Chapter 9 Jaxon's POV

The Engagement Day As had been arranged, the engagement ceremony between Seraphina and I had been designed to be the talk of the year, an unforgettable event, or so they thought. Everything had been put in place, the meticulous planning of the notable personalities from different packs. Even to the decorations, a lot of effort was also applied. The guest list at some point was already alarming. Seraphina made sure to send an invitation to all Dick and Henry, the nobles, as she called them. The entire pack turned to festival preparation. Last I checked, this type of preparation was only done when I became the Alpha. My mother made sure to create scenes with it. In the midst of all this, I felt empty; I wish O could just stop all the preparations and focus on finding Liora and getting the pack to normal once more. Things have turned upside down for me, ever since Liora disappeared. I tried all I could, but the guilt was very much coupled with the persistent bond that started forming between us even in her absence. I felt like I was the one who pushed her to her death if she was no more. I shouldn't have allowed anyone to influence my decision, owning that I could do anything that I wanted as the Alpha. I kept longing for her, desiring to have her in my arms, cuddled in her embrace all day. Every night, I see her beautiful face begging me not to humiliate her, but I wake up to shadows instead. Liora is the one I want beside me, the Luna, to stand by myself as we rule this pack, but I rejected her out of foolishness. Now, preparing for the engagement, I stood in front of the mirror, obviously not checking out my looks. As I adjusted my tie, I was shocked at the man I had become, a man devoid of emotion and an unhappy man. The engagement ceremony was supposed to be a happy moment for me, but it's now my downfall. It was supposed to be a happy moment for the pack as it would give access to a powerful alliance, but it doesn't seem so to me any longer. I felt like a slave in my pack; the engagement felt like I was about to chain myself to a future that didn't belong to me. As I was still dressing, the door to my room swung open all of a sudden, and Seraphina, the drama queen, stepped in. I must give it to her; she looked every bit of the perfect bride-to-be in her elegant dress, leaving no crumbs, but the truth remains: she's not the one my heart longs for. "You look extremely handsome, Jaxon" she complimented, already making her way towards me, and standing behind me, she wrapped her arms around my waist. I smiled at her, a smile that didn't reach my teeth as I looked in the mirror. "You look beautiful too, Seraphina," I replied, rather in a fake tone. Seraphina, from her expressions, seemed not to care about the looming commotion around the corner. All she ever wanted was to become the Luna. The process doesn't concern her, but she must become the Luna of the Silver Moon Pack. "Tonight looks promising, and it's going to be perfect, just like we will make a perfect couple. Our union will be envied by many, and the talk of all the packs for months." "Yes, Seraphina," I replied, trying to sound normal; Silver Moon Pack will be happy. "Perfect couple ever." The engagement ceremony had started on a good note. The packed hall was filled, and I kept wondering who had invited all of them. Everywhere was filled up with pack members and many invited allies; they were all present to witness me get engaged to Seraphina. Everyone was happy except one of the celebrants and that was me. Seraphina, on the other hand, was having a great time, happy that her dreams of becoming the Luna of the Silver Moon Pack were just a step away from actualization. As I stood before Elder Marcus, my mind was far away from the gathering. I couldn't wait for the exchange of vows to end, for me to get out of it, and clear my head. My thoughts were only those of Liora. I felt like I was cheating on her by standing in that hall and getting engaged to another woman. "How are you doing, Liora? Hope you are feeding well, I hope you are safe?" My thoughts kept wandering even in the engagement hall As Elder Marcus proceeded with the ceremony, suddenly, I caught a glimpse of a figure standing with the crowd. I saw Liora; yes, Liira was standing right there in the crowd; my mate was standing all alone to witness me get tied to Seraphina, whom I had no feelings for. But it was all my imagination; my heart skipped a beat as I tried to get hold of myself. My imagination had played a rough trick on me, and taking a moment, I checked to be sure no one noticed as I tried to push away the image. "Jaxon, Alpha Jaxon," Elder Marcus called, and my attention was drawn back to the room. I had zoomed off in my imagination and didn't hear him call my name. "Do you accept everything about this engagement, to honor and cherish Seraphina as your Luna?" I tried opening my mouth to speak, but nothing came out; I suddenly forgot how to talk, or the right words just refused to come out. I took a glance at Seraphina, and she was beaming at me with her eyes glowing, back to the crowd, all eyes were on me in anticipation. This is the right thing for the pack, but not for me. Everything about the engagement is wrong. "I...I..." I started, trying to figure out the right words. As I was still trying to say the right words, a sudden loud crash came, interrupting the engagement, and glasses of wine broke on the table as a result of the crash. All eyes turned to the direction of the commotion as gasps from pack members filled the hall. Pack members were already moving in one direction to avoid being injured by the broken glass as the servants cleared the tables. It was a group of rogues whose identity I wasn't sure of but must be from a neighboring pack. They stormed the engagement venue without fear, bearing a message from their Alpha. The leader of the rogues brought a letter and my right man collected it. Anxious to know the content of the letter, I opened it right at the engagement venue. It was a warning and mockery letter from one of the Alphas we share a boundary with. "Alpha Jaxon, you are not strong after all, as you claimed. You decided to ally to protect your pack. What a weak Alpha! This is me warning you for the last time to stay off the boundary as it belongs to us, you may not like the outcome." The letter read. I used that opportunity as a distraction to calm my nerves down. How dare he storm into my pack amid a ceremony like that. He had no regard for my pack, not even me their Alpha. I will mess him up with his warriors and the whole pack. Seraphima was already getting impatient with what was happening. She noticed that I wasn't willing to take the vow, but she pushed on so that I wouldn't use the interruption as an excuse. "Jaxon, Jaxon," she called me, but in a whisper, her fist was already clenched, and I laughed within myself on seeing it. She still maintained her smile and her composure even though she had lost it. "What exactly is your problem, what do you think you are doing? Is it so hard to repeat after someone? Say the words already." She commanded with gritted teeth. If we cancel this engagement because of the little interruption, the whole pack will lose faith in you. They will think you cannot handle the pack before urgent situations, assuming that you will always run away when there's danger. I turned and looked at her, and all I saw was my duty as the Alpha, my obligations and responsibility to my pack. Holding a gaze intensely on her, I finally released the words. I did it not for myself, but for my pack, for the future, and for my family. I finally regained myself, and my voice. "I accept this engagement from my heart," I finally said, the words alone tasting bitter in my mouth, betrayal words against Liora. The whole crowd burst into celebration, as they applauded my courage. I still maintained eye contact with Seraphina, my eyes sending coals of fire as I stared at her, but she couldn't care less. She was busy smiling at her small win, her victory of the moment, a few steps remaining to become the Luna of the Silver Moon Pack. The union meant nothing to her, she was only concerned powerful the benefits, likea powerbreak wolf that she was. She could kill anyone she senses blocking her way to the top. Even with her smile, her true intentions for the pack were obvious in her eyes; I knew right there that she wouldn't bring anything positive to the pack; rather, she would continue to take and destroy the ones she met. Her smile and her grin did not pass through her teeth; it was just a display for the public to see. As Elder Marcus announced we were engaged the pack, I forced a smile while Seraphina grinned from ear to ear. The crowd cheered as we faced them, engagement done and dusted, next level activated. I felt like a betrayal, betraying the only woman that mattered in my life. The ceremony continued as the pack members ate and drank to their fill, everything appearing normal and peaceful, but it wasn't so. The commotion that interrupted the ceremony was an indication that the engagement wasn't supposed to be held. I couldn't force a smile as the pack members hailed me as their Alpha. Seraphina had started acting like the Luna even without the wedding proper. She had started giving out instructions on how things should be done while I watched in awe. The deed has been done, and I can't do anything, at least for now. I am bound to Seraphina, which I take as temporary until I see reasons not to proceed with the wedding, but getting such a reason will be hard unless I frame her.