Page 17 of Curvy Alpha Bride
“Oh, Mabel!” another voice cries out, and I see Finnah coming up behind Serra. She pushes past her sister and hugs me.
“It’s so wonderful to see you,” she gushes. “And you’re Xavier’s bride! I was wondering when he was going to get over himself and ask you out.”
“Yeah,” I mumble. “Thank you.”
Finnah lets go of me, and the two sisters flank us, linking our arms on either side as we walk up the hill.
I think this is supposed to be comforting, but I feel like I’m being marched to my doom.
“Here we are,” Finnah says, gesturing into the town hall as we reach the door. “This is the rest of the council: Rhiannon, Ninette, Eileen, Hector, and Ivan.”
“Pleased to meet you,” I say shyly.
The others come forward and shake my hand one by one, big smiles on their faces. Their eyes have a strange gleam to them, and it puts me on edge.
What’s wrong with these people? Something is off…
“Are we ready to begin?” Serra asks, taking her place on the low stage at the front of the room.
Xavier takes my hand and leads me towards her while the rest of the council close ranks around us and follow.
Even though everyone is really friendly, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m a prisoner. Behind all the warm smiles and bright eyes, a menace is lurking. A great and terrible secret that, if left undiscovered, could swallow me whole.
Chapter 6 - Xavier
Standing at the bottom of the low stage in front of Aunt Serra, I stare at the floor and try to hide my discomfort. It seems impossible that the elders haven’t noticed the tension in the room, or the anxiety rolling off me in waves.
This can’t be happening. It’s just too unreal. Yesterday, I was hoping I’d never see her again. Today, I’m in front of the altar with her!
I feel Mabel’s soft touch on my wrist, and I barely manage to control my reaction. Instead of bolting like a startled horse, I raise my head slowly and meet Mabel’s eyes, hoping that I don’t look like a stone statue in my attempt to stay calm.
Mabel’s face looks soft, and her smile is gentle, but I can see flashes of light in her dark gray eyes. It’s her fury, a far-off storm, but rolling right towards me.
I can’t escape it. Nor should I.
The ceremony is a little more complicated than I’d expected it to be. While Aunt Serra speaks ritual words, Aunt Finnah uses a silver ribbon to gently wrap our wrists together. Then both women chant softly in a language I don’t recognize, with the rest of the elders standing around us solemnly, heads bowed.
The sense of unreality I usually feel in this town suddenly hits a high note. I try to reassure myself that nothing weird is going on—because it isn’t. This is just my reaction to marrying Mabel.
It’s only seven days. The elders will have their luna, their fresh start for the town. My duty will be fulfilled, and we can get on with our lives.
Of all the lies I’ve ever told, that might be the biggest.
“Now, by my word, you are the sacred couple, keeper of our power, protector of our territory,” Aunt Finnah intones. “An alpha so strong, his might reaches to the very peaks, and a luna so full of love, she is the blood running in our veins and in our hearts. So shall it be.”
“So shall it be,” the other elders repeat in unison.
Mabel stiffens, her hand suddenly gripping mine. When I look up, I see panic in her eyes, and she shudders, her skin erupting into goosebumps.
Yeah, I felt it, too. What the hell was that?
Serra laughs and takes the ribbon off our wrists so she can hug me. Finnah throws her arms around Mabel, and the other elders look towards the doors.
“You can come through now,” Rhiannon calls. “The ceremony is over.”
A small group of townsfolk comes in, carrying baskets, casks, and small packages. Everyone ushers us over to the nearest tables so we can sit together as the others present their gifts.
“Try this, my luna,” an old woman says, handing Mabel a ceramic cup. She carefully pours golden liquid into it from a jug, and Mabel takes a sip.
