Chapter 5 The Aftermath of the Bonding Ceremony

OLIVIA's POV

The air still buzzed with tension as I stumbled away from the podium. My chest heaved, my legs wobbly from the lingering effects of the wolfsbane. I barely registered the gasps and murmurs around me. All I could think about was them.

Lucien.

The Demon Alpha.

I had bonded with two mates. Two powerful mates.

My palms grew clammy, and I clutched at the nearest pillar for support. The weight of their gazes bore into me-Lucien's a storm of rage and resentment, while the Demon Alpha's was cold, calculated, and terrifying possessive.

Before I could steady my breath, the Demon Alpha stepped forward. His towering frame sliced through the crowd like a blade, and his voice, smooth yet commanding, cut through the whispers.

"She is mine."

The words echoed in the hall, silencing every conversation. My heart stopped.

Lucien surged forward, his growl reverberating through the room. "No. She's mine."

I flinched as the tension crackled between them. Their energy filled the space, suffocating, oppressive. The crowd parted, giving them space as if expecting a fight to break out any second.

The Demon Alpha tilted his head, his lips curling into a disdainful smirk. "I don't see your mark on her, pup."

Lucien's fists clenched, the veins in his neck bulging. "You don't understand what you're getting into."

"On the contrary," the Demon Alpha replied, his voice icy, "I know exactly what I've claimed." His eyes flicked to me, and a shiver ran down my spine.

What sort of a cruel joke was this? Why on earth would the Moon Goddess punish with such cruel fate? Was it not bad enough that my family was messed up? Was it not bad enough that I grew up most of my life yearning and longing for love and attention from my father and stepmother after the death of my mother? Was it not bad enough that I was married to Lucien, this man that almost killed me? And now this-mated to these two.

I opened my mouth, desperate to stop this before it escalated further. "Enough!" I croaked, my voice shaky but firm enough to draw their attention.

Lucien's furious gaze snapped to me. "This is your doing, isn't it?" he spat, his words laced with venom. "You couldn't stand that I moved on, so you orchestrated this farce to ruin me!"

His accusation hit me like a slap, but before I could respond, the Demon Alpha stepped in front of me, shielding me from Lucien's glare.

"Watch your tone," he warned, his voice low and lethal. "She's no longer yours to insult."

The atmosphere thickened as the two Alphas squared off, their power radiating like a clash of thunder and lightning. The crowd murmured in awe and fear, their whispers barely audible over the pounding in my ears.

"Enough!" a commanding voice boomed. The eldest of the werewolf council stepped forward, his presence silencing the chaos.

"This double bond is unprecedented," he said, his sharp eyes scanning the three of us. "We will not have this ceremony descend into violence. Olivia, you will meet with the Elders tomorrow to determine how this situation will be resolved."

Resolved? How could this possibly be resolved? Was this man being serious right now? I stared at the Elder intensely, the weight of his words pressing down on me.

Lucien scoffed. "Fine, but whatever decision you make tomorrow, make sure it's a decision that includes me in your life," he shot at me before turning on his heel and storming out of the hall.

The Demon Alpha didn't move. His hand brushed mine briefly, sending an involuntary jolt of energy through me. He leaned down, his voice low enough for only me to hear.

"You're not going anywhere without me."

His words sent a shiver of something-fear? Fascination?-coursing through me.

The ceremony dissolved into a haze of murmurs and stares. I slipped out quietly, desperate to escape the oppressive atmosphere. My feet carried me to the forest edge, the cool night air offering little relief to the storm raging inside me.

How did this happen? For three years, the ceremony had been nothing but a disappointment, a reminder of my mateless existence. Now, not only did I have a mate-I had two. And one of them was the Demon Alpha while the other was my ex-husband.

"Olivia."

The voice froze me in my tracks. I turned slowly, my heart sinking when I saw Lucien standing behind me. His face was a mixture of anger and something softer-regret, maybe.

"What do you want?" I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended.

He ran a hand through his hair, his jaw tightening. "I didn't ask for this," he said, his voice low. "But you-you've always had a way of complicating my life.

I let out a bitter laugh. "I complicate your life? That's rich, coming from the man who left me for dead with nothing but excuses."

His eyes darkened. "You don't understand-"

"Then make me understand, Lucien!" I shouted, my chest heaving. "Why are you even here? Why didn't you just stay away?"

He hesitated, his gaze dropping to the ground. "Because I didn't have a choice," he finally admitted. "My father gave me an ultimatum; find a bride or lose everything. I thought... I thought I could fix things by attending this stupid ceremony."

"And now you're stuck with me again." My voice was flat, the bitterness seeping through.

He didn't deny it.

I shook my head, stepping back. "I can't do this, Lucien. Not with you. Not again."

Before he could respond, a shadow emerged from the trees, stopping us both in our tracks.

The Demon Alpha stood there, his presence as overwhelming as ever. His piercing eyes locked onto mine, unreadable yet unyielding.

"You're making a habit of running, aren't you?" he said, his tone mocking yet deadly serious.

I stiffened. "I needed space."

His lips twitched, almost forming a smirk. "From me?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but he stepped closer, his towering frame casting a shadow over me.

"You belong to me now," he said softly, his voice a dangerous whisper.

I swallowed hard, my pulse quickening. His words weren't a threat-they were a promise.

Before I could respond, a howl pierced the night, sending a chill down my spine. The Demon Alpha's eyes narrowed, and his hand moved instinctively to my wrist.

"We're not alone."