Chapter 3 Op

*** Still at the banquet ***

Lily's POV~

It had been over an hour since the banquet began and Miley and I were still chatting, while the maids follow us around.

"For reals?" Miley asked with a look of shock on her face, "Why haven't you told your parents?" She asked, feeling concerned.

"Pffft, like that'll help" I scoffed as I rolled my eyeballs, "They're the ones who sold me out in the first place" I said.

"I know that but regardless, I still think they wouldn't be too happy with your condition. Ev......." Miley paused suddenly, as she is interrupted by the moderator.

"And now, for the moment we've all been waiting for" his voice echoed through the hall, blaring from the speakers. The white noise from the chattering of the guests rapidly dwindles into a diminuendo as he speaks.

"Our king, Alpha Dean Ashburn, will now announce his chosen mate. Now please with a standing ovation, let us welcome our Lord, the supreme ruler of our pack, our king! His royal Majesty, Dean Ashburn!" He says with a thunderous applause accompanying, as Dean and his royal guards walk down to the podium.

"There goes the jerk" Miley whispered in my ear as we clapped, which made me smile. "I wish I could throw a rock at that elephant trunk of a nose he's got" she went further.

"Stop it, what if someone hears you" I whispered with a chuckle.

Climbing up the stage platform, Dean gestured with his hand and the entire hall went dead silent. Not even the sound of a pin could be heard.

"Uhh...urrhmm" he cleared his throat, followed by a brief shrill tuning noise from the mic as he tapped on it twice with his index finger, "Thank you everyone. Friends, family and all the nobles who have gathered here today. I wish to show my deep and sincere appreciation" he said to which the crowd applauded briefly before he gestured yet again for silence.

"Before my father passed on, he desired to see my mate but unfortunately I wasn't able to find one early enough. As a matter of fact, I even thought I might never find a mate at all" he said, which made the crowd chuckle a bit, "But over the past week, I have found someone. Someone who struck a chord in me. Someone who made me experience emotions I never even knew existed. And I have come to realize just how futile and unrewarding a life without her would be for me........" He paused.

"Yuck! Just look at him lying blatantly to everyone" Miley said in disgust, "What does he take us for? Fools?" She asked, her face contorted as she glared at him.

"Shhh, let's hear him out" her cousin said, shushing her up.

"Yeah whatever" she responded as she folded her hands across her chest and watched Dean with a disdainful look on her face. Meanwhile, my heart kept thumping harder and harder against my chest. My anxiety rose to the roof as I anticipated what he was going to say. Juliet noticed my fingers fidgeting and took me by the hand. Surprised, I turned to the side only to see her with a reassuring smile on her face. My face mirroring the smile, I held her hand tightly and exhaled slowly from my mouth as I shut my eyes tightly.

"......So ladies and gentlemen, please welcome, the love of my life, my mate and my queen, Miss Lily Frost" he said.

Hearing my name, I could feel shivers run down my spine. I immediately opened my eyes and bam! The spotlight was on me! Everyone was staring at me! What in the world was going on? The love of his life? What's that supposed to mean?

"Come on up here babe" he said as he stared at me from up there, with a warm smile on his face.

"Me?" I wondered as I looked about confused. Miley gestured with her eyes that I should move. But why should I?!

"Let's go ma'am" Juliet said and holding me by the hand, led me down the aisle formed by the parting of the crowd between us and the podium. The train of other maids followed behind as a thunderous round of applause rose into a crescendo. I climbed up the stairs of the platform (rather nervously) and walked over to Dean, looking him in the eye with confusion written all over my face.

"Welcome babe" he said to me, in my ears before locking his lips in mine. The clapping becomes even more thunderous. I wanted to stop it all and ask what the hell was going on, but then again, I couldn't muster up the courage to do it.

"What in the world is happening?" I thought with my eyes closed as his lips parted mine. Breaking off the kiss with a smirk on his face, he faced the audience.

"Let the wedding party begin!" He announced as cheers erupted along with music and colorful displays. Holding me by the hand, he led me off the stage and back to the skybox, where one of his old betas placed a tiara on my head.

Was I dreaming? Could this really be happening?

The party began and nobles began to flock around me, congratulating me and taking the chance to talk to me. Faking as hard as I could, I smiled and greeted each of them along with Dean who soon interlocked his elbows with mine, kissing me on the cheek and leading me into the crowd to introduce me to some of the other nobles.

Something wasn't right about this......all this. And I had to find out what.

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*** Later that night, at the Frost estate ***

Tim and his wife walk into the large, luxuriously furnished bedroom talking about how the party had gone and proud they were of their daughter.

Tim's POV~

"That was quite surprising, wasn't it?" I said as I took off my tuxedo jacket, "I didn't really think he'd pick our daughter to be Luna. Can you believe it honey? Our little Lily is the Luna of our pack. Her grandma would have been so proud if she was around to see it" I said with a proud smile as I changed into my nightwear. My wife didn't answer but sat quietly on the bed, lost in thoughts.

"We ought to celebrate, don't you think?" I said, but she didn't even respond.

What in the world could she be thinking about?

"Honey?.......Honey? .........Whatchu looking at?" I asked which finally snapped her out of head.

"Oh sorry, what were you saying?" She asked.

"Whatchu doing, spacing out like that? You alright?" I asked as I walked over to the bed and lay down.

"Not really" she responded, "There's something that's been bothering me" she added.

"Oh yeah? What is it?" I asked.

"It's Lily" she responded

"Ahhh Lily, she's making me so proud" I couldn't resist saying, with a sigh, "Yeah, so what about her?" I asked.

"Earlier tonight, during the mating ritual, she seemed really uncomfortable. Almost like she was being forced to go with the flow" she said, "And I certainly am not happy seeing her that way. We've gotta talk to her" she added.

"Come on honey, what did I tell you before?" I replied "We gotta make sacrifices if we want to get to the top. I've been teaching her that since she was a kid. I'm sure she can manage a little discomfort for the greater good" I said assuredly.

"But honey...."

"No buts! She's going to remain as the pack's Luna and that's final" I said "You don't really think I'd let us lose all this after what it took us to get this far, do you?" I asked rhetorically. "So get some goodnight sleep and leave this matter alone" I said as I retired to sleep.

"Hmph" she sighed.

I could tell she was worried, but what was I supposed to do? I certainly wasn't going to jeopardize the family's honor and estate simply because of a little discomfort. I wasn't!