Mated To The Ruthless Blood Moon Alpha

Elara POV:

I stood in a corner, looking at the grand wedding in front of me, the crowd coming and going. However, instead of feeling festive, my heart was full of unwillingness and grievance.

Today was my father's second wedding, and the Silver Ridge Pack was holding a grand wedding ceremony for him since he was the Alpha.

Although this wasn't his first marriage, my father still attached great importance to it. He made sure that the wedding venue was decorated lavishly, and I overheard some people saying that it was even more beautiful than that of his wedding with my mother. My father had also invited many Alphas here, which showed how much he loved and respected his new bride.

But what he failed to realize was that today was also the death anniversary of my mother.

The wedding progressed smoothly, and everyone looked so happy. My mother's grave, on the other hand, was desolate and lonesome, without anyone there to visit her.

I didn't want to be at this stupid wedding. I just wanted to accompany my mother now.

"Debra, where are you going?"

A sharp female voice sounded from not far away, interrupting my conversation with Vicky Todd, my maid.

I turned to look in the direction of the voice and saw my stepmother, Marley Clarkson, and her servant walking to us.

Marley was much younger than my father. In fact, she was only four years older than me. She was the daughter of the Alpha of the Frosty River Pack and exceedingly beautiful. Marley's white wedding dress billowed in the breeze. Her wavy blonde hair framed her face perfectly. She looked as pretty as a porcelain doll.

Not wanting to talk to her, I turned my head away.

"Are you planning to miss an occasion as important as this and embarrass your father's Luna?" Marley demanded.

"Of course not!" Vicky hurriedly stepped in to mediate. "Debra's tired and wants to have a rest, that's all."

"Is that so?" Marley narrowed her eyes at me and suddenly cracked a smile. "Good. I want to talk to you about something."

"Why?" I asked, staring at her vigilantly.

I never got along with Marley, but for the sake of my father's happiness, I tried to stay out of her way as much as possible. And Marley never came to me on her own accord.

Now, she wanted to speak with me. My intuition told me that something bad was about to happen.

"Relax." Marley's grin widened. "I just want to borrow the necklace you're wearing. It'll go perfectly with my wedding dress."

"Sorry, but no." I refused without hesitation. "This was my mother's."

The necklace I was wearing was the only thing my mother had left me, and I treasured it dearly. It was my only connection to my mother. Whenever I was wearing it, I felt that my mother was close and had never left me.

Of course, I would never lend it to anyone, let alone my stepmother.

Marley seemed to read my mind. She softened her tone and said gently, "Why are you so cold to me? It's our first day together as a family."

If Marley treated me as a family like she claimed, she wouldn't have tried to take away my mother's last belonging.

"Sorry, but I can't lend it to you." I narrowed my eyes at her coldly.

"Then don't blame me. I need that necklace." Marley's gentle smile was instantly replaced by a sneer. She then signaled to her servants.

The two servants immediately sprang into action. One grabbed my left arm, while the other grabbed my right. They forced me to kneel, my knees hitting the ground hard.

Wincing in pain, I raised my head and saw Marley standing before me.

Her beautiful face was tainted with mockery. She stretched out her slender hand and yanked the necklace off my neck.

The next second, the clasp came undone and the necklace was taken away from me.

"What the hell are you doing?" I never thought this woman would be so shameless. "Marley, give me back my necklace!"

Even Vicky was aghast. "You can't do this! That necklace was given to Debra by her mother!"

As she spoke, Vicky hurried forward to block Marley from leaving.

One of the servants who were holding me kicked her away.

Vicky stumbled and fell, her forehead slamming into the stone pillar. Blood trickled down from the wound, staining her pale face.

Vicky was my mother's best friend. After my mother passed away, she stayed in the pack for my sake and remained single all her life. She practically raised me.

How dare Marley hurt her like this!

My wolf, Ivy, became restless. I, too, was driven mad with anger.

Ivy growled in my mind, "Rip them to shreds, Debra!"

But before I could do anything reckless, Vicky struggled to stand on her feet. Leaning on the stone pillar for support, she managed to cry out, "Debra, don't do anything rash!"

I knew she was right. Because Marley was now married to my father, she was officially the Luna of our pack. If I laid a finger on her, my father and all the members of our pack would sense it immediately.

As Vicky spoke, the blood trickled down from her eyebrow to her chin.

Seeing her like this made my heart ache so much. I rushed over to help her.

"Eww, this necklace is so cheap." A playful smile appeared on Marley's face as she took a closer look at my mother's necklace. "How could your mother leave you such a cheap thing? Pathetic!"

As she spoke, she fiddled with my necklace casually.

"Don't worry. I'll give it back to you. It's just a necklace. I'll have countless better necklaces now that I'm the Luna."

Click!

Marley threw my necklace to the ground as hard as she could. The chain instantly broke, and the gems clattered to the ground one by one.

The only thing my mother had left to me was ruined.

For a split second, I felt as though my heart was being squeezed by an invisible, oppressive force.

Ears buzzing, I knelt down to pick up the stray gems in a daze.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot up from the back of my hand.

Marley had stepped on my hand.

She dug her high-heeled shoe into the back of my hand deeply.

"You are the daughter of a noble Alpha. How dare you touch dirty trash? Let go, my dear stepdaughter."

I slowly raised my head to look up at her, my eyes filled with hatred and anger.

"Fuck this bitch!" Ivy was so angry that she wanted to rip Marley to shreds. "Bitch, move your stinky foot away!"

Of course, Marley didn't budge. She had nothing to fear after all.

She smiled at me scornfully and warned, "Debra, you'd better learn how to respect your new Luna."

Just then, the wedding music started to play. Marley slowly removed her foot, straightened her dress, and walked away haughtily, followed by her servants.

Ignoring the pain in my hand, I continued to pick up the stray gems on the ground.

Now I understood why Marley wanted the necklace in the first place. It turned out she just wanted to send a message to me-loud and clear.

Up until this point, Marley had only avoided me because she hadn't married my father yet and wasn't officially the Luna. Today was her wedding. Now that she had the power, she wanted to teach her rebellious stepdaughter a lesson. She wanted to show me who the pack's real matriarch was.

"Oh, you poor thing..." Vicky sighed and helped me up. "Don't worry. I'll fix the necklace. I promise it'll look exactly like it used to."

"Thanks, Vicky." I forced a smile at her, trying my best to swallow my sadness.

The wedding of my father and Marley officially began.

Under the dazzling lights, my father and Marley celebrated their love, whereas the werewolves celebrated and welcomed their new Luna. No one noticed me, the pitiful, disheveled she-wolf in the corner, and no one remembered my dead mother.

Depressed and angry, I grabbed a whole bottle of wine and downed its contents in an effort to numb the pain.

I wasn't good at holding my alcohol. It didn't take long before my vision started to blur and my mind began to whirl.

But no matter how much I drank, I couldn't forget that fucking smile on Marley's face, which made me want to puke.

I couldn't stand it. I needed to get out of here.

Just as I turned around to leave, I inadvertently ran into the person standing behind me.

Elara POV:

A thick, masculine scent of pine and something wild, like a storm rolling in over a forest, filled my senses. It was a stark contrast to the stale beer and cheap perfume that usually clung to the air in this place. I stumbled back, my hand flying to my chest as I looked up.

And up.

The man was a mountain, his broad shoulders easily blocking out the dim lights of the wedding hall. A simple, well-tailored black suit did little to hide the raw power coiled in his frame. His hair was as dark as a moonless night, and his eyes... they were the color of molten gold, searing and intense. They stared down at me, unblinking, and for a moment, the entire world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of us in a bubble of charged silence.

He didn't say anything, just watched me with an unnerving stillness. I felt a strange pull, a flicker of something ancient and primal deep within me. My wolf, Ivy, who had been sulking in the back of my mind, suddenly perked up, her interest piqued.

*He's... different,* she murmured, her voice a low hum of curiosity.

I quickly shook my head, trying to clear the dizzying effect he had on me. I was drunk, grieving, and angry. The last thing I needed was to get lost in some stranger's eyes, no matter how captivating they were.

"Sorry," I mumbled, trying to sidestep him.

His arm shot out, not touching me, but blocking my path. The movement was so fast, so fluid, it was almost a blur.

"Are you alright?" His voice was a low, rough baritone, like gravel tumbling down a mountainside. It vibrated through me, a deep thrum that resonated in my bones.

"I'm fine," I snapped, my patience worn thin. The alcohol made me reckless, stripping away my usual caution. "Just trying to get some air."

His golden eyes narrowed slightly, scanning my face, my disheveled dress, the tear tracks I hadn't bothered to wipe away. It felt like he could see right through me, peeling back the layers of anger and sorrow to the raw, aching core of my heart.

"You don't look fine," he stated, a simple observation that held no judgment, only fact.

For some reason, his bluntness broke through my defenses. A fresh wave of tears welled up in my eyes, hot and stinging. I hated it. I hated feeling so weak, so exposed, especially in front of a complete stranger.

"It's none of your business," I choked out, shoving past his arm. This time, he let me go.

I practically fled the hall, bursting out into the cool night air. The sudden chill was a shock to my system, and I gasped, leaning against the cold stone wall of the pack house. I closed my eyes, willing the world to stop spinning.

A few moments later, I heard footsteps behind me. I didn't have to turn around to know it was him. His scent preceded him, that intoxicating mix of pine and storm that was already starting to feel dangerously familiar.

He didn't speak, just came to a stop a few feet away from me. The silence stretched on, but it wasn't awkward. It was... comforting, in a strange way. It felt like he was a silent guardian, a steady presence in my chaotic world.

Finally, I couldn't stand it anymore. I turned to face him, my arms crossed over my chest. "What do you want?"

He held out a small, silver flask. "I thought you might need this more than the cheap wine they're serving in there."

I eyed the flask suspiciously. "What is it?"

"Whiskey. The good stuff." A corner of his mouth tilted up in what might have been a smile. It transformed his harsh, chiseled features, making him look almost... human.

I hesitated for a moment, then snatched the flask from his hand. I took a long, burning swallow. The whiskey was smooth and fiery, chasing away some of the cold that had settled deep in my bones. It was a different kind of burn from the cheap wine, cleaner, sharper.

I handed the flask back to him. "Thanks."

He took a sip himself, his golden eyes never leaving my face. "I'm Kade, by the way. Kade Blackwood."

Kade Blackwood. The name sent a shiver down my spine. He was the Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack, one of the most powerful and feared Alphas in the country. I had heard stories about him – that he was ruthless, brutal, a king who had built his empire on the bones of his enemies.

What was he doing here, at my father's wedding?

"You're a long way from home, Alpha Kade," I said, my voice laced with a new layer of caution.

"Business," he replied vaguely. "And your father invited me."

Of course, he did. My father was always trying to forge alliances, to strengthen his position. Marrying Marley was part of that, and so was inviting powerful Alphas like Kade Blackwood.

"Well, I hope you're enjoying the party," I said, my tone dripping with sarcasm.

He let out a low chuckle, a sound that was surprisingly pleasant. "Not particularly. Weddings aren't my scene."

"Mine neither," I admitted, taking another pull from the flask when he offered it.

We stood in silence again, sharing the whiskey, two strangers united by a mutual dislike for the celebration happening just a few feet away. The alcohol was starting to work its magic, loosening my tongue, making me feel bold.

"She destroyed my mother's necklace," I blurted out, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.

Kade's jaw tightened, a muscle flexing in his cheek. His golden eyes darkened, the flecks of light within them turning into burning embers.

"She?" he asked, his voice dangerously low.

"Marley. My new stepmother. The blushing bride." I spat the words out like poison. "It was the only thing I had left of my mom."

The air around us crackled with a sudden, palpable tension. Kade's powerful frame seemed to swell, radiating an aura of barely controlled rage. It wasn't directed at me, but at the injustice of it all. It was a rage that mirrored my own, but a thousand times more potent, more terrifying.

He took a step closer, and my breath hitched in my throat. The scent of him was overwhelming now, a heady mix of power and fury that made Ivy pace restlessly in my mind.

"No one should ever touch what is precious to you," he growled, his voice a promise and a threat all in one.

And in that moment, looking into the fiery depths of the Blood Moon Alpha's eyes, I felt something I hadn't felt all day.

Hope.

Elara POV:

His words hung in the air, a dark promise that sent a shiver down my spine. It was a strange and potent feeling, having someone as powerful as Kade Blackwood championing my cause, even if it was just with words. The anger in his eyes was a reflection of my own, but where mine was a desperate, helpless flame, his was a raging inferno, capable of burning worlds to the ground.

Ivy was practically purring in my mind. *He understands,* she whispered, a sense of awe in her tone. *He feels our pain.*

I quickly pushed her down. It was just the whiskey talking, for both of us. This man was a stranger, a notoriously ruthless Alpha. He was probably just being polite, or maybe he enjoyed the drama.

"It doesn't matter," I said, turning away from him to stare out at the dark woods that bordered the pack house. "It's done. She's the Luna now. There's nothing I can do about it."

"There is always something you can do," Kade's voice was a low rumble right behind me. He had moved so silently, I hadn't even realized he was closer. The heat from his body was a tangible presence at my back, a comforting warmth against the chill of the night.

I scoffed. "Like what? Challenge the Luna on her wedding day? I'd be an outcast before the sun comes up. My own father would probably be the one to sign the decree."

The bitterness in my voice was sharp enough to cut glass. I hated how pathetic I sounded, how utterly defeated.

"Your father is a fool," Kade stated simply.

I whipped my head around to glare at him. "You don't know anything about him."

"I know that he is celebrating while his daughter is grieving. I know that he is allowing his new mate to disrespect the memory of his former one. And I know that he is blind to the treasure he has in front of him."

His golden eyes held mine, and the intensity of his gaze was staggering. He wasn't just looking at me; he was seeing me. It was a feeling I hadn't experienced in a long, long time. Since my mother died, I had been little more than a ghost in my own home, a painful reminder of a past my father was desperate to forget.

But this man, this stranger, saw me.

My throat felt tight, and I had to swallow hard against the lump that was forming there. "I'm not a treasure," I whispered, the words barely audible. "I'm just... me."

"And that," he said, his voice softening slightly, "is more than enough."

He reached out, his calloused thumb gently brushing away a tear that had escaped and was trailing down my cheek. His touch was like a brand, a spark of electricity that shot through my entire body. It was brief, fleeting, but it left a trail of fire in its wake.

Ivy howled in my mind, a triumphant, joyous sound. *Sparks! Debra, did you feel that? The sparks!*

I stumbled back, my heart hammering against my ribs. Sparks. The legendary sign from the Moon Goddess that you had found your fated mate. It couldn't be. It was impossible. My mate couldn't be Kade Blackwood, the Blood Moon Alpha, a man twice my age and a universe away from my own.

"No," I breathed, shaking my head in denial. "It was just static."

Kade's expression was unreadable, his handsome face a mask of stone. But I could see the flicker of something in his eyes – shock, disbelief, and something else I couldn't quite decipher.

"It wasn't static," he said, his voice flat.

He knew it too. He had felt it. The realization hit me like a physical blow, knocking the air from my lungs. This whole night had been a nightmare, and it had just gotten a thousand times more complicated.

I couldn't be his mate. I wouldn't be. I had seen what love and mating did to a she-wolf. My mother had loved my father with every fiber of her being, and in the end, it had destroyed her. He had moved on so easily, replacing her without a second thought. I would not let that happen to me. I would not tie myself to any man, especially not an Alpha who held the power of life and death in his hands.

"I have to go," I said, turning to flee.

His hand shot out, his fingers wrapping around my wrist. His grip was like steel, firm but not painful. "Wait."

"Let go of me," I said, my voice trembling. I tried to pull away, but it was like trying to move a mountain.

"Debra, we need to talk about this."

"There's nothing to talk about!" I cried, my panic rising. "It was a mistake. The Moon Goddess made a mistake."

A low growl rumbled in his chest, a primal sound that made the hairs on my arms stand on end. "The Goddess does not make mistakes."

His golden eyes blazed with an inner fire, and I saw a flash of his wolf, a terrifying, magnificent beast that was barely contained beneath his skin. This was the real Kade Blackwood, the ruthless Alpha, and I was his fated mate.

The thought was so horrifying, so overwhelming, that my vision started to tunnel. The world spun, and the last thing I saw before the darkness claimed me was Kade's shocked face as I collapsed into his arms.