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ATHENA'S POV:-
I was standing in front of the full view mirror. The omegas were busy setting my dress and styling my hair. Alexander had booked one of the best makeup artists of the shifter kingdom to get me ready. While she insisted on putting heavy makeup on my face, I refused. I was wearing a blood red dress. I didn't want heavy makeup. Just light smokey eyes, pink cheeks and nude lips. Once I was ready, the omegas left me alone in our bedroom.
Alexander decided to get ready in Beta Eric's room, since he didn't want to see me until I would be walking with him toward the stage. I sighed, looking at myself. "Am I happy?" I had asked that question to myself a million times in twenty four hours. Yet, I was not able to find the answer.
It was not like I didn't want Alexander to be with me forever. He was my mate and despite the difference we had, I still wanted to be with him. But I couldn't figure out the reason there was this unpleasant feeling inside my chest. Like there was something missing and the time was running. I couldn't get to it and I would regret it for the rest of my life.
I shook my head, trying to focus on my day. A light knock on my bedroom door pulled me out of the oceans of my thoughts. "It's time! Let's get to it." I reminded myself. I grabbed the bouquet of red roses and walked toward the door.
A surprised gasp escaped my lips the moment I opened the door. My grandfather was standing in front of the bedroom, wearing the exact same tuxedo as I always wanted him to wear on the day I would be marked. A royal blue tuxedo with white shirt and black bowtie. His hair was styled the way I always wanted, six inches at front, two inches on the back, and it was neatly parted to the left side.
All of the sudden, the uneasiness I was feeling inside my chest was gone and the night became bright as it was supposed to be. "Look at you! You have grown up so much. You look so stunning." My grandfather whispered softly as he leaned in and placed a soft kiss on my forehead.
I had a lot to say to him. I had so much to apologize for. But at the same time, my duties as an alpha were stopping me. It felt like I was grinding between my own true feelings and the duties that were part of me now. Just then, I saw a sole tear dripping down his cheek and I turned my face away.
Grandfather grabbed my chin lightly and guided my gaze toward his. "You don't have to say a thing, alpha. You have been right all along. It's us alphas who are supposed to be guilty. Because of our sins, you were burdened with a lot." Grandfather was understanding as usual. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me to his chest.
"There is nothing I can say to you to make your life easier. We all were raised to be ruthless assholes. But then again, none of my ancestors were anything like your father. He is a monster. And he will always be a monster." My grandfather whispered while rubbing my back to calm me down.
I was a little worried about the make-up at first. But then, everything was too emotional for me to keep myself in control. "But you, my girl! You were born with everything a hound was not. You are brave and smart and bold and beautiful from inside." He pulled away from me.
As he saw me crying, he pulled his handkerchief out of his pocket and carefully wiped my tears. "You don't have to feel guilty or cry about anything. You are carrying the weight of our sins. No matter what you do, I will always be proud of you. I know because I raised you right." My grandfather added.
Once he was done, he offered me his arm. I smiled widely as I wrapped my arms around his arm and he pulled me out of my bedroom. We went toward the garden that was decorated with lanterns only. At the entrance, Alexander was waiting for me. I let go of grandfather's arm and walked toward Alexander. The way his eyes were sparkling, I knew it was all his doing.
"Goddess, you look so damn stunning. I want to strip you right here and bang you against that wall." Alexander growled loud enough that my grandfather heard him clearly. Grandfather cleared his throat as he walked away, giving Alexander the angry looks. I couldn't stop myself. I started laughing at him.
He grabbed my hand and suddenly pulled me to his chest. I gasped and all of the sudden, I forgot to breathe. "This laugh is so beautiful, I just wanted to hear it again. That's why, I did everything in my power to bring it back." I couldn't help but bite my lower lips as I heard him. He didn't try to coat his words with seduction this time. They were already beautiful enough.
"Alpha, are you planning on going to the stage or you want to just do it all here and take her to your bedroom?" I heard Collen's voice from behind. As if perfection could be perfected in a way, he made my day even better. Collen was with the queen of all the shifters, and for me, my sensei. She walked toward me and pecked my forehead.
"Goddess! You look so stunning. I can say why Alpha Alexander is not willing to take you there." Queen Solana whispered in my ear and my cheeks burned. I turned around and found Alexander weeping like a baby in Collen's arms.
"Come on! You are an Alpha now. You can't be seen crying like a baby, Alex." Collen tried to calm Alexander down.
There was this feeling in my chest. It led me to Alexander. I was surprised as I suddenly wrapped my arms around him and kissed his cheek. My cheeks burned even more when I realized I was doing it in front of both his and my pack and both of our families as well. My brain wanted me to move away from him but my body just held him tightly.
Collen placed one of his hands on Alexander's shoulders and patted it a few times. "Don't cry, Alexander. You have finally become the Alpha Aurora always wanted you to be. She must be so proud of you today." Collen's words gave Alexander the strength he needed in that moment. He quickly dried up his tears then gave me a small smile, just so I wouldn't be worried about him anymore.
Alexander intertwined his fingers with mine and pulled me toward the aisle. We made our way toward the stage. I looked at everyone and found myself admiring everything in front of me. A glass of red wine was placed in front of us. I was a little confused because as far as I knew, we were marked and there was nothing else left for us to do but announce our relationship to our packs.
"Don't be nervous, Athena. It's something werecoyotes do for their Luna. Alpha and Luna drip a few droplets of their blood in the wine. Then they raise the glass to the moon, thanking the Goddess for the match. Then the alpha and Luna take a sip from the glass and kiss each other. The kiss lasts until the wine in their mouths has slided down in their stomachs." Thankfully, I had Cynthia to explain everything to me.
Alexander nodded his head at me, as if he knew that I was aware of the procedure. He asked for my hand. I placed my hand on his palm. He bit my palm, digging his canines just so my blood could be drawn out. He gave me his hand and I did the same. Then he interviewed the fingers of his hand that I bit. He squeezed our hands until a few droplets of our blood were dropped in the wine.
Alexander raised the glass to the moon. As he was about to pray, I interrupted him. "Alexander, which Moon Goddess do you worship?" It was the first time I asked him anything at all. And that brought a smile to his face. Including my sensei, all the shifters worshipped Selene. But I was not one of Selene's worshippers.
Alexander turned to me and looked me in the eye. "I can't stop anyone from worshipping anyone. But to me, my Goddess is Hecate. The Goddess Aurora worshipped while she was taking her last breaths." The crowd echoed with gasps as Alexander announced whom Aurora worshipped. I was left in shock. He turned around, raising the glass to the moon.
"My goddess Hecate, I thank you for bestowing me such a beautiful, brave and smart Luna. I promise you that I will always love and cherish her until the day I die. And after death, I will wait for her as well. I will always love her, just the way she deserves." Alexander spoke the last line while looking into my eyes instead of looking at the moon. I gulped hard as I started feeling that unknown thumping in my chest again.
Alexander let me sip the wine first. Then he took a sip after me. He pulled me to his chest, cupped the back of my neck, tilted his head and kissed me. Our lips locked and not a single drop of wine was able to escape. We shared the wine from our mouths then drank it immediately. We were more excited to taste each other's mouths instead of the wine.