Chapter 5 The Storm Met It's Match

I blinked at him, figuring out why he who has such a strong status would join the funeral of my parents. I don't remember my parents having legal nor power connections with the Lycan Prince.

"Very well, Prince of Lycans. As you wish, Lucien. Well, I'd like to let you know, in fact everyone here today, that I'll never leave Nova's side. Sure, she was disheartened last night and said many, terrible things to all of us. Especially the elders. I've heard it all, sweetheart."

Digust bubbles within me. I couldn't control my facial expressions. However, upon seeing Elias's jaw clench threateningly, I looked down at my feet.

The man named Lucien, a very important person of our society of Werewolves and lycans alike, stood calmly and observed Elias's drama.

"You are a wonderful woman, Nova. I'd like to let you all know that I won't be breaking our marriage any time soon. I worry about Darkforest pack. This is my second home!With papa and mama gone now, it doesn't feel empty, in here."

Elias pats his chest loudly. Oh Goddess, please save me from his drama. I can't take this anymore.

"You're being a bitch now, Elias." I whispered to him. However, I had forgotten that the Lycan Prince has abilities far beyond my comprehension.

He must've heard my whisper. But it doesn't matter to him.

For someone who handles affairs internationally, a small dispute like mine right here wouldn't affect him even a bit. I'm all on my own in Elias's scripted shit.

Someone claps in appreciation to his words.

Our heads turn to Beta Garrick.

Forgive me, he's an alpha now.

Interim Alpha Garrick.

"Look at him," Elias comes back to his normal stance.

However, his grip on my hand tightens even more. A soft moan of agony slips out of my mouth. For that, Elias squeezed my hand even tighter!

"This is what I call by maturity. This is a man, who wishes to take responsibility. Last night, whatever had happened with Lady Nova can be forgiven. Forgiven, upon the acceptance from her side that she will continue being Elias Thorne's decorated fiancée."

There's no way I hear those words from him. I've never felt the amount of disorientation in me as of right now. I scoffed, and finally had enough of this nonsense.

In front of a powerful person, that too!?

How low can Elias actually stoop?

"Princess...do not." Elias's eyes threatened me.

But I didn't care anymore.

"All of you await for my decision, right? Here it is then!

I will...NOT marry Elias Thorne. Never!" Anger got the best of me. I pushed him by hischest, it was my hardest push but the strong alpha Elias doesn't even budge to my nudging!

"I don't care what anyone says or even thinks of me! Have you ever wondered WHY i would want to break our engagement in the first place!? Huh!? Ever thought about me!?"

Enraged, the words flew out of my mouth.

"...Not everything is about you, Lady Nova..."

A deep male voice spoke from the crowd. Upon seeing who it was, I took a deep breath in. It's the third elder, who seemed to hate me the mist out of this bloody crowd!

"You think it's only about me, all the time!? Did you ever think of what I've gone through last night!? No one, absolutely no one genuinely paid condolences to my parents! No one was ready to find out who made the bloody accident! What...is happening to my pack...?"

"...This calls for a decision by force. Elias Thorne, Alpha of Crimson Hollow pack..." the elder spoke again as I held my tears back.

"Yes, elder." Elias stepped to the front,

"Do you take Nova Storm as your wife, in all care and respect?"

"In the present, and in the future, Elder." Elias replied.

It took me a second to realize what was happening exactly.

It's a fucking patriarchal society, even in werewolves.

"W-Wait. Wait, please...no!" I protested,

"The mood Goddess observes your marriage for the rest of your-"

Out of nowhere, a hand pulls me back as I was being dragged towards the elder by Leif.

I slowly turned around... Lucien was holding my hand!

Even the elder had stopped in his tracks. Elias simply stared at my wrist covered with Licien's large palm. And then, what he's uttered from his mouth, changed my life forever,

"She is not going to marry you, Alpha Elias Thorne."

The silence was deafening!

Everyone went radio silent.

"I don't think you're in the position to say that, Lucien."

The third elder, who of course hates my guys tries to stop my only way out of this forced marriage.

"I said, she won't be marrying you, Alpha Elias Throne".

Lucien repeated calmly but with a silent threat.

Gasps rippled through the hall like thunder. I stood frozen, my wrist still wrapped in Lucien's grasp-solid, grounding, real.

His grey eyes locked with Elias's, daring him to challenge what had just been declared. For a moment, I saw fear flicker across Elias's perfectly composed face.

The third elder stepped forward, lips parted in outrage. "This is a sacred union, not a battlefield-"

"It became a battlefield the moment you tried to force her hand," Lucien cut in, his voice like velvet over steel. "You invoke tradition? Then hear mine. The Bloodfang Pack does not recognize this farce of a ceremony."

Whispers erupted behind us. Elders exchanged wary glances. The authority in Lucien's voice was absolute, and for the first time in days, I felt like I could breathe.

Elias scoffed, stepping forward, but Lucien shifted, his body subtly moving in front of mine. "Try it," he said, voice low and deadly.

I looked up at him, barely able to form words. "Why are you doing this?"

Lucien's gaze softened, just for me. "Because you don't belong to anyone, Nova. Least of all him."

And just like that, the tide turned.

Not just in the room-but in my heart.