Candace
"May the Moon Goddess bless this union."
And just like that, the mating ceremony was done.
I stood frozen at the altar while three fresh mating marks burned into my neck, throbbing hot beneath my skin. My mother's necklace rested cold against my collarbone, the silver pendant trembling faintly with every uneven breath I took.
The church still felt too full of staring eyes and whispers I could feel scraping over my skin.
Alpha Milan rose slowly from the front pew and smoothed down the front of his jacket with measured elegance.
A small gracious smile pulled at his lips, but it never once touched his eyes.
"The Moon Goddess has spoken," he announced "and her will has been done. Let us proceed to the reception and celebrate what she has ordained for our pack."
A murmur of approval rippled through the hall.
Pack members began filing out of the pews in clusters, chatting softly amongst themselves while drifting past me as though I were part of the church decorations.
