Chapter 24

Kimble

Talon sent me a message from his office that a celebration dinner for our mating was taking place that evening. Since the Elder was still in the pack, he wanted to solemnize our union.

By afternoon I was bored in my room and decided to visit the gardens despite Talon’s warning.

However, just as I was going, my door opened and a maid walked in. “Alpha Talon has sent a personal styler for you, Luna Kimble.” I saw a man with glasses and straight dark hair that was tied in a low ponytail. Wearing a flashy green shirt with matching pants, he looked like the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland .

He bowed to me with a stern smile on his face. “Luna Kimble, I’m Jessie Stacker.”

Not used to the title, I nodded nervously. “Please come in.”

He entered with his entourage of three ladies and a man who wheeled in a line of exquisite dresses. As soon as the maid left, Boris assessed me like an eagle. “You’re beautiful, but a human. We’ll have to make you look extraordinary so you look more like a she-wolf.”

His remark left me feeling inferior. I swallowed my anger and sat on a chair as he and his assistants brought one dress after the other to see which looked the best on me. In the end, he decided on a gaudy peach dress that looked like it had been made from plastic that was painted and then glazed.

“This looks best on you!” he exclaimed.

Not liking his judgment, in a very low and polite voice, I said, “No, I’ll go with that red dress.” It was a beautiful silk gown that pooled at my ankles. It was simple with a cowl neckline and had a low back that ended just above my hips.

He gritted his teeth. “Kimble, like I said, if you want to enhance your looks and be on a par with the she-wolves, this is the dress that will suit you.”

I glanced at his assistants, who were also glaring at me like I was an abomination. “Who said I want to enhance my looks?” I replied in an icy voice. “I’ll wear the red dress,” I said stubbornly, lifting my chin.

Maybe, if I chose the wrong dress, Talon would stay away from me at the party.

“I need a smoke!” Boris announced in frustration and left the room.

His assistants scowled at me. One of them placed her hands on her hips and said, “You’re lucky that Alpha Talon chose you when he could’ve chosen any she-wolf. So stop acting like an entitled brat. Trust me, human, in a few days, he’s going to throw you out of the pack! Just wear what Boris suggests.”

Her companion snickered. “Who the hell does she think she is? Goddamn dimwit!”

“Lol. She was a servant before our Alpha noticed her.”

Hmmm…

I licked my dry lips as anger and dejection warred inside me listening to their sharp words. Without looking at her, I said, “That’s Luna Kimble to you.” From the corner of my eye, I saw how her mouth dropped. “And I’ll wear what I like. Now call Boris, and do what you’re supposed to. Dress. Me. Up.”

Boris and his girls didn’t speak much after that. By evening, I was ready to go to the party. As I looked at my reflection in the mirror, I liked what Boris had done. My hair was left down and curled at the end. The red dress I wore fit beautifully, covering my curves delicately. I wore matching red stilettos. He’d applied minimal makeup to my face.

Just as Boris was about to leave, the door of my room opened and Talon stepped in. Shirtless. He halted at the door, staring at me. Boris and the girls dipped in a bow immediately. A blush crept into my cheeks seeing Talon like that. Staring at me intensely, he walked toward me like a predator. The others left quickly as if scared to be close to him. He came to stand only a few inches from me. He cupped my cheek and traced my jawline. “You look divine. And I’d like to eat you.”

I clenched my jaw as my pussy throbbed at his nearness. I stepped back. “Don’t touch me!”

He chuckled and walked to the bathroom to get ready. The party was being held in the main hall of the manor. He caught my hand as we walked down the stairs. I wanted to jerk my hand away, but he grasped it tightly, never letting it go. As soon as we arrived, the music started playing. The place was buzzing with activity. Talon walked with me to the Elder, who was sitting on a high chair. We both went to our knees in front of him as the entire crowd fell silent.

“The Goddess has rained blessings upon us,” the Elder said, his eyes shining. He roamed his eyes over everyone present. “Except one pair, all were mated in the Choosing Ritual.” His gaze settled on us. “May the Goddess bestow you with long life and long reign. May you have many heirs.”

“Long live the Alpha and Luna! Hail the Goddess!” the pack members cheered.

“Last year, we had five she-wolves who couldn’t be mated. But,” he said, waving at the guests, “this year, we’ve had three virgins, a rare blessing from the Moon Goddess.”

My cheeks heated when I remembered how Talon’s cock was stained with my virgin blood, and how he turned round to show everyone during our mating ritual.

“Alpha Talon,” the Elder continued, “has mated with a human, Kimble. But I know he will guide her firmly into our community. He will ensure Kimble remains by his side always.”

“By the Moon Goddess,” said Talon in a deep, calm voice, and I silently gritted my teeth. But I also understood the Elder’s meaning. A union between a werewolf and a human was taboo and looked down upon. However, since Alpha Talon was a strong and powerful wolf, no one had the guts to challenge his decision. And that’s where my protection and acceptance from the community lay.

We got up, and the other mated couples came to him to seek blessings. Surprise bolted inside me when I saw Jackie and Kirk approaching the Elder. Jackie looked at me and smiled, adjusting her blouse to show her mark. The Elder blessed them both as I watched them with my breath lodged in my throat. Why hadn’t Jackie told me she’d gone to the mating ritual? Why was she hiding it? Kirk, on the other hand, didn’t look comfortable. A deep scowl was etched on his face.

As the evening of celebration started, the music rose to a crescendo. I wanted to leave the center stage to go and hide in the corner, but I felt Talon’s big hands on my back. His fingers slid down and curved around my hips. His touch felt sinful. My pussy throbbed again as heat coiled in my belly. Earlier, he’d stayed away from me, but now, as I was his wife, he was staking his claim on me every time we were in public together. Savage heat bloomed in my chest. I wondered how long he’d been waiting to touch me like this in front of everyone. Power and victory rolled off him in waves, like he enjoyed possessing me. I wanted to step away from him, but I knew I couldn’t do that in front of people. Gulping down my saliva, I turned my face away from him, but his hand came to my waist and he pulled me against him, making my skin feel tight. And oh! The way my pussy was throbbing. It was like it had a mind of its own.

He lowered his lips to my ear and muttered, “Don’t step away from me. If you do, I’ll fuck you right here in front of them to stake my claim.”

I gasped. “You’re insane!”

He chuckled and then smirked. “For you.”

He introduced me to the important council members of his pack. There was the pack’s Gamma, head warriors, and people who had important positions in his office. When we reached a group of young girls, they squealed, some blushing, some staring at him with awe and lust. Jealousy stabbed my heart a thousand times, but I controlled myself.

“Alpha Talon,” a particularly beautiful girl, taller than me, cooed. “Where’s your mark? Has the Luna not marked you?”

Others tittered and looked at me as if I was so fucking low. Rage swelled in my heart. I slapped my hand on his chest, and said to them, “I marked him somewhere intimate.” I circled his tit over his shirt. “Do you want to see?”

Talon caught my wrist, brought my hand to his lips and kissed it. “That’s my Luna.” He smirked at the girls, who were clearly embarrassed, and then pulled me away from there.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. What the hell came over me?

“You did an awesome—”

“Don’t!” I snapped at him. He stopped speaking but laughed softly.

As he introduced me to more people, I couldn’t help but glance at Jackie and Kirk standing in the corner, looking like they didn’t want to mingle with anyone. I wanted to go to her and ask her to explain, but I didn’t get a chance. We all proceeded to dinner at the long table. Laden with exotic dishes like braised chicken with grapes and fennel, seared scallops with butter, potato gnocchi, lasagna with parmesan and peas, and barbeque shrimp with a variety of breads, I couldn’t help gawking at the extravagance. Omegas were milling around, pouring wines for everyone.

After Talon made me sit on his right, he sat at the head of the table. The atmosphere was elegant and sophisticated with conversations measured with a sense of decorum. Guests engaged in polite small talk, discussing travel, art, or high-culture topics. While the setting might have been luxurious, with gourmet food and exquisite decor, the mood felt controlled and curated. There was often an effort to maintain a certain image or uphold social expectations.

Overall, it was odd, but I could understand that all of them were being careful around their Alpha. No one had the audacity to speak either with me or against me. They glanced at me with jealousy rife in their eyes.

All at once, I felt his hand on my thigh beneath the table. I tried to remove it, but he clutched my thigh tightly, warning me. Biting my lip, I ended up clenching my thighs tightly, his hand trapped in the middle. Talon didn’t move his hand. He held his wine in the other as he talked casually to the other guests. The moment I loosened my thighs, his fingers trailed up to my panties. Fuck. He moved them to the side and brushed his finger on my sex. To my mortification, my pussy was weeping. He smirked, coating his fingers with my cream.

I blushed inadvertently and his gaze darkened. He pulled his fingers back and licked them clean, maintaining his intense stare. I watched him sucking my juices, the heat in my belly tightening. Could someone come just like that? Fuck my imagination.

Someone started talking to him, breaking our reverie. Instantly, I lowered my head, taking in a sharp breath.

When the dinner was over, we headed to the living room where wine was served. Kenzie leaned down to whisper something in his ear. Talon’s expression turned grim. “I’ll be right back,” he said to me and left hastily. As soon as he left, I made my way to Jackie.

“Jackie?” I rasped. She was standing with Kirk, looking lost.

“Kimble!” she squealed, and I hugged her. When I pulled away, she assessed me. “You look so beautiful! I’m sure Alpha Talon is unable to keep his hands off you!”

I chuckled, because that was the truth. He was finding ways to touch me all the time. I glanced at Kirk who seemed a little perturbed.

“You didn’t tell me you were going to the Choosing Ritual?” I said to Jackie.

She pursed her lips, lifting her shoulders in awkwardness. “I didn’t know I had to. Alpha Talon’s command that I was supposed to take part in it didn’t arrive until the last minute.”

Surprise washed over me. “Why?”

Kirk leaned over to her, whispered something, and left, after bowing to me slightly, like he didn’t want to. His reaction toward me was discomforting.

Jackie nodded and watched him leave. As soon as he was out of earshot, Jackie said, “Alpha Talon told me that Kirk was taking part. It caught me by surprise because he hadn’t informed me that he was going to the Choosing. Honestly, I felt betrayed and was so angry that I didn’t want to participate. But—” She sighed deeply. “Alpha Talon insisted that I attend it. In a way, I’m happy I went. Kirk and I are now mated!” Her cheeks flushed pink.

I was perplexed. If Kirk loved her, then why did he go to the Choosing without telling her? It made little sense. I thought of asking her, but I stifled my question because Jackie looked ecstatic. “I’m happy for you,” I said, hugging her again.

She beamed at my words. “I gotta leave! Kirk’s waiting for me outside. He doesn’t like such large gatherings!”

“Ah, okay!” I gave a tight smile as she hurried to leave. My friend’s euphoria about being mated to someone who tried to go to the Choosing Ritual without telling her was bizarre. I couldn’t help comparing myself to her, or Alpha Talon to Kirk. Talon had done everything he could to mate me. He even defied the rules and walked over a taboo. A crack developed in the wall around my heart.

“Kimble, the Alpha is calling you to the main meeting room.” Kenzie’s voice made me jump. I blinked as I saw Jackie disappearing through the main door. “Are you thinking about Jackie and Kirk?”

“Yes. But I don’t understand—”

“Kirk took part in the Choosing to mate you, Kimble,” Kenzie cut me off.

Goosebumps broke out over my skin. “Kenzie. Oh, my Gods…”

Kenzie placed his hand at the small of my back as he guided me through the crowd toward the meeting room. “He wanted to claim you, but obviously he was no match for Alpha Talon. Alpha Talon knew he would have killed Kirk if he tried to approach you, and Kirk was forced to choose Jackie. Alpha Talon did it because he knows Jackie is your only friend in this pack. He transferred $20,000 to Kirk’s account so he could start a new life with Jackie.” We reached the meeting room, where Kenzie stopped and turned to me. “Talon wouldn’t have hesitated to kill Kirk for trying to approach you had he not been Jackie’s boyfriend.”

The shock was heavier than gravity. “Why was Kirk trying to choose me? It makes no sense,” I asked in a low voice.

“Kirk was working with Liam.” Kenzie took a deep breath. “Liam made sure he had his men all around you to prevent Talon approaching you.”