an awkward smile before walking away. They were avoiding me at my own wedding.
The wine helped. I felt a little lightheaded. It distracted me. One glass became another and then another. Soon after, I lost count of how many I drank.
"What are you doing?" A cold voice made me turn around. My eyes focused on my mate's dark ones. Cassian looked like he was fuming. "Who gave you permission to drink?" He hissed.
I couldn't help but laugh. I covered my mouth when the sound of my laugh made a few heads turn toward us. "What do you mean by permission? This is my wedding." I shook my head. "Or did you forget that?"
"You're swaying." He gritted his teeth before snatching the half-empty wine glass from my hands.
"Am I?" My eyes grew wide. "No wonder I feel like flying. This is so fun!" I chuckled.
"What were you thinking?"
"Thinking? Oh, I'm not thinking anything. I drank this so I don't have to think anything. My thoughts were getting mean, you know? I had to stop them." I said and snatched the wine glass from his hand before downing it all in one gulp.
Cassian watched me with his eyes wide before his expression turned scary. He gripped my hand and dragged me out of the hall. On our way out, I heard some of his guy friends whistling and throwing teasy remarks our way. I couldn't pay much mind to them. The intoxication was increasing each second.
I loved it. I felt so free and fearless.
We reached our room in a split minute. I didn't even know we could walk that fast. It felt like flying.
The room's door was shut a second after I was roughly shoved inside. "Are you trying to make a fool of me?" Cassian stalked towards me with a murderous look.
I tilted my head to the side. "What makes you think so, Alpha Cassian?" I asked, feigning innocence.
"You're proving again and again that you're not suitable to be the luna of the Darkwood pack. You're still immature," He scoffed.
"Really? Then where was your maturity when you refused to kiss me at the wedding? At our wedding! Where was your maturity when you ignored me for hours in the grand hall? You didn't even introduce your Luna to anyone. Is that how an alpha behaves?"
"Do not raise your voice at me." Cassian voiced threateningly.
"I will! I don't know what you want from me. You don't like me as your Luna. You don't even want to acknowledge it but you are blaming me for not being accepted by the members? They won't even look at me because you don't respect me!" I somehow slurred out. "It's you!" I stabbed a finger in his chest as I spoke. "You are the reason I'm not accepted."
"Don't blame me for your incompetence," He gritted out.
"Ha? Wow…you are so hellbound on hating me that you don't even want to see the truth. Be it like that then," I huffed. "Hate me as much as you want. But I know one thing. I will be the luna of this pack. They will accept me. I will prove it to you."
Cassian let out a humorless scoff. "They will never accept a rogue. You are nothing but a lowly rogue." He spat.
I laughed, holding onto the nearest wall to gain balance as I did so. My mind was in a haze but I never felt so brave before. I calmed my laughter and looked into the eyes of my mate. "Am I?" I walked closer. "I will make you take that back. You might not like me now but I promise you that will change. I will prove it to you again and again until you have no choice but to agree."
"Dream on, kid. Being a mate to an alpha is easy but being a Luna is a whole other thing. There's only one Luna for me and that's Avery. It will stay like that forever and always," He glared before walking out of the room with gritted teeth.
I clenched my fists as I watched him leave.
No. I won't take his words to my heart.
The members will accept me. I'll prove that I'm capable. So what if I was a rogue? I'm skilled and I'm loyal.
Cassian will take back his words. I will make him do so.