CIAN
The rot. That was what they called it. The disease that ate away at wolves from the inside, stripping them of their strength, their senses, their very identity until nothing was left but a shell of who they had once been. My mother had been fighting it for two long years now, and the truth was she was losing. Every healer we brought said the same thing in different words. She had months, maybe six if she was lucky, before it claimed her completely.
She had asked me for one thing. Just one wish before the end. She wanted to see me married. She wanted to leave this world knowing her son would not be alone, that there would be someone by my side when she was gone. She wanted the comfort of believing there would be pups to carry on the bloodline, a legacy secured before her body gave out.
So I agreed. I did not have the time to court or negotiate, not with the disease taking her piece by piece every day. I found the smallest pack, the one most willing to bend quickly, and struck the bargain. The ceremony was arranged in haste because I needed this done before her time ran out. Mother could not even attend. That was how far her condition had worsened. She told me she did not want others staring at her weakness, whispering about her suffering. She made me promise instead to bring my bride to her straight after, so she could bless the union with what strength she had left.
But now everything had unraveled. What should have been simple had turned into chaos. I stood at the altar with the wrong bride, accusations flying across the room, a mate bond snapping into place with someone I had not chosen. The fragile peace I had bargained for trembled on the edge of becoming war. I wanted blood, my rage boiling hot, but I could not. For her sake. For mother’s peace, I had to hold back.
Still... the rage burning in my chest had nothing to do with wounded pride or political insult. I didn’t care about those things. But this girl, whether through jealousy or calculation or whatever had driven her, had ruined the one thing I was trying to do for the one person I loved in this world.
My mother was dying. And this was supposed to make her happy.
"Alpha Cian."
Elder Moira’s voice cut through my thoughts. I turned to find her standing beside me, her ancient eyes watching me with an expression I couldn’t quite read.
"Whatever has transpired here," she said quietly, "you must not reject this bride."
I stared at her. "Elder..."
"The goddess has given her blessing," Moira continued. "I felt it during the ceremony. The bond between you has already taken strong root. To break it now would be an act of blasphemy against the Moon Goddess herself."
The words hit me like cold water. A chosen mate bond could be broken, yes. But not easily. And if the goddess had truly blessed it during the ceremony, if it had taken root that strongly already, breaking it would incur her wrath. Possibly permanently.
Fate intended to make me its bitch today, didn’t it?
I looked at Fia. She stood there shaking, her face still pale, tears starting to stream down her cheeks. Through the bond, I felt her terror and confusion and desperation. She looked like she wanted to run but couldn’t move.
The rage came back then, hot and fierce. Whether this was jealousy or a setup or whatever the truth was, she’d put me in an impossible position. She’d trapped me as surely as if she’d locked me in chains.
Fine. If I couldn’t break this bond without angering the goddess, then I’d make sure she regretted every moment of what came next.
I turned to face the crowd. My voice came out cold and clear, carrying to every corner of the hall.
"The wedding will go forward."
Gasps erupted. People started talking over each other, confusion and shock in their voices. I held up a hand for silence.
"But understand this," I continued. "This is punishment. She will be my mate, yes. But not out of love. She wanted this position badly enough to attack her own sister? Fine. She has it. And she will learn exactly what she’s earned."
I turned to Alpha Joseph. The man looked like he’d aged ten years in the last five minutes.
"Does that satisfy you?" I asked him. "Or would you rather stake your pack to protect your unruly daughter?"
The threat was clear. Accept this or face the consequences. Joseph’s face went even more gray. He opened his mouth but no words came out.
"Father, no, father please."
Fia had dropped to her knees beside me. She was begging him, tears streaming down her face. Her voice broke on every word.
"Get up," I said.
She looked at me, then slowly stood. Her whole body was shaking. She looked like she might collapse at any moment.
"I am sorry," she whispered. "I swear that this was not my intention and that everything is being twisted."
"Save it," I cut her off. My voice was ice. "You wanted me that bad? You have me now. Let’s finish this."
I grabbed her, pulling her close. She gasped, her hands coming up to push against my chest, but I was stronger. So much stronger. I wrapped one hand in her hair, tilting her head back, and crushed my mouth against hers.
The bond flared between us like a flame catching gasoline. I felt it snap into place fully, locking us together in a way that couldn’t be undone. Her lips were soft and tasted like salt from her tears. She made a small sound of distress that vibrated against my mouth.
I pulled back just enough to look into her eyes. They were wide and dark with fear and something that might have been heartbreak.
"You’ll regret ever stepping into Hazel’s place," I said quietly, making sure only she could hear. "I promise you that."
Then I kissed her again, sealing the bond completely while the crowd watched and the mate connection between us solidified into something permanent and unbreakable.
She was mine now. And I was going to make sure she understood exactly what that meant.