Stolen by the Alpha Book 4
Yazar
Midika Crane
Okur
171K
BölĂŒm
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 donât even have a cake!
This is going to be nearly impossible to pull off, and yetâŠ
Iâve overcome the impossible before. More than once.
So why should my mating ceremony day be any different?
MARA
Following Kadenâs 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 itâs the morning of my big day, and I donât 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, heâs really come through in the final hourâliterally, the final hour. I didnât think he had it in him.
For my part, Iâm 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 âbalancing myselfâ and âfinding my inner light,â which⊠I have no idea what the hell heâs talking about. Iâm just glad heâs home.
And he brought a fucking mate with him. Holy hell. I havenât 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.
âMara, why arenât you in your wedding dress yet? Youâre walking down the aisle to the pit of eternally burning fire in one hour. Get your lazy Luna ass dressed!â
Iâm shocked to see Claude wearing something that isnât crusty or stained. Heâs got on a tasteful suit with coattails and a cummerbund that actually looks flattering on him. Is it possible that Claude isnât completely hopeless?
As he storms out, I pick up the beautiful black lace dress thatâs lying on my bed.
This is it⊠Iâm finally getting mated. I canât believe this day is finally here.
I carefully slip on the dress and examine myself in the mirror, gasping at my appearance.
I donât 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, Iâm actually happy.
My mate is home.
All my friends and family are here.
And Iâm about to get mated to the man I love.
Even if something doesnât go as planned, nothing can put a damper on this day.
Lexia knocks on the door and walks in, whistling when she sees me.
âDamn, girl, has Kaden seen you yet?â
âOf course not. Everyone knows itâs bad luck for a mate to see their mate under anything but the light of the full moon on the day of the ceremony,â I say.
âWow, I didnât realize you were so superstitious,â she says, teasing me. âDid you remember to throw some moon dust over your shoulder too?â
âVery funny,â I reply, rolling my eyes. âIâm just trying to respect pack customs.â
âSpeaking of pack customs,â Lexia says, eyeing me warily. âHave you told him yet? About the council?â
Fuck.
Okay, nothing could put a damper on this day except that.
âIâŠI just havenât had the chance yet,â I say, knowing full well itâs just an excuse. I still donât know how Kaden will reactâhe might be furiousâand I didnât want that to get in the way of his homecoming or our mating ceremony.
âItâs a dangerous game to keep something that big a secret,â Lexia says, giving me a serious look. âHeâs going to find out one way or another.â
âI know, I know,â I say, sighing. âI just want to wait until after the ceremony, when everything has calmed down.â
âMmm hmm,â Lexia hums, pursing her lips. âJust donât wait too long. Deliver the news on your terms, in your own way.â
We basically fired the alpha and changed the entire infrastructure of the pack while Kaden was awayâŠ
I donât think my presentation or delivery fucking matters.
Heâs gonna be pissed.
Even though I know itâs bad, Iâm keeping this under wraps for a while longer.
âThanks, Lexia, Iâll keep that in mind.â
âAre you heading over to the pit right now? Iâll escort you if you want,â Lexia offers.
âThatâs okay. Claude has me scheduled up until the very second Iâm standing at the altar,â I say hurriedly.
As Lexia leaves, I feel conflicted about all the secrets Iâm keepingâŠ
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.
***
âAre you sure about this?â Brutus asks as we reach the dungeons. âIâm pretty fucking down with risk-taking, but this goes against my better judgment, and thatâs saying something.â
âReally, Brutus? I specifically asked you to help me with this just so that I wouldnât get a lecture,â I say, annoyed.
âFine, fine. Just be careful. Heâll say anything to get you riled up. I know his type.â
âJust distract the guards for me. Iâll only be five minutes, I promise. Besides, Kaceâs mate put all kinds of light spells on his cellâheâs completely contained.â
I know this is crazy, but I have to see Rylan. I have to confront him about everything that heâs done, and I have to do it alone.
I walk to the end of the hall, where Rylanâs cell emits a dim glow from Helenaâs spells.
Heâs sitting in the corner, huddled over, looking completely mad. The walls are covered in scratch marks. Heâs drawn the same symbol over and over againâthe hourglass.
When I stop in front of the bars, he turns his head and shoots me a disconcerting smile.
âThe blushing brideâŠhave you come to ask me to officiate the ceremony?â he asks mockingly.
âIâve come to tell you that you lost,â I say coldly. âDespite your best efforts to tear us apart, the packs have united, and weâre stronger than ever.â
âThe Goddess works in mysterious ways,â Rylan replies while laughing, unhinged. âI donât know why she chose you, but this is all according to her plan. Who am I to question the will of the Goddess?â
âWill you fucking stop with all this Moon Goddess bullshit? Youâre just using peopleâs belief in the Goddess to manipulate them, and youâre trying to justify your evil actions by saying itâs her will.â
âThatâs where youâre wrong,â Rylan says, his tone changing abruptly. âThe 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.â
His words sound like the ravings of a madman, but his voice is unwavering. He really does believe what heâs saying, and itâs 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.
âThe time of the Goddess is upon us, Mara. THE TIME IS NOW,â he screams, cackling.
***
Iâm not sure if my visit with Rylan brought me the closure I was seeking, but it certainly made me uncomfortable.
Regardless, I said I wasnât 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, Iâll be walking down the aisle to meet my mate and cement our union in front of both the Vengeance Pack and the Purity Pack.
Itâs kind of a big deal.
Suddenly, I hear my cue, and Claude hisses at me from outside the tent. âAll right, Miss Mara, haul that ass to the altar!â
As I step out onto the stony walkway leading up to the altar, Iâm 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 Iâve 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. Millyâs past experiences mightâve broken someone else, but sheâs a survivor, and Iâm 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 dayâmy parents, who Iâm working on rebuilding my relationship with, Lexia and Brutus, close friends and, now, close counsel, and even Evan and LeiaâŠ
Kaden takes my hand as we stand in front of the pit, and he whispers to me softly. âAre you ready?â
I nod, smiling. I wasnât sure before, but now I have no doubt. Maybe we really did need that time apart to come back together again?
âLet us begin,â the ceremony official says as we turn to face him. âLet everyone here bear witness to this union on these sacred grounds.â
As the fire dances before me, the flames catch my eye, and I feel a strange stirring from within. Theyâre mesmerizing, almost hypnotic.
I have the sudden urge to dance along with them as my body absorbs the heat, and Iâm lulled into a spellbound state.
âMaraâŠâ
âYouâre finally here.â
âIâve been waiting for you.â
I hear a silky, almost melodic voice in my head. Itâs so pleasant and soothing I donât want it to stop talking.
âWho are you?â I ask the voice.
âIâm the eternally burning flame.â
âIâm the darkness that existed before time itself.â
âIâm both the creator and the destroyer of packs.â
âIâm the Moon Goddess.â
Something about this voice feels wrong. It sounds sweet, but it feels unspeakably evil. This canât possibly be the Moon Goddess.
But I feel strangely compelled to give her whatever she wants.
âMara, do you accept your role as Luna of the Pack?â the ceremony official asks.
âMara, do you accept your role as my conduit?â
âYes,â I respond, dazed. I donât even know who Iâm responding to.
âAnd do you take Kaden as your alpha and your mate, now and forever, bound by this union?â
âDo you invite me inside, forming a union of our souls?â
âYes,â 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: âThereâs no Goddess here.â
