Mated To Alpha Kessler

Kessler’s POV

The royal court had been professionally decorated with banners and floral arrangements.

The setting was magnificent and well taken care of by my mother. She had been over the moon since everything fell back into place.

Alpha Baynes decided to take action so his daughter wouldn’t be humiliated, especially now that she is pregnant.

Dignitaries and prominent Alphas from the neighborhood are in attendance to witness the mating ceremony.

I never imagined things would turn out like this. All I wanted was a marriage of convenience, but Lyra’s capture has left me in turmoil, and now, I find myself leaning toward Annie.

Fuck, how did I let this happen? If Annie wasn’t pregnant, there’s no way they could have forced her on me.

I stand at the window of my room, gazing out at the expanse of the pack. Everyone seems elated that I’ve chosen to have another Luna.

Every woman wishes to be in Annie’s shoes, while every man desires to be in mine. Annie is a beauty who deserves to be cherished, but I find myself unable to feel anything towards her.

I sense a movement behind me. I don’t need to look back to know it’s my Beta, Zach.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

He joins me at the window, resting a hand on my left shoulder and giving it a reassuring squeeze.

He doesn’t need to say much; he understands my inner turmoil like no other, having been my friend since childhood.

I rest my right hand on him, acknowledging his unwavering support.

“My king, it’s time,” he says softly.

I’m dressed in royal attire that exudes majesty and elegance, but my mind wanders to one petite woman who has captured my heart thinking about that perfect time she was in my arms.

I wish she would grace the occasion with the gown I got for her; I know it will fit her perfectly.

She had wanted to reject me for a long time, and I felt compelled to fulfill her wish. Deep down, I hold onto the belief that fate will bring our paths together again, and she will be mine.

And this time, I won’t force my mark on her. It pains me to see her without my mark adorning her neck.

Imagine my worry when I felt the uproar in the pack, and she was nowhere to be found, her emotions running high.

The fact that she was willing to divulge information about her uncle, so we could bring him down, speaks volumes. I know she seeks vengeance on her uncle for treating her like shit all these years.

It’s infuriating how she still has that effect on me, despite us going through the ritual of rejection.

Dolph has refused to acknowledge Annie in my life, even with the new pup growing inside her.

His lack of connection with her makes me wonder what the hell is going on.

Zach and I step out of my room, and there’s Annie, waiting for me in the hallway. She looks beautiful in her way, but not like Lyra would have looked, Dolph whines in my head.

“Hello, buddy, you chose to talk to me now?” I say teasingly.

He slumps dramatically and pretends to drift off to sleep.

Annie stands beside me, attempting to hold my hand, but I refuse. Together, we walk down and make our entrance into the ceremonial hall, accompanied by our retinue and courtiers.

Howls and jubilant growls were heard in the crowd as they gathered to witness this great occasion.

I looked at Annie and discovered she was extremely happy, her smiles were bright and contagious.

As we enter the hall, the air is thick with anticipation and excitement. I can feel the weight of everyone’s eyes on us, especially on Annie and me.

Annie’s presence beside me is both comforting and unsettling. I can sense her nervousness, her fingers trembling slightly as she walks.

I make a conscious effort to maintain my composure, despite my inner turmoil.

As we reach the center of the hall, I take a deep breath and prepare myself for what is to come.

The mating ceremony is about to begin, sealing our fates together in ways I never imagined possible.

And as much as I try to deny it, it somehow tugs at my heart that it isn’t Lyra standing beside me.

But my thoughts are abruptly halted when the pack’s spiritual leader begins the invocation, calling upon the blessings of the Moon Goddess and the ancestral spirits.

The solemnity of the moment reminds me of the gravity of the commitment I’m about to make.

Then, I am given a crown to place on her head. This signifies Annie’s elevated status and importance within the royal court.

As the weight of the crown rests upon her head I can see a newfound confidence radiating from her.

The royal bonding ritual is completed as the priest raises his voice and says, “I present to you the Lycan king and his Luna.”

The hall erupts with cheers, growls, and howls, echoing the joy and approval of the assembled pack members. Everyone is happy at the union.

I force a smile onto my face as Annie and I raise our hands in the air. It’s surreal to think that there was a time when I enjoyed her company, but now I can’t seem to comprehend it. I can’t stand her.

Despite the festivities and abundance of food and drink, the threat from Jack looms over us. The merriment may be in full swing, but we can’t afford to let our guard down.

It’s high time he is brought to book and stops being a pain in the ass. I haven’t seen someone as power-drunk as Jack.

That explains why he gave Lyra to Tristan for his political gain.

I wonder how Kayla could stand him. She is such a beautiful woman admired by many, but she chose to be with that jerk.

There are many things Lyra is in the dark about, but I want her to trust me enough before revealing them.

My father moves close to me, resting his hand on my shoulder. “How do you feel, son?”

“I’m just… there, Dad,” I reply, my gaze scanning the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of Lyra.

“My son, as an Alpha, your priority should be the safety of the pack.”

I nod my head in and murmur, “Thanks, Dad.”

“How are you holding up, son?” he asked me, concern evident in his voice. I confide in him about Lyra’s rejection, knowing he understands the pain of disconnecting from one’s fated mate.

I didn’t want to show my emotions in the presence of my pack members, who looked up to me, so I simply nodded my head.

He shakes his head and walks away. I wonder if Dad ever got over his fated mate. He always had that distant look, as if he regretted certain things about his life.

It’s time for Annie and me to dance. I hold her close, our bodies swaying to the music that fills the air.

She looks into my eyes, love radiating from her, but I feel nothing in return.

As we dance, my mind is consumed with thoughts of the ambushes we’ve set for Jack and his minions, and, most importantly, Lyra.

Suddenly, I receive a mind link from Zach: “We’ve got Jack with us.”

Without hesitation, I release Annie and swiftly make my way to the dungeons.