Chapter 3 Chosen Celebration

Chapter 3

"Go ahead, I'm all ears" With a moment's hesitation, I began, "It's about the matter of choosing your..." But before I could complete my words, a maid's voice broke through the tense atmosphere, her tone crisp and formal. "Your Highness, your presence is required at the party," my heart sank at what the maid said. "Let's go; we can continue our conversation later," Jayden suggested. He turned to lead the way back into the bustling hall, and I followed, my eyes scanning the crowd as whispers rippled through the air, commenting on how perfectly we seemed together. Some envied Jayden's handsomeness, wishing to be the one he would choose.

Jayden settled into a chair beside the throne, his presence commanding attention without effort. Meanwhile, I made my way toward my friend Amelia.

"Were you able to speak with him?" Amelia asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. I shook my head, feeling a pang of disappointment. "No, I was not able to"

Soon, the royal Alpha king and Luna queen made their grand entrance into the hall, exuding an air of regal majesty. The hall fell silent, with all eyes fixed on them. The elder council members strode in with them, their faces stern and serious. The king and queen took their seats on the throne, while the elders positioned themselves beside Prince Jayden. The prince exchanged greetings with the elders, his calm demeanor unwavering.

One elder rose, commanding the hall's attention. "As you all know, we gather here today for a momentous occasion. In just one month, the prince will celebrate his 21st birthday-the day of his coronation. He must select a mate who will be crowned queen alongside him on this significant day," he spoke, his voice steady. "It is a cherished tradition that the prince must select his mate today, and the mating ritual will commence on the day of his coronation. And if the chosen one meets her mate before the mating ritual, she must reject him" the elder continued, sitting back down with an air of resolute finality.

With that declaration, Jayden stood, drawing every gaze in the room. "I have already made my decision," he declared, his words steady and clear, sending ripples of anticipation through the crowd.

My heart raced with anxiety, the reality of the moment washed over me like a tidal wave, filling me with fear and dread. As soon as the words left Jayden's mouth, I felt a wave of dizziness wash over me, and a knot formed in my stomach. Selena growled anxiously in my mind " I hope he won't choose us"

"My chosen mate is none other than Davina Bryson, the daughter of Alpha Bryson of the crescent moon pack, will you accept to be my mate?" Prince Jayden asked, walking toward me, his eyes glowing with the presence of his wolf. He stood in front of me, awaiting my response.

My gaze swept the room, meeting a sea of varied reactions: shock, discontent, and indifference. My parents' faces stood out, their glares piercing, their eyes demanding her immediate acceptance. In contrast, the Alpha king, Luna queen, and elders exuded satisfaction, their pleasure palpable. Struggling to hold back tears, I felt trapped, torn between the fate I have been prepared for and my own desires.

"Yes, I accept to be your mate, Prince Jayden," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. The words felt like a weight on my tongue. As I spoke, Jayden's eyes locked onto mine, a spark of something unreadable flashing in their depths. The room seemed to hold its breath, the air thick with anticipation.

With my acceptance, the room erupted into a flurry of whispers and murmurs, the sound like a distant storm brewing on the horizon. My heart sank, my fate now inextricably linked with Jayden's, setting me on a path I could neither foresee nor escape. I stood there, frozen in a mixture of uncertainty and resignation. Jayden's hand reached out, his fingers brushing against mine, sending a shiver down my spine.

As Prince Jayden's fingers brushed against mine, I felt a jolt of shock and stepped back, my eyes darting around the crowd that had gathered. The hall, once filled with the soft hum of conversation, had fallen silent, with all eyes fixed on us. The weight of inevitability pressed down on me like a heavy shroud, suffocating me. This moment, which I had long feared, was finally upon me, and my heart ached with a mixture of anguish and resignation. I couldn't help but wonder why I was destined for this path.

The faces of my parents, the Alpha king, and the Luna queen blurred together as I gazed out at the sea of expectant faces. I felt trapped, like a pawn in a game I didn't want to play. With a surge of desperation, I lifted my dress and pushed through the crowd, ignoring the congratulations and well-wishes that came my way.

As I pushed past the people, I heard Prince Jayden's voice calling out to me, "Davina, wait!" But I didn't look back, didn't dare to. I kept my eyes fixed on the door, my heart pounding in my chest. I burst through the doors, the cool night air hitting me like a slap in the face.

Outside the hall, the darkness seemed to swallow everything, leaving only the soft glow of torches flickering in the distance.

As I entered the forest, the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves filled my nostrils. I immediately shifted into my wolf form, feeling the familiar rush of power and freedom.The forest came alive around me, the chirping of birds, and the rustling of leaves. I started running through the forest, taking in the natural and refreshing forest scents, the sounds of birds and animals, and the crunch of leaves beneath my paws.

The wind rushed past me, whipping my fur back and forth as I ran faster, until I reached the stream.

"Hey Davina, what are you thinking about? I've been talking to you" Jayden shook me a little, waking me up from my thoughts about the evening celebration. "Nothing, what did you say?" I said.

" I said, Are you okay? Why did you leave the celebration like that?" Prince Jayden replied, his deep voice smooth. "I stood there, taking a moment to observe you before approaching. And I'm not surprised if you heard – after all, werewolves have heightened senses, including smell and hearing. I approached him, smiling but my eyes were dull and unhappy.

"I'm good," I replied, my voice a little too casual. "I just needed some fresh air, that's all." I tried to force my expression to look okay.

"I'm sure something was bothering you, was it about me choosing you as my mate? Davina, are you sure everything's okay? Is there something bothering you? if you don't want to be my mate tell me," he said, his voice gentle but insistent.

I was silent for a few minutes, weighing whether to speak about my feelings or not. The only sound was the gentle lapping of the water against the shore and the distant chirping of birds.

"No, nothing's wrong. I'm fine and okay with being chosen as your mate," I replied, trying to keep my tone neutral.

"Okay, because I really wish for you to be my chosen mate willingly, not by going against your wishes," he said, trying to reassure me.

"My wolf loe, also wants you, and if there's anything you want to talk about, you can share it with me." He said, studying my reaction.

"Everything is alright," I repeated, my voice firm but unconvincing and my expression unreadable.

"Okay, let's go back," he said, and started walking towards the palace. The silence between us was palpable, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was indeed wrong. As we walked back to the palace, almost out of the forest, the trees grew thinner, and the sunlight filtered through the leaves.

Suddenly, Priscilla appeared in front of us, blocking our path.Her eyes blazed with anger and hurt. "Jayden, why did you choose her over me?" she demanded, her voice low and urgent. "She doesn't love you; she only accepted being your mate because of her parents," she said, pointing at me with a shaking finger.

"And you knew I loved you and wanted to be your mate," she continued, her voice cracking as tears welled up in her eyes. Her expression was a mix of sadness and desperation.

"How dare you question my authority and speak to me, your alpha, in such a disrespectful manner," he growled, his voice rough and cold with Leo's presence simmering just below the surface. His eyes gleamed golden in the fading light, a clear warning that he would not be challenged. "You'd better get out of my sight now, before I lose my temper. If it weren't for Elder James, I'd have torn you apart."

Priscilla looked shaken, her eyes wide with fear as she bowed her head in submission. She turned and ran away from us, her footsteps echoing through the forest. The sound of her fleetingness was followed by an uncomfortable silence between him and me. "Sorry about that," he said to me, trying to compose himself.

I took a deep breath, feeling the cool night air fill my lungs "It's okay," I replied, my voice calm and soothing.

We continued walking until we reached the front of the palace. The grand entrance loomed before us, its doors guarded by two imposing figures. "Good night, Prince Jayden," I said, my voice polite but distant.

"Call me Jayden," he said, his voice softer now. "You're my mate, and we're equals." He smiled.

"Okay," I said. I turned and walked towards the room designated for me in the palace.

As Davina and Jayden parted ways, a figure that had been following and watched them without their knowledge emerged from the shadows, his eyes fixed on them with an unnerving intensity. The moonlight cast eerie shadows on his face, accentuating the menace in his gaze.

A twisted smile spread across his face, and he whispered to himself, "I think I've found the destined one, and she hasn't awakened her power and hasn't met her destined mate. Since the destined one hasn't awakened her power, we can still kill her before she gains them."

With that chilling thought, he turned and vanished into the darkness, leaving behind a haunting whisper: "I'll inform my king." The silence that followed was oppressive, heavy with the weight of Davina's unknown fate.