Chapter 3 choosing ceremony

Chapter 3

Ruby’s POV

My eyes slowly blinked open and I quickly snapped them shut in tiredness. The whole room was still covered in darkness and I didn't need a wall timer to tell me that this was just minutes before the morning break bell. My body now had the natural alarm to wake up just before the time, and I was right, as in the next second the sound of the bell in the distance reached my ears.

Ding. Dong! Ding. Dong!

My head snapped to the space next to me on the wooden bed, slightly hoping to see Liam there, but I knew that was just wishful thinking. He must have left a long while ago, as all that was left next to me was the cold, rumpled space of my bedsheet. But I didn't let that dampen my spirit. For the first time in a long time, I actually woke up in high spirits.

“The day I have been waiting for is finally here!” I whispered to myself, my hands wrapping round my lips to muffle my excitement as my feet pumped hard with energy in the air. The long months of living as a slave, enduring the cruel taunts of the pack and hiding in the dark, were coming to an end. Every single tear I had shed and every harsh word I had swallowed were leading up to this moment.

Today was the choosing ceremony that was to take place under the full blue moon, and this was also where Liam was going to choose me in front of everyone to be his mate and finally reveal me to the world. This was a perfect time to do so, as immediately the names were called, a brand appears on both parties and they become mates. If one died, the other followed. It was the most perfect plan! The royal family and the council would not be able to do anything about it when that happened. Liam’s plan was flawless.

Without another breath to waste, I went hopping out of the bed fully naked as the remains of my shredded, worn-out gown fell to my feet.

“All my chores must be finished in time, I must look my best for the ceremony!” I said with enthusiasm, my mind already darting to the clothes I had set aside for that. It just felt like the rest of the day was a blur, same as me sweeping through my chores the fastest I have ever done.

My broom flew over the stone, and my hands worked with a speed I didn't know I possessed, fueled entirely by the burning hope in my chest. Soon I was back in my room, washing my face and armpits with a bowl of water and wrung towel to take off the awful smell of my sweat since I had no fragrance to use. The cold water stung my sensitive skin, but I barely felt it. And with one last look at my reflection in the broken mirror, I was dashing out of my room for the ceremony grounds, my heart thumping so hard in my chest and hands clutching my gown so tight the weak fabric might snap in two.

I soon approached the already filled-up crowd and silently weaved through the lightly packed crowd so I could get closer to the front. Conversations reached my ears from all directions.

“I wonder who Liam would choose…”

“What are you wondering about? It must be Lily.”

“Lily… yes, it should be her. He has been really close to her since childhood and has been going hunting with her these days.”

Talk and murmured whispers reached me from all sides, but I was not bothered. Liam had come up with the plan to make Lily the one seen out with him so I would not be investigated and maybe hurt or worse killed by those not in support of our relationship, which would in fact be the entire royal family. The elders were strict about bloodlines, and they would have torn me apart if they suspected the future Alpha had laid eyes on a wolfless girl.

And Lily was well aware of this and was on board with the whole thing. She was such a nice girl as she had treated me nicely in her own way, one of the few people who hadn't looked down on me. I would be sure to treat her very well when my status changes. I pictured myself standing at the head of the royal table, granting her a place of honor for all the help she had given me.

“The royal family has arrived!”

There was a loud announcement as the drums began beating. I shifted in my spot where I was standing heavily pregnant, with my hair carefully combed, eyebrows touched with charcoal, and a scarf around the most decent thing I had that didn’t have a visible tear in it. To be honest, it did have a tear, hence the scarf to hide it. I needed to look my best for all when my name was called.

I took a shaky breath as I watched Liam walk up the stage behind the Alpha and his Luna and immediately take their seats. The native drums started immediately, the bass rumbling through the ground and vibrating through my body. The deep sound echoed inside my ribcage, matching the erratic beat of my own heart.

A pang of pain struck my heart seeing as Liam didn’t even look my way, but seemed to be looking over at Lily, who was planted in the front of the crowd and smiling. But it was fine, it was all part of his plan. He had to keep playing the part until the absolute last second to keep us both safe. My stomach twisted nervously, and my hands rubbed against the rough fabric of my dress.

The ceremony soon began in full swing, and soon the blue moon in the sky was now fully rounded, casting a pale glow over the entire clearing. Everywhere went as quiet as a graveyard and all eyes fell on Liam, who had walked to the forefront of the stage. My heart thudded in my chest in nervousness and my palms became sweaty. Even the wind seemed to pause and so did the drums, but the wind players still continued, giving the atmosphere an ethereal feel.

“I, Liam Creek, ask that the Supreme Luna Goddess who watches over grant me an artificial mate!” His voice loudly boomed around the room as his claws moved swiftly to slash his palm open, spilling his blood to the earth.