Alari's pov
I was woken up by loud cheers, groaning as my body felt heavy.
I felt different, I'd woken up feeling broken and empty but now, I was… happy?
I sat up, wincing a little at the sting in my neck. Bringing my hand up to sooth the pain, I felt slight bruising over what felt like a tattoo.
A wave of heat swept through me at the memory of Damien sinking his teeth deep into my neck, marking me his own.
I looked around the room and realised I was alone and I was only sad for a few seconds before the cheering outside reminded me of the reason Damien was here in the first place.
“Roman said they left because they had to and that they would be back soon” my wolf said, sounding so clear and strong.
I suddenly realised something, something that had never bothered me before… I don't know my wolf's name!
“Sapphira” she said with a giggle and my face grew heated with embarrassment.
“Hi Sapphira, you feel strong, is it because of the mark?” I asked, wanting to know how she was so present in my mind.
“Yes, it's the mark” she said, making me nod.
“Are you strong enough for me to shift?” I asked and for the first time, I saw her. Her face appeared within the darkness of my mind.
Her fur was white like my hair, with a blueish hue around her, her eyes a darker shade of purple.
“With or without the mark, you were always going to shift Alari, do you not know what we are?” She disappeared again after shattering my mind with that question.
Damien's beta had called me an elf, I knew nothing about them, I didn't even know they existed!
Could that be the reason I didn't shift when I was supposed to?
And if I'm an elf, why do I have a wolf? Am I… a hybrid??
“I have no idea what we are, tell me Sapphira!” I demanded, feeling a hole open in my chest. I need to know what I am.
“Soon my love, we're almost there” she said and retreated to the back of my mind leaving me frustrated.
I wanted to yell at her to tell me, that I'd waited enough but I didn't have the strength, and I didn't want to stay in this bed alone.
I got up, grabbed my shirt and went into the bathroom, contemplating whether it was safe to take a quick shower or not but decided to take one anyway.
I was sweaty and my underwear was clinging to my crotch, I needed a shower before I left this room or everyone would smelling what I did with Damien off of me.
I gave myself a quick wash before getting out to look at my reflection.
It was a different image from this morning, I looked good, radiant even and my eyes were sparkling with joy.
Looking at my mark, I realised the swelling was going down, revealing what looked like a little crown over Damien's initials.
I belong to him and everyone will know that I am his.
I put on my sweatpants and shirt and decided to find Pearl, I knew she'd be working the party and tired to the none by now.
Guilt filled me up as I rushed outside, Goddess, I'm such a bad friend, I got swept up in Damien and forgot about my best friend!
I swung the door open and literally threw myself at a wall. What the hell?
I looked up to see a tall man I'd never seen before turn to look at me.
His hard face softened when we made eye contact and he bowed, “Luna” he said as he stepped aside for me.
“I'm guessing you're with Damien?” I asked and he nodded, making me sigh in relief.
“The King said to make sure you were safe Luna, I'm William” he said and my heart warmed at how caring my mate was.
“Nice to meet you William, I'm Alari and I'm going to find my friend, you can go join the party” I said, stepping outside.
“My place is by your side until the King returns” he said, making me gape at him.
“So you're just going to follow me around?” I asked, not sure I liked the idea of a tail.
“Yes Luna” he said and I just stood there looking at him.
I sighed, having nothing to say and decided to accept it, I didn't want to argue, which I knew would be futile.
I checked the kitchen first and couldn't find her, but her scent was strong so I knew she'd be close, and I decided to follow it.
It led me outside, where the party was and she wasn't far from the exit. She was at the tables, collecting dirty dishes and rushed over to her, taking the ones that were already weighing her down.
“Lari!” She exclaimed, excitement filling her tired eyes and I felt horrible.
“You need to rest, come on” I said as I made her get inside the house.
William took the dirty dishes from my hands and followed closely behind.
I made her sit down and showed William where to put the dishes and got a glass of water for Pearl.
“Thank yo… Oh My Goddess!” She practically screamed in my face, her eyes as wide as saucers.
“What's wrong?!” I asked, worried she was hurt or something.
“He marked you! Alari he marked you!” She jumped off the chair and started dancing around.
“Oh My Goddess! You're the Queen now!!” She froze before she started jumping for joy again.
“Okay, calm down” I said with laugh, shaking my head at her silly dancing.
Tears welled up in her eyes and she rushed forward to hug me, “you finally get to be happy and loved. And respected! Because you're a baddie and deserve it!” She said, crying laughing into my ears and I felt my own tears fall as it hit me hard.
I would finally be happy!
I'd wanted to leave, run away and maybe would have met my end but now I got to leave this hell hole and be happy and safe.
I was finally leaving!
But, I was leaving Pearl. She wouldn't get to be happy, she'd stay here and continue being a slave!
I didn't want that for her, I wanted her to come with me, only then would she find peace and possibly love.
“Come with me” I said, breaking the hug to look into her eyes.
“What?!” She exclaimed, about a hundred emotions swimming in her eyes.
“I'm not leaving you in this place! Come with me, I'll talk to Damien, he won't deny me. Fuck, I'm his Queen! The Luna Queen and I'm ordering you, to come with me” I said, letting my voice soften as I said the last words.
“Alari…” she started saying but broke into a sob, falling into my arms.
“We both get to be happy Pearl, not just me” I said hugging her tightly.
“And it's about time these lazy, disgusting wolves clean up after themselves?” She said, wiping her tears with my shirt, hated when she did that.
“Go home and rest, and tell mom and dad not to worry” I said kissing her forehead. She hugged me one last time before rushing away.
“She's pretty” William said, making me turn my shock gaze his way, “w.. what?!” The scream tore out of me.
“Your friend, she's pretty” he said, looking down as a shade of pink tinted his cheeks.
“Yeah, she is” I said, amusement now gracing my face. I wanted to laugh because it looked like he didn't mean to say it out loud but I didn't want to embarrass him further.
“Go join the party, I'll just head back to the room and wait for Damien, go have fun” I said, feeling like I'm holding him back.
“I'm fine Luna” he said, still not meeting my gaze.
“There's no use for you standing around for nothing, I'm your Queen remember?” I said, folding my arms over my chest.
“Plus Damien should be coming inside soon enough and who would even dare do anything to the King's mate?” I said, trying to convince him that I was perfectly fine without him.
Not a single person in this pack had laid a hand on me in years, now they either ignored my presence or throw insults.
I would be just fine by myself.
“Are you sure?” He asked, eyes quickly darting to the door and back.
“Positive, go!” I said, excited that I'd won. He sighed and walked away slowly, glancing back once before disappearing from my view.
I drank a glass of water before leaving the kitchen. I had just stumbled into the hallway when I heard someone growl my name and I looked up to find Xavier on the other side.
I was suddenly overwhelmed with fear, shivers wrecking my body. No! Why was he here? Shouldn't he be outside with the pack? With his Luna?
“Alari, I.. I need to talk to you” he slurred, obvious signs of his drinking, how much did he drink? Werewolves don't get drunk that easy and he looked ready to pass out.
What does he want from me? How do I get out of this?! I had to get away, and given his current state, I just might succeed.
The kitchen was a dead end, the only out of this was the stairs, if I can just get to Damien's room, then I'll be okay. Why did I send William away?!
My eyes shifted to the stairs and when I looked back at him, I knew he'd followed my line of vision and he knew what I was thinking.
I bolted for the stairs, prompting him to run and try to stop me. I wasn't fast enough, the effects of the mark were still weighing heavily on me.
No! I wouldn't make it, how was he running so fucking fast!
I grabbed the railing just seconds before he could but he grabbed me instead, sending us both to the ground with him on top of me.
Goddess no! I'm trapped! I'm fucken trapped!!
“Please, please let me go, please!” I cried, trying to push at his chest but failing as all of his weight fell on me. No, this couldn't be happening to me, why was this happening?! Goddess why?!!
“Alar… Why do you smell like that?!” His growl fanned my neck, his aura suddenly dark and imposing.
All I could do was sob, my body violently shaking as he brought his face up and I was met with two black orbs that looked at me with so much hurt and anger.
“Xavier please let me go” I sobbed, my mind too ridden with fear to try and find a way to escape. Why was this happening to me?!
“You let him mark you?!” His growl was low and venomous.
I couldn't get out of this, I needed help, someone, anyone… Damien!
“Since I'm your true mate, my mark should replace his” he growled as his fangs elongated and he stared at my neck with lust and disgust.
Goddess please don't let this happen to me! Please save me from this! No, it can't happen, please it can't happen.
I felt my world stop as he leaned back into my neck.
“No! Stop this! Please don't do this, stooooooop!” I kicked and I screamed, trying so hard to push him off but it wasn't working, nothing was working.
I felt a blinding pain hit me when his teeth scraped against the surface of my neck and started pushing into my skin.
Pain, my world was swallowed up by pain. “Aaaaaaaaah!” The scream tore out of me and I felt a cold sensation rush over me before bursting through my fingers.
“Alari!!” I heard Damien's voice but I suddenly felt drained, I felt so tired I could barely open my eyes.
“Baby look at me, I'm here, Alari I'm here” he said before I felt myself being lifted and warmth enveloped me, taking away the cold that I'd started to like.