Eero's perspective.
"What did you do?" I asked, gritting my teeth, "Aelice might have changed her mind at the last minute, but I'm sure it's because you said something to her. Did you threaten her?" I fought to free myself from Beta Octavio's hold of me.
"Do you really plan to ruin this special day of the Alpha King and the she-wolf that you claimed was like your sister?"
"Let go of me, Octavio. I need to stop this mating ceremony."
"If you can deal with the consequences of ruining this special day, then I'll gladly will, your grace." Octavio flashed a mocking smile.
"But I must remind you that you're not that invincible even if you're the heir. Your adoptive father will punish you, and if he gets really disappointed in you, he might snap back to reality and pluck you from your position." My wolf was ready to take over when Claudius spoke inside of my head.
"Octavio is just trying to provoke you. He wants you to cause a scene here and ruin this day. I know that you're mad, but don't let your anger be in control of yourself and the wolf, Eero."
I closed my eyes and breathed out upon opening my eyes and seeing how calm I had become. Beta Octavio realized that someone had soothed me.
"That's the doing of your mate, so you have found your second chance, mate, huh? Who is it?"
He looked around to search for that shifter. Beta Octavio's eyes were about to land on Claudius when Miguel suddenly showed near our side, blocking Claudius from the eyes of the Beta.
"Was that you? Miguel Blackthorn was your chosen second chance mate?" Octavio asked.
"Yes. Now let go of her and go sit at the bride's side of the family because I can't keep this feisty wolf on a leash for a long time," Miguel said before he possessively wrapped his arm around my waist.
My eyes followed Beta Octavio, but Miguel guided me to look at him.
"Let go of me, Migs—"
"Why? I'd love to hold you for a few seconds longer. Beta Octavio nearly caught you and Claudius." I lightly hit his abdomen with my elbow. Miguel stepped away from me, but he quickly cut the distance with a step.
"I'm sure Claudius wouldn't mind, plus he shouldn't be overly possessive of you. You haven't claimed him as your second chance mate."
I already did a long time ago! I wanted to tell Miguel that so he would back off.
"If you promise that you won't do something stupid, that will put you in danger. I'll go back to where I should be."
"I won't," I said sharply. Miguel held out his pinky finger.
"What is that? Pinky promise."
"What are we? Five years old?"
"Just swore with your pinky finger, your grace." Weaving his pinky finger on mine.
"Now promise it." I rolled my eyes at him.
"I promise to behave the whole ceremony, is that okay? Are you happy now?" I asked sarcastically.
"Very much," Miguel replied. I was taken by surprise, and my eyes instantly flew to where Claudius was after Miguel pecked at my cheeks.
Claudius averted his eyes from my direction, and his wolf shut me off.
"Shit," I whispered to myself before I calmly settled on the wooden chair.
"I, Aelice, from the Regulus pack, daughter of Beta Octavio, accept the Alpha King to be my second chance mate, submitting myself whole-ly to him."
I couldn't stand watching the whole ceremony, but I had to stay, or Beta Octavio might find a way to take my absence as a hint of treason and rebellious act to the Alpha King.
As the priestess presented Aelice and the Alpha King to the crowds. Everyone cheered for them; they were clapping and shouting my name. Aelice's eyes found mine, and the fake smile on her lips flattened. I stood up from my seat and clapped a few times before I turned around to leave the Harren Hall now that their mating ceremony was over.
"Eero, please, wait!" She said, running after me while her hand held the delicate fabric of her gown.
"Eero."
I scoffed, hearing Aelice casually chanting my name without its honorifics.
"You're Luna Aelice now, which is why I'm just Eero to you now? I didn't know that it would only take you a few minutes to talk down on me."
"B-But you said that you wanted me to talk casually to you when it's just the two of us."
"Never mind, Luna Aelice. You should go back inside and celebrate your union with the Alpha King."
"Do you want me to kneel in front of you? So, you can forgive me?" I disregarded her question, but when I caught her about to bend her knee, I instantly sprinted back to pull her up.
"Are you trying to get me killed? Do you want your father to plot a fucking scheme so the council will behead me?" I shouted in rage.
"What? No!" She claimed, eyes widely opened.
"I am the heir, but you're the Alpha King's wife. If someone sees you kneeling to me, they could take it as a sign of me disrespecting the Alpha King, and I could be punished for that.""I-I forgot. It wasn't my intention."
A sarcastic laugh caught both of our attention. The laughter came from Claudius, who was strutting to where Alice and I were.
"Luna Aelice, if you chose power over your friendship with Eero, it's fine, but please don't be a hypocrite."
"What are you talking about, Claudius? This issue is between us."
Claudius raised his forefinger and swayed it, "No, it's not. Haven't you realized it? Marrying the Alpha King meant that you had become Eero's enemy. You will bear pups for the Alpha King, the very same pup that your father will push to become the new heir and Alpha. Just by marrying the Alpha King, you pushed Eero off the cliff and let her fend for herself."
"Now that you have become the Luna, you can no longer be friends with her, so please enjoy your power as the Luna Queen and stay away from Eero," Claudius said, guiding me to leave Luna Aelice by herself.