Stolen by the Alpha Book 4
Autorzy
Midika Crane
Lektury
171K
RozdziaÅy
48
In a world where werewolf packs are on the brink of chaos, Mara and Kaden's love is tested by dark forces and internal strife. As Mara prepares for her mating ceremony, an ancient demoness threatens to bring apocalypse, leading to a series of battles, betrayals, and revelations. Amidst the turmoil, Mara must navigate her new role as Alpha, her unexpected pregnancy, and the fractured bonds within her pack. With the fate of their world hanging in the balance, Mara and Kaden must confront their pasts and unite their packs to face the ultimate threat.
The Mating Ceremony
Tomorrow?
He wants to have our mating ceremony tomorrow?
Is he absolutely insane?
Out of all the twisted things that Kaden has done, this one might take the cake.
Oh my Goddess!
THE CAKE! We donāt even have a cake!
This is going to be nearly impossible to pull off, and yetā¦
Iāve overcome the impossible before. More than once.
So why should my mating ceremony day be any different?
MARA
Following Kadenās surprise announcement that he wants to be mated tomorrow, the Vengeance Pack flies into a frenzy, with everyone, including myself, trying to get prepared at the last second.
Now itās the morning of my big day, and I donāt feel the slightest bit prepared as I watch two dozen different people rushing around the castle decorating, cooking, measuring, and doing Goddess knows what else.
Claude almost had a heart attack when I told him, and he nearly shifted.
But despite our differences, heās really come through in the final hourāliterally, the final hour. I didnāt think he had it in him.
For my part, Iām just trying to stay out of it and let whatever happens happen.
Kace came back with Kaden and started spouting all this mumbo jumbo about ābalancing myselfā and āfinding my inner light,ā whichā¦ I have no idea what the hell heās talking about. Iām just glad heās home.
And he brought a fucking mate with him. Holy hell. I havenāt even had time to process that with everything else going on.
Claude suddenly pokes his head into my room, and his eyes bulge out of his head when he sees me.
āMara, why arenāt you in your wedding dress yet? Youāre walking down the aisle to the pit of eternally burning fire in one hour. Get your lazy Luna ass dressed!ā
Iām shocked to see Claude wearing something that isnāt crusty or stained. Heās got on a tasteful suit with coattails and a cummerbund that actually looks flattering on him. Is it possible that Claude isnāt completely hopeless?
As he storms out, I pick up the beautiful black lace dress thatās lying on my bed.
This is itā¦ Iām finally getting mated. I canāt believe this day is finally here.
I carefully slip on the dress and examine myself in the mirror, gasping at my appearance.
I donāt just look like a young girl from the Purity Pack; I look like the Luna I was meant to be.
Despite all the craziness and chaos, Iām actually happy.
My mate is home.
All my friends and family are here.
And Iām about to get mated to the man I love.
Even if something doesnāt go as planned, nothing can put a damper on this day.
Lexia knocks on the door and walks in, whistling when she sees me.
āDamn, girl, has Kaden seen you yet?ā
āOf course not. Everyone knows itās bad luck for a mate to see their mate under anything but the light of the full moon on the day of the ceremony,ā I say.
āWow, I didnāt realize you were so superstitious,ā she says, teasing me. āDid you remember to throw some moon dust over your shoulder too?ā
āVery funny,ā I reply, rolling my eyes. āIām just trying to respect pack customs.ā
āSpeaking of pack customs,ā Lexia says, eyeing me warily. āHave you told him yet? About the council?ā
Fuck.
Okay, nothing could put a damper on this day except that.
āIā¦I just havenāt had the chance yet,ā I say, knowing full well itās just an excuse. I still donāt know how Kaden will reactāhe might be furiousāand I didnāt want that to get in the way of his homecoming or our mating ceremony.
āItās a dangerous game to keep something that big a secret,ā Lexia says, giving me a serious look. āHeās going to find out one way or another.ā
āI know, I know,ā I say, sighing. āI just want to wait until after the ceremony, when everything has calmed down.ā
āMmm hmm,ā Lexia hums, pursing her lips. āJust donāt wait too long. Deliver the news on your terms, in your own way.ā
We basically fired the alpha and changed the entire infrastructure of the pack while Kaden was awayā¦
I donāt think my presentation or delivery fucking matters.
Heās gonna be pissed.
Even though I know itās bad, Iām keeping this under wraps for a while longer.
āThanks, Lexia, Iāll keep that in mind.ā
āAre you heading over to the pit right now? Iāll escort you if you want,ā Lexia offers.
āThatās okay. Claude has me scheduled up until the very second Iām standing at the altar,ā I say hurriedly.
As Lexia leaves, I feel conflicted about all the secrets Iām keepingā¦
Because I have another one...
I have one last thing I have to do before I can walk down the aisle.
I have to face him.
***
āAre you sure about this?ā Brutus asks as we reach the dungeons. āIām pretty fucking down with risk-taking, but this goes against my better judgment, and thatās saying something.ā
āReally, Brutus? I specifically asked you to help me with this just so that I wouldnāt get a lecture,ā I say, annoyed.
āFine, fine. Just be careful. Heāll say anything to get you riled up. I know his type.ā
āJust distract the guards for me. Iāll only be five minutes, I promise. Besides, Kaceās mate put all kinds of light spells on his cellāheās completely contained.ā
I know this is crazy, but I have to see Rylan. I have to confront him about everything that heās done, and I have to do it alone.
I walk to the end of the hall, where Rylanās cell emits a dim glow from Helenaās spells.
Heās sitting in the corner, huddled over, looking completely mad. The walls are covered in scratch marks. Heās drawn the same symbol over and over againāthe hourglass.
When I stop in front of the bars, he turns his head and shoots me a disconcerting smile.
āThe blushing brideā¦have you come to ask me to officiate the ceremony?ā he asks mockingly.
āIāve come to tell you that you lost,ā I say coldly. āDespite your best efforts to tear us apart, the packs have united, and weāre stronger than ever.ā
āThe Goddess works in mysterious ways,ā Rylan replies while laughing, unhinged. āI donāt know why she chose you, but this is all according to her plan. Who am I to question the will of the Goddess?ā
āWill you fucking stop with all this Moon Goddess bullshit? Youāre just using peopleās belief in the Goddess to manipulate them, and youāre trying to justify your evil actions by saying itās her will.ā
āThatās where youāre wrong,ā Rylan says, his tone changing abruptly. āThe Goddess speaks to me. She has for quite some time. And here, in the walls of the Vengeance Pack, I oddly feel closer to her than ever before. I can feel her presence, Mara, and soon, you will too.ā
His words sound like the ravings of a madman, but his voice is unwavering. He really does believe what heās saying, and itās extremely unsettling.
I back away and start walking down the hallway, my heels clicking as I pick up speed.
I want to get as far away from Rylan as possible.
āThe time of the Goddess is upon us, Mara. THE TIME IS NOW,ā he screams, cackling.
***
Iām not sure if my visit with Rylan brought me the closure I was seeking, but it certainly made me uncomfortable.
Regardless, I said I wasnāt going to let anyone ruin my mating ceremony day and that especially includes Rylan.
Pushing it out of my mind, I take a deep breath. In just a few moments, Iāll be walking down the aisle to meet my mate and cement our union in front of both the Vengeance Pack and the Purity Pack.
Itās kind of a big deal.
Suddenly, I hear my cue, and Claude hisses at me from outside the tent. āAll right, Miss Mara, haul that ass to the altar!ā
As I step out onto the stony walkway leading up to the altar, Iām overwhelmed by the sight in front of me.
Under the light of the full moon and the night sky, the eternally burning fire pit actually looks enchanting and beautiful.
Kaden stares at me, beaming with pride. A perfectly fitted suit, slick hair, and his rough stubble make him more dapper than Iāve ever seen him.
Kace stands at his side, looking equally handsome, and happier than I can ever remember.
Have I ever even seen Kace smile? His new mate is clearly responsible for that.
Milly wipes away a tear as I join her near the altar. She looks radiant and full of life. Millyās past experiences mightāve broken someone else, but sheās a survivor, and Iām so happy to see her overcome her traumas.
I take my place across from Kaden, and the spouting fire beside me warms my body and makes me feel excited.
Everyone I love is here to celebrate this special dayāmy parents, who Iām working on rebuilding my relationship with, Lexia and Brutus, close friends and, now, close counsel, and even Evan and Leiaā¦
Kaden takes my hand as we stand in front of the pit, and he whispers to me softly. āAre you ready?ā
I nod, smiling. I wasnāt sure before, but now I have no doubt. Maybe we really did need that time apart to come back together again?
āLet us begin,ā the ceremony official says as we turn to face him. āLet everyone here bear witness to this union on these sacred grounds.ā
As the fire dances before me, the flames catch my eye, and I feel a strange stirring from within. Theyāre mesmerizing, almost hypnotic.
I have the sudden urge to dance along with them as my body absorbs the heat, and Iām lulled into a spellbound state.
āMaraā¦ā
āYouāre finally here.ā
āIāve been waiting for you.ā
I hear a silky, almost melodic voice in my head. Itās so pleasant and soothing I donāt want it to stop talking.
āWho are you?ā I ask the voice.
āIām the eternally burning flame.ā
āIām the darkness that existed before time itself.ā
āIām both the creator and the destroyer of packs.ā
āIām the Moon Goddess.ā
Something about this voice feels wrong. It sounds sweet, but it feels unspeakably evil. This canāt possibly be the Moon Goddess.
But I feel strangely compelled to give her whatever she wants.
āMara, do you accept your role as Luna of the Pack?ā the ceremony official asks.
āMara, do you accept your role as my conduit?ā
āYes,ā I respond, dazed. I donāt even know who Iām responding to.
āAnd do you take Kaden as your alpha and your mate, now and forever, bound by this union?ā
āDo you invite me inside, forming a union of our souls?ā
āYes,ā I respond again.
The fire pit suddenly explodes, and I feel a darkness flood my body as my senses dull.
Oh My Goddess, what have I done?
But the voice answers my question: āThereās no Goddess here.ā
