Page 27 of The Alpha's Forced Rejected Mate
“It’s time,” Dominic stated, his voice devoid of any emotion.
Luna stood carefully, hoping they wouldn’t notice how terribly her legs shook. “And if I refuse?”
“That’s not an option,” the green-eyed man replied. His voice was scratchy, as if he rarely spoke.
“This is Kieran,” Dominic introduced. “He’ll be escorting us to the chamber.”
“Lucky me,” Luna muttered. “A full entourage for my execution.”
Dominic’s jaw tightened. “It’s not an execution.”
“It might as well be,” Luna shot back.
“Enough,” Dominic growled. “Let’s go.”
They led her through the cabin and outside.
The compound was larger than Luna had expected, with other cabins comparable to hers scattered around a central area. Beyond them stood a large stone building, ancient and menacing against the dawn sky.
Luna tripped, her legs still weakened by lack of sleep. Dominic gripped her arm and steadied her with a surprisingly gentle grip. “Keep moving,” he said, keeping his grasp on her arm, directing rather than forcing.
Luna became more anxious as they reached the stone edifice. She could feel the weight of ancient magic rising from the building, pressing on her skin like a suffocating cloud. Whatever ritual they had planned was based on ancient, potent magic—magic intended to bind and repress.
The interior of the temple was cool and shadowy, with flames casting spooky shadows on stone walls engraved with markings Luna didn’t know. They descended a spiral staircase, the air becoming colder with every step.
They went down the steps and entered a vast, circular room. The floor was inlaid with an intricate pattern of silverlines that formed a ritual circle. At the center stood a stone altar, its surface discolored with what appeared to be old bloodstains.
Luna froze at the threshold, horror gripping her limbs. “No,” she replied, backing up only to meet with Marcus’ firm chest. “I won’t do this.”
“You don’t have a choice,” a new voice whispered, smooth and frigid like ice.
A towering person emerged from the shadows on the opposite side of the chamber. He moved with inhuman ease, his midnight-black hair starkly contrasted with his pale skin.
His eyes were so dark they seemed to absorb light rather than reflect it.
“Council Leader Xavier,” Dominic responded, tilting his head respectfully. “We didn’t expect you until later.”
“I wanted to personally oversee this binding,” Xavier said, his stare fastened on Luna with such intensity that her skin crawled. “This witch is…special.”
What makes me so special?
Luna trembled, something about his proximity setting off alarms in her head. She looked at Dominic, surprised to see him tense slightly. “I won’t let you do this,” she said, her voice louder than her emotions.
Xavier laughed, the sound resembling shards of glass scraping together. “Witch, your consent is irrelevant. The binding will proceed.”
He nodded to someone in the shadows, and an elderly man in ceremonial robes moved forward, a black leather-bound book in his hands. Despite his apparent age, something about his motions appeared odd, too fluid for someone so frail-looking.
“The priest will perform the ceremony,” Xavier explained. “Dominic, bring her to the altar.”
Luna tried to protest as Dominic grabbed her arm, but his grip was ironclad. She glanced up at him, looking for any semblance of the man she’d previously known, the one who had hugged her tenderly before rejecting her so viciously.
“Please,” she said, low enough to reach his ears only. “Do not do this. This is wrong, and you know it.” Dominic’s eyes flickered with doubt and turmoil, but he continued guiding her to the altar.
“It has to be done,” he replied quietly enough that she nearly missed it.
As they reached the center of the circle, the priest began chanting in a language Luna didn’t recognize. The silver lines on the floor began to glow faintly, responding to the ancient words.
Xavier produced a small velvet box and opened it, revealing two simple silver bands.
