Chapter 138: Ceremony

Shyla’s P.O.V.

“Why is my cell phone not working?”

I refreshed my mails and messages repeatedly, but there wasn’t any new message, driving me nuts.

For the entire night, I waited for Maddox’s message, his dead silence after the threat of attack escalated my panic. More precisely, I was missing him badly, and that egoistic Alpha wasn’t calling or texting me.

What was he even planning?

Pacing back and forth, I balled my fists as my wild imaginations painted sinister pictures in my head. The holiday Island was a piece of art, a miracle of nature if we really tried to define its beauty in words.

Now thinking calmly, I found my stunt unnecessary, leaving Maddox alone was truly a big mistake. He was sex on wheels, the most handsome man alive on the earth. Any person with eyes couldn’t ignore his charismatic personality.

The beach, mansion, army of guards and maids, their admiring gazes on my exotic mate, wasn’t a secret, creating an air of competition.

“Oh, my goddess!

What have I done?”

Punching the wall in frustration, I cried as my hand hurt like hell, cursing my stupidity.

“Maddox must have returned to his normal, free of trouble life after crying over our break-up.”

After all, he wouldn’t feel lonely as there was no shortage of companions for him. And when boys were crushing on him like girls, it was a wake-up call for me, raising a bullet of panic in my chest.

My muffled shrieks of frustration echoed in the room as I covered my mouth with my hand.

“Given the situation of the island, Maddox must be happy to get rid of me.”

With his full command over every corner of the Kingdom, I was confirmed that he was surrounded by love and lust. It would be hard for him to remember a trouble-maker named Shyla!

Shaken up by my fears, I picked up my cell phone to call him. It was better than losing my sanity.

Yeah!

My ego couldn’t be more than my mental health.

Biting my lips, I repeated the mantras of a healthy relationship, where the partners would be able to understand each other. Open communication was the key to a happy life and all that shit.

My hands trembled as I dialed Maddox’s number, Ash howled gleefully.

“This is the best thing to do, Shyla. A woman should be obedient and submissive for a harmonious mate-bond.

You are finally learning the basics of womanhood. Mate did good to ignore you. You needed it!”

WTF!

So, Maddox was trying to force me into submission?

The sudden rush of anger didn’t let me press the call button. I threw my cell phone on the bed, warning him.

“Maddox, you have less than twenty-four hours. Otherwise ...”

I glanced at my sleeping son and then swore impulsively.

“I will disappear with my son without any trace. Then you can marry with your Alpha ego and live happily for the rest of your life.”

....

“Why white dress?”

After a sleepless night, the maids came to my room to test my patience in the morning. They brought a mermaid style white gown for trial.

They wanted me to try this for my measurements, I got it.

But why white?

It wasn’t that I was against wearing white color, but according to the lycans’ tradition, a married woman wasn’t allowed to wear a complete white dress. It was considered a sign that she was a widow.

I expressed my views without any hesitation, refusing to wear it.

“Bring another dress for me. I won’t wear it!”

My stern refusal worried those maids, they exchanged gazes before speaking respectfully.

“White is a color admired by our Moon Goddess, Princess. As Werewolves, we love this color more than anything else.

And you are a Fenrir Alpha, the Goddess’s special blessing for the Werewolf race. Even your fur’s color is purely white, Princess.”

It seemed that Prince Edith had hired persuasive speakers like him. Those maids convinced me with their long list of reasons to wear this dress as a Werewolf Alpha, claiming it as a public announcement for my Alpha identity.

Mrs. Lockwood made faces after watching me in a white gown in the evening. I was doing my hair when she tied a red ribbon around my wrist.

“Our King is your fated mate, Your Highness. Please don’t forget him while following the Werewolf traditions.”

Maddox’s name was beneficial for my yearning for him as in just three days, I was a mess, eager to go back.

Mrs. Lockwood’s offensive tone welled up my eyes, I hugged her instead of getting angry.

“Thanks, Mrs. Lockwood. I really need this now.”

The dress, diamond jewelry, and fine make-up drastically altered my appearance. I was startled to see my brand-new version. The glimmering, white dress was beautifully complimenting my red eyes as Ash pushed forward to comfort me.

“Don’t worry, Shyla. My red eyes are in accordance with our mate’s traditions.”

Hiding the red ribbon with a bracelet, I came out of my room. My pulse was beating in my ear, blocking out all the sounds. And my palms were sweaty due to nervousness.

Facing the cream of the Werewolf Community wasn’t an easy task, although I had already prepared myself for such a grand event as our mating ceremony. But my fate took a weird twist, and here I was, entering the party hall, full of the Werewolf Alphas.

All the heads turned towards me, fixing their judgmental eyes on me as I walked inside with my son and his nanny. I could feel the tension looming over the atmosphere.

Holding my head high, I moved forward as the red carpet between the two rows of the circular tables were specifically arranged for me. On the other end, my dad was standing proudly, puffing his chest with pride.

“Ladies and gentlemen, meet my daughter, Shyla Harrison.”

In the pin-drop silence, I could hear the thundering heartbeats of wolves as if they were all in awe, witnessing the eighth marvel of nature.

My knees buckled as I hardly maintained my balance due to high heels and complained inwardly.

“Maddox, it’s all because of you. Why didn’t you come?”

Only an hour was left in his deadline, and my desperate eyes were going crazy to catch a single glimpse of him. I wondered whether he was coming or not.

Deep in my thoughts, I stood blankly by my dad’s side as he delivered a gratitude speech, boasting about the new beginning of the Werewolves’ rule over the supernatural world.

Alphas and Lunas were in tears to hear the emotional story of my race’s struggle, they all raised their glasses for a toast as my dad said,

“Here’s my toast for my brilliant daughter, Shyla. May you be charming and gracious!

May your words warm the hearts and souls of the large population of Werewolves. And may the good wishes you share come back to bless you, my dear daughter.”

The fatherly love dripping from his words warmed my heart, I clung to his chest and sniffled.

“I am glad to be at home, dad.”

The expensive decorations, luxurious ambiance, finely dressed guests, everything was nothing in front of the father-daughter bond that we shared in the party. I felt so precious as my dad introduced me to his buddies for the future partnership.

The other highlight of the party was the silence of Prince Edith, he couldn’t get a chance to give me a headache because of my dad’s presence. Dad was like a shield, protecting me from the unwanted, evil people, making me feel comfortable in the hall.

I was chatting with a friendly Luna from the Star Wolf Pack when Prince Edith held the mic for everyone’s attention.

“Thanks for joining this lovely celebration party, ladies and gentlemen.

Finally, we have met our Princess Shyla. She has graced us with her presence tonight.

So, I would like to make a special announcement at this auspicious occasion.”

With a playful smile toying on his lips, he handed the mic to my dad. His Alpha tone cut through the air as he announced.

“I am pleased to introduce a perfect and eligible mate for my daughter, honorable Alphas.

As you all know, Fenrir wolves are pure-blooded Alphas, following the traditions of promise mates. So, Shyla would definitely marry her promise mate to continue the sacred lineage of heirs.”

What the actual fuck?

My dumb-founded gaze fell on my dad as my jaw slacked, utterly flabbergasted. All the wolves howled gleefully as Prince Edith took out a diamond ring from the box in a split second and stepped forward.

My dad’s announcement confirmed my deepest dreads, as he eyed Edith.

“Please bless my daughter at her engagement ceremony, dear fellows. We will gather again for the official mating ceremony this week ....”

Before he could complete his statement, an ear-shattering growl shook the ground below me, cutting him off mid-sentence furiously.

“Engagement ceremony?

Over my dead body, Alpha Harrison!”