Dowry

Dowry

Someone clears his throat loudly behind me, clearly audible to everyone.
Both the Alpha family on stage and the Elders look up. There is a buzz in the crowd. Many react with annoyance to the interruption, just as I have to take my vows.
And then I see Alpha Rainer from Shadow Moon rise from his seat.
He raises his glass to me with a sneaky curl on his mouth. And then everything starts spinning around me until I slowly lose consciousness. My mother catches me as my father runs up the stage.
“This way, " I still hear Alpha Rainer shout as I completely fall into the dark hole.
“Mercedes, it's time”, I hear someone calling somewhere far away.
With difficulty, I try to lift my heavy eyelids. After a few attempts, I have them up but I still have to get used to the view. Then I see Alpha Rainer bending over me, his face close to mine. He holds me tight in his arms. It feels like we are sitting in a car moving at high speed.
I give him a watery smile and want to return to the hiding place of the dark. But Alpha Rainer won't allow that. “No, you must remain conscious now. You've already slept for almost an hour and a half," he insists. "Here, have a drink." He holds a glass to my lips, I sniff it before taking a sip. It's whiskey, I recognize the smell from Zane who always drinks this when we chill in the club or relax by the pool. Then he has me in one hand and his glass in the other.
The liquid burns down my throat, I squeeze my eyes shut at the feeling. This is the first time I have whiskey in my mouth, Zane has always forbid me to have it. “Alpha, where are we?” I ask hoarsely, resting my head on his shoulder again. And then I realize I'm sitting on his lap. Startled, I try to get off, but he only holds me tighter.
“No”, I exclaim as he presses me against his chest again. “Where's Zane? Let go of me, you are not my mate”. But the Alpha clearly doesn't intend to. “You were about to give yourself to a worthless Alpha son who wasn't your mate either. I am worth so much more than that loser”, he tells me. Terrified I look at him. What does this man want now?
“What do you mean by that, Alpha Rainer?” I ask for clarity. “You met Zane yourself. And I was forced to mate with Glary, it wasn't my choice." The Alpha nods and stares ahead. "Yes, I know. Alpha Zane called me and asked for my help. Silver Moon had set up extra security to keep his pack out," he explains. “And you're still a minor, if he'd come for you himself, he'd have the Council over him. I was invited, so he asked me to take you and your parents out of there and shelter you all until you turn eighteen in four days," he continues with a chuckle.
Relieved, I let out my breath. So, Zane hasn't forgotten me. Of course, he wouldn't be able to rescue me from Silver Moon until I was eighteen. My vows to Glary would become worthless if my wolf accepted Zane as her fated mate, especially if I went to mark him. I smile, my mate proved that he would never leave me alone in hardship. But sitting here on Alpha Rainer's lap is so wrong. Again, I try to crawl away but again, he stops me.
We continue our journey in silence. I decide still to take a nap, the road to Shadow Moon is a long ride. If I've already slept for an hour and a half, that means we still have almost two hours to go. Alpha Rainer's heartbeat lulls me back to sleep.
When I wake up again, I hear the Alpha talking to some men.
Authoritarian he instructs on how to reinforce the border patrol and don't let anyone in. He now hangs half out of the door, giving me ample opportunity to climb off him. When I sit in the other half of the backseat and look out, I notice that we are standing in front of the large gates of Shadow Moon. It is now pitch dark, all the lights have been turned off. But I recognize all this by the large emblems on the gates.
As we drive on, Alpha Rainer tries to take me in his arms again, but I knock him off. Then I keep looking outside until we get to the packhouse. When I want to get out, I notice my head spinning, the dizziness comes back in full force. When the Alpha opened my door, I push him aside and run to one of the huge pillars. With a hand against it for support, I bend over and begin retching. I haven't eaten much all day so not much comes out. My stomach starts to twitch and I drop weakly on a step of the porch.
“Hey, take it easy,” Alpha Rainer whispers to me as he sits down next to me. He hands me a bottle of water, I take a sip and rinse my mouth. After doing this a few times, I feel a little better. “There was a substance in the wine Saphira gave me,”, I state more as a fact than a question. “Why did she do that? Where is she anyway?” I look around me, but apart from some warriors standing at a distance, we are alone. Neither Saphira nor my parents are here.
“And why didn't you take my parents with us too? The Alpha will now take revenge on them. And then I have to go back," I remind him. He smiles softly. "No, do not worry. I’ve sent Alpha Ahri a message. He knows he has to turn his wrath on me now, if he dares," the man next to me declares proudly.
I look at him in surprise. "A message? But don't you betray where I am with that? I thought this was my hiding place until I turn eighteen in a few days and Zane comes to get me."
Alpha Rainer chuckles, but he puts a lot of his natural charm into it this time. “I have informed Alpha Ahri that you will be my Luna. And I am willing to compensate as a dowry the damage his pack has suffered from that so-called fraud of your father.”
I stare at him bewildered, my mouth drops open.
“You Luna? Dowry? What the hell is going on here?!”....