Ava’s wolf was both excited and nervous, but who wouldn’t be after seeing your crush your long-time crush up close everything about him was just mind-blowing, perfect.
Damon moved past the line of girls with caution and full focus, trying not to miss anything important. Damon stopped in front of Alora, after observing her for a while; he gave a half smile and shook his head in approval as he continued moving along the line.
As Damon moved closer to where Ava was standing, she began to feel uncomfortable. She didn’t understand why but something felt off, all her excitement turned to anxiety either way, she didn’t want to wait any longer, all she wanted at that moment was to go back home.
As she turned to leave, she came face to face with Damon, she had been so engrossed in her thoughts that she bumped into him.
“Am sorry, I didn’t mean to bump into you please forgive me.” Ava pleaded, bowing her head.
Damon didn’t say anything but stared at Ava his expression was a mix of confusion, surprise, and disgust. Ava’s wolf was going insane it was screaming Mate! Inside her head, she was surprised, Damon was her freaking mate. Damon’s wolf was not left out as he tried to keep his wolf calm, how could this be possible? Was the Moon goddess playing a trick on him? Why her of all people? He hated her with every fiber in his being and now she’s his mate?
“Follow me” He said roughly dragging Ava from the line to the front of the platform. Confusion swept past the face of the crowd. They all had different questions in their mind but had to wait for the Alpha to clear the air. Confusion was also written all over Ava’s face, why was he dragging her onto the stage? Was he going to claim her in front of everyone? Several thoughts were going through Ava’s mind with the feeling of uneasiness creeping in. Damon gave a loud growl to get the attention of the crowd.
“I welcome you all to the official mate selection ceremony of Moonwood pack, As you all know this ceremony doesn’t come by often, as tradition dictates, our mates are chosen by the Moon goddess and no one can go against it. The mate who has been sent to me is none other than Ava Sterling”. He announced.
The crowd went wild, disbelief written on the faces of many on how Ava, the weakest and most hated werewolf in Moonwood pack could become the Luna. Disbelief and confusion were written all over Ava’s face. She didn’t know what she was supposed to feel about the news but one important lesson she had learned from life is to never be hasty to make decisions or jump to conclusions so, she waited to hear what else Damon had to say.
“I, Damon Harrighton reject the will of the moon goddess and reject you, Ava Sterling as my mate and Luna of Moonwood Pack” Tears wailed up Ava’s eye did he just bring up here to shamefully reject her, she was used to being treated badly but this was different she just got rejected by her mate, she knew he didn’t like her particularly but what did she do to him to make him treat her such manner.
“Why?” Ava asked with her head bowed, lower lips trembled and her voice was barely audible tears were already falling down her cheek “Is it because am an Omega? Is it because am not powerful like everyone else, tell me Why!?” she yelled this time her voice echoed stopping the crowd from murmuring. All eyes were now on Ava and Damon everyone wanted to know where this was going.
“Don’t you ever get tired of pretending to be weak? When exactly do you plan on apologizing for the life you took?” Damon shouted at the top of his voice, and rage pulsed through his veins.
“I don’t understand what you are talking about”. She replied, still unsure where this conversation was heading.
Flashback
“Dad, Dad please wake up! Please Dad stay with me” young Damon cried holding onto his father’s almost lifeless body. Little Ava stared blankly at the almost lifeless body with blood stains on her dress and a bleeding wound on her right arm unable to comprehend what was happening.
“You! You did this” Damon growled pushing Ava to the ground and tried to strangle her, there was no form of struggle or resistance from her; it was as if she was in a deep trance. Damon continues to put pressure on his hands all he wanted to do was kill Ava.
“Damon” A weak and faint voice called, he turned to see his father gesturing him to stop. He rushed over to where his father was.
“Son”, He managed to say “Promise me that no matter what you’re not going to blame or harm her because of me, it’s not her fault he said coughing out blood
“But dad….” He cried trying to protest.
“Promise me” He added using his last breath to say.
“I…. I promise” More tears streamed from his eyes to his cheeks as his father gave up the ghost.
End of flashback
“My father died because of you, you killed him” Damon said
“Me? What are you talking about? I did no such thing” Ava added in disbelief. Why was he accusing her of killing his father, she has never seen and doesn’t have any memory of the previous Alpha so why would she kill him
“Stop pretending Ava! What will you say about the scare on your right arm huh!? Damon yelled grabbing her right arm roughly she was scared and confused she looked over to the crowd tears dripping endlessly from her eyes nobody was saying anything, they all just stood there watching with utter disgust, nobody would speak up or defend her after all they hated her, she looked over at Alora but she had a blank expression.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about” Ava managed to say
“Still, feigning ignorance? He asked scoffing “You’re only alive because I made a promise to my dad not to kill you” he added shoving her aggressively making her land on her butt. Ava wined in pain because she fell on the hard floor, her right arm was in pain because of the way Damon held her there was nothing she could say at this point nobody would believe her.
“I will never accept you nor will I ever forgive you” Damon said leaving her on the platform and heading back down to the queue he went straight to Alora and held her hand, he walked her to the platform confusion written in the face of everyone no one knew what their Alpha was up to.
“I, Damon Harrighton take Alora Mcgrave as my mate” he announced.