All heads turned in my direction and the eyes stayed glued on me just as I had suspected it would when I took a look at myself in the mirror.
My luck ran out again! That was my first thought!
My designer was running late. My phone had been blaring all day, the elders had called several times to remind me of how important my presence was this night at the Alpha crowning ceremony. What I didn't see coming was ending up in this red seductive dress.
I could smell lusts all around me, I felt naked even though I was clothed. The normal theme I had earlier prepared for the night was a simple blue dress that was to be delivered to me, I wanted to pair it with the provocative flashy makeup I had on already but when my designer didn't show up, I had to succumb to fate and wear my last resort, the strapless red silk dress.
"Luna Selena, please come to the podium."
I wished I could scream my lungs out that I would rather like to blend in with the rest of the crowd but how was that even possible when I needed to crown the new Alpha of Frostfang pack myself.
Reluctantly, I followed the elder and made for the podium. As I walked up through the stairs, I felt an intense gaze on me. Adrian Holt was dressed in a monochrome white suit and pants. He had his hair styled to the back making him appear older and more mature.
As our eyes met, my eyes instinctively shifted to his legs but it seemed to be fully healed now, it had been seven days since the game, he was an impending Alpha, the gift of fast healing was one of the perks of that.
"Luna Selena, please." Elder Jafar gestured towards my left, I made towards it and picked up the crown. This was the pack's custom, I had to personally crown Adrian regardless of our circumstances. Adrian sat in a regal white chair just as his ancestors, he had a bored expression on his face partly because I knew he couldn't wait for this part to be over, neither could I.
Elder Jafar picked up the microphone. He was a man in his late sixties but one of the richest werewolves in the country. He cleared his throat and immediately, the room was filled with silence.
"As the custom of the Frostfang pack, the widowed Luna crowns the Alpha and by the rules if they were not related by blood, the Alpha could decide to keep the Luna before he meets his mate," he paused slightly "so I ask you Adrian Holt, would you like to keep Selena Ward as....."
"No!"
Adrian's response came on really sharp. Elder Jafar swallowed the rest of his word and he quickly read the irritated gaze the rude brat threw him. For some awkward reason, I felt bad. It wasn't surprising that I got rejected like that but it hurt. Adrian wasn't going to hide his detest for me in any way.
"So if that was it, Luna Selena, place the crown gently on the Alpha's head." Elder Jafar concluded and he stepped aside.
My wolf felt like hitting the brat in the skull with the iron crown. Someone needs to at least teach him some manners.
I gently placed the crown on his head and applause rained loudly in the air. I knew I was done over there so I didn't waste any few more seconds before getting down from the podium. Many people were too focused on Adrian, the new Alpha, to care about a loner Luna that they were more than happy to be rid of.
I never had it easy as a child. I had the wealthy privilege, beautiful dresses,nice foods, best vacations but being tied to the werewolf clan was too tiring. I became rebellious in my teenage years, after fighting with my dad several times, he finally agreed to send me to the human community just as my best friend Elena to further our college education.
The human world was easier. I wasn't an outcast over there, I made friends, attended a few parties and successfully became a surgeon until one damp night when my father called. I was to return to the Frostfang pack for an arranged marriage with the Alpha who was twice my age.
Father had ran into debts, he was on the verge of bankruptcy and Alpha Holt promised to uplift him if only I would be his Luna. Against my wish. I became the Luna of frost fang pack and a stepmother to the young Adrian who couldn't stand my presence.
As I walked down the stairs. The memory of every hate I had to endure back then surfaced in my mind, the media wouldn't stop calling me a gold digger that left her career to be a wealthy man's mistress. I felt tears filled my iris, I knew they were going to trickle down so soon. I cannot allow that to happen so I rushed towards the backstage when I ran into a huge chest.
"Luna Selena." A deep warm voice called to me. I looked up to lock eyes with my favorite godson Raymond Darius, Elena's son. Just as Adrian, he was all grown up now.
"Oh my goodness!" I hugged him lovingly, "I didn't know you were back, Ray."
"I have been back for quite awhile godmother, but I was never a part of your priority, am I?"
I felt guilty, Raymond was right, I haven't thought of looking for him.
"My apologies son, how can I make it up to you."
"By dancing with me tonight maybe." He responded smiling.
I laughed heartily, the young boy was starting to flatter me.Dancing with a boring older woman when there were younger girls at the party.
"I only deal with saving lives in theaters, definitely not on a dance floor."
My smile faltered as I noticed his eyes twisted to something I couldn't name. But somehow, I understood. I had made a bad joke of saving lives when I couldn't even save my best friend, his mother.
"Let's take a stroll in the pack house together godmum, maybe for the last time." Our eyes met and he laughed "I mean you just got rejected as the Luna and I will return to Japan in a few weeks.
I gave it a thought, I think I needed this last minute tour. Raymond held out his hand and I took it. Just as I used to walk around with my late husband at every event. He liked to show me off as his young wife like a freaking trophy.
Raymond made jokes, he was funny. I felt relaxed with him. Elena had him at a very tender age, she was some years older than I was so technically, I wasn't grown enough to be his mother. I set aside my prejudice and decided to have a fun filled night.
We could hear the up beat of the music from the crowning party but we just couldn't stop gisting. People kept passing by and I was getting a lot of hateful states. They thought I had found myself another man to cling onto.
Raymond was good looking in his own way but I would never be attracted to him. Why would I when I practically raised him.
"I guess we should stay in the shadows to avoid their judgement gazes if it makes you uncomfortable."
I nodded affirmatively. Raymond was really a considerate person.We both stood at a shaded corner from the bursting light. Suddenly, I started feeling uncomfortable with our discussion. It was getting too intimate, I didn't like that the boy seemed to be hitting on me. Without prior warning, he pinned me to the wall.
My eyes were focused on his eyes. Strangely I couldn't smell any lust emanating from him and I couldn't smell anything different at all. I removed his hand from mine. I didn't come to my step son's coronation only to get smooshed by my godson.
I wasn't that much of a loose cannon.
I turned my back to walk out on him when I felt a powerful jabbing sound behind me. I turned around and saw Raymond smashed against the wall. Before I could make sense of what had just happened. I heard a deep voice call "mate!" before a strong tooth sank into my neck.