Part D: Chapter 78

***The Ceremony Part One***

I woke up with a start, today was the day all our hard-work paid off of the day that I committed myself, body, mind and soul to Shel. For the first time in a long time in a long while, I actually prayed and asked the Goddess to ensure that I didn’t end up living a miserable life without the only woman that had my heart.

I got up and took a quick shower then changed into the ceremonial clothes I had to wear until the time we were to enter the pool, completely naked. A shiver ran through me at the thought of having to see Shel naked. I was not looking forward to that happening. Just as I was finishing up getting dressed, Carter entered the room with Ivan in tow.

“Someone looks handsome for his special day,” Carter said as he made himself comfortable on my bed while Ivan stood idly by the door, looking quite awkward. Both of them were dressed in black jeans with tribal writings all over their naked upper half and they didn’t have any shoes on, the same way I would be.

“I’m not looking forward to this,” I said honestly as I flopped on the bed, my eyes staring into space. “Is there a way for me to bail out of all of this?”

“You should be happy, Shel is an incredible woman and any man would be lucky to have her as their wife,” Ivan said for the first time.

“Then why did you do everything you did? Why push me to get married to her when you knew that you were in love with her all this time?” I asked, as I stood up and shot him a knowing look. “Why did you have to betray your loyalty and honour when you were going to lose the only woman that you ever truly wanted to call your own?”

I looked over at Carter and there was a blank expression on his face then I turned my attention back to Ivan who wouldn’t meet my eye anymore. “Why mate?” Carter asked as well.

“Because it was better to see her happy than be rejected,” he finally said. “I know you both have been my friends for the longest time and I owe you so much respect. On top of that, you are also my Alpha and I owe you my life but when she came to me after the worst humiliation of my life and asked me to betray your trust, I didn’t have to think about it. I knew I had to do what she wanted even if it meant losing the only people I called friends.”

I sighed because I had known that it was our fault for instigating him and causing him to do what he had done from the beginning. However, there were still a few things that didn’t make sense to me. “If you had betrayed us after the humiliation, how then did Jemila get kidnapped the second time around?”

Ivan looked away from me as he bowed his head. “I had been betraying you ever since Jemila first came into our lives. I knew it was wrong to do it but I couldn’t think straight. Please forgive me Alpha, I accept my punishment for my crimes.”

Carter sighed and stood up then walked over to him. I watched as he placed a hand on Ivan’s shoulder. “I really want to hate you for what you did and made her go through but you are still my friend and I will talk to Aidan not to have you killed for your sins warrant death in any case,” he said and then looked over at me.

“Tell me one more thing, who took her and what did they plan to do with her?” I asked, feeling my hands clenched into fists by my sides. “Just tell me that one thing and maybe I will be able to go on with everything today.”

“Her aunt and uncle took her. The man goes by the name Julius but as for her aunt, no one knows her name even though she was the one who called Shel and told her to get rid of Jemila in order to get her off the way so she could become the next Luna. The woman planned everything out and I was the one who delivered Jemila to Julius before they flew back to Germany,” she said in one breath.

My wolf was pissed, all he wanted to do was come out and rip Ivan to shreds for what he had done to his mate but I had to keep my calm.

“I was the one who hit you on the head and kidnapped her that fateful day. I cannot ask for your forgiveness because I would not forgive myself either,” he bowed his head in submission and it took everything in me to remain sitting.

“Leave, “ I said as I looked away from him. Sean had been right from the onset. Ivan truly had betrayed my trust and I didn’t think I would ever be able to forgive him for any of it.

“Aidan,” Carter started but I held up my hand to stop him.

“I don’t want to hear it from you or him, he took away someone who was so precious to me and right now, looking at him makes me want nothing more than to kill him right now and here. So let him leave before I cannot undo anything.” I closed my eyes and took deep breaths to calm myself down.

When I opened my eyes, Ivan had left and only Carter remained.

“I’m sorry for what he did,” Carter said. “I’ll tell everyone you aren’t feeling so good and will only be out when it’s time for the pool ceremony. Get some rest in the meantime.”

“I don’t know how to get past this. I knew he was the one but hearing it from him just made it that much more real and painful. He was one of my closest friends yet he chose my sister over me after everything we have been through together.” There was a sharp pain inside my chest and I hated that I felt his betrayal more than I thought I would have if it had been someone else. “All the time when we asked him to find the traitor, he did nothing because he already knew he was the one.”

“I know, I can’t forgive him either because Jemila finally brought a smile to your face. The same smile you had when your Mother was still around. I will ensure he gets his punishment but you have to hang in there and trust that Sean will deliver as per his word.” Carter left after that and I remained alone in the room.


****

Nightfall had finally befallen us and I knew any minute from now, Carter would come and take me to the ceremonial pool where I was to meet with Shel and cement our union. I sighed just as the door to my bedroom opened and Carter entered with two guards by his sides.

“Alpha, it’s time,” Carter said and they all bowed.

I took one last deep breath before I stood up and followed them to the ceremonial grounds where the pool was located far deep in the woods. Everyone was standing around, whispering and sounding so joyful and happy that my heart went out to all my people. I looked around the place and found Gerald standing next to some elders while the Oracle stood in the shadows. This was it.

I stepped in front and Shel appeared by my side, dressed in the ceremonial robe which was embroidered in gold and black, matching my ceremonial attire.

“Step forward and enter the pool and the Goddess will decide whether your union is accepted or not,” the Oracle said, its voice commanding attention from everyone.

I took a deep breath as I started walking towards the pool of water that never went dry with Shel by my side and then we stopped next to it. I looked around, taking in the full bright moon and then at the people. Please spare me. Shel took off her robe and turned to face me, encouraging me to do the same. Taking a deep breath, I began undressing when someone called out from the darkness.

“Stop, this isn’t right.” The voice sounded like music to my ears.