Chapter 26: Ceremony of Sorrow

Aurora

The next morning, Wolfgang and the elders conducted a meeting with all pack members.

“We are glad to announce to the pack members that our alpha, Wolfgang Fortier Gagliardi, has finally chosen a mate,” one of the elders said into the microphone.

He was addressing the entire community, who were eagerly listening.

“We gladly present your future luna of the Blood Moon pack, Tallulah Wilhelm.”

Everyone cheered and applauded as Tallulah made her way onto the stage and stood at Wolfgang’s side. She took a hold of his hand, giving him googly eyes.

I watched it all from the back of the crowd. I didn’t want to be there, but it was mandatory.

I could feel my heart break a little more every second as I watched it all unfold.

This was my fate. To watch from as my mate made his life with someone else.

I looked at Wolfgang, and our eyes met for a brief second before I turned my gaze away.

Someone touched my shoulder and I turned to see Max standing beside Gamma Bowman.

Aspen was with them. They all wore gloomy expressions.

“Are you alright, Rory?” Max asked. I gave him a small smile and nodded.

“The mating ceremony will be held in three weeks, after our alpha returns from the leaders’.” The elder announced. “Let’s give the new couple a big round of applause!”

Everyone cheered and shouted.

“Is it necessary for her to be here?” Aspen asked Remus.

He looked up at the stage, and then at me. He gave me a brief smile and shook his head. “You may leave to your room Aurora.”

I bowed my head and thanked him before running off. I couldn’t bear being there any longer.

Wolfgang

I stood before the pack as the elders announced my engagement to Tallulah.

She clung onto me annoyingly. I couldn’t help but feel guilty when I saw Aurora’s hurt-filled eyes. They seemed swollen.

Had she spent all night crying, after I left her room?

Why couldn’t I have fought harder. I hadn’t wanted to hurt her.

Hadn’t meant to mark her.

Max and Remus approached her. I couldn’t help the low growl that escaped my throat as I saw Max place a hand over her shoulder.

She looked at him as he said something, then smiled and nodded.

I clenched my jaw.

“Is something wrong, babe?” Tallulah asked.

“No,” I said through gritted teeth.

“Let’s give the new couple a big round of applause!” Elder Aldo said. A new wave of cheers and applause erupted, taking my attention briefly away from Aurora.

When I turned back to look at her, I saw her bow her head to Remus, then run off.

I wanted to run after her, but people had started approaching, to congratulate Tallulah and I on our engagement.

~“You’re a fucking moron, you know that?”~ Cronnos grumbled in my head.

“Wolfgang! It was about time! I was wondering when you’d finally ask for my daughter’s hand in matrimony,” said Alpha Colt Wilhelm of the Blue Moon pack.

He clapped me on the back. “When are you leaving for the summit?”

“Tomorrow. I have another matter to attend before going to Ambler for the summit,” I told the older man.

Remus had managed to learn that Aurora’s mother had come from a village just a couple of miles from the one where the summit would be held.

I needed to go there, to see if I could find out anything about her. I needed to disprove my gamma’s theory, about my mate being the descendant of the Moon Goddess.

“Always placing work before everything. I hope you don’t start placing my daughter in second place over work, too,” Alpha Wilhelm said, clapping me on the back again.

“Oh come on now, Daddy, Wolfgang would never do that, right babe?” Tallulah said, grabbing hold of my arm once more.

“Mmm,” I mumbled, barely hearing her.

I looked around the crowd, searching for chestnut hair and gray eyes, but she wasn’t in sight.

“She is not here, alpha,” said Remus as he came and stood beside me.

“Hmm? Who’s not here?” asked Tallulah. I glared at Remus.

“Mrs. Craton. I noticed Alpha Wolfgang looking around and I guessed he was looking for her. She is his personal maid, after all,” Remus answered nonchalantly.

He took his glasses off and cleaned them, and I could see the amusement in his eyes.

Both my beta and gamma thought I’d fallen in love with Aurora, and that was why I kept her around.

If they knew that she was actually my mate, I would never hear the end of it.

“Shouldn’t she be here? It is a mandatory gathering. Doesn’t that call for punishment?” Tallulah said, placing a hand on her hip.

“She seemed a bit exhausted, so I let her leave. There won’t be any need for punishment,” Remus said, raising a brow.

“Very well. As long as she had your permission,” Tallulah said, sounding annoyed. She turned away, toward the crowd of well-wishers.

“Where did she go?” I asked Remus.

“I sent her to her room, sir. She seemed like she needed to be alone for a while,” Remus said, peering at me.

As soon as I could get away unnoticed, I walked out of the main hall, taking the stairs four at a time until I reached the fourth floor.

I went straight to her bedroom door and knocked. I heard shuffling inside. Was she alone?

I knocked again and the door swung open, revealing my beta, Max. For a moment, anger flared in me as I thought he’d been alone in here with Aurora.

Then I spotted Aspen sitting on the bed with her.

“Hey man. What are you doing here?” Max asked me casually.

“What do you mean what I’m doing here? It is my house, isn’t it?” I asked back.

“Sure. But I thought you’d still be downstairs, celebrating your engagement to Tallulah.” He leaned on the door frame.

“I need to speak to Mrs. Craton for a moment,” I said, looking her in the eye. She tensed visibly.

“Um sure. Come in,” Max said, stepping aside.

“Alone,” I added.

There was an awkward silence before Aspen cleared her throat and stood up.

“I should see what Remus is up to. Max, can you help me look for him?” she said.

She took hold of Max’s arm and dragged him out of the room, closing the door behind them.

Aurora got out of bed, playing with the hem of her nightdress, her eyes on the floor.

“Auro—”

“Congratulations on your engagement, sir. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness,” she said, bowing her head.

I was taken by surprise for a moment. “Thanks,” I said.

We both fell silent again. I kept my eyes on her.

Even though it was a rare, sunny day she wore a turtleneck sweater, almost certainly to hide the mark I’d made on her.

“Did you need something, sir?” she asked, breaking the silence between us.

Right then, there was a knock on the door. It opened, and Tallulah walked in.

“Oh, here you are, babe. I’ve been looking for you.”

She looked at me. “Um, your name is Aurora, right? Mrs. Kala said she needed you in the kitchen, to help prepare the feast for our engagement party tonight.”

She clung to my arm again.

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll go right away,” she said, bowing.

“Congratulations again on your engagement,” she said before leaving the room.

~Damn it.~