CARLA'S POV.
The nerve of him!........ Was the first thought that crossed my mind the moment he and I locked gazes.
He being who he was : Alpha Dawson high and mighty on his throne and i the lowly omega with the yet to be awakened wolf ….Together, it sounded like the start of a bad joke and yet the look of intense passion in his eyes as they bored into mine was unmistakable and it was this very passion, this look of unbridled primal need that angered me so.
What right had he to look in my direction in such a manner especially when I took into account his frequent trysts with joyce _ "the bitch" I muttered out loud,
"huh , what was that?” Smith said as he turned his head to face me .
"nothing." I answered back having to raise my voice a little to do so to be heard above the fanfare and discordant chattering of the multitude gathered in the throne room, "we're a little bit conspicuous standing too close to the door like this" he said as he laced his fingers around mine .
"let's join the assembly like good little pups" he said with a sardonic smile on his face as we walked towards the line of people gathered to our left .
I watched Dawson as he sat there, a preening peacock for all to see, his arrogance palpable his personality up on the throne basically brimming with it as various elders and noblemen who cared about no one but themselves ,walked up the aisle to the throne either to extend their "heartfelt" congratulations…….the greedy pigs , speaking of which…
"Who's the fat guy"? I asked while smirking at a particularly chubby man obviously aged almost inform even by the way he sort of hobbled along unsteadily and needing the support of a girl with the face of a cherub to lead him towards the throne.
"Oh that's elder Bernard " Smith replied bending low to whisper in my ear,
"elder"? I said incredulous at the idea.
"yeah I know right, but he's got a lot of influence in the werewolf community, oh and he's filthy rich" Smith replied a smile playing on his face,
" then I assume that would be his daughter I guess" I said referring to the unusually beautiful girl leading the elder along both of whom were already at the throne and conversing with Alpha Dawson,
"probably but I can't be sure, could be anyone" was Smith's reply, "though she is very beauti-" a hush cut off Smith's eulogy of the girl as Alpha Dawson stood, cutting an imposing figure with his leather breeches and intimidating breastplate.
" I thank you all for coming here and being a part of this historic moment…. the Blue moon pack finally gets an alpha worthy of it's prestige…..Me"
"Ugh" I said disgusted at his pompous shameless display,
"careful now the pack won't take kindly to you mocking it's prestigious Alpha" Smith said while grinning widely as we both turned to pay attention to what the peacock had to say next.
"And as your Alpha it is customary, no necessary to take a Luna for my self for the stability of the pack, to produce heirs and consolidate our power" he said as he began to stride down the mighty steps on which the throne rested.
"Now I have seen numerous beauties in my time but not so much in one place as I have today " he said as he smiled at a gaggle of girls closest to the throne steps who in turn provided simpering looks with one practically swooning under his gaze, I didn't want to admit it but I felt a twinge of annoyance he looked at them instead of me.
"I could pick anyone of these stunning ladies here at court as my Luna and we could all go home happy, but the best way….the traditional way would be to make my mate my Luna" he said pausing for his words to take effect, "and I've found one, I've found a mate" his comment birthing a unanimous gasp and a thousand mutterings from his gathered audience.
" heh, I didn't take him for the mate material " Smith said with his face taking on a surprised look, "or what do you think"? He asked turning to me,
"I pity her." was my was my cold response.
"Attention please." said Dawson as his eyes searched the crowd all around him looking for who knew what.
"As I said, I've found my mate and by werewolf law she is mine and I'm hers……for life". His tone becoming all the more serious and foreboding as he began walking around the hall , throngs of people parting to let him through, he wound his way through the crowd as he spoke and soon I lost sight of him .
"And I've found her" he said, his voice sounding eerily close, with more murmurs accompanying his statement.
"And she's standing in this hall right now ". And then I knew why his voice was sounded so close.
"Hey you" he whispered, his breath tickling my neck and his essence filling my nostrils.
Turning to the rest of the crowd, left arm outstretched and blocking Smith, with his right arm possessively gripping my waist, he announced to the court his voice booming across the hall, reverberating all around it, with utter stillness from the crowd who silenced itself to hear this bit of sensational information.
"Behold my mate and your Luna Carla Olivia now Carla Princeton, Luna of blue moon pack".
For a moment the entire hall was silent as they sought to process his declaration, finally it hit them and in unison they all bent the knee – including Smith — and bowed.
It all felt horribly unreal and fantastical, it felt like I was in a nightmare I could not wake up from , a nightmare who stood by my side with an arm in my waist , smiling down at me like he just won a prize .
I could disappoint him , embarrass the mighty alpha in front of all his people….his pack by just one word…..No .
But I couldn't, he himself knew I couldn't and that was why he did it . To force me into a position I could not get out of . There were two options; either he was telling the truth and I was truly his mate, in which case it was futile for me even attempting to resist him , we were bound for life.
Or he lied in an attempt to punish me for my rejection of him and to prove a point… that I could never escape him. Never. In either case there was nothing I could do but accept and dance to his tune.
It was unheard of to refuse the position of Luna, the punishment for that was to steep a price to pay. " It's rude to keep people waiting you Know" said Dawson.
"Especially when they're waiting on their knees" he added with a confident smirk on his face,
"well what do I do." I asked, hating the fact that everyone could clearly hear my timid cracked voice across the hall.
"Simple, you tell them to rise" he answered , the smirk transforming to a full-on grin now all the while still holding me.
I took a quick glance at Smith and my heart gave a painful pang at the sight of my best friend in all the world kneeling before me with head bowed, I quickly averted my gaze and instead stared at the massive amount of heads bowed towards me; some full, some bald, some long, while others short, plenty dark haired men and women, a smattering of blond here and there, and even the odd ginger all bowed in reverence to me…. because of him.
I felt sick to my stomach. "Rise" I said as loudly as I could hoping it sounded impressive and commanding as I did so, while looking from the corner of my eye at Smith, watching for any visible reaction from him but his face was blank, an impenetrable canvas of stone staring into space.
"Congratulations majesty" said a voice, snapping me out of my reverie, I turned and saw the chubby old man from before wrapped in voluminous expensive clothing, pretty girl in tow.
"Huh"? was my eloquent reply as I turned towards him surprised at his firm tone and deep voice,
"I just offered my congratulations your majesty on it ascension as Luna of the pack" he said as he took my hand with his knobbly veined fingers and kissed the back of my hand,
"umm thanks …I think"? I replied while simultaneously withdrawing my fingers from his grasp , "my congratulations too your highness" said the girl with a mocking smile on her lips as she did a half-curtsy, "my apologies Carla" said Dawson removing his hand … finally… from my waist to place upon the Elder.
"This is elder Bernard and his lovely daughter err…umm-" he said looking askance at the girl "Emily my Lord " she said while giving him a look which I must admit looked really seductive, "Bernard and Emily yes, meet my Luna, Carla Olivia " he said as he grabbed me once again
"come meet the other elders and the other alphas I'd love to introduce you to all of them" he said giddily like a boy that had just been gifted his first toy.
"You're shameless and spiteful you do know that right"? I whispered into his ear as we walked along while he made his introductions, "if you think I'll love you after you stole my life…. my choice you're wrong, you're dead wrong" I said trying to convey as much venom and conviction in my words as I could but he said nothing and continued introducing me to various elders : all male by the way , and then the alphas, all the while I looked around the hall hoping to see Smith or some sign of him amidst the mighty throng of people but unfortunately he seemed to have disappeared without a trace, I wanted to go in search of him but I couldn't not now not while this arrogant beast held me tightly by his side like a vice .
There was nothing I could do for now but I resolved right then and there to resist and defy him , to make him pay in some small way as I was able for what he had done to me , what he had cost me , I wouldn't allow this to be a victory for him ….. no I would fight, I would rage, he wouldn't get what he wanted, and he was sadly mistaken if he thought he could sleep with me and toss me aside like he did Joyce.
No he wouldn't touch me at all , I will not reward him with my body after all he's done I thought to myself , if he tried anything funny I resolved then and there to fight him, physically if need be, the thought bringing a hint of a smile to my lips as I considered the foolishness and futility of fighting the alpha, my alpha…..Alpha Dawson who rose to the top by being more blood thirsty and ruthless than the rest of his peers. It would only end badly for me.
I had to be subtle ….. dangerous, just like him , I had to— wait wasn't that Smith that just went through the throne room door ? I thought, immediately without thinking I forced my way out of Dawson's group of friends and ran after Smith to the incredulity of everyone watching.
I pushed open the door and saw him just as he was about to climb the steps heading towards the kitchens "Smith wait"! I cried "it wasn't what you think I didn't know" I said as I ran towards him , clutching his arm pleading with him.
"You must've" he said his voice ice-cold, his head to the side, refusing to look at me " no way he made you his Luna and you didn't know" he said ,
"I swear I didn't " I implored my voice breaking " it was a surprise as much for me as anyone else"! I cried, "yeah right" he scoffed, "somehow you wound up as his mate and Luna without your knowledge and permission" he said .
" I'm telling you I di—" I tried to explain before being cut-off by Dawson's booming voice.
"Carla"!! He shouted as he strode towards us, walking briskly, before stepping in front of Smith and growling under his breath. "get lost boy" he whispered and then turned to face me.
"I was only–" I started to say before he pushed me roughly against the wall, clasped his hand around my neck and said.
"I don't care that you're upset about this, I don't care for your pitiful whining." he said against my ear.
"but I do care for my reputation, this is the last time you pull a stunt like that ever again." he said while my heart beat against my chest painfully aware of his breath caressing my cheek, "disrespect me like that again and you won't like the consequences" said Dawson before he let me go and walked back to the throne room, "oh and that's the last time I see you with that boy again, if I do I'll kill him" he said as he walked , the words slamming my ears like a thousand drums, I slumped against the wall and wept.