The Alpha's Claimed Mate

A small scream rang out in the noisy ballroom, and a few people looked our way in annoyance. One glance from Rafayel made sure they didn’t open their mouths, though. I grinned at Claire, ignoring the commotion I had caused.

Claire took one look at me and dropped the cake plate in her hand in shock. Rylan was quick enough to catch it, but his efforts weren’t noticed by her. She was too busy bursting into tears again and hugging me. I gently patted her back as she smothered me with her hug.

“Ash! Where’ve you been? I’ve been looking for you everywhere and almost thought you ran away without even saying goodbye!” She spoke while sobbing, her emerald green eyes glistening with tears made her look terribly cute.

She was right, and I felt guilty for that. From the corner of my eye, I could see Rafayel raising an eyebrow in my direction. I beckoned him to come join us so that I could see more interesting reactions from Claire.

“No way, I just ran into an, erm, situation? Yes. Situation, that’s it,” I consoled her by rubbing her dark blonde hair. Rafayel made an appearance right at that moment. Rylan, who was watching us amusedly the whole time, blanched.

“I greet the Lord of the West,” Rylan said, greeting the mischievous Alpha Superior, who was looking at us curiously. Claire, noticing the oppressive aura, also clumsily mumbled her greetings. She looked at me, panic in her eyes, like a little chick asking its mother what to do.

I almost laughed at how adorable she was, but held it in. The fear of being clawed at by her scarily sharp nails did the trick.

“This is Alpha Superior Rafayel Elynas. The lord of the western lands. Also, one of the ‘situations’ I ran into,” I introduced him to her first. Usually, the person with lower societal status would be introduced first according to etiquette.

But Claire was my best friend, and I knew for a fact that Rafayel wouldn’t care about these trivialities.

“And Alpha Rafayel, this is Claire, my best friend and her soon to be mate, Rylan.”

“I see, delighted to make your acquaintance,” Rafayel said cheerfully, looking at Claire and Rylan. He looked at them the same way I looked at Claire most of the time. Like a pair of puppies that he could tease. I shook my head. Ah, I knew from the moment I met this guy he would be trouble. He was too much like me!

Claire looked at me in confusion, and then between the both of us. I could already hear the gears in her head churning at the wrong conclusion.

“Are you guys…” She trailed off. I shook my head.

“I am the chosen Luna of an Alpha Superior, but not this one,” I said.

“Miss, don’t even joke about it, that guy would take my head off,” Rafayel said, looking at her with wide eyes, as if he wasn’t just as powerful. Rylan quietly observed from the sidelines. He seemed to have got who I was referring to and paled even further, his soft gray eyes trembling a bit.

“You’re what now?!” Claire screamed quietly. I did not know how she managed to do that.

“I found myself a mate while you were looking for me,” I said sheepishly.

“An Alpha Superior?” She asked in astonishment. I nodded and pointed at Zak in the distance, who was in a serious conversation with Alpha Enya.

“No, more importantly, you’re mated to that granite-looking guy?” She pointed to Zak. I laughed out loud at her words. Rafayel also let out a stifled laughter, as if he didn’t want to get caught laughing. Zak turned to look in our direction as if he sensed us teasing him.

His icy eyes darkened at the sight of me and Rafayel laughing. He immediately said something to Alpha Enya and started walking in our direction. Claire panicked and looked at me.

“Did he hear us? I heard that Lycans have very sensitive hearing?” She whispered. Rafayel started laughing harder at this. I barely stifled my laughter.

“He probably didn’t, considering the noise in the hall. Don’t worry,” I said, amused.

“Hear what?” A quiet, sexy male voice sounded in my ear. I jumped.

‘When did this guy get near me?'

“Alpha Zak, we were just talking about your ‘handsome’ features. Nothing else,” I said smoothly. Rafayel finally stopped laughing. Rylan looked like he was about to faint. I turned my head and looked up at Zak. His blue eyes met mine in a questioning gaze.

“So granite means handsome?” He asked, amused.

‘Oops.’ Claire looked like she was about to burst into tears again.

“I rarely punish straw haired omegas. Don’t worry,” Zak reassured her ‘kindly’. I flicked his hand.

“Don’t tease her,” I scolded him.

Claire looked like she had finally caught up with the conversation and looked at us.

“Straw haired who m-” her voice was cut off by Rylan, who put his hand on her mouth to shut her up.

“How about you introduce me to your friend now? I have been waiting quietly for a while,” Rylan said to Claire kindly. She melted at his words and nodded.

“Ash, this is Rylan, the guy I’m gonna be mated to. Rylan, this is Ash, my best friend,” Claire introduced us to each other. Rylan gave me a friendly smile.

“Greetings to the Lord of the North and his Chosen Luna,” He said formally. He nudged Claire when she didn’t say anything.

“Greetings to the Lord of the North,” she mumbled after being poked by Rylan twice.

Zak nodded curtly at their greetings.

“I see that your friends are just like you,” Zak said dryly. Rafayel shook his head in disagreement.

“I say that she’s more like me Zak. How does it feel to be mated to your best friend’s female version?” Rafayel teased. Zak looked at him in disgust, moving closer to me. He ignored him and turned to me.

“We can start the ceremony and set off to Eternal Frost right away. I made all the arrangements with Alpha Enya. Say your goodbyes now. You can meet them later in the pack of you want.”

I nodded. As Zak was the most powerful Lycan in this place, he would have to start the ceremony, but I didn’t expect we would be leaving right after. Claire hugged me.

“I’ll come visit you there. Congratulations on finding your true mate. I heard the rumors but didn’t think the lucky person was you, Ash! Tell me if he troubles you though, I’ll help you sneak away,” she whispered in my ear.

Zak let out a scoff.

Claire glared at him.

‘Why do I get the feeling my best friend and mate don’t seem to like each other very much?’

She let go of me and turned to Zak.

“I hope you take good care of my best friend.”

“I will treat my mate very well,” He affirmed.

They both shook hands begrudgingly before Rylan dragged her away. I waved her goodbye till she was out of sight.

“What a riotous lot,” Rafayel laughed, shaking his head at us.

“Why are you still here? I only told you to take care of her when I’m not around. Get out,” Zak said to Rafayel, noticing his presence again.

“Fine, I’m going,” Rafayel rolled his eyes. He cheerfully waved me goodbye and walked away, leaving only me and Zak behind.

I looked at Zak awkwardly.

“You don’t need to assign someone to look after me every time you need to go somewhere. I won’t try to escape,” I said. ‘At least not now.’

“It’s for your safety, not because I’m worried you will escape. We need to go now. It’s time. Don’t fret too much,” He said softly.

“Okay.” I let myself be led by him to the centre of the ballroom, where Alpha Enya was standing with a priest wearing the robes of the Temple of Cerne. The robes symbolising our goddess were dark as the night, with silver lining and gold embroidered symbols of the moon and stars.

A loud horn bellowed, signalling the start of the ceremony. Everyone in the ballroom became silent in an instant. We both took our places on either sides of the priest. In front of us was a table in which two decorated knives and an ornate bowl was placed.

“Today, we stand here to witness the blood oath of true soulmates, blessed by the Goddess Cerne,” the priest announced loudly. He handed us both the beautiful-looking knives.

“Do you both consent to take this blood oath and form a pact with each other for all eternity?”

“I do,” Zak said determinedly. I gulped.

‘Ah, for all eternity? Did this guy change the vows?’

I glared at Zak, he just smirked at me.

“I do,” I said begrudgingly.

“Since it is your intention to enter the holy covenant, let your bloods mingle on this sacred day, prove your consent before the Goddess Cerne and her temple.”

Zak made a long cut on his palm and silver blood dripped down his hand into the ceremonial bowl. The cut healed in an instant. I did the same and made a long gash on my palm and blood flowed out.

Only, my blood today wasn’t red like normal wolf shifters.

It was silver, like that of a Lycan.

W/N

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