Christina's pov"It seems like you suddenly lost the ability to speak," he said, putting down the book in his hands.Something about the tone with which he spoke, so condescending and arrogant, lit something up in me. I always hated guys who were so full of themselves, and he was proving to be just one of them."So what if I am?" I shot back, lifting my chin.His expression changed so suddenly from silent anger to amusement. Then he did something unexpected, grabbing my chin, and taking me completely by surprise.His touch sent jolts of electricity through me, and I wondered for a terrified second if he knew the effect he was having on me. I sure hoped he didn't, the last thing I needed was something to feed his ego"I didn't think you cared enough to learn about it," he said, his voice dripping with suppressed laughter.I couldn't figure out what was so funny about this scenario, especially with how uncomfortable it was making me feel."Of course I care," I snapped back. "This so-cal
Christina's povThe mirror in front of me felt like a cruel joke. It reflected a version of myself that I couldn't even recognize. That girl looked nothing like me in her flowing white gown with delicate silver embroidery trailing down the bodice.The sleeves hung just off my shoulders, reminding me of the prom dress I had my eyes on for a while. Just that one was red, and this was white. If this was the universe's way of treating me to prom, then this was so unfair. I didn't even want to be taken by someone like Marcel, and here I was about to get married to him.Or "mated," as they called it here. My chest felt tight at the thought of it. Despite all the preparations by Luna Sandra, teaching me what was expected of me as a Luna and how to harness my authority, I felt like I was barely equipped. How did one go from having only college applications to worry about to have a whole pack to rule?For goodness' sake, I was barely 18. It would take a few more months for me to reach that age
Marcel's povThe murmurs started long before the ceremony began. I had just stepped out to the courtyard we were using, and the amount of people there was alarming. Everybody wanted to catch a glimpse of the Omega that I had chosen to be my bride.I walked off to the space set aside for the alphas, intending to pay my respects to them before it began.I could hear a lot of people murmuring, not that I was surprised. The pack had never been shy about voicing their opinions, even when they didn't dare say them directly to me.Tonight was no different. "An Omega as Luna?" someone said to the person next to her."Hush, the Alpha might hear you!" her companion replied, and they shifted farther into the crowd away from me.From where I stood, I could see the center of the courtyard where a bonfire was being set. It was symbolic of our bond for the events to be held under the full moon and everybody circled the bonfire.The chairs were already arranged, but only a few were sitting. In time,
Author's povChristina stepped forward, her eyes darkening as she looked between the Elder, who was holding that wicked-looking knife, and Marcel. When he had pressed it to Marcel's palm, he didn't do so much as flinch—it was like it didn't hurt, but she doubted that.It wasn't the pain that scared her though; it was the knowledge that once this was done, they would be bound forever. She would be caged with no remedy. She was never a fan of blood oaths, and in this place, it seemed to be even more significant than normal.Her eyes looked past Marcel to where her stepsisters were sitting. They were seated in the space reserved for the members of the Black Moon Pack, right up in the front row. Their expressions were full of so much sadness that she felt guilt weave through her heart.If I don't do this, then they will be in danger, she thought. With that threat hanging over her, she extended her hand towards the Elder.However, just before he took it, she remembered the disrespect that
Christina's povThe cool night air stung my lungs as I ran, cutting through the dense trees like a shadow. At first, I was running without direction. I had just wanted to get away from them all, but at a point, I perceived the welcoming territory. The smell of pine and earth drew me until I was deep into the woods; still, I didn't feel far enough.I needed to get away from the stare, from all the murmurs, judgment, and fear—away from Marcel.The soft earth under my paws dampened the sound of my frantic escape. I couldn't sense any movement behind me, meaning that I wasn't being followed, but I refused to stop just yet.The towering trees closed in around me, gnarled branches forming a canopy that blocked out the moonlight. The further I went, the more the air seemed to change, the faint sense of the pack territory fading into something unfamiliar.Had I made it out already?The surging hope through me made me let out a shout for joy, but it only came out as a low growl. I was still in
Christina's pov"I'm glad you're here," I whispered, leaning my head against his shoulder. He had his arm around me, patting my hair softly. It felt so nice to be close to him. "I thought you had forgotten about me by giving up.""I would never," his face twisted with pain and he shook his head. "I came around earlier this week, I came for you—all of you—but Alpha Marcel is... difficult. He insisted that...""I heard," I interrupted. "He was going to kill us if you came again.""No, he didn't go that extreme," my father replied with a small laugh, "but he did say that this is the consequence of my action in trying to protect you. I couldn't understand why he wanted to hold on to you though, especially if he hasn't killed you yet."I was quiet for a while, thinking of what I had heard from the maids. It seemed like they had edited the story a bit to make it look more drastic. But edited or not, Marcel still had sent my father away without even granting him an audience with me, and so I
Marcel's povChristina was bold, that was for sure. She was giving me a lot of headaches and stress, trying to mask my annoyance and anger with calm aloofness.I watched as the moderators in charge of the event dismissed the people, and of course, I didn't miss the memories of disappointment that went through the crowds. They also were thinking about the turn of events. No one saw this coming, literally.A small part of me felt struck by Christina's actions. No one ever defied the Alpha—it just wasn't done—and yet she managed to cause a stir by rejecting me.It was unique actually, and this new challenge was a bit welcoming.It shouldn't be though, I was aware. My reputation was on the line currently, and if I did not tread carefully, I would lose most of it. My next action was very important."Alpha Marcel, the other Alphas want to speak with you," a slight man said to me. He was probably sent by the Alphas to deliver the message.Well, they did not get to order me around. I do not d
Marcel's POVI didn't bother looking up when the door to my study creaked open. Footsteps grew closer, but I waited patiently until I heard a voice."Alpha," it was Baron's voice, the leader of the men I had sent out to get Christina back for me."What is it?" I asked, not looking up."We brought her back," he replied in a monotonous voice.Finally, I lifted my gaze. Not that I wasn't expecting them to, but it still sounded like good news."And where is she now?""She's being held by some guards outside," he replied. "I came to tell you so you can tell us if you would like to speak to her now or what judgment you would like us to pass out."Funny. He, too, thought I was supposed to do something drastic to her for her actions. I guess everybody could see the insult that she had done so clearly.I leaned back in my chair, my jaw tense. Suddenly, the calmness I had achieved in the 30 minutes since I went into my study so I could think straight evaporated. The anger I had buried surged to
Christina's POV"I'm sure I just gave an order," Marcel said, taking a step forward and glaring down at all of them. I wondered if he hadn't seen the problem at hand yet.I wanted to reach out to him and explain what I could sense going on in the people's minds, but I stayed rooted to the spot."Why the sudden hesitation?" he asked.At his words, some people bowed their heads and knelt, but others remained standing with defiant looks on their faces.I watched as Elder Garrick stepped forward and began to speak. "Alpha Marcel, we serve you, there's no doubt about that," he began. "But we cannot serve her." He looked pointedly at me, and I hung my head, in shame, causing my cheeks to burn."She's an Omega, and even though you have mated her, we cannot accept her as our Luna."Hearing him voice out my fears made them real. The rejection stung. Alpha Marcel glanced sharply, from me to Elder Garrick, his brows furrowed in anger or confusion—I couldn't tell.I was suddenly hit with the urge
Christina's POV"The Hex is wearing off already!" I said, astonished, as Pierce started to move her hands."You all have to go now," Luna Sandra said. She gripped my hand, and I stopped myself from pulling away. I didn't want to be anywhere near this woman; I didn't want anything to do with her schemes."You just have to transform. Once they see you in your wolf form, they will know—""Know what?" Marcel and I said in unison."Just transform," Sandra urged."I can't!" I snapped, defeated. "I've been trying. I can't transform, it's not working!""You have to try harder. It's your only chance at winning this battle and finally being accepted.""What do you mean?" I asked, really confused now. She was talking in parables.“Guys we have to do something”. Becca said, drawing my attention. I followed her gaze to Pierce, who was now starting to sit up."I see it now, even though I didn't see it before, you know," Sandra said. She reached up and touched my hair lightly, and I was too stunned
Author's POVSandra's breathing was ragged, blood trickling from a wound on her side as she ran forward and raised a trembling hand. Summoning that burst of air to snuff out Pierce's flame took great more energy than she had ever imagined. But if she did not act now, there would never be a second chance.Her exhausted eyes settled on Pierce, who blinked in shock. Before Pierce could react, Sandra muttered an incantation under her breath. She only managed to graze her forehead though, as Pierce threw out a hand and shoved her away.But the incantation was enough. A shocking pulse of energy rippled outward, knocking everyone back a step. Pierce gasped, her entire body rigid. Her arms froze, suspended in mid-air, and the flame that had flickered there went out at once. Her mouth opened in a snarl, but no sound came out—only a harsh, shallow gasp, as if she'd just been deprived of all her power.Sandra lost her footing, falling against the wall. She could not hold herself up because the
Author’s POVThe air inside the burning estate was thick with smoke, making every breath labored. Flames roared through the hallways, devouring everything in sight. Christina held on to Marcel’s flank desperately, trying not to get thrown off as his wolf pushed forward at an alarming speed. Her sisters managed to run alongside her group which surprised Christina. People throughout the estate corridor panicked while their footsteps chased each other while they attempted to escape. The wolves who shifted from human form rushed towards them as they turned the corner while showing wild fear in their eyes.Their recognition of Marcel triggered their ears to swivel in his direction as they displayed a mixture of panic and worry on their faces. Here was someone who would lead them to safety. "Alpha," one of them said through the mind link, his eyes locking with Marcel’s. "Where do we go?"Marcel growled low in his throat, his mind torn between his responsibility as their Alpha and the urge
Author's POVBecca paced back and forth in the small room anxiously, her arms clasped firmly across her body. She glanced at the door every once in a while, hoping it would open.It never did, however, that only made her angrier. What was happening outside, anyway? She hated being trapped in here.Melissa, cross-legged on the bed, frowned. Her sister's behavior was starting to annoy her now. "Relax, Becca, you need to,""I cannot," Becca cried out, running her hand through her hair. "We have not heard anything since the curse was lifted."Even Alice has nothing new to tell us. How do we even know if Christina's okay?"Melissa bit her lip, exhaling. Alice was one of the Maids who worked here that they had befriended—she usually brought updates from whatever news she had gathered around the Estate. But for the past two days, she had nothing new to tell them.Melissa felt the same way but didn't want to voice her worries. Becca would just get more anxious. "She's still alive, at least,"
Christina's povI folded my arms across my chest the moment the door was shut by my father. It was just me and Marcel now, and I wasn't feeling too pleased with him."You barely gave us 5 minutes," I accused."Please," he replied with a smile and my frown deepened. "It's been 10 minutes.""Still, that's not fair! I haven't seen him in months, and you think 10 minutes is enough for a reunion?""You'll be able to talk with him at length any other day you see him here," he replied, taking a step closer. "You have to prepare yourself for a public address as the Luna, and that cannot wait.""This is not fair!" I said, raising my voice a bit. "And my sisters, who you won't let me see either, he's the only one I have left. Since I never met my mother and there's no chance of me knowing her, can't you at least give me the freedom to speak with my father?"Marcel narrowed his eyes. "You don't know your mother?" he asked."Don't act like you don't know the story," I sneered. "I was a baby when
Chapter 65Christina's POVI hadn’t seen Marcel in more than a day, and I couldn’t tell if I should be relieved or discomfited by this. I just didn’t know how to feel about all that had transpired between us and so I dreaded running into him.A small part of me was thankful he hadn’t called me to him.I had half expected him to force me into a conversation I wasn't ready for, but instead, surprisingly, there was just silence.Even Luna Sandra hadn't called for me. For her to overlook our classes and not demand my presence meant she was still furious. Honestly, I didn't care. After all, she said, I had no idea if I could control my tongue if I saw her again.So I spent the last day holed up in my room, trying to read a book even though my mind refused to focus on the words. Every few seconds, I would catch my thoughts drifting back to him—his hands, his lips, his mark on my neck that still tingled faintly. And then I would proceed to stare at the wall and relive the moment for a while
Christina’s POVWarmth became the first thing I noticed as an unflinching steady warmth that started to put me back to sleep. The subtle thudding sensation at the part of my neck near my hairline caused me to take a sharp intake of breath.All memories from the previous night's events erupted in my mind at the same time showing images of Marcel and his marking along with his speaking and gentle touching.I opened my eyes to survey my surroundings but closed them right away when I discovered that I remained in his bedroom as I refused to confront reality. Why not take me to my bed to sleep during that night? Being here made it more real.I still felt him. His absence from the bed did not diminish the weight of his presence which filled the entire space. The low voices made me peer from under my eyelids to check where they were coming from. The door was partially open, so the voices were relatively straightforward, and I recognized them immediately. Marcel and Luna Sandra. I stayed sti
The passion between us was intense, yet I longed to draw her nearer. At this moment, I had no awareness of our surroundings. Even if I attempted to focus, I couldn't. The sensation of her underneath me, her form rising to meet mine with each urgent motion, was all that mattered now.Christina's breathy sounds filled the air around us, her nails digging into my back as I pushed deeper. My name escaped her lips like a soft request."Marcel..."I let out a low sound releasing her nipple and nestling my face where her neck met her shoulder. Her heartbeat was strongest. My teeth skimmed the area, and something deeper than instinct urged me to mark her as mine.It's too early, I thought, not wanting to rush or seem hasty. But as this idea crossed my mind, her scent overwhelmed me, and she lifted her hips driving me further inside her. Every fiber of my being was tense, my wolf side demanding what we both knew would happen.My willpower crumbled. If I didn't act now, I would lose my mind. He