Chapter 10
846words
Cassia's desperate pleas did nothing to loosen the Alpha's grip on her.
Only when Aiden let out a muffled groan did Cassia's hands, wrapped around his neck, fall limply to the pillow.
"Alpha..."
He chuckled softly, his lips once again beginning to roam her body.
"Tomorrow, you'll have your own Luna," she purred, her voice like honeyed poison. "Will you forget about me then?"
Aiden bent down and kissed her swollen belly, his eyes hazy with desire.
"I told you, I'll give you anything except the title of Luna."
"Cassia, you and our pup are the only ones I truly love."
His large hand gently stroked her stomach.
Cassia gave him a seductive smile, lifting her long legs to hook around his waist.
"Then you'll have to love me properly."
Aiden pinned her hands above her head with one of his and thrust harder.
Their bodies entangled once more.
Only when the woman on the bed was sound asleep did Aiden pull away from her body. He began to dress in his formal attire in front of the mirror.
In the car on the way to the ceremony, Aiden finally activated the communication crystal he had kept silent all night.
He had expected to see countless mind-link messages from Elara. He had even prepared his excuses.
But the moment the crystal activated, his hand froze.
The interface was completely empty.
He frantically tried to reach Elara through their mind link, again and again. "Elara? Where are you?"
"The ceremony is about to start. Stop sulking and come out."
When he arrived at the ceremony venue, there was still no word from Elara.
The mate bond, which should have been a warm connection, was now an icy void.
A strange panic made his heart race, but he tried to reassure himself. Elara had been weak these past few days. She was probably just resting.
With that thought, he placed the crystal on his lap and looked out at the valley.
Not far from the valley floor, a few rescue vehicles and pack warriors were parked by the rapids.
A group of people was gathered at the water's edge, as if they were pulling something from the river.
His heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively looked away.
Time ticked by, second by second.
The ceremony site was decorated with Elara's favorite starlight flowers and moon orchids.
The musicians were playing Elara's favorite classical pieces.
Below the altar, the elders began to whisper among themselves as the guests cast curious glances his way.
Everything was perfect.
All that was missing was the Luna.
Just as Aiden tried to call her through the mind-link again, the grand doors were thrown open with a bang.
All eyes snapped toward the entrance.
But the one who entered was not Elara in her Luna gown.
It was a group of Rogues in black cloaks. They carried a simple stretcher, their faces devoid of expression as they walked in.
A single, stark white sheet lay on the stretcher.
The area around the altar fell into a dead silence.
Aiden froze, his legs feeling as if they were filled with lead. He stared at the white sheet, his eyes wide with a dawning horror.
The moment they set the stretcher down, he finally snapped back to his senses and roared.
"What sick joke is this?"
"Get these filthy Rogues out of here!"
The lead Rogue ignored his roars.
He walked to the foot of the altar and gave the powerful Alpha a deep bow.
"Alpha of Black Moon, we offer our condolences."
"What nonsense is this!"
Aiden charged down the steps, grabbing the Rogue by the collar.
"Get out! All of you, get out! You're in my Luna's way!"
The Rogue did not resist. He only looked at him calmly. "Your Luna has already arrived."
Aiden's hand trembled, and he let go of the Rogue as if he had been burned.
He turned, trembling, and walked toward the stretcher, one step at a time.
With every step, it felt as though a piece of his heart was being carved away.
That was Elara's scent. There was no mistaking it.
"Elara, is that you? Stop playing around! This joke isn't funny at all!"
His hand trembled as he reached for the sheet.
The moment he lifted it, the world stopped.
The face that was once so vibrant was now a grotesque shade of blue-purple.
High-purity wolfsbane had eaten away at her skin, while silver wounds cut deep enough to reveal the bone beneath.
All strength drained from Aiden's body, and he collapsed to his knees beside the body.
The Rogue walked over to him.
"Luna Elara died three days ago. The cause of death was a combination of severe injuries from wolfsbane and silver before she fell into the rapids. Her body was only discovered this morning. Please sign the confirmation of mate death."
The world lost all color, leaving only the stark white of the sheet before him and the black hole tearing open in his chest.
