Alpha's Substitute Luna

Blossom POV.

"You will marry Alpha Dean! Do you understand?!"

Uncle Alejandro's voice was deep and firm, enough to stop me from opening the door. Probably my sister Diana pleaded again.

Its been two days since our uncle announced the wedding of my sister to Alpha Dean, the alpha who lost his wife a few days ago, and until now, I still can't believe our uncle's decision! Alpha Dean is a death sentence! He is known as the most cruel alpha in the entire continent! Yet, I can't do anything to help my sister.

"Make sure you look good tomorrow! I don't want any unnecessary problems!"

After does remark, I heard footsteps, a signal for me to turn the doorknob. "Uncle Alejandro..." I greeted with a smile on my face. I make sure that he won't notice the annoyance and anger that I hide. If he finds out that I don't agree with the marriage, surely he will lock me to my room until my sister is taken away by the bastard Alpha Dean.

"Blossom," Uncle Alejandro uttered with his usual strict face. He looked at the tray I was holding.

"Diana did not eat her dinner since she is busy preparing for tomorrow's event." I uttered before uncle asked anything. Perhaps he also knows my sister has lost her appetite after his announcement. He just walked and passed, without any warning as he usually does.

"Sis..." After Uncle Alejandro was gone, I quickly approached Diana, placed the tray on the side table and sat next to her on the bed.

"Blossom... what should I do? You know I don't want to marry Alpha Dean. I can't marry him...but Uncle Alejandro-"

"Uncle don't own you! Diana, its your life and if you don't want to marry that bastard then don't! You have the right to choose to marry the one you love." I cut her words. Although my advice is far from the truth because we both know our uncle, the alpha of our pack can make all the decisions for the two of us.

"Blossom, you are right... In fact I really do believe that our lives are in our hands," Diana responded. Her eyes are clouded by the suppressed tears "... However, there are times when you have to forget this belief–because in reality, our life is destined to this pack and our fate is held by the superiors... So –"

"Run away! Go with him and leave this place!" the word just came out of my mouth. Although our life in the pack is restrained, it cannot be said to be bad. We have everything we needed, that's why running away never crossed my mind. And as long as we are unharmed, we can wait for our mates to get us out here.

Diana was surprised, her eyes widened and remained speechless. "Blossom..."

"I have an idea... This is what we gonna do." And it seems, Diana accepted my suggestion because he immediately nodded and sincerely listened to my 'idea'.

The idea I'm talking about is simple... Diana will pretend to be a maid to leave the mansion while me–I will prepare all her needs... A few clothes and huge amount of jewelry and cash. Then, I will also make sure that no one will notice Diana is no longer in her room and to insure that, I will stay behind and make some commotion to divert everyone's attention to me.

.........

Two o'clock in the morning

"Blossom, are you sure you want to stay? You know uncle Alejandro's attitude... I'm afraid he will-"

"Shh... uncle Alejandro can't do anything to me that he hasn't already done," I uttered with confidence while opening the back door. "Stop worrying me and focus on what you need to do..."

Diana hugged me tightly before taking a step. "Once we settle down we will contact you," she muttered before walking away.

When Diana was out of my sight, only then did I return to my room. I knew for myself, I needed a rest because the next day-I was going to face a terrifying alpha. Certainly, uncle Alejandro will not believe that I know nothing about Diana's escape. But I'm ready... No matter what he does, I won't betray my sister.

.....

A loud thump echoed in my sleep, along with a hard shaking of my shoulder. 'Damn it! I didn't expect uncle Alejandro to go to this room so early!' I couldn't help wincing because of the pain of my hip hitting the floor.

"Blossom! How dare you scheme behind my back!" uncle Alejandro roared as my body fell to the floor.

"Ouch! Uncle Alejandro, what are you talking about? Will you please calm down and tell me what is going on? What did I-"

"Where is your sister! You talked to her last night! I know you know something, so tell me everything!"

"I won't say anything because I don't know anything!" I responded firmly while staring straight at uncle Alejandro. At that moment I didn't feel scared, maybe my brain was still asleep.

"No one can defy me and everyone knows that! You and your sister are ungrateful! I make it lear that this marriage is for the good of the pack and your sister still chooses to run away!" Uncle Alejandro's voice is cold but calm and this kind of voice is more terrifying for me.

"Listen to my command! From now on, I denounce Diana to the pack and now she is a fugitive!! Uncle Alejandro's voice echoed throughout my room "And you, Blossom- you will take her place! You will marry Alpha Dean!"

"What?! But uncle! You can't do this to me! I cant marry Alpha Dean! Uncle please, take back your command..." I uttered as my hands quickly moved to Uncle Alejandro's arm.

That plea of ​​mine just flew in the air, my hands that were holding uncle Alejandro were pulled away by him forcefully. My pleading gaze was only met with a cold gaze.

"Stop resisting and get ready! I want you to be perfect in everyone's eyes!" After this remark, uncle Alejandro turned around and left the room.

As soon as the door was closed, I quickly ran and made sure the door was locked. 'Finally! This is my long awaited opportunity...'

Blossom POV

I shivered slightly as my uncle tightened his grip on my arm and pushed me forward to stand at the center of the Royal Werewolf Court. I could feel the steely-eyed gaze of the court's high leadership piercing me, but I dared not look up. There was no way I was going to let them see how frightened and alone I felt.

I was there as a substitute for my sister Diana, who had escaped the grip of our uncle before landing in the very position I now found myself in. Even when I had helped my sister to get away, I never expected that I would be the one selected as the mate for the alpha. It was Diana whom our royal family had offered to the courts as a substitute mate for the newly widowed Dean, the alpha leader of New Orleans' largest werewolf race. I had never actually laid my eyes on him before, but I had heard plenty about him. He was said to be one of the strongest leaders ever known, a fierce warrior who ascended to his position as alpha at a very young age. But that wasn't all I had heard about him.

I also was aware of what the women werewolves said about Dean-that when taking werewolf form, he had legs as strong as tree trunks, but moved with the agility of an antelope and quickness of a cheetah. He was extremely handsome in either form and it is said that his beastly scent can make females want him instantly. I wasn't sure how much of that was true, but as I stole a sideways glimpse in Dean's direction, I had to admit, the mere sight of him stirred something deep within me.

Dean stood casually on the sidelines, his father standing just to his side. For his part, he seemed quite disconnected from all that was going on around him. His face showed pure indifference. Not once had he even looked my way. Had he bothered, he would have seen a beautiful, young she-werewolf with stunning green eyes, naturally full lips, and a thick mane of long, dark brown hair that seemed to have golden strands that glimmered when the light hit them just right, almost like glimmers of fire.

I visibly jumped, startled from my thoughts by the thunderous voice of my uncle, Alejandro, formally presenting me to the court, stating, "Your honors, I present to you my niece Blossom, a worthy young maiden werewolf of noble blood. She is here in place of her sister, who as you know, is now a fugitive, a runaway, from the authority of the most honored Royal Court. Our royal pack presents the beautiful and enchanting Blossom as a gift to the noblest alpha leader of our race, as a token of our gratitude for the many gifts and favors bestowed upon our pack."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at him, causing my uncle to grasp my arm even tighter and give it a shake, as though to "keep me in line." I knew my reaction was not considered appropriate behavior. But Alejandro claiming that I was being handed over as some sort of token of appreciation was ridiculous. He is lucky I did not laugh aloud.

Everyone, from my uncle to the alpha to the leaders of the court, knew exactly why Alejandro had pounced on the opportunity to hand over his niece-first Diana, and now me, Blossom-to Dean: he hoped it would bring him power, prestige, and wealth. That is all. While of noble blood, Alejandro had never quite made a place for himself among the uppermost echelon of our race. I had heard bits and pieces of his past. I knew it involved his love for a beautiful she-werewolf of another pack when he was young. He had been rejected by her father as being unworthy. I didn't know more than that nor did I care.

All that mattered was that I was here, standing before the court and standing before my soon-to-be mate. I felt like a lamb led to auction, all eyes upon me, seemingly in expectation. But the expectation of what? Was I expected to look humble? Grateful? Happy? Or, was it scorn I saw in their eyes? Was I to be the target of their anger over my sister's sudden and unexpected revolt?

Perhaps they were waiting for my true noble heritage to make itself physically apparent in some way. Sometimes, I forgot I was of royal blood. My sister and I had lived under our uncle's rule since we were young, following the untimely death of our parents. But far from providing a loving home to two young children who felt lost and overcome with grief, Alejandro offered nothing but cold indifference. It was a stark contrast to the loving home we had known with our parents. Alejandro made it clear that he had only taken us in to gain the riches of our parents. He stripped us of our property rights and stole our wealth, all in the name of compensation for taking us in.

But even that was not enough, and Alejandro seemed constantly in pursuit of ways to gain stature and wealth beyond what he already accumulated, as though trying to fill a gaping void that he could never satisfy. He spent nearly every waking hour in greedy pursuit of money and power, and I had long ago lost count of his many schemes and activities to accumulate more riches, more property, and more status. He was such a dark contrast to my dear, dead father, a kind and compassionate he-werewolf who loved his daughters unconditionally.

The thought of my parents caused tears to well up in my eyes. Realizing he had started to loosen his grip, Alejandro tightened his clutch on my arm once again, as though he was worried if he loosened his hold, I would vanish, like my sister. His fingertips began to dig into my flesh, adding to my discomfort.

I appear staunch in my resolve not to let them see a single tear cascade down my perfectly curved cheek-not the court, not my uncle, and certainly not Dean nor his father. I had so many emotions churning within, for a moment I thought I may be sick or pass out. But I had always been able to draw upon an inner strength from deep within whenever I felt at my most vulnerable and weakest.

Blossom POV

It was with that strength that I was determined not to show any outward weakness. I would concentrate on the one bright spot in all of this shameful mess-I was about to be out of my uncle's house and away from my cruel family. I had often vowed to myself that I would seize any opportunity to be out from under my uncle's fist once I came of age. This was my chance. While I knew little of what might lie ahead, there were few scenarios I could imagine that would be worse than the life I had known under my uncle's roof.

I am suddenly aware that someone is speaking. It is the head of the Royal Elders, and he is acknowledging my uncle, much to Alejandro's delight. The senior elder is now formally asking the court to vote on accepting me as the substitute mate for Dean. After some mumbling and a voting process that was far more formal than necessary, their recommendation is unanimously approved. It is now up to Dean to confirm that he accepts the court's decision so that I can be his mate. Many among the Royal Elders felt this was merely a formality once their decision was rendered. No one dared go against the Royal Elders.

But instead of voicing his affirmation, Dean remains silent. There is some awkward murmuring among the elders as the seconds-and then, minutes-tick by.

.......

Meanwhile, Aries stood quietly, and just as expressionless as his son, throughout Alejandro's haughty presentation and the Royal Elder's decision. But he now wondered at his son's continued silence.

He had been willing to allow the court to choose his son's new mate without voicing his protest, at least at the start. But as complications arose, he became much less patient with the entire process. Still, he knew there would be consequences if he forced his son to blatantly disregard the court's decision. For one, his son is the alpha, their rightful leader. The rules of the traditional father-son relationship no longer applied, and they both knew it. His son was likely to respond with fury if he attempted to interfere, especially in such a visible, public way.

The other issue, of course, was that the Royal Elder's decision was, for all practical purposes, the law of the land. It was the Royal Court that operated at the center of their werewolf universe, determining right from wrong, doling out punishment, and controlling a great deal of the wealth of the packs in the process. If Aries were to ignore the decision of the court, there could be any number of repercussions, ranging from devastating embargoes to imprisonment.

There would be far fewer ramifications if the decision to reject this substitute mate came directly as a result of his son's own free will if only that will could be manipulated, he mused. Aries gazed at his son and marveled at Dean's ability to show no emotion. It was likely this particular trait, honed to perfection, that contributed greatly to his son's success as a leader. Neither his enemies nor his men knew what he was thinking, which often turned out to be of great advantage.

But since the death of his mate Eliza, Dean's ability to appear void of all emotion had gone beyond anything his father-or anyone else-could have imagined. Aries was surprised he didn't feel more sympathy toward his son's situation, but the feeling passed quickly. Dean had realized his destiny from a very young age, and Aries saw his role not as a loving father, but as trainer and mentor. From Aries' viewpoint, the harder he was on Dean, the greater Dean's success and stature as alpha.

Dean didn't quite see it that way, however. He knew he was born with the fire in his blood to be the type of alpha that legends are made of, and more importantly, the kind of alpha he was born to be and not some vision that his father or anyone else might hold. To Dean, his father seemed pitiful in his attempts to take credit for Dean's strength, wisdom, and success. Dean was not particularly boastful; he simply saw this as fact.

As Dean remains motionless, the silence is suddenly shattered, not by Dean but by Aries. Despite wondering why his father was suddenly speaking at a time when only Dean should be responding, Dean retains his indifferent expression and still does not turn to glance at me, the young woman who would be his new mate.

"It is my son's decision to accept this substitute mate...or to refuse her," Aries proclaimed. "My honorable son, what do you say?"

As all eyes turn to the stoic Dean, I begin to hear a few titters from the crowd that has formed as well as some of the Royal elders themselves. At first, I feel the blood rise and my cheeks grow hot, but I am as adept at controlling my emotions when desired as Dean is at hiding his.

Some in the crowd then began to jeer and shout out things like, "She is a substitute to a substitute! She is not worthy!" Others seemed more sympathetic toward the beautiful young woman before them. Exclamations of, "Such a beauty!" and "She is tantalizing, the perfect mate!" began to rise from among some of the more sympathetic in the crowd. I showed no reaction. I was not about to give anyone the satisfaction of seeing their words affect me.

Why isn't he saying something?

This is already horrible enough, and now the crowd thinks they need to offer their opinion. And, if my uncle doesn't release my arm, I swear I'm going to pull his hand away myself. I am going to end up all bruised.

I can't believe it was just this morning, I was alone in the bedroom Diana and I used to share. I dreaded this moment, and now it's becoming worse than I had ever imagined. Some might think I'm foolish, giving up a roof over my head and leaving my family to go off into the unknown-as though I had any say in the matter!