Vayne's POV
"Have you heard that the Alpha of the Fullmoon Pack is getting married to the newly appointed Gamma?"
"I know, it's the female werewolf who defeated the Blackmoon Pack before."
"Shh, keep it down; I heard she was human before!"
As Zed and I approached our mating ceremony date, the discussions around me intensified. However, in the werewolf world where strength is paramount, nobody cared about my previous origins. Instead, due to the strength I'd shown, everyone considered it a match made in heaven.
I'd been living in deep seclusion these days, staying in my room all day, unsure of how to face my heart.
"Ms. Vayne, it's time for us to head to the venue."
The reminder from the maid beside me brought me back to reality.
"Okay."
I nodded softly, gazing at my beautiful reflection in the mirror for a moment, lost in thought.
"Your outfit today will surely attract everyone's attention!"
A smile spread across the maid's face as she carefully led me into the car, holding my skirts.
I didn't respond to her words, craning my head to look out the window. The street scene rapidly receded, with the surrounding crowd smiling and saluting whenever the caravan passed by.
As I approached the venue, a crowd had already gathered around me.
"Ms. Vayne is here!"
Someone in the crowd shouted, followed by a burst of cheers as everyone slowly surged towards the motorcade.
The sunlight cast dappled light and shadow through the dense foliage, creating a mysterious veil over the entire scene. Garlands adorned the trees, and the moss on the ground felt soft and cozy; in every way, today was a perfect day for a ceremony.
"The Alpha is here!"
With those words, Zed, dressed in a gorgeous suit, walked slowly and fondly through the crowd towards me. Standing in the backlight with a faint smile on his face, he resembled a god emerging from a myth. This scene undoubtedly charmed countless young girls.
"It's a beautiful day."
Zed gently took my hand and kissed the back of it. However, when he raised his face again, the expression on his face transformed into a bitter smile.
After all, he had earlier emphasized the importance of respecting my heart, and today the two of us were finally going to be mated. However, he didn't appear the least bit joyful.
"Is today the day you've been waiting for?" I asked Zed in a hushed tone, audible only to the two of us, as he led me toward the venue.
Zed froze for a moment, but he quickly composed himself and turned to look at me without responding to my question. A pang of sadness filled my heart at the sight of Zed in this state, suddenly recalling that he had been obstructing my union with him ever since Azir broke the news.
Initially, I thought he was merely respecting my choice, but it hadn't dawned on me until now that Zed never seemed to express his emotions toward me, especially since his eyes lacked even the slightest hint of love.
This brought back memories of Talon, the way he gazed at me with tenderness. Even though he concealed it well, I could still sense a trace of love and possessiveness in his eyes, as if I were his private possession no one had the right to violate.
"I welcome all our honored guests to the site of the ceremony for the Fullmoon Pack. I'm truly delighted to have so many of you witness the day our pack is revitalized once again!" Azir stood on the elevated platform, projecting his voice with enthusiasm as he delivered his opening remarks to the surrounding guests.
As Azir's words resonated, the people around him cheered with enthusiasm. The music played, and the entire venue buzzed with a unique and joyous atmosphere. While attempting to immerse myself in the scene, I observed the guests around me basking in the romantic ambiance, with laughter and heartfelt applause intertwining.
I noticed Zed pursing his lips and discreetly scanning the crowd with his eyes narrowed, but I could still sense that he was searching for something.
"Zed, it's your turn to say something."
Azir looked at Zed and me with relief, then nodded towards Zed, signaling that it was time for him to speak as the Alpha of the pack. Many surrounding packs had converged here, all seeking Zed's strength.
After Azir finished speaking, a silence quickly fell around the area, waiting expectantly for Zed to address the gathering.
"First of all, I'd like to express my gratitude to all of you for joining this celebration. It's been a long time since I've witnessed anything like this. Since Vayne's arrival, she has assisted us in overcoming internal challenges and external threats."
Zed said, craning his head around to look at me, still maintaining a somewhat raw politeness. I noticed that he referred to it as a "celebration", not a "mating ceremony".
Zed's words drew my attention to the fact that today's venue was not styled like a traditional mating ceremony but more like a grand ceremony. While Zed continued with eloquent speeches for the guests, my mind was elsewhere.
Zed's earlier attempts to identify something in the crowd made me vaguely uneasy, yet there was an indescribable feeling within me.
"So, this isn't just a memorable day for our pack; it's a day for us to grow together!" Zed continued his high-pitched speech from the elevated stage, but the guests seemed a bit confused. After all, the earlier news had spread that Zed and I were going to be mated.
Azir, realizing that Zed appeared to be intentionally stalling, interrupted the speech and took the first step to the stage.
"I now announce that the ceremony of our Fullmoon Pack's Alpha Zed and Gamma will begin immediately!" Azir declared passionately, prompting the crowd to erupt in fierce cheers.
However, Zed displayed a slightly unnatural expression, looking towards the end of the crowd with a tense expression.
"I disagree!"
Suddenly, a loud and clear voice of opposition emanated from the crowd, and a familiar figure appeared in front of my eyes. At this moment, Zed's mouth slightly upturned in an undetectable smile.