CHAPTER 19: OFFERING CEREMONY

Ayla's POV.

As much as I wanted to stay in front of the Alpha and the Beta, my foot silently stepped backward and tried to run away from the humiliation.

I tried to be as nonchalant as possible, wishing that I could avoid the next conversation but Alpha Liam urgently charged forward. He tightened his grip on my forearm, spinning me around to face them.

"Don't turn your back on me when I am talking to you," Alpha Liam said through the mind link with a dark expression on his face.

In Beta Damian's eyes, we seemed to be sweet and lovey-dovey, but in reality, it's the other way around. He's just too good at hiding things from his pack members.

"Please let me go, Alpha. I am dying from embarrassment."

"You're embarrassed?" he asked in a menacing tone. "You should be proud that I fucked the hell out of you last night."

I did my best to struggle and free myself but his grip was too strong, making me stoned from where I stand.

Honestly? I thought it would be easier to escape from someone like Alpha Liam compared to Alpha Isaac and the Zeta, but now it's harder than I thought.

"Do you want me to tell him how I took you?" His threatening voice rang inside my head.

"Please, don't!" I pleaded immediately while keeping my emotions at bay.

I'm doing my best to maintain my composure despite Alpha Liam's words. It's just that I am now disappointed that he was threatening me again after what happened.

"You still care about him, huh?"

My eyes widened in disbelief. Did I hear that right?

How could he ask me that question without thinking about how much I've sacrificed just to submit to this agreement?

Should I also remind him that he forced me to leave my peaceful life as a servant in Beta Damian's mansion just to be his Luna?

I shook my head as I tried my best to answer him calmly. "I just want to keep things private, Alpha. The intimacy we shared... I don't want people to know about it."

His eyebrows furrowed. "And you want me to listen to you?"

"Yes." I didn't waste my chance to answer his question. Hoping that he would get intimidated even just for a second.

Instead, a soft gasp escaped my lips when Alpha Liam drew me closer to his chest. It made my eyes widen more, giving Beta Damian the impression that I was shocked by the surprise clinginess of the Alpha.

"I’m not giving you the right to decide for yourself," he said in a deep voice that almost made my heart fall out of my chest.

I guess fate was not too generous to give me the chance to walk away. All I needed to do was to stand beside him and act like a normal sweet Luna.

"I guess it's time for me to give you both some time alone," Beta Damian said, breaking the tension between us.

I don't know if I should be happy with him leaving but I think that's the right decision. Knowing that his absence would only allow the Alpha to do everything he wanted with me.

"I just came to tell you both that the offering ceremony was set for the next full moon."

"O-Offering ceremony?" I asked with a shaking voice. "F-Full moon?"

He nodded before giving me a reassuring smile. "Yes, Ayla. When the full moon comes you will officially become the Luna of this pack."

Before I could even give him a reaction, the Alpha's dark grin rendered me speechless as I watched Beta Damian on his path.

"This is going to be more fun than I thought," Alpha Liam said in amusement, making my nerves shiver at how wicked he was.

"You've got to be kidding me, Alpha."

I gave him the kind of reaction, he deserved. If only I could also tell him that his plans were just too absurd and below the belt.

"No, I’m not." He grinned at me playfully. "We began the real thing last night. Now that your purpose is nowhere to be found, I will decide when and where to use you."

I took a deep breath as I stared at him.

Once more, Alpha Liam made me feel like a dog trapped in a cage. It felt like I was trapped in his arms, and I had no way out after the offering ceremony.

***

AS WE MOVED towards the center stage, the air was gradually filled with the cheery and sunny scent of the freshly bloomed flowers from the linden trees.

"I could smell my own scent and blood on you, my Luna. You smell so damn good," Alpha Liam said while squeezing my hand.

"That's given, now that I officially became your Luna," I answered before giving him a plain smile.

"Would it bother you if I tore those clothes with my claws?"

Alpha Liam's penetrating gaze scanned me from head to toe. It made me swallow the lump in my throat, as I was still not confident with my look.

Never in my wildest dreams did I see myself wearing an extravagant, flowy white gown. I don't know if it's just a coincidence, but my gown's color matches the snowy-white fur of my wolf.

I was glad and nervous at the same time, knowing that the Alpha wouldn't waste a chance to show off his madness during important events like this.

"You can do whatever you want with me, but not here, Alpha."

My heart leaped for an instant when I felt his hand change course. He suddenly gripped my waist, pulling me closer to him.

"I don't think I'll be able to restrain myself. My sense of smell went crazy after the offering ceremony."

"That’s bad news." My voice became soft with concern. "Are you okay?"

His fake smile turned into a grin. "Yes, but I may end up destroying you in front of my pack and all the Alphas."

"Please don't do it. If you aren't feeling well, we can excuse ourselves from the feast," I said while secretly drawing a deep breath.

He showed off his fake smile once again when another elder came out of nowhere to congratulate us.

"Don't take it seriously. I'm just joking."

His words were followed by a chuckle that confirmed that the joke he gave me was half-meant.

I shook my head and stared at him bitterly. "That's not a good joke, Alpha."

"Amusing!" he said with a wicked smile. "Are you really worried about me?"

My mind froze at Alpha Liam's question, knowing that my answer would only fall into this trap.

"What if I tell you I am?" I answered with my fingers crossed. "Will that change anything?"

"In front of this crowd, yes! However, it can’t change the fact that you are too weak and worthless to be my Luna. You believe in things so quickly. You are so naive."

I tried to absorb the insults, but it was too much for me to bear.

It just made me wonder why he didn't banish me instead of throwing words that could only hurt me emotionally but would still keep me as an eyesore to him.

Instead of paying attention to the Alpha's devastating words, I continued the act while staring around us.

"He's not here," I said firmly.

"Who?" he asked innocently, as if he really didn't have any idea what I was talking about.

I sighed and chose to join him. "Alpha Isaac. I heard the elders invited all the Alphas to witness the offering ceremony."

Our gazes locked, and there I witnessed the spark in his eyes. "It sounds like you are searching for a long-lost lover."

I briefly closed my eyes while shaking my head. "More like a grim reaper, Alpha."

"Are you scared that he'll ruin everything? Do you really want to marry me that much?" he asked with amusement.

I took a deep breath and chose to give him a different answer. "It's just that he'll do everything he can to eliminate us, which will attract the Zeta."

I shook my head to remove Zeta's image from my mind. Thankfully, I wouldn’t bump into the man who killed my father, as I overheard the elders talking about how he was on an expedition with an important mission. Dara also confirmed that his presence was nowhere to be found at the offering ceremony.

He grinned. "You hate powerful and bloodthirsty beings, don’t you?"

"Yes..." With eyes locked on Alpha Liam, I answered. "But I ended up marrying one."

All I knew was that I had given myself to him, and now that the offering ceremony was over, I was finally enslaved to his ruthlessness.

"Shall we start?" He growled, making my body go rigid.

"W-What do you mean, Alpha?" I mumbled. The thought that he's planning to do something overboard is causing me confusion.

"The show hasn't even started. Just obey me and let me see their reactions, Ayla," he said in a dominating tone enough to snap me back to reality.

After all, it was Alpha Liam who I married, and that meant danger.

"On your knees, now!"

With his command, I knew I was doomed.