Chapter 2 2

Odette

I curled into a ball on the floor, gasping as the severed mate bond shredded my soul. The physical agony was blinding, but the betrayal was worse. My sister. My mate. They had mocked me, discarded me, and left me to burn.

"Odette!"

Martha dropped to her knees beside me. She wrapped her warm arms around my trembling body, pulling my head to her chest. She rocked me back and forth as I sobbed uncontrollably into her shoulder.

"Oh, my sweet, sweet Odette," Martha cried softly, her fingers stroking my hair. "I am so sorry. I cannot believe my own flesh and blood could be so wicked."

I clung to her. Martha had raised me after my birth mother passed away. But after hearing Serena and Josh laugh at my pain, a terrifying seed of doubt planted itself in my chest. After all, Serena was her biological child. She was married to my father, and he cheated on her with my birth mother. She had every reason to hate me. 

"She took him, Mom," I choked out. "She knew he was my mate. Did... did you know?"

I looked up at her, my heart breaking. Serena had hated me. Josh had hated me. "Mom... do you hate me too?"

Martha pulled back, cupping my tear-stained face gently. "Oh, my sweet girl, no," she cooed. "I love you. You are my daughter, even though I did not give birth to you. I had no idea Serena would do something so evil to her own younger sister."

Trusting her words right now was the biggest mistake of my life.

Martha looked at me with desperate eyes. "But Odette, my beautiful girl... You have to listen to me. Alpha Kael is getting mad at the altar. You know what he is. If we do not give him a bride, he will demand blood. He will slaughter our warriors. And worse... he will kill your father."

My breath hitched. "Papa..."

I loved my father so much. He was the Alpha of our tiny pack, a hardworking, gentle man who always tried his best to keep us safe and provide for us. He loved me, and I adored him. The thought of that scarred monster, Kael, ripping my papa apart made me feel sick to my stomach. I would rather die than see my father hurt. I know he was not a perfect man, but he let me live my dreams, protected me from getting bullied for being a bastard, and gave me a life that I would always be grateful for. 

How can I let him take the fall for this mistake? 

Serena might be a monster. But I was not. I have to save my Papa. 

"I can't let him kill Papa," I whispered, tears blurring my vision.

Martha looked over at Serena's white wedding dress hanging on the closet door.

"You don't have to," she said softly. "Just wear the wedding dress and take Serena’s place on the alter"

"Alpha Kael will know!" I cried, panic constricting my throat. "He is a monster! He will kill me!"

“This is absurd…”

“We have to do something to protect our pack.”

“I am the Luna of the pack, and you are Alpha’s daughter—we have a duty and responsibility towards our people. Please, Serena. I beg you.” 

I stared at her. Through the fog of my pain, a voice in my head screamed that something was wrong. Serena’s suitcases were gone. How could she pack her entire life without her mother noticing? How could Martha remain so hopeful while offering me up to a ruthless rogue?

But I was too broken to fight. Serena and Josh had just ruined my life, leaving me with nothing. But the father I loved had everything to lose.

"Do this for your father, Odette," Martha begged, "Save the man who loves you."

Blinded by my devotion to my papa and the illusion of Martha's motherly care, I gave in. I let the trap close around my neck.

"Fine," I whispered. "Put the veil on me."

Little did I know, the wedding was just the beginning of my personal hell.

---

Now standing in front of Alpha Kael at the altar, my heart hammered violently against my ribs.

I stopped breathing entirely. I was terrified he would see right through my disguise. 

"Finally," Kael growled,  sending a shiver down my spine. "Are you ready?"

I nodded slowly, keeping my head bowed down so the veil would not shift.

"She is just very nervous, Alpha," Martha said quickly. "She is ready now."

Kael stared at me for a long second. Even through the fabric, I could feel the intense and burning heat of his gaze.

"We are here to join two packs," the priest said loudly, raising his hands to address the crowd on the beach. "Alpha Kael of The Mad Keepers and Serena of Mist Rain. They come together to form a chosen mate bond, securing peace and protection for all."

But suddenly, everything went dark.

Kael’s chest heaved. He took a deep breath, and his entire body froze stiff. His inner wolf pushed completely to the surface, his ice-cold eyes flashing.

“MATE!” his wolf roared out loud.

The crowd erupted into loud gasps.

"Oh my god, they are fated mates!" a woman from my pack whispered loudly.

"What wonderful news for our packs!" another elder cheered.

"This is an incredible blessing from the Moon Goddess! It is such good news. We have no need to bind you in a traditional chosen mate bond today. The Alpha can simply mark his fated mate right now."

This monster was my fated mate?