Chapter 4 - A Lightning Marriage Selene's POV: Get 5 - Méno I slowly placed my hand in Aaron's, still hesitating, my fingers trembling against his palm. From the corner of my eye, I caught sight of the dark red blood spreading across the marble floor, the coppery scent thick in the air. A guttural groan of pain echoed around us, sending a shiver down my spine. I bit my lower lip so hard I tasted iron, my entire body flooded with cold dread. "Have you completely lost respect for me?" the elder bellowed. His anger was palpable, radiating in waves. Though I couldn't see his face from my angle, I could feel the force of his fury. "Damien! Is this how you discipline your men?" Damien. The name alone made my breath hitch. My heart slammed violently against my ribs. He's here? Damien Hale is here?! Panic surged through me. My gaze darted wildly around the courtyard, searching desperately for a glimpse of the notorious Alpha. "Elder Mogan," Matthew said smoothly as he stepped forward, his tone steady and diplomatic. "We were merely assisting Alpha Lars in disciplining one of his men for acting without orders. If Alpha Damien were here himself, he would have given the same command. He does not tolerate anyone who harms women." The elder's tone softened, the rage ebbing from his voice. "I agree completely. I despise that kind of behavior as well. Thank you, Beta Matthew. Alpha Damien truly is a wolf of honor." Oh, please. I fought the urge to snort. Lars was clearly laying it on thick. The truth was painfully obvious: he had ordered that attack on me, and now that things had gone wrong, he'd conveniently offered up his warrior as a scapegoat. Still, I exhaled in relief when I realized Damien himself wasn't actually present. "Don't worry, Elder. We'll have this cleaned up immediately," Lars grovelled, bobbing his head like a sycophant before motioning to his men. Five of them rushed forward-two hauled the bloodied warrior away while the others scrubbed frantically at the stone floor. "Mogan," Matthew announced, his commanding voice cutting through the tense atmosphere, "Aaron Scott and Vanessa Armand are here to register their union. Please assist them in making it official." Aaron shifted slightly so the elder came into my line of sight. Elder Mogan's sharp eyes flicked back and forth between us, evaluating. When his gaze finally landed on me, I forced a bright, nervous smile. His white brows furrowed, and then, when his attention swung to Aaron, they drew even tighter. He scrutinized Aaron from head to toe. Aaron, in turn, stood tall and steady, his posture radiating calm 15.12 8.85% authority. His polite smile never wavered. The elder's expression grew... puzzled. Maybe he'd noticed the groom wasn't who he was expecting. My breath caught, waiting for him to question it. But instead, he merely grumbled, "Fine. Whatever. Get inside and stop wasting my time." Without another word, he tumed and strode into the building, clearly irritated. 1 let out a shaky breath I hadn't realized I was holding. Thank the Moon Goddess. "Scott," Lars said smoothly as he stepped closer, his tone taking on a practiced note of concern. "Before you mate with my daughter, you need to know a few things." My spine stiffened instantly. "The birthmark on her shoulder-you saw it, yes? It's a bad omen. She killed her mother at birth. I don't want her to bring you misfortune as well. And she... has no wolf. She's weak. Raising her has been... difficult." Lars sighed, pretending to be the image of a worried father, while slyly watching Aaron's reaction, hoping to plant seeds of doubt. Fury boiled up inside me. I had never been ashamed of my birthmark, a curling flame that stretched from my shoulder down my upper arm. I certainly didn't believe it had killed my mother. Some had suggested I get surgery to remove it or tattoo over it, but I'd refused every time. Every inch of me was a gift from my mother-a blessing from the Moon Goddess. I would never erase it. As for having no wolf... yes, it was unfortunate. Painful, even. But I'd proven long ago that I didn't need a wolf to survive. The Moon Goddess had her plans for me. And Lars's claim that he'd "raised me" was laughable. This man had never spent a single coin on me. Not his wealth. Not his love. My teeth ground together as I prepared to unleash my anger- Suddenly, strong arms swept me off my feet. I gasped, instinctively wrapping my arms around Aaron's neck. He looked down at me with that devastatingly charming smile. "I won't let my bride walk barefoot," he murmured. "She deserves to be carried." It was only then I remembered: I was still barefoot. My face flushed hot. The surge of embarrassment quickly shifted into something else-a dizzying, fluttering warmth. 1512 Chapter 4-A Lightning Marriage If any other man had done this, I would've slapped him. But Aaron... Get $ Menu Aaron made me feel safe. With effortless strength, he carried me toward the committee building, his hold secure and protective. When we reached Lars, Aaron stopped and turned his head slightly, his gaze locking on my father's face. "This woman," Aaron said, his voice low but powerful, "no matter what mark she bears, no matter who she is, no matter if she has a wolf or not-none of that will ever change how I feel about her. She is mine to protect. With my life. Remember that." The words sliced through the air like a blade. Lars opened his mouth, ready to protest, but Matthew stepped smoothly between them, blocking his path. I couldn't hear what they said next. I was too overwhelmed, my chest aching. My eyes burned, and tears threatened to spill. I reminded myself-it was just an act. All of this was pretend. But even knowing that, Aaron's words stirred something deep inside me. It was beautiful. Whoever his real mate turned out to be, she would be the luckiest woman alive. Aaron would be a husband who gave his entire soul. I rested my head on his shoulder, inhaling deeply. His scent wrapped around me like a warm blanket on a frigid night-rich with cinnamon and musk, grounding me, soothing me. We entered Mogan's office. When Aaron gently set me down in a chair, it struck me with full force: there was no turning back now. The registration process was surprisingly quick-just a few forms, a fee, and identification documents. Of course, I used Vanessa's ID. I hadn't returned it when I fled. As for Aaron's credentials, I didn't even look at them. When the papers were signed, Aaron slipped both marriage certificates into his pocket. I didn't care. This whole marriage was a lie anyway. When we exited the building, Matthew and Lars were waiting. Aaron carried me back to the car. I caught Lars's expression-an odd, twisted smile that set my teeth on edge. "Congratulations, my daughter," Lars said smoothly, moving closer. "We've prepared a feast at home. Let's celebrate together." 1512 10.49% Chapter 4 A Lightning Marriage His words were sweet, but the malice beneath them was unmistakable. The hairs on the back of my neck rose. My instincts screamed danger. "Stay back." The growl ripped from my throat before I even realized it. Lars froze, stumbling backward in shock. Then-his men dropped to their knees, bowing before me. Every single one of them. The rest of the onlookers stared at me with wide-eyed reverence and fear. I blinked, stunned. What... what just happened? Leave a comment W115-12 75 Menu 10.81%