The Luna Ceremony That Broke Our Bond

At the marking ceremony, where Elsie was supposed to be the Luna, her sister Giovanna took her place.

The grand hall of the Silver Moon Pack was filled with pack members, their eyes fixed on the stage where Amos Hunter, the Alpha, stood tall and imposing. His broad shoulders and commanding presence were a testament to his rank, his aura radiating dominance. Beside him, Giovanna looked delicate, her hand resting on her stomach as she gazed at Elsie with feigned sorrow.

Everyone in the pack supported Giovanna, their loyalty to the Alpha unquestionable. “She’s your sister,” Amos said, his deep voice carrying the weight of his Alpha tone. “How can you be so heartless? Becoming my mate was her dying wish. Don’t make a scene.”

Giovanna’s voice was soft, almost a whisper, but it carried through the hall. “Don’t worry, Elsie. I won’t stand in your way with Amos. I don’t have long to live,” she said, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “After I’m gone, please take care of the baby.”

Elsie’s heart sank as she realized the truth. Giovanna was pregnant with Amos’s child. Their parents, Naomi and Dilan, clung to Giovanna, their faces streaked with tears. Naomi, a respected elder of the pack, handed Elsie a medical report. The name on it was hers.

The report confirmed what Elsie already suspected. She was healthy, while Giovanna was terminally ill.

...

On the day of the marking ceremony, Elsie found herself locked in the Luna’s chambers, still dressed in the ceremonial gown she had prepared for the occasion.

Her parents stood outside the door, their voices firm. “Behave yourself, Elsie,” Naomi said. “Today is Giovanna’s day with the Alpha. Don’t spoil it.”

Elsie leaned against the door, her tears soaking the fabric of her gown. Amos’s voice came through, cold and unyielding. “This is Giovanna’s and my marking ceremony. We didn’t tell you earlier because we didn’t want any trouble,” he said. “Stay here until it’s over. I’ll let you out then.”

Why were they treating her this way? Just last night, Amos had held her in his arms, whispering about how excited he was to mark her as his mate. How had everything changed overnight?

After they left, Elsie managed to escape through the window on the second floor. Limping, she burst into the grand hall just as Amos and Giovanna were about to exchange the marking bite.

“Stop!” Elsie shouted, her voice echoing through the hall. All eyes turned to her. Her parents hurried over, blocking her path. “How did you get out?” Naomi demanded, while Dilan, a senior warrior of the pack, tried to push her out of the hall. Elsie stood her ground, her eyes locked with Amos’s on the stage.

For a brief moment, she thought she saw hesitation in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a hardened expression. He gestured to the pack warriors. “Remove her from the hall.”

As the warriors approached, Elsie dodged them, weaving through the crowd of pack members until she reached the front of the stage. “Amos, why did you betray me?” she demanded.

The hall fell silent at her words. Some pack members who knew them began to whisper. “Wasn’t the Alpha supposed to mark the younger sister? Why is the elder one up there?” one murmured. “Seems like the Alpha couldn’t choose between them,” another added. “Is the elder sister the other woman? What’s going on with their family?”

The whispers made Giovanna pale. Her delicate shoulders trembled, and she looked as though she might collapse. Amos quickly wrapped his arms around her, his Alpha aura flaring as he glared at the gossiping pack members until they fell silent.

He turned back to Elsie, his eyes filled with irritation and anger. “Elsie, I was never with you. How could there be any betrayal?”

Elsie felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over her, leaving her cold to the core. After almost eight years together, he dismissed everything with a single sentence.

Seeing her devastated expression, Giovanna smirked subtly from within Amos’s embrace. Naomi and Dilan were beside Elsie now, each gripping an arm, trying to pull her away.

Elsie was ready to give up, but Giovanna wasn’t finished. She rubbed her belly, her eyes rimmed with tears, and tearfully implored their parents. “Mom, Dad, it’s my marking ceremony. Let my sister stay, please.”

“Even though she’s tried to seduce her brother-in-law, I won’t hold it against her. She’s still young,” she continued. “But Elsie, I’m carrying the Alpha’s child, and we’re about to become a real family. Please, just let us have this moment.”

Her words rang with the perfect mix of sincerity and helplessness, casting her as the pitiful yet forgiving sister. The pack members, who had been watching with a blend of sympathy and skepticism, turned their disdain towards Elsie.

Fingers pointed and whispers surrounded her. A few who actually knew the truth dared not speak up.

Amos frowned at Elsie as if she were a troublesome child. With a gesture of his hand, the pack warriors forced her into a seat.

And so, Elsie was made to endure the entire marking ceremony, watching them on stage, reciting the vows to be with each other for life, embracing and marking each other…