Chapter 3 The bonding ceremony

Elara's POV

I woke up before sunrise, my heart racing even though I had barely slept. Today was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. The day I would stand in front of the entire Moonshadow Pack and bond with Alpha Thorne as his Luna. I touched the pendant still hanging around my neck. It felt warm against my skin, but I quickly tucked it under my dress. I didn’t want anyone asking questions about it.

My hands shook as I brushed my hair. The maids Mother sent came in soon after, chattering excitedly while they helped me into the white bonding gown. The silk was cool and soft, flowing down to my feet with delicate silver embroidery along the sleeves. When I looked in the mirror, I almost didn’t recognize myself. I looked… pretty. Hopeful.

“You look beautiful, miss,” one of the younger maids said with a genuine smile.

“Thank you,” I whispered. For a moment, I let myself believe this could work. Maybe once the bond was sealed, the pack would stop seeing me as the weak twin. Maybe Thorne would look at me the way he looked at Selene sometimes. With real desire.

Mother burst into the room, her face tight with stress. “Hurry up, Elara. The guests are already gathering. And for the Goddess’s sake, stand straight. You always slouch when you’re nervous.”

“I’m trying, Mother.”

She adjusted the necklace around my neck, the real one made of moonstones, not the strange pendant I hid. “This is your only chance to prove yourself. Don’t ruin it. Selene has been helping the elders all morning. You could have done the same.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Is Selene coming with us?”

“She’ll meet us there. She said she had something important to do first.” Mother gave me one last look, then nodded. “Let’s go.”

The walk to the sacred clearing felt endless. Torches lit the path through the forest, and the full moon hung bright above us. Drums beat softly in the distance, calling everyone to the ceremony. My stomach twisted tighter with every step. Part of me was excited. The other part kept remembering the whispers I had heard for weeks. The doubts. The pity.

When we reached the edge of the clearing, I stopped to take it all in. Rows of pack members stood on both sides of the long aisle covered in white petals and silver ribbons. Lanterns floated gently in the air, powered by the pack’s witches. At the front stood a beautiful stone altar decorated with flowers and ancient runes. And there was Thorne.

He looked powerful in his dark ceremonial robes, his broad shoulders straight and his jaw set. My heart fluttered. He was mine. The Goddess had chosen us. I searched his face for warmth, but he seemed distracted, his eyes scanning the crowd instead of looking at me.

“Ready?” Mother whispered, squeezing my arm a little too tightly.

I nodded.

The drums grew louder as I began walking down the aisle. Everyone turned to watch. Some smiled. Others stared with curiosity or open skepticism. I kept my eyes on Thorne, forcing one foot in front of the other. My legs felt weak, but I refused to stumble. Not today.

Halfway down, I spotted Selene standing near the front on the right side. She wore a deep red dress that hugged her body perfectly, her hair pinned up elegantly. She smiled at me, but something about it felt off. It didn’t reach her eyes.

I finally reached the altar. Thorne took my hand, but his grip was loose, almost reluctant. His skin felt warm, yet distant.

“You look nice,” he said quietly. His voice lacked the excitement I had hoped for.

“Thank you,” I replied, searching his eyes. “Thorne… are you okay? You seem far away.”

He glanced away for a second. “It’s a big night. A lot on my mind.”

The elder stepped forward and raised his hands. The crowd fell silent.

“We gather under the full moon to witness the sacred bond between Alpha Thorne Blackwood and Elara Voss. May the Moon Goddess bless this union and strengthen our pack.”

My heart swelled. This was really happening. I squeezed Thorne’s hand gently, trying to send him reassurance through the faint mate bond. He didn’t squeeze back.

The elder continued speaking about duty, loyalty, and the power of the fated bond. I listened with tears gathering in my eyes. For the first time in a long while, I felt seen. Wanted. This bond would change everything. I would finally belong.

But as the elder asked Thorne to recite the vows, something shifted. Thorne’s jaw tightened. He looked at me, then past me toward the crowd. Toward Selene.

“Thorne?” I whispered.

He dropped my hand.

The elder paused, confused. The entire clearing went dead silent.

Thorne took a step back. His voice rang out loud and clear. “I, Alpha Thorne Blackwood, reject Elara Voss as my mate and Luna.”

The words hit me like a slap. I stared at him, frozen. “What… what did you say?”

He didn’t look at me. His eyes stayed fixed somewhere over my shoulder. “You are too weak, Elara. The pack needs a strong Luna who can produce heirs and stand beside me in battle. You are barren. Everyone knows it. I cannot tie myself and this pack to someone who brings nothing but fragility.”

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Someone dropped a lantern. I felt the blood drain from my face.

“Thorne, please,” I begged, my voice cracking. Tears burned my eyes. “The Goddess chose us. You can’t do this. Not here. Not now.”

He finally met my eyes, and for a split second I saw guilt flicker there. But it disappeared quickly. “I have already chosen someone else. Someone who can give me what you never could.”

He turned toward the crowd and extended his hand. Selene stepped forward with a triumphant smile on her face. She placed her hand in his without hesitation, her red dress glowing under the moonlight.

“No…” I whispered.

“Selene Voss carries my child,” Thorne announced, his voice strong and final. “She will be my Luna and the mother of the next Alpha of Moonshadow Pack.”

The clearing erupted. Shocked whispers turned into loud murmurs. Some people looked angry. Others looked excited. My own parents stood near the front, faces pale, but neither of them stepped forward to defend me.

Selene looked straight at me, her eyes shining with victory. “I’m sorry, sister. But the pack needs strength. I only did what was necessary.”

My legs trembled. The world spun around me. All the hope I had carried, all the dreams of finally being enough, shattered in front of everyone. The pendant under my dress suddenly felt hot against my skin, burning like a brand.

I stood there completely alone, humiliated in front of the entire pack. My fated mate had just chosen my twin sister. And she was pregnant with his baby.

Tears streamed down my face as the weight of everything crashed down on me. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t move.

This couldn’t be real.