Chapter 35
Elliot pov
As usual, she simply took my breath away. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She looked like an angel in white as she sauntered towards me. With each step she took, my heart skipped a beat. Rex’s excitement and constant jumping and chattering weren’t helping me in any way.
I saw how her eyes twinkled as the king escorted her down the aisle.
It took every ounce of determination in me not to let my tears roll down as she approached me. However, despite trying my utmost to keep a straight face, I couldn’t hold back the silly smile that had curved my lips.
I was immensely grateful to my father, who continued to offer his support. I suppose he knew that I would be emotional at that moment.
“Take good care of her,” the king asked, looking straight at me.
“Of course. I will, your highness,” I replied.
My smile didn’t falter, as I gaped at her the entire time. She was perfect and now, she was about to be mine. All I could do was admire her ethereal beauty.
Her being the crown Princess was destiny. Flirting with her was my choice. However, falling in love was something out of my control. I love her with all my heart, and now there is no going back.
When it was time for my vows, I spoke from the bottom of my heart and while I did, it was as though it was just me and her. Nothing else mattered. Not even the fact that the entire mystical world would be bearing witness to me declaring my undying love for her.
It was a huge relief that the whole ceremony went smoothly. The wedding and the coronation. Being part of the royal family was something I never thought I would be. Yet, here I am now.
When the invitees started to disperse, it was already almost sunset.
“You looked stunning honey,” her mother whispered through her tears, as she dabbed a tissue at the corner of her eye.
“Thank you, mom,” she hugged her mother.
“Mom. I would like to meet those who attended the ceremony from the Dark Howl pack,” Cass muttered.
“Oh, you’re the Queen now dear,” her mother whispered. “Just send an order and they will attend to you,” She added.
“Uh. Yes….” Cass gestured at one of the guards who hastened to carry out her orders. She looked at her friends who were waiting to have a word with her.
“Hey.”
“Your majesty.” Ava bowed down, followed by the others. Cass rolled her eyes.
“Oh come on.” She whispered. “Not you guys.”
And then she grinned.
“At least not when we are alone,” she winked, earning giggles from everyone.
“You must be the coolest Queen who ever lived.” Giggled Maya.
We stayed until all the attendees left except the leaders of the Dark Howl pack. When she gestured to them to come closer, everyone else stepped aside, so that she could communicate with them. I had a hunch that they were from the pack that she had grown up in. My gaze shifted towards their young alpha. Was this the one who rejected her? Narrowing my eyes at him, I scrutinised his face. How I wish I could know what was going on in his mind.
I then looked at the faces one by one. One emotion was common in all of their faces- confusion.
“Your majesty.”
The older couple were the first to bow down and pay their respects. The others were quick to follow. Their alpha seemed to be in a state of shock when he forced himself to bow.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.
“Raise,” Cass said, rather humbly.
Her eyes were on the brown-haired, blue-eyed beta.
“Nolan…..” she gasped, and it looked as though she was suddenly overwhelmed with emotions.
The beta’s eyes widened in utter shock and disbelief.
“It is you!” He exclaimed, his mouth wide open.
“Cass…. Cassandra?” The old Luna gasped.
“We were right…. We had thought….. how…..” she looked lost as she stuttered.
“Do you know how much pain your disappearance has caused?” Nolan stated, rather sternly. I could understand that he was overwhelmed with emotions. Nonetheless, speaking in a harsh tone to the Queen wasn’t something I would tolerate.
I frowned.
“She is the Queen. You may address her with respect.” I mentioned, in a solemn voice.
“I am sorry, your highness,” Nolan was quick to respond.
“No. It is okay, Elliot. Meet Nolan, my adoptive brother. He is family,” she told me, fighting against her tears.
“Mom, Dad, this is my brother.” She told everyone.
She then stood up and walked right up to him and hugged him tightly.
He slowly wrapped his arms around her and closed his eyes. I saw how silent tears rolled down his cheeks.
“I am still angry with you. I cried so much. I have missed you every minute ever since that night, Cassy. Why in the world did you jump off that cliff? And why are you here?” He gasped.
“I need a lot of explanation, Cassy. And I can’t believe that. You are the Queen? Wow!” He chuckled, loosening his grip on her to look in her face.
“And you are married now!!!?” He added, glancing in my direction, grinning widely.
I smiled inwardly. I like this guy. He sounds like a great wolf.
“Yeah. And she is my mate!” The young alpha practically growled. The high alpha and luna seemed to be dumbstruck when he declared it out loud. Nolan’s expression suddenly changed and I heard gasps from the girls standing beside us.
I felt my throat run dry. What in the world….. Had he the nerve to say that? I saw how my wife’s countenance changed. She squinted at him with a critical glare. Oh, this alpha had asked for trouble.
“Oh really, Miles?” She mocked.
“When? Oh…yes. It has been a long time since we last met, Miles, I needed to jog my memory. Perhaps you meant to say that we were mates, but you didn’t want me.”
She sauntered over to him so that she was standing a respectful distance away from him, but was facing him completely.
“I thought I wouldn’t talk about it, but since you brought it up, let’s recall that night, shall we? Remember, Miles? Wait…what are the words you shouted that night….” She tapped her chin, as though she was trying to remember something.
“Oh yes….. you ordered me to accept your ‘damned rejection’ so that you could live your life. Because you wanted a strong luna, not a weak human like me,” She smirked. “Remember, Miles?”
Her eyes darkened with fury.
“You even told me that it would have been better if I died,” she hissed through her gritted teeth.
“Well, guess what, Miles? I had accepted that ‘damned rejection’ that night and now, our bond is broken. There is nothing left between us, Miles. And I am awfully thankful for that.”
Her chest was heaving by this time. She was overwhelmed.
“Nolan, you wanted to know why I jumped off that cliff? He is the reason! I believed him and I wanted to end my life so that you all would be stronger without me. The thing was that fall didn’t kill me. Instead, I was found by my birth father and your king.” She explained and looked at her brother.
“Mom and dad must have found me when I was left in the woods by a kidnapper back then.” She added.
There was a long pause where everyone stared at Miles, shocked, disappointed and in fury.
“Our daughter was kidnapped the night she was born. I had searched for her every day ever since and fate had made us cross paths that fateful night.” Her father, the former king, was the one who broke the silence.
I looked at the old alpha and luna, who were now, staring wide-eyed at their son. I scoffed internally. Miles now had his eyebrows furrowed, and his gaze lowered. His sight wandered with uncertainty. He should have kept his mouth shut. I thought.
“Serves that a*****e right,” Rex murmured.
“I know,” I replied.
“Well, now she is ours. I don’t have any complaints,” he responded, and I couldn’t agree more.
I looked at my wife, who seemed to have controlled her anger to some extent. She turned around and climbed up the stairs and sat on her throne beside me.
“Since someone needs confirmation of our severed bond, let me make it easy for you.” She smirked as she relaxed in her seat.
“I, Queen Carina of the lycanthrope kingdom, reject you, alpha Miles Walter, as my mate,” she declared, her eyes burnt on him as she did.
“Now accept that rejection and that is a royal order!” She stated.
She was having fun doing that.
“I… I accept,” he meekly replied.
“Good!” She whispered and leaned against her throne. A smile of triumph spread across her face.
“Your majesty.” The old alpha and luna fell on their knees.
“We are extremely sorry about what our son has done in the past. Please don’t hold it against us or our pack.” They begged, holding their hands together.
Cass raised her hand and shook her head.
“I have nothing against you and the pack. Your pack is close to my heart. It was my first home. My adoptive parents are still there and I plan to meet them. Perhaps we could visit soon. Would that be okay, Nolan?” She replied.
Nolan, who had been speechless for the last couple of minutes, heaved a deep breath and looked up. It was obvious that he was still flabbergasted by the new information. However, I would say that he did an excellent job at controlling himself.
“Of course. They are completely shattered thinking that you are gone.” He sighed.
I was certain that he was trying his best not to look at Miles, who was now utterly ashamed. He looked around. His eyes landed on the four girls who were just as stupefied as the members of the Dark Howl pack. The girls continued to glare at Miles angrily, for he deserved to be hated.
Nolan, on the other hand, went stiff. His eyes turned to a darker shade of blue. I was certain that he was looking at Ava, who seemed to be staring back at him.
“Mate!” He growled.