A/N- Okay guys, this is the longest chapter i have ever written. I'm sorry it took so long to reach the marking. Let me know what you guys think and what you want to see more of. Don't forget to vote and comment!! xx

I've been lying awake, straight on my back, for the past hour while Zyon sleeps peacefully beside me. I was surprised to find him beside me when I woke. I assumed he would be up before me for Alpha duties, but perhaps because of the ceremony today, the pack is taking a day off.

The digital clock against the wall strikes one p.m. and I'm surprised we've slept till so late in the afternoon. The thoughts running my head don't allow me to get up. Maybe if I stay in, today's ceremony will never come.

I know I'm not being practical and as good as Zyon made me feel last night, it doesn't take away from the fact he never told me that it wasn't just a marking ceremony, but also a mating. It doesn't take away from the fact that he is the Alpha of the North, known for barbaric strategies and his cruelty. It doesn't take away from the fact that I know he will restrict my life in so many ways once he has laid his mark on me. There would be no escaping him then.

He stirs next to me, and I turn to face him as his eyes fly open and those hazel orbs settle on me. I know I could forever look into those eyes. I only knew peace when I looked into them, but looking into them forever meant giving up everything else I had worked so hard for. It meant becoming Zyon's little puppet.

I roll out of bed, smoothing down my hair. I ask, as I move towards the door.

He nods his head.

Half an hour later, Zyon saunters into the kitchen, just as I flip the last pancake. We take our plates onto the terrace that we had breakfast last time. I think it might be a bit odd for him to be having pancakes at two in the afternoon but I can eat pancakes at any time of the day. I don't remove my eyes from my plate as we eat in silence, but once I finish, I put down my cutlery and face him.

He's finished a while ago and his eyes follow my every movement.

I say

He raises an eyebrow, looking at me questioningly as I continue,

His mouth transitions into a half smile.

I let out a sigh.

He asks.

I blurt out.

He questions.

"I say.

He says, his jaw slightly clenching.

I bang my hand down onto the table, the dishes fly up a little. My frustration has reached it's peak, but so have my attempts. I'm transitioning into desperate thoughts and feelings now.

I question.

He's out of his seat as soon as I finish my sentence. He wraps a hand around my arm, pulling me out of my seat.

I spit out.

His hold tightens around my arm.

I have nothing to say to him. My silence frustrates him. His need to know why I hid, and his need to claim me, eats at him. When I say nothing, he harshly shoves me back into my chair and he leans down and whispers into my ear, "

He moves his nose down to my neck, inhaling deeply. He leaves goosebumps on my arm, as he turns around and walks away from me.

I know I've lost. I am to be his.

There's no point in trying to run, I'm sure he has tightened his security around the building for today. Wherever I go, he'd find me.

I am surprised when I see Zarah walk onto the terrace. I don't move, my expression is blank.

She asks.

I just shrug my shoulders.

I don't know what overtakes me. I grab the end of the table and flip it over. The plates and dishes clatter onto the floor and break into a million pieces. Zarah moves back, just in time.

Zarah's sympathetic eyes move towards me as she says, "

What Zarah says doesn't make me feel any better. If anything, it irks me.

I scream at her.

She yells.

I quiet down immediately. Zarah never yells at me.

I try to cut in. She doesn't let me though. She continues on.

She finishes, taking a deep breath.

My eyes are brimming with tears at this point. I know she's right.

She huffs.

By this point, tears are openly running down my face. Sometimes I hate that Zarah is the person who always tells me the truth. I need to accept the responsibilities of a Luna because that is what fate has required me to do. And maybe I need to accept Zyon, but he has got to meet me halfway. A part of me feels I'm being unfair to him. Perhaps, anyone would react like this if they found out their mate had been hiding from them for years, and lost her own wolf along the way.

Zarah moves closer to me, wiping away my tears. She explains.

I take deep breaths of air and calm myself, trying to repress the sobs that threaten to come out. I nod at her, telling her I understand.

She guides me inside, where Lita and Rita are patiently waiting for me to begin preparations for today. With the thoughts consuming and over-shadowing my mind, I barely even process the intensive care with which Lita and Rita dress me. I'm given a bath in which the water is infused with scented oils and rose petals. My hair is extensively styled into loose beach waves that cascade down my back, my nails are painted, and I'm made to wear a spaghetti strapped white chiffon gown. The bottom of the gown is sheer with slits, so my legs can be seen through it.

I look stunning, I just don't feel it. I feel anxious, over-burdened, scared and my mind is screaming at me to run. But what Zarah said stuck to me? Even if I ran, where would I even go?

Before I know it, I'm standing outside the house, my feet bare. Zarah's by my side, wearing a beige gown.

She gives my hand a squeeze.

I nod my head, squeezing her hand back. She walks away from me, as Zyon walks up to me. He wears a pair of white pants. Nothing else. His upper body is bare, as are his feet.

The sun has almost set, and the moon is set to rise. In the midst of an orangish sky transitioning to a clear black sky, he grasps my hand. The transitioning of the skies made me feel like I could relate to it. The colour in my life felt like it was about to fade. I take a longing look at the forest, wondering if I could make it, but he grasps my face, turning it back to meet his. "

I swallow audibly as we begin to take slow steps to the grounds. A candle-lit pathway between the trees guides us there. As we near closer, the sounds of loud drums hit my ears. They beat rhythmically, loud and chaotic, like the thoughts flowing through my mind. My hand begins to tremble in Zyon's but he just holds it a little tighter, imprisoning me further. There's a clearing up ahead, and I can see the heads of the pack coming into view.

He stops and turns to me.

My eyes meet his stone-cold hazel ones. I know he isn't lying or just threatening me. If I destroy his reputation in the least, he will follow through on this threat. I just blink at him and lower my eyes in submission. I hope he considers that response enough because as of right now, I don't have any words to say to him.

He says.

I spit out at him.

He moves behind me, planting his hands on my waist. He wickedly whispers in my ear,

With that, he's moved beside me again. We move at a slightly faster pace now. The drums pick up speed, as we come into the sights of the pack.

I severely underestimated the size of the pack. I couldn't even count the number of heads that turned to us. If I had to estimate, it would be at least a thousand people. They're all standing in orderly rows on each side of us in pin drop silence.

As we pass each row, the pack members kneel, one by one. The anxiety that overpowers me is almost crippling. I would have fallen to the ground if it wasn't for Zyon's hand holding mine.

After walking through rows and rows of people, we finally reach the end. In the first row, closest to the stage, sits the Beta, Zarah, Nathan, Ash, a few top warriors, but most importantly Violet. She refuses to make eye contact with me. I know she most likely hates me, but I don't blame her for it. If anything, it adds to my guilt.

We walk up the steps, standing on this little podium with rows of eyes staring right at us. Sitting on the stage, are the pack's old Alpha and Luna. Zyon's parents. Another detail he forgot to mention. His father, strong as ever, sits next to his mother holding her hand. Their expressions hold curiosity to see Zyon's mate. They make quite a regal, overpowering pair.

As Zyon and I take our positions in the center of the stage, The prior Alpha begins to speak. Although no longer Alpha, I see the way they look at him with respect and love.

For the next fifteen minutes, he drones on about the pack values and disciplines, their rise to one of the top packs in the world, why Luna's are important. I feel like I'm in high school again. Zyon catches me rolling my eyes halfway through, and squeezes my hand so hard, I feel like he would crack my bones.

His father, finally directly addresses me.

He asks me like I have a choice, so with gritted teeth, I say,

I see the pack members beam with excitement. The only people not beaming with excitement are those in the first row, who are aware of Zyon and my true situation. While they seem grateful that I have taken on the responsibility, they are aware that there is a long journey to go before I accept their Alpha.

Zyon leads me over to a small bowl-pit type thing in the middle of the stage. He takes my hand, draws a small gash on my palm with a dagger, and does the same thing with his. He then cojoins our hands, and places them over the pit, that's full of elements of the earth.

I internally roll my eyes. This ceremony is just for show. It does basically nothing.

Zyon then turns to me,

I look up at this beautiful face, at those stone-cold hazel eyes, at the face I have loved for over a decade and the face that signifies an end to my freedom. My mate, because of which, my life spun out of control, at the age of twelve. Then I remember his threat, so I softly clear my throat and say,

My eyes brim with unshed tears. The pack wolves let out howls, one row after the other. Whilst the wolves howl, Zyon pushes my hair behind my shoulder, and grabs the strap of my dress, pulling it down my right shoulder, leaving my neck bare for him.

He moves closer and says to me,

I think that was his twisted way of consoling me, but I lean in closer to him.; I know the wolves wont be able to hear us because they're too busy howling, but I whisper anyways,

He knows what I mean. Last chance to let me go, last chance to pick another. His eyes flicker gold. The wolves are almost done howling.

He pushes an arm behind my waist and yanks me closer to him. My hands land on his chest. To anyone else, it seems as if I've placed my hands there for support, but in reality, he can feel me push me away, and so his grip around my waist is firm and rough.

I see his canines extend. He turns my head a little to the side to give him better access and pushes his nose into my neck. I feel his canines drag down my neck, and then before I can blink his canines have pierced my neck.

I grip his arms as a shooting pain overtakes my body. My legs are about to give way underneath me, but his arm around my waist holds me up.

The pack breaks out into hoots and applause, as the pain transforms into a pleasurable sort, with tingles flowing all down my body. It breaks open a barrior in my mind as I get access to Zyon's feelings as I'm sure he gets access to mind. With his canines still plunged into my neck, I struggle to put up a block.

He slowly withdraws his canines, still holding me up. His canines retract as he turns to his pack with a triumphant smile.