Chapter 123: My word to you as Luna

The Moon Ceremony began hours later, after the night sky was lit up by the glowing disk of a full moon.

The arena was filled to capacity, packed with thousands of shifters who had traveled from every corner of Wintercrest. The crowd spilled far beyond the main floor, overflowing onto the bleachers constructed outside the gates.

Enormous projector screens were mounted around the perimeter, broadcasting the event on the central stage to the endless sea of people.

At the center of the arena, beside the dais, lay a pyre of thick branches and dried pine, waiting for the bonfire to be ignited for the sacred sacrificial offering.

Up on the dais, Alyssa stood beside Dorian, breathtakingly elegant in her silk gown. Her hair cascaded down her back in loose, glossy waves, ruffling gently in the night breeze. She looked ethereal and radiant, so much so that Dorian could barely bring himself to tear his eyes away from her.

Whenever the broadcast cameras panned over her features and projected her face onto the screens above, low murmurs rippled through the crowd.

Totally oblivious to the crowd’s rising fascination, Dorian drew Alyssa against his side, one arm wrapping tightly around her waist.

"Everything okay, my love?" he whispered, his deep voice a soothing anchor amidst the roaring ocean of people.

She turned her head, looking up at him with a soft smile. "Yes. Just a little overwhelmed by the crowd and... well, everything else."

"It will be over soon," Dorian assured her tenderly, his thumb stroking the curve of her hip. "Once the Elders complete the prayers and offerings, we will ignite the pyre. Then, I will officially present you to everyone as their Queen."

Alyssa’s gaze drifted toward the twelve Elders who were kneeling beside the pyre, their heads bowed low as they muttered prayers beneath their breath.

"I was thinking about something," Dorian murmured beside her, drawing her attention back to his striking features.

She looked up at him expectantly, her blue eyes curious. "About what?"

​"Remember when I told you I would reinstate Joffrey and his sisters back into the hierarchy?"

She nodded slowly. "Yes, I remember. When do you plan on doing it? Are they present tonight?"

"They are," Dorian nodded. "And I want it done tonight. But, I wanted to ask for your permission first before I move forward with it."

Alyssa’s brows lifted in surprise. "Ask my permission? But Dorian, you don’t need my permission for this. You are the King. You gave Conri your word."

"I am aware of that," he murmured, a tender smile softening his harsh features. "But you are my Queen, and I refuse to make decisions without consulting you first. I know Joffrey’s presence makes you uneasy, so I need to be certain you are genuinely comfortable with this step."

Alyssa’s smile broadened as she took his hand in her own. "I am truly okay with it, Dorian. As long as Conri upholds his end of the bargain, and as long as Joffrey stays away from me."

Dorian brought their joined hands to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to the back of her knuckles. "You are everything I could ever ask for in a wife, and far more than this realm deserves in a Queen. I love you, baby."

Her smile stretched wide, a light flush rising on her cheeks. Reaching up, she gently took him by the lapels of his tux, pulling him down until her lips met his in a sweet, lingering kiss.

The crowd erupted into a sudden, delighted cheer as the broadcast screens captured the intimate display of affection between their Alpha and Luna.

Someone loudly cleared their throat below the dais, shattering the moment.

Dorian pulled back slowly, his posture instantly shifting as his golden eyes hardened. Kane stood a few paces away at the base of the dais, having concluded the prayers; he held a lit torch in his hands.

"It is time, Alpha," he announced.

Dorian straightened to his full height, a cold look settling over his features. Taking Alyssa’s hand in his, he guided her down the steps of the dais. Behind them, Jake and Alec followed, flanked by Pandora, Anthony, and Henna.

Dorian carefully escorted Alyssa down the steps, holding the side of her gown so she wouldn’t trip on it. Once at the base, he reclaimed her hand, walking her toward the massive wooden pyre.

The Elders had piled the dead deer across the timber, and the night air reeked faintly of gasoline and harsh chemicals that were used to preserve the carcass.

Kane stepped forward, offering the blazing torch to his Alpha. As Dorian took it, he turned slightly, positioning Alyssa beside him so her hand rested over his on the torch.

"May the goddess accept this offering," he murmured.

Together, they lowered the torch onto the base of the pyre. Flames erupted instantly, roaring to life as bright orange fire licked up the gasoline-soaked branches and carcass.

Dorian gently pulled Alyssa away from the intense heat of the sudden blaze. His hand slid around her waist with easy familiarity as they watched thick smoke billow up toward the sky.

A triumphant cheer burst from the crowd of shifters, signaling the success of the ritual.

Dorian turned his gaze away from the fire, staring down at his wife. A soft smile crossed his face as he watched the flickering flames dance across her delicate features. An awed expression sat on her face, her blue eyes twinkling like stars as she gazed up at the night sky.

Confessing his love to her had been the best decision of his life. His chest felt lighter than it had in decades, stripped of the crushing guilt that had bound him to Elvira’s death for so long. For the first time in years, he could recall Elvira’s memory without feeling as though his soul were being slowly torn apart under the weight of his past.

Alyssa caught him staring and turned her head, her smile widening as she searched his eyes. "You are staring at me and smiling."

"You make me happy," Dorian chuckled as he slowly guided her back toward the dais. "I never truly understood how dark my world was, or how desperately I needed you, until I found you."

"Oh, Dorian," she giggled. "You always know the perfect things to say to undo me."

"What can I say?" Dorian teased smoothly. "Your husband is a smooth talker."

"He most certainly is," Alyssa laughed, leaning her head against his arm.

Upon ascending the dais once more, Dorian’s playful demeanor instantly evaporated, replaced by the formidable aura of an Alpha King. He grasped Alyssa’s hand firmly, stepping up to the edge of the stage to present her to the shifters.

"People of Wintercrest!" his voice boomed, amplified through the speakers arrayed across the arena. "It is with great pleasure and pride that I present your Queen to you. My wife, Luna Alyssa Hellborne."

Alyssa squeezed Dorian’s hand tightly as the entire arena erupted into a wave of cheers and applause. From her vantage point high above the floor, the faces in the vast crowd blurred together, but she could feel the weight of thousands of eyes locked onto her, waiting eagerly for her speech.

She had rehearsed it a dozen times earlier that day, and Pandora’s advice echoed in her mind: Look bold, stand tall, and be confident.

Taking a deep breath, she lifted her head high, squared her shoulders, and let a serene smile grace her face.

"It is an immense honor to stand before you as the Queen of Wintercrest," she spoke into the crystal microphone, her voice carrying across the crowd clearly. "As we all know, an Alpha leads the pack and guards the territory. But a Luna protects the pack’s heart. My promise to every one of you tonight is simple: I will listen to your cries. I will share in your joy. I will carry your pain, and I will stand on the front lines to defend and fight beside you. That is my word to you as your Luna."

Another loud cheer shattered the air. Chants of ’Long live the Luna!’ echoed round the arena, and Alyssa’s tense shoulders finally relaxed.

Dorian pulled her close, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "I am so proud of you, my love. You were magnificent." He brushed a strand of hair away from her face, his eyes shining with devotion. "We are nearly finished. Once Joffrey and his sisters receive their formal reinstatement, I’m taking you home."

She nodded eagerly, relief sweeping over her. "Okay."

Joffrey was called forward to the base of the dais, flanked by his sisters, Serena and Jenny. They stood with their hands clasped behind their backs, Joffrey still flashing his usual arrogant smirk.

Dorian stepped forward to deliver the decree of reinstatement when his head suddenly snapped up. He went still, his eyes narrowing sharply and bleeding into black.

Through the shadow of the arena’s perimeter, two arrows came whistling through the air at blinding speed, aimed directly for Alyssa’s chest.

Driven purely by his fiercely protective instincts, Dorian threw his body forward, grabbing Alyssa by the waist and covering her entirely with his massive frame.

A second later, the arrows found its mark, sinking deeply into his back.