CHAPTER 4

“I wish I was something special. I don't belong here. I'm just a creep who lurks in the shadows.”

My night had been haunted with a feverish montage of the feel of his touch, his lips and his gaze on my body.

The bedspread twisted around my body as I tossed and turned, trying to escape the vivid images in my mind.

The sun rose to find me staring out at the window. Shattering the illusions that had played in my mind like a loop.

I had been through the path of heartbreak and heartache. They said strangers are the best listeners. Hades had been more than a listener, he was a giver who had taken every pain away and had replaced it with pleasure.

My fingers glided through the palm his fingers had touched. His calloused hands held mine with so much gentleness and care.

Tonight was going to be rough, I could feel it. I wished there was a way I could skip the festivities, but it was impossible to get away from it. The thought of Hades and Astrid together under the wolf moon was like a dagger to my heart.

As I dressed in my usual maid attire, I could hear chatters around. The pack was frizzled with excitement, tonight would be the wolf moon ceremony.

A night when the moon goddess; Selene, blesses each wolf with a mate. The chances were slim but that had never stopped the hopeful young wolves who stood in the night with their habits flapping like wings as they prayed to the moon.

Tonight would be my third trail, my last chance to find the one who would love me unconditionally, before my father decides to send me away to any who was willing to marry.

I could hear miss Ruth barking out orders to the maids downstairs. Tonight would be different from other wolf moon ceremonies. Tonight the Alpha King was here, celebrating with us.

I sneaked down the stairs, secretly crossing my fingers and praying she wouldn't notice my presence.

"Being stealthy has never been a trait of mine," I muttered to myself as I slipped on the wet floor and crashed down in a loud thud.

All eyes turned to me, snickers could be heard around the room as they observed me, "Daisy," miss Ruth sighed.

"Good morning, miss Ruth," I greeted in a soft voice, slowly rising to my feet.

"You will be with Astrid today," miss Ruth said.

I kept my face neutral, void of all emotions. I knew this was the moon goddess way of punishing me for lusting after a man, who was betrothed to another.

My stomach felt queasy as I walked the familiar path, I had hoped to avoid seeing Astrid and maybe the guilt would have reduced.

I could hear Astrid and Lyra talking loudly in her room. The excitement in Astrid's voice was enough to lift a nation.

"Astrid," I knocked gently on the door.

"Come in," she replied in a sing song voice.

My eyes took in the scene around me, Astrid's room was in chaos, gowns and shoes were strewn all around the room.

"Finally," Lyra scoffed, rolling her eyes as she watched me walk into the room.

"Which should I wear tonight," Astrid asked, holding up two dresses, a metallic gold gown and a silver shimmering gown.

"The silver?" I asked, my reply sounding like a question.

Lyra snorted, "never seek opinion from the help,"

"I knew that, I thought she would be different," Astrid muttered, throwing the silver gown on the bed.

"Now, this gown makes a statement," Astrid added, twirling around with the gown in her hand.

I tidied up the disarrayed room, half-listening in on their excited chatter. It was a few hours to the wolf moon ceremony, and each ticking second was filled with dread.

The turmoil in my mind had drowned out their voices, this would be my last Wolf moon ceremony before my father decided my fate.

"No pressure," I thought to myself.

The sun had finally began to set, sounds of drums could be heard echoing through the quiet evening.

The air was thick with anticipation, each pack member carried a lantern representing their family as they walked through the clear path.

The moon shone brightly in the sky casting an ethereal glow around. I stood in a secluded area watching as parents smiled fondly at their children, their eyes beaming with pride as they danced and mingled with others.

Astrid stood with her shoulders held high beside my father, her radiating smile reflected on his look of adoration in his eyes. My heart ached, a painful reminder of how out of place I felt here.

The music stopped, the clearing became eerily quiet, and my father stepped forward, his eyes scanning through crowd.

"Tonight, we honor Selene, the goddess of love and light," his voice thundered, filled with authority and pride.

"Under the loving gaze of the moon goddess, I pray we find our halves, a soul tied to ours for eternity," my father recited the rites.

" May the moon guide us," we chorused, our eyes closed as we whispered a quick prayer.

It was in moments like this, that the force in the unity of the pack was felt, drumming through our core as we all howled to the moon.

I watched it all play out in slow motion, the scene I have seen time and time again. The tears, the smiles, the laughter and the kiss as each claimed their mate.

I felt like a creep, peeping in from people's windows, hoping to catch a gleams of happiness. My mind imagined every scenario, of how my mate would find me.

I smiled sadly to myself, cleaning the lone tear that had escaped from my eyes, "I was addicted to if only," I muttered to myself.

I turned away slowly, trying to make my way out of the happy space.

"Leaving so soon?" Lyra asked.

"I think I am going to lay down for a bit," I muttered, trying to get away from her.

"Daisy, Astrid is about to be claimed by the Alpha King and you can’t even suck it up and be happy for your sister," Lyra commented, her hand holding me tightly in place.

My voice felt trapped in my throat as I watched Astrid make her way to the middle of the makeshift platform.

The Alpha King moved in slow steps, each step filled with purpose as he approached Astrid. The crowd grew quiet in curiosity, bowing their heads in respect as the Alpha king stood on the platform.

His aura was like a magnetic field, drawing all attention to him. My heart drummed loudly in my chest as his eyes searched through the crowd, only stopping when it met my tear-filled green ones.

"Mate," he growled.

The crowd gasped, murmurs of disbelief echoing through the quiet night.