ASTRID.
I sat alone in my small, dimly lit chamber, staring at the tiny cake I could barely afford, resting on my small, old table.
My fingers fidgeted with the frayed ribbon on my worn-out gown, and I couldn't help but think, 'So this is my 21st birthday?' A boring one, at that.
I had hoped this milestone would be more than this – lonely and stifling.
The room's unbearable heat was gradually melting away the little makeup I had managed to put on.
Friends? I didn't really have any. The closest I had were Lyra and Carl, my fellow Omegas. They couldn't just stop working whenever they wanted; they had duties to finish before they could join me for my small, rather pathetic celebration.
As for Gerald, my boyfriend, he was nowhere to be found. I glanced around the room, silently cursing the heat that had my makeup practically slipping off my face. I couldn't even afford a fan to cool this cramped space.
Knock. Knock.
A sudden knock at the door jolted me, and I quickly hurried to open it, the old wood groaning under my touch. "Gerald! I thought you'd never come!" I wrapped my slender arms around his shoulders in a tight embrace, as if he might disappear.
"Hey, love. How are you doing?" he asked, in his usual soft and warm voice. He reached up, tucking a stray lock of my rich, blonde hair behind my ear – although it feels so inappropriate to refer to my hair as 'rich,' but when I finally begin to earn a good income and take good care of my hair, it would surely be the envy of all. I had beautiful hair.
His green eyes filled with tenderness, peered into mine as he smiled at me.
Gerald, the next acting Alpha of the Mountain Wolf pack, was the love of my life. He was twenty-three, older, and more poised. Some say he was way above my league and that I was nothing but a tramp before him, but he loved me nonetheless.
Even though I was only an Omega, he chose me, and that was more than enough. I couldn't imagine life without him.
Three years ago, his elder brother, Jaden, had sowed interest in me, but I chose Gerald over him. Jaden was overly possessive and… I don't know… kinda cold-hearted. It was and still is a wonder to me how he picked interest in a lowly Omega like me. Maybe he just wanted a plaything, I guess.
Jaden made my life very uncomfortable after I turned him down, but, thankfully, he left with his twin brother to study in the UK shortly after that.
But, either way, I had no regret in choosing Gerald. He loved me more than life itself, and that was all that mattered.
I had become a laughingstock to everyone in the pack. I was considered a weak Omega, who was mocked even by my fellow Omegas.
They called me a dreamer for believing I'd become Luna one day. But their opinions never mattered. All that had ever mattered was Gerald's opinion about me.
"I am doing great…" I replied sadly, turning away from him.
"We've talked about this, Astrid. It doesn't change anything. I still chose you," Gerald said, reaching out to hold me.
"But… what about your parents? They seem not to approve of us. I am worried," I said almost in a whisper, searching his eyes for some form of assurance.
"They'll have to accept you. You are the one I have decided to be with. With or without you being my fated mate. I'll make you my chosen mate," he reassured me.
Gerald had assured me over the years that no matter what happens, he would make me his chosen mate, and we both agreed to reject our fated mates if we ever found them.
But right now, I wasn't so confident about that anymore. Not when his coronation was tomorrow… and Skye was back in the pack.
"What about Skye? Your parents have always wanted her for you. Now she is back and…" I was saying, but he stopped me.
"She means nothing to me. She isn't even my fated mate," he explained, assurance lacing his tone.
But I wasn't convinced. Skye, the Gamma's daughter, was everything I was not. Beauty. Intelligence. Strength. Diplomacy. She had even studied abroad. In what world did I, a pathetic, timid blonde, stand a chance?
I would surely choose Skye too, if I were in Gerald's shoes.
"Please, Gerald. Never go back on your words. I'll become a laughingstock if you do. I would die if –"
"Shhhh." Gerald hushed me immediately. "Nothing will ever happen to you. I'll always be here for you. I promise. It's you or no one else." Then he captured my lips, kissing me passionately, even though that wasn't what I wanted right now.
Hw always thought there was nothing good sex couldn't fix, but he was wrong. And if not that I knew how much he loved me, I'd be tempted to think that he ws only with me for my body because, he was too addicted to it. But no. He loved me and I knew it.
***
The coronation was already upon us. Alpha Jarus was ready to retire, and the love of my life, Gerald, was set to take over for now. Just until Jaden and Jace, the twins, returned from the UK.
The contest for Alpha King was only a few weeks away. Everyone knew only Jaden and Jace were qualified to compete. It was their birthright. But I still loved Gerald nonetheless.
After the contest, one of them would become Alpha King. The other would take over the Mountain Wolf Pack from Gerald. And as for Gerald… he would be given a region to oversee, as a sub-Alpha… This is also fine by me… I am not one who hungers for power.
Gerald never spoke much about his brothers' return and how he feels being just a temporal Alpha. He always smiled and said it didn't matter, as long as I was by his side. I know he was trying to be content and to pretend that being second or third would be enough. But sometimes, I wondered if he meant it.
He once hinted to me that he wished he could also contest to be the next Alpha King, but that was a long time ago.
Gerald had shown great strength and wisdom. His father was sure the Mountain Wolf Pack was in safe hands for now.
I busied myself with preparations for the ceremony. Gerald had asked me to dress up for my coronation as well.
I had asked him to take me to his parents, just to be certain they approved of our union, but Gerald was adamant. He assured me that everything was fine, that his parents were already okay with the whole idea.
And I believed him. Everything he said to me was always right.
I adorned myself the best way I could.
My makeup was light and decent. I wouldn't want Luna Caylie to see me as an indecent woman.
Luna Caylie had always looked at me neutrally. She didn't have the same hate and disgust for me the way other members of the pack did.
That was a good sign to me. At least, if the Alpha's family had never been in support of their son, they would have warned me to stay away already.
That thought alone made me heave a sigh of relief.
It was getting dark already, and more panic settled in the pit of my stomach. The entire place seemed too quiet.
Had the ceremony begun without me?
Carl and Lyra hadn't even cared to check on me all evening, despite the fact that they missed my birthday yesterday and promised to spend some time with me today. They were still nowhere to be found.
Gerald hadn't come to get me, neither had he sent anyone to call me yet. It made me panic.
I had decided to stay indoors until I was called upon, just to avoid the scorn and mockery from the pack members who still thought I was being delusional, even up until this blessed day when Gerald would prove them all wrong.
Pushing all those stupid thoughts and fears aside, I decided to take the bold step to go and see what was going on.
Stepping out of my small chamber, the cool breeze slapped against the part of my skin that was exposed, despite the size of the big ball gown I was wearing. It belonged to Gerald's sister, Tyla, who was also out of the country. Gerald gave it to me and said since we couldn't be extravagant at this point, we couldn't get a new dress, so, it was okay putting this on, instead. It made sense. I wouldn't want to be the reason Alpha Jarus would think Gerald was too careless with money.
The dress looked elegant and far too large for my petite frame, making me feel both ridiculous and hopeful.
I fetched the gown in my hand to help me walk properly. When I approached the coronation hall, I got even more nervous. The whole place was teeming with so many people from far and near.
Although the Mountain Wolf Pack isn't as big as the Crimson Ashes Pack, they were respected by a lot of people, hence the crowd at the event.
My vision caught something unsettling. I saw Gerald kneeling before an Elder wolf at the forefront of the hall. But that wasn't all. I also saw someone else kneeling beside him. But I couldn't make out the person's form.
I stepped further into the hall. The sweeping sound of my big gown made everyone turn in my direction.
"Gerald?" I called, almost in a whisper, as a dam threatened to break from my eyes.
Gerald turned and looked at me with an indifference that made my heart shatter into a million pieces.
"Who is she?" I heard the gorgeous lady beside him ask in a whisper.
"No one you should worry about," Gerald replied and turned to face the Elder who was conducting the coronation ceremony.
Slight murmurs erupted from the crowd, accompanied by the scornful giggles coming from the pack members who had always called me a fool to have thought Gerald would make me his chosen mate.
The shame was too much to bear. The Alpha and Luna shot me a disdainful glare.
"You should be ashamed of yourself. You had to use my daughter's dress for this event? Did you also steal it just the way you tried to steal the Luna title from Gerald's true mate?" Luna Caylie spat at me, standing up from her seat as if she had just realized whose dress I was putting on.
Wait… Gerald's true mate? Does this mean… Oh, my God… What a fool I had been all along.
"Yes. She stole it," I heard voices murmur from the crowd, yanking me back to reality.
"No, Luna... I... I didn't..." I tried to speak, despite the flood of tears flowing from my eyes.
"Arrest that thief! She'll rot in the dungeon!"