Chapter three

The drums began to echo again and the howling and dancing begun once more.

Emily’s proud smile returned to her dainty features and her blue eyes glowed with pride as they remained fixated on her fiancé. Careful that he did not run away this time.

She swayed her hips ever so seductively as she approached him in their age old ritual where the bride danced her way through the crowd to find her groom.

Mason smiled at her as she approached, his smile did not reach his eyes, but it did not matter, an Alpha was a stoic man after all, they rarely showed any emotions.

Emily watched from the crowd, her tray in her hands once again, she passed drinks to the pack members who watched the display with light hearted smiled and a merry air of mirth and laughter.

Her eyes held a far away look in them as she worked with the other Omegas, a gloomy feeling clouded her emotions as she walked through the crowd, occasionally glancing at the ongoing display.

Soon the music stopped. Emily had reached her groom and as tradition, he father stood up to introduce her to her him. She fell to her knees before him and bowed her head. He stood up from his sit, urging to her feet by lifting her up her hands, a sign of acceptance.

Hearty cheers roared through the crowd and they clapped as he lifted her veil to reveal her face. She blinked shyly at him, her eyes dancing to the corners a little as he stared at her.

Mason drew in a very long breath. She was beautiful, undeniably so. But he could not bring himself to be concerned about it. He stared into her face, wondering about this destiny which he had chosen. He did not love Emily did he? He had only courted her for a month before proposing marriage, because their parents were good friends and wanted it so since neither hand a mate.

His eyes shifted to the crowd for a moment, to stare at Melissa once more. He found her, her grip tight on the tray oun her hands and her eyes sad, she looked away from him at once, pretending to be busy.

Melissa watched Emily pull him closer against her body, her fingers trailing a delicate line of seduction along him, his breath quickened and he shut his eyes for a moment. 

She nearly winced out loud, it was painful to watch. 

Emily turned to her discreetly, her eyes hooded, yet the sheer wicked satisfaction sparkled in her eyes, dancing like stars. 

With a wicked wink in Melissa’s direction, her hand went around his neck, pulling his head towards hers, he parted his lips  little and she took her chance, pressing her tongue into his lips with a passionate smacking sound as she kissed him. Sealing the bond of the ceremony.

The crowd stood up and claps and howls echoed, flowers petals being thrown in the air at the couple in a beautiful charade of colors.

Melissa felt it, deep within my chest as she watched them kiss. The undeniable anguish of her broken wolf, it howled within me, watching her mate in the embrace of another woman. She clutched her chest in pain and fought against the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. 

Why is this happening to me? This stabbing sensation.

Her wolf was in torture.

She could hear it howling painfully within her, wishing to reach out and rip that woman from her mate.

She barely understood to the purpose of this new found possessiveness. 

She did not love him did she? She barely knows him! So why does it hurt so much to see him in her embrace, eyes lost in the beauty of her flawless glow. 

And she shall be forced to watch this torture all the time henceforth. My spirit would be broken to a thousand pieces from it. Her own best friend in the embrace of her fated mate. 

“I know I am an Omega.” She thought to herself, “an Alpha would never disgrace his title by mating with me, this mate bond is a mistake in the first place. The moon goddess was out of her mind pairing us together, she must hate me, she must despise me so much that she derives plenty pleasure from twisting my life into different stages of suffering and anguish, but this… this is a pain like no other, and I would be lucky if I make it out of this with my wolf in one piece.”

She turned away from the crowd as Emily pulled away from his embrace. The engagement ceremony was complete, and soon, the mating ceremony will follow. 

“Drop that, go inside and pack Emily’s things, they will be leaving for Crescent moon pack very soon.”

Melissa turned around to face Emily’s mother. A tenacious woman with an obsession for gold jewelry. On this special occasion of her daughter’s engagement, she had made sure to drape several necklaces around her neck. Accompanied by at least seven bracelets on each of her wrists. There was a very distinguishable sound of metal clashing against metal with each moment of her body.

“You seem to be unnaturally close to her.” She continued, “perhaps you are her favorite servant, and hence you must know what she will like to pack. I am entrusting it into your care to pick everything she needs, I do not want her whining about anything.” She narrowed her eyes, waving her index finger warningly.

“Yes ma’am.” Melissa nodded politely, nodding her head.

“Pack your things too.” she instructed, “she will be needing a servant of her own to accompany her and you should be perfect for that.”

Lisa’s eyes widened and she opened her mouth to protest, but she waltzed through the crowd hastily, leaving her standing there by herself.

Good heavens, as if her ill luck wasn’t enough, the moon goddess had brought down another punishment upon her. She will now have to endure through the torture of accompanying Emily, serving her and watching her despite the very clear hatred Emily Joe had for her. And she will therefore have to be in forced proximity with Mason and her. There was no getting worse from here.

When the ceremony breezed to an end, they all gathered before the carriages to say goodbye to her. As tradition, she will be accompanying her groom to be to his own pack, to meet his own people, and there the mating ceremony would be held.

With a bright smile and glassy eyes, Emily kissed goodbye to her pack members, each one handing her a gift they felt would be useful for their journey.

Their pack Alpha and his family were present too. Just like anyone else they were proud of her, she had married a powerful Alpha afterall, and created a very important bond between his pack and theirs. They had brought her numerous gifts and fruit baskets, linen and clothing included. Enough things to last the whole journey.

When they all said their goodbyes. The servants piled up to help arrange the items into the carriage.

Melissa stepped forward, preparing to join them.

Emily’s eyes caught hers immediately, and a malicious snare crawled up her face. “What is she doing here?” She asked her mother.

“She will accompany you during your journey to…”

“No she would not.” Emily interrupted her mother.

Her mother frowned and Melissa lowered her head to the ground. “I thought she is your favorite servant if not some sort of best friend.”

“Not anymore” she hissed. “I do not want her accompanying me.”

“Well except you have a good enough reason for that, she already packed her things and no other servants are currently available for this. Now climb in the carriage Emily it’s too early to start with your whining in front of everyone.” Her mother rolled her eyes, turning away with a huff.

Emily turned to Melissa with a cold glare, she hissed, turning around and walking to Mason’s side.

As soon as the carriages were fully arranged. They all climbed into their respective places, Emily and her groom to be in one, the servants in one and their luggage and gifts in another. They begun the journey to Crescent Moon pack as nightfall encroached.

Halfway through the journey, the night was cold, quiet and eerie except for the buzzing of crickets and the distant howling of a wolf.

The carriage stopped and the coach’s man came down.

“The horses are tired.” He announced, “we need to rest for a little and get some water.”

“It’s the middle of the night.” Melissa muttered, “is it safe?”

“There are not many rogues here, a pack is very close by. Except for a few animals, all is well and safe if we stay together , we will just feed the horses and we will be up on our way again..”

They climbed down the carriage, waiting for the horses to be tended.

Melissa stood in the corner, fiddling with the hem of her dress. She could feel him staring at her, Mason. His eyes felt like lasers aimed in her direction, she was too nervous to look up to meet his gaze. She titled her head to the side, pretending to look for something interesting.

Emily turned to her groom to be, wrapping her arm into his crossed arm and leaning her head lazily on his shoulder. “This is very exhausting.” She breathed down his neck, “I simply wish we could get home already.”

Mason barely managed to her a response, his attention was barely there. He was watching Melissa, following the little facial expressions she made with his eyes.

“We will soon be home.” He muttered silently.

Emily groaned, lifting her head from his shoulder. “It’s the middle of the night. How long is this going to take? Can you please get them to hurry up? My feet are starting to ache.”

Mason drew in a long sigh, turning to her. “You can climb into the coach if your feet are starting to ache, you do not have to stand outside like the rest of us.” He answered as softly as he could manage.

Emily groaned but did not attempt to climb back into the carriage. She followed Masons eyes, finding them fixated on Melissa, who was equally staring back at him. Jealousy crawled up her veins like a dangerous drop of wolfsbane.

Mason turned his gaze away, walking in the direction of the coach’s man with his arms crossed. Leaving the two women standing alone.

Emily very nearly snarled. rolling her eyes. “Melissa.” She turned around, “fetch me some fruit.”

Melissa nodded frantically, heading for the carriage too.

“Where are you going?” Emily raised a brow at her.

“The fruit is in the carriage.” Melissa answered with a bow.

“No.” Emily shook her head, “I can smell some soursop not very far from here, I want you to get it.”

Melissa paused, turning to stare at the dark line of trees before them. “But it is dark and there could be a wild animal in there… or even a rogue” she expressed in fear.

Emily shrugged. “You will figure the rest out for yourself, get me my fruit.”