Chapter 9%
I sat on the edge of the bed, ignoring the scrolls that kept coming. Each one congratulated me. “May your union with Damon be blessed.” “Wishing you a joyful mating ceremony, Lyria.” Forced words, nothing more, I didn’t care.
The communicator went off too.
I had never wanted this. Damon, the ceremony, none of it. At least not anymore.
Another knock at the door broke my thoughts.
“Lyria,” came a small voice. It was one of the younger Omegas from the pack. She had the nerve to be nervous, despite being the one to deliver this message. “The ceremony will take place in the Silver Moon Temple, my lady. You should go ahead before the others arrive. Everything’s almost ready.”
I gave a quick nod without looking up. “Thank you. I’ll be there soon.”
She bowed, and I could hear her leave. I stood up, walking over to the window and looking out at the forest. The Silver Moon Temple was just beyond the trees, where Damon and I were supposed to unite. I had been there as a child, playing with Lilith. But now? It didn’t feel the same. I wasn’t the same.”
Lilith became the light and I was reduced to a shadow that followed her behind!
She was everywhere, taking blessings from the elders on my behalf alongside Damon. But none of that mattered. What they do no longer matter to me.
I left the room and walked through the packhouse, avoiding everyone’s eyes. The scents of fresh flowers and pine made my way to the temple. The path was lined with large stone columns, but there was no warmth in it. No happiness.8
“This is one of the biggest ceremony happening in this territory“!! “And it’s the Alpha adopted daughter and the territories best warriors”
filled the air as
The sounds of the workers setting up the decorations didn’t even register. The paintings of Damon and me smiling down at the altar? I didn’t care. They felt like they belonged to someone else.
“May the moon goddess bless our wolves. May their bond lastl
I arrived early. The others were still on their way, but I wanted to be alone. I wanted to escape the reality of it all for just a moment. The clearing was filled with white roses, candles, and golden ribbons. Everything was perfect, just like it was supposed to be. But none of it mattered.
her anger. The sound of approaching footsteps made me turn around. My mother, the Luna, walked toward me, her eyes giving way to her “Lyria,” she said sharply, her voice echoing with authority “What are you doing here? The ceremony isn’t supposed to start yet.” “I’m just waiting,” I replied, my voice flat. I didn’t want to argue with her. It wasn’t worth it.
I was never in a position to voice my point no matter what.
She looked around at the ruined decorations, the ones I’d destroyed in a fit of frustration. The ribbons I had ripped, the flowers I‘ thrown on the ground. I couldn’t stand the sight of it all, the life they wanted me to live.
“Take these down,” I roared to the young wolf attending to the decorations earlier. My voice was steady, cold.!
She blinked, confused, but nodded. “Of course, my Lady”
“Why did you listen to her? And what are you watching that Lyria tore this off?” The Luna asked, not sparing me a glance.)
“Luna. We couldn’t stop her” One of them bowed, her voice shaking
“Her wolf took over Another wolf added. The Luna dismissed them, not waiting for more explanation before pulling me closer”
“Mother..
I’d
She scoffed. “You’re about to be mated to the future Alpha of this pack. You need to start acting like it. A Luna must be calm, composed, and mature–I have taught you countless time. Not a rebellious pup throwing tantrums.”
I clenched my fists but said nothing.
She slapped me hard across the face. “How dare you ruin the decorations! How dare you ruin the day that was meant to bring honor to this family”
My wolf gave a low growl. I sighed, my vision blurry.!!
I didn’t flinch. Her slap burned, but I wouldn’t show it!!
“The ceremony should have been for Lilith and Damon, not for you” she sneered. “You’ve been nothing but a disappointment. Lilith was always the perfect one. Look at her, always doing everything right!”
I shook my head, not caring. The pain in my chest had become numb.||
She took out a velvet pouch from her belt and opened it, revealing a set of pearls. “Here, Lyria. This was meant to be yours. I saved it for your special day.”
I stared at the pearls. I had begged for them once when I was a little girl, dreaming of wearing them at my mating ceremony couldn’t get them then. Even when I followed all instructions and got punished instead.
But now, they meant nothing.
since!
This necklace. I remembered it all too well. Mother had gifted it to Lilith on her fifth birthday. I’d admired it so much, and Mother had promised to give it to me when I tumed ten. But that promise never came. Lilith wore it proudly, and I was left with nothing.X
Now, after all these years, she thought giving it to me would make up for everything?
This necklace. I remembered it all too well. Mother had gifted it to Lilith on her fifth birthday. I’d admired it so much, and Mother had promised to give it to me when I turned ten. But that promise never came. Lilith wore it proudly, and I was left with nothing.
Now, after all these years, she thought giving it to me would make up for everything?
2
These were for you, Lyria. The gift you begged for as a child. You said you’d wear them on your mating day.” Her voice was full of disappointment, but also something else–resentment. “But look at you now, You don’t deserve them.”
“I don’t want them,” I said, my voice soft but firm.X
Her eyes widened, and she shoved the pearls into my hands. “Don’t be ridiculous. Take them, Lyria. They’re yours. They should’ve been yours from the start. But, no, you can’t even appreciate what’s given to you. You’ve always been so ungrateful.“%
I looked at the pearls for a long moment. They felt cold in my hands, like everything else.
I didn’t care about the pearls anymore.
“Take them, Lynia,” she urged, holding them out. “You’ve always wanted them.”
I looked at them, then at her. “I don’t want them,” I said, my voice firm.
“What? But you begged for them! Her voice was filled with disbelief. The old lyria never talked back at her.!!
I turned away from her without saying anything else. I walked toward the altar’s fire, the one that burned brightly in front of the decorations. My steps were slow, calculated.
“Lyna” my mother called, but I didn’t stop.l
“Luna, the Alpha sent for you immediately” A messenger wolf pulled her along. I didn’t turn to see her leaving
I stood by the fire, holding the pearls tightly in my hand. Hooked at them for a long moment.
And then, without a word, I threw them into the flames.
The pearls twisted and melted in the fire, the light flickering across their once–beautiful surface. The heat of the flames felt good against my skin, almost like it was burning away everything I no longer wanted.
I turned around, my back to the fire, and walked back toward those that were re-decorating the designs i destroyed. The head of the wolves that handled the wolves saw the whole pearls go into fire.
She stared at me in shock, her lips parted “What have you done?” she whispered, her voice cracking.
“I don’t need them,” I said quietly 71 don’t need any of this.”
“Is that why you destroyed that Pearl? Those pearls are from the moon goddess and it would strengthen this bond. No warrior mate do without it. Its an abomination
“Its too late now for the lectures. Do you work and leave to attend your pups. Tell them I am rewriting history“?
Her face twisted in anger. “You’ve ruined everything, Lynia! You’ve ruined the ceremony, the pack’s reputation, everything!!
“Keep shut. When you want to do your own ceremony, don’t burn yours”
Her face reddened, and her hands clenched at her sides. “You’ll regret this one day,” she said, her voice bitter.
I didn’t answer. I didn’t care.
I turned and walked away, the sound of her voice fading behind me. There was nothing left for me here. I wasn’t going to follow the path they set out for me. This was my life, and I would choose my own way.
I didn’t need her leftovers.
As I walked back to Damon’s cabin and settked down, the communicator blinked. A message from Lilith. 2
“Wishing you a happy mating ceremony, Lyria. May you always be happy and I am sorry for everything”
I stared at the words, wondering how Lilith learned to be good at pretende. Lilith, the perfect daughter, the perfect sister, the one who had stolen everything from me–including Damon.
Especially Danon
I called in an Omega from the outside to go deliver message to Lilith.X
“Thank you for your blessing, Lilith. By the way, I got you a gift. You’ll receive it tomorrow.”
I said the words, one after the other.
“Is that what I should say to her?” She asked.
The corners of my lips curled into a bitter smile. “Yes” Before dismissing her!!
The gift I had for her would arrive right when the ceremony began. Perfect timing
That night, Damon’s cabin was quiet. Damon and I weren’t allowed to see each other before the ceremony, which made it easier for me to slip away.
I packed my things, shoving clothes and essentials into a bag. My fingers brushed against the model ship I had saved for months to buy. I smiled faintly. The real one would be waiting for me at the harbor.
Before leaving, I scheduled a message to be sent to the entire pack.!!
“Sorry, Damon and I have canceled our mating ceremony. Please attend Damon and Lilith’s ceremony instead.“\
I attached a series of evidence I had taken of Damon and Lilith together. They were careless, meeting in secret so often that catching them was easy. The world would see the truth tomorrow.
I stepped outside, the cold night air biting my skin. The forest was dark, but the scent of the sea guided me. Half an hour later, I stood on the dock, staring at the massive ship before me
