Mackenzie’s POV:
Weaves of strong emotions wreathe up and down my bones as the white veil is being pinned on my hair. Excitement. Happiness. Nervousness. It’s hard to determine which of them is the most intense. All I know is they all overwhelm me, forcing tears to fill the corners of my gorgeously painted eyes. Those emotions magnify more when the veil falls perfectly on my exposed shoulders and back. I blink my tears away to avoid ruining the makeup mama has put on me for hours.
I cannot believe that after all the doubts and judgements I’ve received from my packmates, none of them has managed to stop me from marrying the man of my dreams, Alpha Allen Javier. Love really does conquer everything! In a few moments, I’ll be known as Luna Mackenzie Cortez of the Golden Crest Pack and I can’t wait!
I giggle at the title 'Luna' before my name and, of course, at the thought of being forever loved by our pack's future Main Alpha. My reaction causes mama to give me a teasing stare through her reflection on the wall mirror. Warmth rushes to my face, making my already blushed cheeks blush even further. I turn around and lock my mother into the biggest embrace I’ve ever offered her.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“For the makeup and the dress?” mother asks without dropping her teasing stare. She then adds, “Not a problem. I only barely slept sewing your wedding dress for weeks and barely sat putting your makeup on for hours. So it’s not really a big problem for me.”
“Yeah, right!”
I chuckle, but mama chuckles even louder.
“I’m sorry for all the hustle. But I promise, once I become our pack’s Luna, I’ll give you the best gift ever! I’ll ask Alpha Allen or his father to promote you and papa as Betas.”
Mama suddenly breaks our embrace and loses the fun in her stare. Though she's still wearing her sweet smile, she's unable to hide the doubts behind her big brown eyes.
If she still manages to retain her smile, I completely lose mine. I ask, “What’s the matter?”
Mama draws a hefty breath, before responding, “There’s nothing wrong with being Deltas. Farming is the only job we know. It’s tiring, but we always manage somehow even at our age. Besides, promoting us two ranks higher without us exerting any effort will only raise eyebrows from the others." She pauses to clutch and tenderly rubs my arms. "Don’t worry about us. If I were you, I'd worry about my situation once I live inside our Alphas’ residence.”
I squint my eyes, trying to wrap my head around mama’s words.
“Why should I be worried?” I ask.
She doesn’t respond and just pretends to fix the perfectly ironed a-line skirt of my wedding dress.
Sure, the Main Alpha refused his son’s relationship with me before, but the fact that his son and I will be wed in a few minutes from now means that he’s already accepted me. Otherwise, there’ll be no weeks of preparation for this day, right?
I clutch mama's shoulders so she could straighten her posture and look me in the eyes. “You’re worrying about nonsense. I’ll be fine with Alpha Allen’s family. They accepted me and therefore, the other jealous members of our pack will have no choice but to accept me too as their future Luna.”
“Maybe you’re right. I’m overthinking about things that aren't worth even thinking about,” she says.
This time, mama can no longer display the sweetness of her smile anymore. Her stretched lips are now brittle and firm, an indication that she doesn't have the confidence I have in my future in-laws. I’d like to talk to her more, to try to ease whatever she’s really worrying about, but before I open my mouth, knocks come to the door.
“You two are taking so long. You’re making me more nervous.”
Mama opens the door and standing behind it is papa, dressed in an old Barong Tagalog that he wore at their wedding more than two decades ago. His Barong Tagalog is quite yellowish now, but its embroideries are still impeccable as if they are new.
Papa plasters an excited grin while stepping closer with his open arms. He says, “Oh look at you. My daughter is absolutely the most beautiful in our pack."
“And what about me?” mama asks with the returning teasing expression on her face.
Papa gives me a hug, before turning to mama for a kiss. “You look exactly like our daughter, which makes you the most beautiful too. Apart from that. you have the softest skin, the sweetest lips and the most alluring scent among the lycan race, which makes you extra special.”
Normally, I’d cringe whenever they talked to each other like this, but not today. Perhaps the other emotions squirming through me eclipse that cringiness they’re giving me. Also, I can’t help but to imagine that Alpha Allen and I, to the eyes of our eventual children, will may become as cringey or even cringier than my parents.
“Let’s head to the wedding’s venue. We can’t let our packmates wait for too long.”
No one objects to mama. So we all walk out of our house and head straight to the center of our pack’s village where the garden is located and where my wedding will take place.
My heart thuds to my ears, as if it’s about to explode out of my chest every time I inch closer to the garden. The garden itself is concealed by impressive green vines that are coiled around the high, wooden gates. Though I can’t see what’s behind the gates yet, I can already hear buzzing words, thumping of shoes and screeching of chairs. I can also smell feminine floral and masculine woody scents. However, to my surprise, which adds to my nervousness, there's one scent I can’t smell… Alpha Allen’s.
My shoulders stiffen as my brow knit in confusion.
Why is Alpha Allen not yet here? He should come here before I do. Could it be that he just used a strong perfume that overshadows his natural scent? Yup, maybe that’s it… I hope it’s just that.
I try to flush down the stress that's suddenly creeping through me, but it doesn't work. In fact, that stress sprouts undesirable thoughts, making my heart thud even more violently. I jerk when papa’s fingers nudge my tight grip on his sleeve. Though his reassuring smile forces me to loosen my grip, it doesn’t curtail my anxiety.
Relax, Mackenzie! Alpha Allen can never betray you. He loves you! He fights for this day to happen! He makes his father approve this wedding!
No matter how much I try to calm myself, I am failing. I know there’s something wrong and that instinct proves me right when I step inside the garden. I direct my eyes to the altar where Alpha Allen is supposed to be standing, waiting for my arrival. He isn’t there, not even his shadows.
Maybe he’s somewhere?
I look around, searching for him, begging that he’s not betraying me. All I see are eyes staring at me with either envy or disgust, but Alpha Allen is nowhere. My knees buckle. Good thing, my parents are standing on my sides and they’re able to cling their arms around mine for support.
“Let’s wait. He’s just late,” mama says.
Her voice is low, but lacks confidence just like her eyes.
My anxiety keeps increasing that breathing becomes an effort. Not knowing what to do next, I let papa escort me to the makeshift altar. It doesn't look good for the bride to wait for her groom at the altar, but it’s worse for the bride to stand at the back row while waiting for her groom to arrive. Either way, both are humiliating enough that I just wanna run away from everyone’s overcritical views.
I immediately shrug the thought of running away.
I can’t just run away! After all the efforts we exerted leading up to this day? This wedding must happen. And I believe that it will.
Once I’m standing at the altar, I gesture for my parents to take a seat at the front bench behind me. They hesitate for a moment, but when I offer them a pleading stare, they finally leave me and sit down. I won’t allow my parents to see so much of the mockery that I’m seeing being launched at me by almost everyone. They don’t deserve it. It’s my choice to marry an Alpha, so I, alone, will take all its consequences.
I clutch the bouquet of Calla Lily in my hands as if it’s Alpha Allen’s neck. If he doesn’t come today, I swear… I swear I will… I stop my thoughts when I notice that Alpha Primo, Alpha Allen’s father and the Main Alpha of our pack, is staring at me while comfortably sitting in the right front row. His face is impassive, making it impossible to decipher what he’s thinking about. Instantaneously, mama’s words from earlier whacks my already confused head.
‘If I were you, I'd worry about my situation once I live inside our Alphas’ residence.’
What if Alpha Primo hasn’t fully accepted me? No, that can’t be. He’s here, attending my wedding, which means he’s welcoming me to be a part of his family, right?
Ripples of negative thoughts are nagging me, vying for attention that’s too demanding to provide.
Please, Moon Goddess, if you can hear me, I want Alpha Allen to come here now.
I close my eyes for a moment just to simply avoid the unwelcoming facial reactions of my packmates. Not long after, to my heart’s relief, the Moon Goddess answers my silent prayer. Alpha Allen’s scent, his deep musky scent that I’ll never grow tired of smelling, swirls, loosening the stuffiness of the air. I open my teary eyes to meet his gaze. However, my smile that’s just about to take shape immediately fades when Alpha Allen appears in my vision.
“What the hell?” I murmur in disbelief.
He isn’t wearing a Barong Tagalog or a white tuxedo. He’s in his training uniform - a pair of combat boots, a pair of military trousers and a black plain shirt. His hair, messy. His skin, sweaty. His face, apologetic.
My eyes clench as he walks towards me. He steps on the altar, then holds my arms. His touch is soft and warm, but his stare lacks that softness and warmth.
“Where have you been? And why are you…”
I’m interrupted when Alpha Allen motions for the officiant to begin the ceremony. The officiant hesitates. He, too, can sense that something isn’t right. But Alpha Allen shoots a glare at him, forcing him to start reading the folder he’s been holding. Not a single word of the officiant is able to meet my comprehension. I’m so unfocused and so confused that the officiant has to repeat his question to me.
“Let me ask you one more time. Mackenzie Cortez, do you accept Alpha Allen Javier as your only mate and your future husband?”
One short word is all I need, but that word sticks in and even stings my throat. I have to swallow several times while ignoring the confusion that’s bothering me. After a brief, awkward silence, the word finally skates out of my lips, “Yes.”
Though that answer is what my heart desires, but how I said it is full of uncertainty - something that I never thought I would feel, especially today. I’ve never doubted Alpha Allen, not even once, but why am I feeling the other way now?
“Alpha Allen Javier, do you accept Mackenzie Cortez to be your only mate and your wife?” the officiant asks.
Silence unfurls again while everyone waits with bated breath. In a moment, the happiness, excitement and nervousness that I felt before coming here get completely pulverized by one emotion that's conquering me now - anger, when in a firm voice, Alpha Allen responds,
“I, Alpha Allen Javier, reject you, Mackenzie Cortez, as my mate and my future Luna.”
Hi guys! Let me know what you think of this first chapter!
I expect all eyes would be on us, but not for this reason. I want everyone to look at me with respect and pride as the future Main Alpha’s bride. Instead, everyone stares at me with either mockery or pity as the future Main Alpha’s rejected mate. As the term ‘rejected mate’ roars in my head, a rage of anger continues to boil in my chest. It’s so strong that I’m unable to stop it from exploding. “What’s wrong with you?!” My voice rumbles off the entire garden. It silences all except the dangerously irregular beats of my heart. Humiliation, amplified by anger, suffocates me. I gasp, trying my best to mitigate the undesirable heat in my body. Thankfully, the more I glare at Alpha Allen, the more I realize one thing that I didn’t earlier - lingering behind his brown eyes is regret. My glare loosens up and so do my clenched fists. I can’t be wrong about that. But,... what is he regretting about? For making me believe that he loves me? Or for waiting today just to reject me in front
I shift my weight as fear flails through me. Die? What does he mean? Is he gonna kill me if I fail or is the mission so dangerous that I could just die if I fail? Which is it? My confusion probably fidgets all over my tight face that turning it into words is needless. “Mind sitting with me coz the details of your mission are quite long,” Alpha Primo says, jerking his head towards the front bench beside us. I hesitate, considering that my life is on the line for whatever this mission is, and I’m not ready to die. I’m too young. I have so much more to do and to experience. I wanna tell him that he doesn’t need to make an effort explaining everything to me coz I won’t accept his ultimatum. However, when he takes a seat, an unknown force pushes me to also sit at a few inches beside him. A small voice inside me says to give his ultimatum a chance. So, with sagged shoulders and eyelids, I listen. “About two months ago, there were humans who managed to get a hold of some pieces o
My clothes and other needed things are packed and ready. I swing my bag to my back, sidle my way through the hallway, then stop at my parents’ bedroom door. I wanna see their faces before I go, but my hand twitches before it can even nudge the doorknob. If I enter their room, they will question why I’m wearing a coat and a pair of boots with a bag on my back in the middle of the night. And if they’re asleep, I may wake them up. I don’t have the heart to tell them what Alpha Allen and I are planning to do. It’ll hurt them and I don’t wanna witness that pain. I’m sure they’ll understand why. And I’m sure they’ll forgive me. They’ll support me, like they always do. My desire to see my parents for probably the last time surrenders against my wimpiness. I move away from their shut bedroom door and head down the stairs. Then, I tread out of our house with both the guilt of not saying goodbye to my parents and the determination to start a better life with Alpha Allen hovering all over me.
Sleepless hours pass and I’m still wearing the same coat, the same boots and the same bag. Though my eyes don't depart from the sky through my bedroom’s window, they fail to quickly notice the transition of the sinking moon to the rising sun. I’m only able to realize it when the roaring silence is soon grazed off by knocks on my bedroom door. Can I do it? Can I survive this deadly mission? I lift myself out of the chair without coming up with a clear answer. As soon as I thrust my legs forward, the heaviness I feel inside hampers me from moving any faster. Not only that, when I’m already standing next to the door, I stare at it while mustering all of my courage to take another move. It takes several seconds, a minute or two maybe, before my hand reluctantly reaches and twists the doorknob. Mama, whose eyes are probably more swollen than mine, forces a fake smile. I try to do the same, but fail. Her voice quavers as she whispers, “They’re here.” The majority of my strength ha
My brow knits as confusion pelts me. Entertainer? What kind of entertainment does this guy want? For a few seconds, he’s quiet. He's only giving me nothing but his widening cocky smirk. “We’re not on the same boat here. I don’t have any talent to entertain you. I’m here to apply as Mr. Alessandro Ocampo’s maid.” “Dad isn’t here. I am. He wouldn’t mind if I’ll hire you in his stead.” My knitted brow deepens and I don’t make any effort to conceal my bafflement. It works. This time, he doesn’t give silence a chance to unfurl. He says, “You look great. You’re my type.” My eyes widen and my chest thuds when bafflement is shoved aside by panic. Now I get it. An ‘entertainer’ to him is a s.ex slave. “Mr. Davide,” I say, trying my best to lull my growing undesirable emotion. “I don’t want the job you’re offering me. If your father isn’t available to speak with, I’ll come back some other day.” “I don’t think you understand our family culture here,” he says. “We can turn our employe
DAVIDE’S POV: The taste of Mackenzie’s skin dries my throat, provoking me to quaff her more. Her soft moans fill my senses, urging me to bang her right here, right now. I lay the upper half of her body down on my desk while dangle her lower half on my hips. Then, I start unbuttoning her coat. She doesn’t protest - exactly how every woman reacts under my touch. Once her coat is tossed to the carpet, I take off her tight-fit shirt, almost ripping it off her body. And when she has nothing, but her u.derwear, my c.ock throbs in excitement. I smirk at her astonishingly provocative sight. My triumphant eyes wander around her well-carved figure, then at her beautiful face. I really am great at choosing my entertainer. This new one will surely satisfy me. My fingers start working on her bra. In just a second, her rosy, swollen n.ipples got exposed, making my c.ock grow even harder. My skillful hands savagely massage her b.reasts, earning pleasure-filled moans from her. I tease her n.ipples
MACKENZIE’S POV: The hairs on my arms and on the nape of my neck erect while cold, pearls of sweat smear my skin. I could feel my body tensing up as agitation squirms through me. The dangerous reality of my mission starts now. It penetrates through and scrapes all the tiny bravery I’ve struggled collecting before coming here. I swallow when one of the men in a suit walks forward and stands in front of the screen projector. “Let me introduce myself to our visitor, Ms. Mackenzie. My name is Errol Martinez and I’m the family adviser.” It’s funny how they all concealed the word ‘gang’ with the word ‘family’. According to the papers given to me by Bato and Conrad, Errol Martinez isn’t a relative to Mr. Alessandro, but he’s one of his most trusted men. He’s The Manila Mafia’s consiglieres - The Boss’ advisor who resolves disputes within the gang. If I find the word ‘family’ funny, I find the word ‘visitor’ eerie. Why do I have the feeling that they’re expecting my arrival? Why
A satisfied grin stretches Mr. Alessandro’s lips, deepening the creases on his face. He then gently bobs his head and says, “Well then, expect your contract days from now.” Before I could react to that, Mr. Davide gets up to his feet with force, creating a screeching noise in between his chair and the floor. Without looking at anyone in particular, he says, “I assume this meeting is now over.” He clutches my wrist, forcing me to raise an eyebrow at him. He then continues, “If there are any additional pieces of information about this meeting, send me a copy through my email. Mackenzie and I have to go.” Without more ado, he pulls me out of my chair. Surprisingly, even if he’s obviously mad, his pull doesn’t hurt me. In fact, he even wraps his arm around my waist while I’m standing up so I won’t lose my balance. Everyone is hushed at his action. They all stare at him with blank faces, as if his rudeness is already an expectation to them. Mr. Davide and I ride back in the elev