Page 19 of The Alpha Wolf's Bullied Bride

“To my friends…” he begins, going on to voice his appreciation for everything that went on in special ops training. It’s just a symphony of praise that I barely give my attention to, until he calls out my brother’s name, along with another soldier.

“As any good Alpha of Blood Moon,” Flynn continues as Miles and Howard join him on the stage. “I have to pick mysecond and third in command.” Flynn turns to the gathering. “Under my leadership, the Blood Moon Delta will be Howard Storm, while the Beta will be Miles Hargis.”

Another round of applause and hoots fill the hall, and this time, I join in on the celebration. Glancing at Valerie as I clap my hands, we exchange smiles that show how proud we both are.

It doesn’t come as a huge surprise that Flynn has chosen his best friend as his Beta. Still, I’m elated to hear the official announcement, waving at my brother from the back of the hall to draw his attention.

He throws me a smug smile while he stands on the stage, then winks just as Flynn quiets the hall when he clears his throat into the mic.

“Now, for the most important part of my initiation as the Alpha of Blood Moon, I will announce who I have picked as my mate and Luna of the pack.”

Hearing Flynn say those words for all of Blood Moon to hear, it feels as if my heart plummets to the ground, an unwelcomed sense of disappointment filling my gut.

I shouldn’t feel this way. Not when he made it clear that there was no way an Omega like me could be the mate of the Alpha of Blood Moon.

I mentally prepare myself for what comes next, though my heart doesn’t seem to comply with my need to feel indifferent toward this. Anger and hurt wrestle for dominance, the conflicting feelings struggling through the sudden ache in my chest. An ache that draws my gaze to the back of Cynthia’s head as her red curls bounce. She shifts on the bench in excitedly as the Blood Moon members gathered in the hall anticipate Flynn’s announcement in utter silence.

Even Flynn stares at Cynthia, his eyes blank voids of dull gold as his brows knit into a frown. His knuckles pale around the mic he’s gripping tightly as he slowly begins to shake his head and lift his eyes.

Only to meet mine.

His throat works as he gulps, an inner struggle contorting his face while I’m left to reflect his frown of confusion when he doesn’t take his eyes off me.

By now, the dull ache in my chest almost has me keeling over with how unbearable the pain is, a dissonant ringing ripping through my eardrums.

“My mate and Luna of Blood Moon will be…” Flynn stalls, his eyes not leaving mine. No longer blank, they’re piercing beads of amber that have me frozen.

“…Lila Hargis,” he calls out my name, the shocking announcement met with a chorus of horrified gasps in the hall.

The ringing stops, and the ache in my chest disappears just as my jaw drops. Too shocked to move, all I can do is stare at Flynn in disbelief.

What the hell just happened?

Chapter 6 - Flynn

“My mate and Luna of Blood Moon will be…Lila Hargis.”

The second her name leaves my lips, it feels as if my inner wolf releases the vice grip it just had on me. That’s the only reason I turned my gaze to her at the back of the hall, sharp eyes seeing her clearly despite how far she was.

My breath catches in my throat when I realize what I just did. Except, it wasn’t me who commanded my choice. It was my inner wolf who took the reins of my being while keeping any sense of logic shackled as if imprisoning my mind. It’s the inner wolf’s voice that spoke her name, as if the mystical energy commanded mine.

I blink rapidly as I’m hauled out of the trance-like state I’ve been in, only to witness the horror of the scene before me. The gathering of Blood Moon wolves turn their contemptuous eyes on Lila at the back of the hall as nondescript mutterings fill the air.

What have I done?

How is this possible?

I glance at the lifeless goat on the table in front of me, frowning at it as I wonder if the animal was poisoned. Was there something in its bloodstream that distorted my mind and took me further in my trance than where I should have gone?

When I look up again, I’m met with Cynthia’s accusing glare. I glance at my parents on my right, but Father has his back to me as he speaks to Cynthia’s father—the old Delta who just retired.

This whole thing is a mess. Hanging my head shamefully, I’m about to lift the mic to correct this mistake when out of thecorner of my eyes, I see my best friend rushing down the aisle toward his sister.

He pulls her to her feet from the bench and wraps her into his arms, rejoicing at the news as he spins her through the air. I press my lips into a firm line, stopping myself from going back on what I just announced to the pack.

My heart races with the speed of lightning when I meet Lila’s eyes across the hall. She’s clearly stunned, her disbelieving stare only leaving me with a sense of remorse that’s stronger than the one I have for my error. Something inside me withers away and finds its demise, though I’m uncertain what this feeling is.

The weight of the world seems to hang on my shoulders, and for the first time, standing there as the Blood Moon Alpha, I feel like I’m undeserving of this title. When my father comes over and places a reassuring hand on my shoulder, I’m on the brink of giving up.

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