Chapter 21 21
Third Person POV
“Excuse me?" Adrian asked. He was sure that he heard wrong. He took the invitation card from Robin's hand and read it. He read it again to make sure he wasn't seeing things.
"How?" He asked; the question wasn't directed to anyone in specifics; he just felt a bit overwhelmed. His uncle was getting married, and he had just found out today. He felt a bit betrayed that his uncle couldn't tell him as he was his nephew.
"Aren't you happy for me?" Draven asked his nephew; he could see the mixed feelings in the eyes of his nephew, the confusion and hurt, maybe even a hint of betrayal because deep down, he knew Adrian still blamed him for the death of his mother.
He couldn't blame the boy for thinking that way; after all, he had been too weak to save her, but now Adrian just thinks he was trying to replace the memory of his mother, to find someone younger and possibly even replace him.
There were no limits to how much an endangered man can think. Draven was aware of this, but he couldn't budge. Not when he had come too far; his nephew's feelings would have to wait until he had achieved what he wanted.
"I am...."
"I'm happy for you, Uncle." Adrian lied; he was anything but happy right now; he felt lied to and deceived; he knew his uncle wasn't a trusting person, so how long had been meeting this woman for him to make her his Luna?
"Invite the Labrinth family, including your fiancé, Thalia," his uncle said. He looked at his uncle; he wasn't sure what his uncle planned on doing, but inviting the Labrinth family wasn't a good idea. The Labrinths felt threatened by his uncle for some reason.
"When is it holding?" Adrian asked, at least he would have some time to prepare himself to meet the new Luna of his pack.
"Tonight"
"What?" The words blurted out from Adrian's lips; he couldn't believe it; it was on such short notice; he was sure things wouldn't go as planned like this.
"Uncle, I think you should give them a bit more time, like a day or two," he stated. He hoped his uncle would see reason with him.
“7pm, this evening," Draven said without a care.
"Those who can make it will, and those who can't won't." He continued; he stood up from the table he sat on and walked towards Robin.
"I have a busy day ahead of me, Robin. I shall see you at the pack, on the ritual grounds," he spoke, then walked towards his nephew. He placed a hand on his shoulder.
"As the future Alpha of the pack, your presence and that of your lady are needed, am I understood?" Draven asked.
"Yes, uncle," Adrian replied. Draven nodded and headed towards the door. He wished he could be more gentle towards his nephew, but the time for that had passed; from now on, Adrian would harbor only hate for him.
Hazel sat on her bed as she watched the sun set into the clouds. She hadn't expected herself to sleep so much; so much time had passed and Draven still wasn't back yet.
She wasn't sure what to do, where to honor, or who to ask. The maids just ran around, arranging and fixing things that didn't seem necessary to her; even Noah had been too busy for her, so she sat bored and alone.
She thought about the baby growing inside of her. Would Alpha Draven really accept this child? She thought. Noah had already found out she was pregnant and she knew he had told Draven already.
Hazel was ready to take care of this child with everything she had. "Why aren't you getting ready?" Draven asked her as he walked into her room.
She turned back at the sound of his voice, half in shock and half excited. She stood up and went to face him. "What's the matter?" He asked her, and she sighed a bit, wishing he could hold her intensely just as he had earlier this morning.
She pushed that thought away from her head. "I don't know what to do or where to go," she complained to him. He looked at her curiously. "Do you need to do anything?" He asked her.
"I don't know; this is my first time, and I have never been to a mating ritual before," she continued. "The maid just greets and passes me while Noah is too busy doing other stuff."
"You're overthinking this; when the time comes, just dress up pretty and look good," he said, turning away from her then stopping. "I've invited Adrian to the mating ceremony; he's coming with your sister," he finished before walking away.
Hazel stopped herself from speaking; if Thalia was coming, she wanted to make sure she felt it, that they all did. Her spark for revenge suddenly came back, like a moth to a bright flame.
The experience she had with her family kept replaying in her head. She realized that she indeed had to look her best; she stormed off to where her dress was being prepared; she was going to make this night an unforgettable experience.
About two hours later, Hazel stood in front of her mirror. She turned around in her dress, making sure the outfit looked as good as she thought it did. A knock came to the door. "Who is it?" She asked
"It's Noah, Luna," he responded.
"The Master is waiting for you at the entrance of the mansion," he said before keeping quiet. Hazel looked once more at her gown; it was a green silky gown with a slight parting by the right leg.
Floral designs were made into the outfit, giving it a sublime appearance. She left her room and walked as graciously as she could.
She spotted Draven at the door in a tuxedo; he looked impressive in the monochrome outfit, and his shoulder pads were well placed to outline just how broad his shoulder was.
He never took his eyes off her as she walked down; she walked careful enough not to trip over her own gown and fall. Soon enough, they were side by side.
It was a surreal moment that she never thought she would experience, but it made her happy all the same. It was a moonless night, and for good reanephews, she could risk Draven becoming violent with so many people gathered around.
Slowly they walked down the stairs, a carpet leading the way to an altar. The altar was littered with beautiful flowers and precious Labrinths. As she walked, she heard a rustle behind her.
She turned her head to look and saw Adrian staring at her; his eyes were wide with shock. The sudden expression made Hazel giggle a bit as she ignored him and kept walking with Draven.
But Adrian didn't give up so easily; he kept pushing till he stood just in front of his uncle and Hazel. He pursed his lips, unsure of what to do or say.
"You're in the way, nephew." Draven spoke with a commanding voice. He looked at his nephew, his eyes so cold it burnt. "Hazel," he managed to say, finding his voice back,
"How could you do this to me?" Hazel smiled in an unnerving manner, "Hurts, doesn't it?" She replied to him before they both walked off. Adrian stood right there speechless, unable to move, think, or feel anything.
He was shocked beyond belief; he felt someone furious tapping his shoulder. He turned and saw Thalia. "What the hell is happening? Why is my sister up there with your uncle?"
She shook him for answers, but Adrian remained speechless; he remembered the words of Robin to fear a woman who sought revenge. He looked at both his uncle and ex-fiance once more; tears filled the brink of his eyes.
He pushed them down forcefully. "No, no, no, this can't be happening, not Hazel, never her!" Thalia screamed, getting the attention of those who were around her.
Adrian looked at his uncle once more; he saw those steely cold eyes and knew that man wasn't his uncle, not anymore; he was the Alpha and took what he wanted.
Adrian carefully guided Thalia to the bank of the crowd where her parents sat; they looked absolutely horrified that the girl whom they threw into prinephew had dethroned her as the heir of the family and frozen all of her assets.
That same girl stood before getting them married to the Alpha of a powerful pack. "Mom, Dad," Thalia left Adrian and rushed to her parents, "Stop this madness now; she can't be a Luna before me; she's Hazel !" She shouted the words while she shook her uncle.
Alpha Dorian gazed at the altar in disbelief; he couldn't hold his anger in, but he couldn't do anything, not with so many influential people around. He looked at his wife Elara, tears slowly streamed down her face.
"That should have been our daughter, Dorian," she said softly, then held her crying daughter. The both of them held each other, shaking in tears, while Adrian looked at Thalia 's uncle and turned away.
He had decided that he would ask her pernephewally. Why did she choose to hurt him so badly, to betray his trust, and marry his own damned uncle?
"Fuck!" He shouted at the top of his lungs; he didn't care that people looked at him; he just needed answers to his questions.
Hazel stood facing Draven. She heard someone curse from the crowd and distant sobbing even further. She smiled at herself as she felt good; her spirit was elated. Draven looked at her expression and chuckled deeply.
A priest stood between the both of them on the altar. "By the name of the Moon goddess, we join these two souls together to become one."
"Alpha Draven, would you take Hazel Labrinth to be your mate?"
"Yes, I do," he said with a smile. "And do you, Hazel , take Alpha Draven to be your mate?"
"Yes, I do," she said, her face smiling as much as she was happy. "Then exchange the vows."
A maid brought a platter with two flowers adorned with the sigil of the silver moon tied to them. Draven wore Hazel 's flower, and she wore hers.
After that, Draven quickly came down from the altar, pulling Hazel with him; his car swerved in front of them both as Noah got out; he quickly got in, knowing what would happen if he wasted any more time.
"Hazel "
"Uncle," he heard Adrian call out, but it was all noise. He started the engine and immediately drove off, leaving everyone in the dust.