Dowry

Someone clears his throat loudly behind me, clearly audible to everyone.

Both the Alpha family on stage and the Elders look up. There is a buzz in the crowd. Many react with annoyance to the interruption, just as I have to take my vows.

And then I see Alpha Rainer from Shadow Moon rise from his seat.

He raises his glass to me with a sneaky curl on his mouth. And then everything starts spinning around me until I slowly lose consciousness. My mother catches me as my father runs up the stage.

“This way, " I still hear Alpha Rainer shout as I completely fall into the dark hole.

“Mercedes, it's time”, I hear someone calling somewhere far away.

With difficulty, I try to lift my heavy eyelids. After a few attempts, I have them up but I still have to get used to the view. Then I see Alpha Rainer bending over me, his face close to mine. He holds me tight in his arms. It feels like we are sitting in a car moving at high speed.

I give him a watery smile and want to return to the hiding place of