Chapter 23 CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
MAX’S POV
I stared outside the window, trying to enjoy the morning air, which probably would ease my anger, but it was hopeless.
The day of the moonflower ornament was today, a day to appease the moon goddess and ensure the prosperity of the pack. It is the most important day of the year for Moonshadow Pack but all I could think of was Zaria and her rejection.
Her words kept rolling through the back of my head, increasing my anger.
“Who the fuck doesn't want an Alpha as a lover?” I growled, replacing my hurt with anger, that was the only way to heal my broken heart.
If she wants to be cruel, then I would teach her how to be!
I drank my coffee and started getting ready for the ceremony, Zaria should be the least of my concerns.
I raided my wardrobe, for my usual crisp white shirt and suit.
After wearing my suit, I allowed my hair to fall to my forehead effortlessly, no matter how hard I tried to make my hair straight, it was always a disaster.
A knock at my door distracted me, and I knew it was Raymond.
“Come in” I ordered, and the door pushed open, revealing Raymond, with a smirk on his face and his hands hidden inside his pockets.
“With the smirk on your face, I suspect you have some good news?” I said, buttoning my suit jacket.
“Well, I can confidently say that, we already know the enemies to your throne,” he blurted out, with his eyes fixed on the wall. “The Tyrant Alpha of the bloodmoon pack has spices in our pack and I am certain that one of the spices poisoned Zaria”
“What?” I exclaimed.
“Well, I have already sent spices to his pack and sent him a letter, to back down from our pack, or else he would face the wrath” Raymond stated, and I gave a quick nod.
I am in the mood for a battle, to cease the heartbreak of yesterday.
“If he refuses, then we would call for war,” I declared and walked off, leaving Raymond's trail behind me.
I entered my carriage and waited for Raymond to join me.
“Move,” I yelled, as Raymond sat, opposite me.
“What about the Luna?” the guard asked, before closing the door.
I glared at him, and that was enough to pass him a message. With trembling hands, he closed the door and we headed to the ceremonial hall.
“What about your wife?” Raymond asked, but I ignored him.
I wasn't in the right mood to see her, she can walk for all I care.
Soon we got to the hall, which was already bustling and noisy, it was filled with rich men, noblemen, warriors, and villagers.
As I stepped into the hall, it fell silent and all heads bowed, reminding me of the amount of authority I possessed.
I walked with steady steps, until I got to the altar. I scanned the crowd, till my eyes stumbled on Zaria.
She stood at the entrance of the hall, panting, and all sweaty, she must have walked all the way here. I felt a little bit guilty, but quickly shoved it off.
She was wearing a simple dress that attenuated her body, showing her tiny waist. The dress was long till it rolled on the floor.
The hem of the dress looked dirty, evidence that she had walked here.
In her hands was the large, elegant porcelain vase that contained the moonflower ornament.
The flower was rare, very hard to come by, and must not touch the floor, so it doesn't lose its beauty.
My breath hitched just by staring at her.
“Why the fuck does she have to be this beautiful and fair?” I thought to myself, as I watched her chest rise and fall, while she tried to catch her breath.
Immediately, I recalled her rejections, and diverted my gaze to the window, if she wanted distance, she would get it.
“Today we are going to be presenting the moonflower to our goddess who has kept us till this day” Elder Finn yelled, and we allrepeated after him.
A solemn music was played, and Elder Finn started speaking some incantations.
“Let the Luna come forward and bring the moonflower” Elder Finn instructed, and all eyes fell to Zaria who was at the end of the hall.
She gave a quick nod and started walking towards Elder Finn.
She moved slowly, to prevent the vase from falling to the ground.
Just at that moment, Zaria tripped, perhaps it was the long folds of her dress, or the worn edge of the hall’s old carpet, whatever the reason may be, she stumbled and landed herself on the floor.
The porcelain vase fell hitting the floor, with a loud crash, allowing the moonflower to touch the floor.
The sound was heard across the silent hall, following the gasp of the villagers. The moonflower had never touched the floor, it was a day of shock to the villagers.
I watched the moonflower lose its beauty within seconds, I looked up at Zaria, whose knees and arms were on the floor, her face was in terror.
“The moonflower has lost its beauty!” someone yelled from among the villagers.
“The Luna has dropped our ornament, how do we appease the moon goddess!’ another yelled, increasing the commotion in the hall.
I raised my hands, and everyone went silent.
I slowly walked over to where Zaria knelt. I felt pity for her but I couldn't show it, not after what she did last night.
After getting to where she was, I didn't offer her a hand, I glared at her, before turning my gaze to the shattered pieces of the porcelain vase, and then to the hundreds of villagers with their faces filled with terror.
“How pathetic!” I declared, in a loud authoritative voice, deliberately not looking at Zaria, who was trembling in fear. “The Luna is weak. The moon goddess deserves strength, not clumsiness, this ceremony has been destroyed and will be postponed until a new worthy flower is prepared.
With that, I turned around, leaving the ceremonial hall, leaving Zaria in tears, so that she could hear the criticism of the people.
I felt pain, just by causing her pain, this was a miserable victory.