CHAPTER 3 —
The wedding transpired far from what Ella had imagined in her youthful dreams.
No flowers.
No music.
No solace.
Only icy stone walls, flickering flames, and an atmosphere so tense it felt tangible.
Pack members lined the corridor in silent ranks.
Their gazes tracked her every move, a mix of intrigue, animosity, and disbelief.
The whispers were muted yet cutting, like tiny blades slipping beneath her skin.
A human?
The Alpha must have lost his mind.
Ella lifted her chin despite the ache in her chest.
If they sought weakness, they would not uncover it this evening.
Her gown was simple, borrowed, and far too large at the shoulders.
Yet, she held her posture straighter than any of them.
She would not falter before wolves.
Rylan stood at the altar, tall and inscrutable, his face set like granite.
He offered no smile.
He extended no hand.
He didn't even look at her for more than a fleeting moment.
Ella felt the distance between them like a chilling draft.
The elder began the ceremony, his voice echoing through the hall.
"By law and bond, we unite Alpha Rylan Wolfe and Ella Hayes."
Rylan's jaw tightened, his eyes darting to her face briefly.
Cold.
Guarded.
When it was her turn, Ella moved forward.
Her hands trembled, yet her voice remained steady.
"I accept the bond," she proclaimed.
She didn't reveal that she had no real choice.
Her heart thudded painfully in her chest.
Rylan recited his vow as though it were an order.
"I accept the bond."
No feeling.
No pause.
Merely obligation enveloped in the tone of an Alpha.
The elder intertwined their hands with a silver thread.
A slight warmth ran through Ella's skin, an odd sensation, as if something ancient had just awakened.
Rylan stiffened beside her.
His breathing changed for a fleeting moment, nearly imperceptible.
But he stayed silent.
After the ceremony wrapped up, the hall erupted with murmurs again.
Some wolves bowed with reluctance.
Others looked at her with open judgment and barely concealed hostility.
Ella felt their stares burning into her back.
She wondered if she would ever be seen as more than a burden to them.
Rylan leaned in slightly toward her, his voice low and devoid of emotion.
"The ceremony is over. You will accompany me back to the mansion."
Ella nodded without catching his gaze.
"I didn't expect anything different."
A flash of something mysterious crossed his eyes.
As they moved through the hall, a young she-wolf spoke just loud enough for Ella to catch,
"A human Luna is a disaster waiting to happen."
Ella stopped mid-stride, her spine going rigid.
Rylan heard it too, and she noted the slight twitch of his jaw.
But he kept walking, providing no defense or reassurance.
Outside, the night air felt even chillier than before.
A full moon loomed above, luminous and heavy.
Ella hugged herself as they neared the car.
Her new reality felt like a cage constricting around her.
And Rylan Wolfe possessed the key.
He opened the car door without meeting her gaze.
"Get in," he said softly.
Ella paused, the gravity of the night pressing down on her.
Then she locked eyes with him, those inscrutable silver flames.
"Alright," she murmured. "But don't expect me to stay silent forever, Alpha."
Rylan held her stare for a brief moment.
Something flickered there: irritation, intrigue… maybe something more.
Then he gently closed the door, in stark contrast to the slamming she had anticipated.
Ella stared out the window as the engine roared to life.
The human girl and the cursed Alpha were now linked together, whether they liked it or not.