Alexa’s Point Of View
“Oh, my days! He popped the question?” Luna mother asked and I nodded excitedly. She clapped her hands like a delightful kid as she squealed in happiness. Her action made me laugh in amusement. Raya wasn’t left out. She jumped up and down excitedly, giggling like a baby.
“Really?” She asked again and I nodded.
“Ah! Finally!”
She carried Cyan under her shoulder and began walking to and fro. “You’ll need a lot of things. Clothes, shoes, bags, hair, make-up!”
“What colours do you like?” Raya suddenly asked.
“What food?”
“Guys…”
“What about decorations?”
“So you prefer flower crowns or a simple crown.”
“Guys!” I snapped, and they stopped fidgeting.
“Jeez, I know you guys are excited but calm down, will you? You guys are just bombarding me with questions that I don’t even know the answer to.”
“Ah,” Raya mouthed. “Sorry.” She said sheepishly and came to sit beside me. Luna mother sat on my other side and placed Cyan on my lap.
I haven’t seen this guy for about a week. He has been with Luna Mother all week. He has grown bigger and he has become more agile.
“It’s just…. this is the first time we’re having a mating ceremony since disaster fell upon us thirty years ago.” Luna mother said. “So it’s quite special.”
“Disaster? What happened?” I asked curiously.
“Thirty years ago, an unknown plague spread around Whitepeak Pack. No one knew where the sickness came from but rumors flew around that it was purposely planted in the pack. This plague spread around like wildfire and kept everyone in their homes.” Luna Mother explained.
“Where did the plague come from?”
“No one could work so the economy ran down. The children went hungry and frustration increased and protests began. It became bloody.”
“What about the alpha.”
She shook her head sadly as her eyes watered. “He was… he was the first to die by the plague.” She said with a broken voice. I took her hand mine and squeezed it comfortingly.
“I’m sorry,” I said and she sniffled.
“There was… there was no one to protect the pack. I tried but I was not strong enough. The pack fell apart. It was set in flames in the end. I had to watch in pain as my pack was set on fire and I lost almost everyone. In the end, only a handful of people remained. Together, we tried to put the pieces to make Whitepeak Pack whole again.”
“It must have been hard.”
“It was harder than you think. I’m only supporting pillar was gone. I had no one. White peak Pack became a settling ground for people who had nowhere to go. Little by little, over five years, Whitepeak Pack members increased in numbers and we were beginning to regain our stance.”
I hummed in understanding but I was confused. In her story, she never mentioned Akira. Was Akira not with her? Did she give birth to him afterward?
“You look confused.” She said and I nodded.
“Was Akira never with you? You never mentioned him.” I said and she smiled.
“Yeah. He wasn’t included in the story because he wasn’t there.”
“But…” I tilted my head in confusion. “Did he… travel?” I asked sheepishly and she chuckled.
“Akira is not my biological son.” She said and my eyes widened in shock. I turned to Raya and she had the same expression on her face. Good. I’m not the only ignorant person.
“You didn’t give birth to him?” Raya asked in shock and I covered her mouth with my palm. Someone could be listening to us outside.
“It’s fine.” Luna Mother said and I nodded.
“How?” I asked.
“It was eleven years ago, I was coming back from the farm when I noticed a figure floating along the river. At first, I thought it was just a piece of clothing but I was sure it was a person when I saw his hair. I quickly rushed to him and pulled him out of the water. He was badly bruised and bleeding heavily. His lips were already pale. I tried my possible best to resuscitate him and thankfully, I woke up.”
“So… you didn’t even know where he came from?” Raya said in astonishment and she nodded.
“I took him home and treated him myself. When he woke up the second time, he stayed in the room, crying for a whole week. He kept calling on his parents. I assumed something bad happened to them and he was on the run.”
“And he didn’t say anything about where he was from?” I asked and she nodded.
“Till today.”
“Till today?” I exclaimed. “You mean, you still don’t know where he came from or who he really is?” I asked and she nodded.
“If that’s the case then why did you let him stay? What if he was from the enemies?” Raya asked what was on my mind.
“I was certain he wasn’t from the enemies. And even if he was, I was desperate then. The pack was weak and in need of a strong alpha. Just taking one look at him, I saw the pack’s savior. A strong leader who would lead the pack to victory.”
“Wow,” Raya breathed. “Now this is what you call shocking news.”
“If you knew nothing about them, how did you know his name?”
“I gave him his name.” She said and I raised my brow.
“You don’t even know his name?”
She nodded and I scoffed in disbelief. She knows absolutely nothing about her son and she’s at rest? Akira isn’t his name. He’s from somewhere else. So does that mean everything I know about him is fake?
“You’re thinking you don’t know anything about him, right?” She said and I nodded.
“Believe me when I say this. You’re the only one he’s been real with since I’ve known him.” She said. “Before you showed up in his life, he has always been gloomy. Whenever he smiled at me, it felt forced but then, he brought you home and he just… changed.”
“It’s true,” Raya said. “He always seemed like an empty vessel. One incapable of feeling emotions. But you entered the palace and you threw light into his life.” She said.
“I’m sure if there’s anyone who will get to know who he really is first, it’s gonna be you.” Luna mother said and I nodded.
“Gosh! I must have bored you with my story. Let’s go! Your mating ceremony is tomorrow night.”
My eyes widened. “Tomorrow night?”
“Yeah! It’s the full moon tomorrow.”
“Isn’t that too soon?”
“The next full moon is in a month,” Raya said. “Isn’t that too far?”
I gulped. It’s far, but should be enough time to get to know who Akira really is right?
“Um… tomorrow it is then,” I said unsurely.
“Good! Let’s go prepare!” Luna Mother said as she took my hand and pulled me along with her. Cyan almost dropped from my lap.
The palace was really rowdy. Court maids trooped everywhere with decorations and wedding stuff in their hands. Luna mother took me down to a room with twin golden doors. When we got in, a wow escaped my lips.
“What is this place?” I asked.
“The royal dressing room for the bride.” She said and I grinned excitedly. I trailed my hand on the gold dressing table and I felt giddy all of a sudden.
I was getting married.
I was going to be a bride.
Akira’s Bride.
Luna mother helped me sit and with a clap of her hand, maids trooped in.
“Your highness,” they chorused and I bowed bashfully.
“Rose gold or lavender and teal?” One asked.
“Huh?”
“For the decorations.”
“Ah… rose gold.”
Another pair stepped forward. “Please pick any of these accessories.” One of them said. They brought the boxes of accessories to my view and I picked the one I wanted.
“Warm make-up or bold make-up.”
This sequence went on for hours. Different things were brought before me and I was asked to pick. I was getting tired and sleepy. A person I assume to be a seamstress came to take my measurements.
“You have great body proportions, your highness.” She commended and I smiled. I wonder what Akira is doing. Probably the same thing I’m doing.
After taking my measurements, I was settled in front of the dressing mirror to compare my skin tone with different makeup pallets. When we were done, different shoes were brought to me to try.
“Are we done?” I asked Raya tiredly and she shook her head.
“You still have lessons to take.” Luna Mother said.
“What lessons?” Just as I asked that the door opened, and three old women came inside. They looked sophisticated. Raya bowed to me and left. I stared at her retreating figure, wondering where she was going.
“Your graces.” Luna mother and Raya bowed to them.
“Your highness,” they chorused. “so this is our future Luna.” One of them stated.
“Alexa, this is Madam Gloria, Sonia and Felicia.” She introduced them. “They are here to educate you on your role as your alpha’s Luna and the mother of the pack.”
“Okay.”
I was made to sit in their midst and the lesson started.
A large board was brought before me and it was rolled down. My saliva got stuck in my throat at the sight of what was drawn on the scroll.
“Wh.. what..?”
“As the alpha’s Luna, you must know how to satisfy him.” Madam Gloria said.
“Ah…” I was utterly speechless as I beheld the drawing of different sex styles on the board.
I don’t know what was cringer. The pictures? Or the fact that old women were teaching me how to satisfy a man.
“Firstly, you get on your knees and…”
My mouth was ajar the whole time as the three madams explained the act of sex explicitly with their mouths. Holy cow. Where did these women learn all these from?
“The reverse cowgirl position is..”
Ah. Reverse cowgirl. Doggy. Cowgirl. Missionary. Every single one was explained. They even demonstrated it. Gosh! I’m so embarrassed.
“Do you understand?”
I batted my eyelashes as I was snapped out of my trance. “Ah, yes. Yes. I completely understand.”
No. I probably got lost at the missionary part. Ah goodness, my eyes hurt.
In the next round, I actually paid attention. I was thought how to act like royalty and how to treat the pack members. I was taught that I was a wife to the alpha but a mother to the people. I must put their best interest at heart and not waver in front of challenges. Trust me, I can do that.
All the lessons finished around five in the evening. By that time, I was already tired.
“It’s time to try on your wedding dress.”
“It’s done already?” I asked in shock and Luna mother nodded.
“The royal tailors are quite skilled.”
She took my hand and pulled me to the fitting room. When we got in, I found Akira talking to the seamster.
I’ve not seen him since morning.
He flashed me a smile when he saw me. I waved at him slightly and he winked.
“Come here, your highness.” The seamstress said.
I went to the seamstress and a large curtain was drawn between Akira and me.
“You can’t see each other in your wedding dresses before the wedding.” Raya said. I didn’t even notice she was here.
I was pulled out of my cloth and was worn my wedding dress. The dress was of many layers. The first layer is a short gold dress and the next layer was a strapless gown. They weigh a lot. Next was another gown but it was longer and it had sleeves. To top it all was a long robe made of gold and big sleeves. I could hide Cyan in them. On my head was a gold coronet. The dress and coronet were so heavy. I could not move without the help of two maids.
I stood in front of the mirror to admire myself. I looked so pretty. Like a bride.
When we were sure everything was fine, I changed back to my normal clothes.
I went to bed that night in excitement. The next day came so fast. Night came in no time and preparation started. My maidservants came in to dress me up. My makeup was done and my hair was packed up neatly for the accessories to stay in my hair. I wore my wedding dress and shoes.
“You’re so beautiful.” Raya said and I grinned. This is it. It is this moment. The moment I become his bride.
A gold veil was used to cover my face and I was led out by the Raya and another maid. Walking was so hard because of how heavy my dress was. All pack members were around to witness the wedding of their alpha. The traditional drum beat as I walked up the aisle to meet my husband-to-be. I got in front of him and he took off my veil.
His eyes held adorable as he gazed lovingly at me. He looked ravishing in his wedding attire. His hair was packed up in a bun.
“You’re beautiful.” He whispered and I blushed.
“We’re gathered here today to witness the joining of our alpha, Akira, and his mate, Alexa.” The pack priest began.
“Before the moon goddess tonight, I…” Just as he was about to proceed, someone screamed Akira’s name from the crowd.
It was a female’s voice. I turned and saw a woman at the end of the aisle. She looked heavily injured. I turned to Akira and saw him staring intensely at this woman.
“Akira.” She called and Akira’s eyes widened. The woman fainted and Akira yelled.
“Alice!”
Without thinking twice, he rushed out of the altar, leaving me in a confused state.