THE ALPHA’S VENGEFUL LUNA

CHAPTER 31: BONDED

FREYA

Several days after consulting Imani, her words perambulated my mind, leaving me feeling uneasy. It seemed to be the only thing I was thinking about, granting me sleepless nights and restless days.

When I was finally able to get quality rest, it was terminated by a loud horn, followed by a knock on the door.

In my current state of confusion and frustration, I was ready to snuff life out of the person who dared interrupt the best sleep I have had in days.

I thought forcing my eyes shut and willing the person away would make whoever it was disappear, but I was terribly wrong.

The knocks only increased and I screamed at the top of my lungs, dragging myself out of my bed. Whoever it was, I was going to give the individual a piece of my mind.

I flung the door open, unprepared for what awaited me at the end of the door.

I was almost stomped on by the women who rushed into my room with several boxes and racks, literally shoving me out of the way.

Who in helluva were these women and what were they doing in my room?

“We have to get her ready! Where is she?” One of the women chirped, looking frantically around the room.

“Who is she?” I asked, confusion written all over my face.

“You are she!” The women squealed, tugging me on every side.

“Uh, I think you have got the wrong person.” I tried to say over their incessant bickering.

“Oh, silly you! Are you not Freya? “The Alpha's Luna?” Another woman asked and I nodded.

“Then we are in the perfect room, dear.” They successfully dragged me to my vanity dresser, forcing me down on the seat.

“What is going on?” I asked frantically. “Who are you, anyways?”

“Pardon our lousy intrusion, love. I am Pansy, and these are Shirley, Betty and Lily!” Said one of the excited women, introducing herself and the other women with her. “We are here to prepare you for your mating ritual!”

I felt like every ounce of air had been sucked out of the room as I struggled to breathe.

“What?” I croaked out, blinking at the women in confusion.

“Were you not informed?” Lily said, peering into my blanched face with concern. “Today is your mating ritual, silly!”

Blood rushed to my ears, ringing loudly like an alarm.

The mating ritual was today.

My mating ritual with Icarus was today.

Every breath I took was short and raspy as I sunk deeper into the chair. How in the world did I not remember that?

I groaned, burying my face in the palm of my hands at the realisation that the mating ritual was the reason Icarus was trying to talk to me yesterday, but I shut him out.

Now there was no escape. I was going to be joined with the man who had wiped out my entire family, and there was nothing I could do about it.

“Are you okay, dear?” Betty, who was the oldest among them, asked me with her voice full of concern.

I inhaled a shaky breath, trying to compose myself.

“Um... yeah. Yes I am.” I plastered a fake smile on my face with the hope that it was convincing enough for the women.

“Oh goodie! Let us get to work, then!” Pansy clapped excitedly, cracking open the chest she had brought along with her.

“All you need to do is to sit back, relax and let us transform you.” Lily winked at me and I nodded, still yet to fully comprehend the fact that I was going to be officially joined with Icarus.

It felt like a lucid dream, surreal and yet so real at the same time as the women got me ready for the ceremony.

A few hours later, I stared into the mirror and I gasped in awe. I could barely recognise the ethereal beauty staring back at me.

“Lost for words? We have that effect.” Pansy said, puffing her chest with pride.

My hair was pulled in an elaborate updo with several ceremony headgears hanging from it. The makeup was simple yet elegant, highlighting my flattering facial features.

The dress was a jade green ceremonial robe, with long flowing sleeves and bodice, embellished with golden beads.

I was not a woman who cared much about how she looked, but at that moment I felt like the most beautiful woman on earth.

“I...I do not know what to say…” I whispered, staring at my reflection like I was seeing myself for the first time.

“Well, we do!” Shirley gushed with excitement. “You look absolutely stunning!”

Or was that Lily? It was hard to keep up with their names.

I could not help the tinge of red that creeped up my cheeks, followed by a shy smile. “Thank you.”

“Icarus is the luckiest Alpha to be blessed with such a beautiful mate.” Betty cooed, staring at me with glazed eyes.

“Indeed!" Pansy replied, grabbing my hand with a smile on her face.

My smile slowly morphed into a grimace. They just had to remind me that all this was for the dreaded mating ritual that awaited me, didn't they?

Betty glanced at her watch and gasped. “It is almost time! We need to get her to the ceremony.”

My stomach churned as nausea crawled up my throat.

No. This could not be happening. “What? So soon?”

“Yes!” Shirley quickly flipped on my veil to shield my face, before grabbing my hand while Pansy held the other, pulling me out of the room to the ceremony.

-***-

With quivering legs, I walked down the aisle alone, having no father or relative to escort me. I was glad the veil shielded my face. It helped me mask the look of horror marring my face as I walked on with hundreds of eyes on me.

Icarus and the priest stood at the other end of the isle, waiting on me. He was wearing a similar outfit with mine, except that his robe was embellished with gold threads instead of gold beads.

It felt so awkward getting joined to him, especially after all the recent fights we have had. We were yet to fix our rocky relationship though, one I was not interested in fixing.

The only thing that could possibly make me forgive Icarus wholly was if he could go back to the past and undo all the killings he had a hand in, especially that of my late husband and child.

If that was not possible, then this vengeance burning in my soul would continue to torment me, mating bond or not.

Icarus was standing in a circle engraved on the floor, and there were two other circles next to him. I was led to stand in the third circle, leaving the middle circle that joined the other circles vacant.

“Hi.” Icarus whispered, staring at me in awe, but I ignored him, looking away. I was not sure how to feel about everything that was happening with us. My emotions were like a jumbled knot, difficult to detangle.

The priest cleared his throat before beginning to speak.

“We have come here to witness the joining of Icarus Donovan and...Freya.” He began. Icarus' piercing eyes never left me, searching and drinking me in. I fought hard against the soulbond, biting my tongue till the metallic taste of blood filled my lips.

I had tuned out everything the priest said, until he made his last statement.

“Before the ritual commences, if anyone has a valid reason this ceremony should not proceed, speak up or forever remain silent.”

Soft murmurs filled the room, which was accompanied by gasps of shock when Lana stood up, staggering towards us.

“No...I cannot sit and watch this go on.” She slurred, approaching us with wobbly steps.

“Lana…" Icarus warned, staring daggers at her.

“Do not do this, Icarus!” Lana cried out, tears slipped down her face. “She...she does not love you like I do...”

Lana turned to me, her eyes burning with anger and hate. “This is all your fault!” She screamed at me. “I should be the one standing in that mating circle, not you!”

She was about to grab me, but was quickly restrained by guards. The entire room was already in chaos and as the priest tried to calm the crowd, I turned to Icarus with a scowl on my face.

“Just look at the mess you made.” I pointed in Lana's direction, guards already dragging her halfway down the hall.

“Not now, Freya.” Icarus gritted out.

“Um...sorry about that... intrusion.” Said the priest, after he had gotten the hall to quiet down. “Now let us get down to business.”

I was grateful for the distraction Lana caused, but it was soon over and I had to face reality again.

I sucked in a breath as we got down on our knees in the circles we were previously standing on, our eyes squeezed shut. The priest chanted some words in an ancient language, while sprinkling some liquid substance on us.

All this time, my heart rammed against my chest, thinking about what was to come after the ritual.

Would Icarus expect us to...?

“Freya.”

The priest called my name, drawing me out of my reverie. I opened my eyes to see him holding a small bowl with some dark substance swirling in it.

I eyed the bowl for a moment before taking it from his hands.

“Say these words…" He began and I repeated every word he said after him. “As our souls come together as one, I promise to honour and respect you as long as I live.”

The words made me quake on my knees, because those were serious vows.

I hesitated, taking a deep breath before gritting out those words.

Afterwards, I was asked to give Icarus the dark substance to drink. He took a sip, keeping a straight face although.

I then handed the bowl over to Icarus and he repeated the same process. I scrunched my face as I drank the substance, unsure of how it would taste but to my surprise it had a bittersweet flavour on my tongue.

“Just like the sealing syrup, your union may be bitter-sweet, but if you choose to stay together, you shall be inseparable.” The priest said, gazing down on us with a smile on his face.

“You may now rise on your feet.”

Icarus and I rose on our feet, stepping into the circle in the middle on the priest's order.

“Two souls have become one. You may now kiss to commemorate this union.”

Icarus took a step toward me, staring deep into my eyes before slowly leaning down to claim my lips in his.

All the emotions I had tried to suppress, exploded inside of me as our lips touched for that brief moment. Like I had been drowned in cold water, I was awakened to reality.

The mating ritual was complete.

I was joined to Icarus for life.