Chapter 29: Do You Take…

Words : 1378 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

Chapter 29: Do You Take...The whispers in the hall began to grow louder as the guests murmured in confusion—where was the king? He was nowhere to be seen at his own wedding. Wasn’t the king supposed to be at the altar with the priest, watching his wife walk down the aisle? All heads turned when they noticed a lady approaching the altar. Ariana. She walked steadily toward the priest, her hands tightening around the bouquet. She clutched her dress so hard, she was sure if she let go, the fabric would be deeply wrinkled. Her heartbeat grew erratic, and her legs wobbled slightly as her head spun, but she forced herself forward. Every pair of eyes bore into her, making it worse—much worse. And the whispers... they were getting louder by the second. "Isn’t she human?" "She killed her husband." "She can’t speak." "Do you think he is being bewitched by her beauty?" "Do you think he abandoned her here? After all, she is taboo." Ariana swallowed hard, though the lump in her throat made it nearly impossible. She stopped just in front of the priest. The man’s face creased with worry as a bead of sweat slowly rolled down his temple. She bit her lower lip hard. "W-Where is he? Why did he choose to make m-me feel this way? If he didn’t want to marry me, he could’ve just..." Her voice faltered, lips trembling. Her eyes burned, blurry from the tears she was trying so desperately to hold back. She had tried to be so confident, but it seemed she could not do it anymore. A single tear escaped, slipping silently down her cheek and dropping to the floor with a faint, whisper-like sound. Thup. Just as the tear dropped— Suddenly, the large doors swung open. The whispers died instantly—like fire doused by water. A powerful presence entered the hall. From the gleam of his polished shoes to the regal way he carried himself, everything about him screamed luxury, power, and dominance. Zavren. He walked in with composed elegance, every eye in the hall fixed on him—everyone except Ariana. His royal garments were impeccable: black pants and a sleek suit lined with gold along the shoulders. His dark hair was swept back neatly, with a few rebellious strands falling over his forehead, framing his dangerously handsome face. Cold grey eyes locked onto one figure—and one alone. The hall was so silent that if a pin had dropped, it would’ve been heard. The only sound now was the rich, soft thud of Zavren’s approaching steps. He stopped as he faced Ariana. To his surprise, she avoided his gaze, her expression unreadable. Zavren’s expression faltered slightly, but just as quickly, his usual stony mask returned. "Your Highness, with dignity and in respect to the Moon Goddess, we connect you here together," the priest declared with a bow. With those words, Zavren stepped forward and took Ariana’s hands in his. The moment their skin touched, a shiver ran through Ariana—not from fear, but from an electrifying sensation that shot from her toes up to her neck. "In the name of the Moon Goddess, we bring our Alpha King a Luna—to the kingdom of Eltones." Gasps echoed through the hall. Eyes widened. Many had assumed this was a political marriage—a strategy to silence gossip. But this? This was far more this was the oath. A mute woman... their Luna? Their first queen of Eltones was mute? Isn’t she human? Countless questions swirled in the minds of the crowd, but none dared speak. Lips remained sealed as the priest continued: "We tie the seal between Luna and her mate." M...Mate? Ariana’s eyes stretched in shock as her head snapped to the priest in disbelief. H-how was that possible?! Before she could make sense of it— Zavren’s voice cut through, deep and commanding. "Snowflake, raise your hand to the air." Obediently, Ariana lifted her hand, palm flat. She managed to bask in her curiosity as she wondered what was going to happen. Zavren mirrored her, his large, perfect hand holding hers. Ariana’s gaze lingered—tracing the veins in his forearm. Her heart skipped. Suddenly, her head began to spin. Her vision blurred to darkness. A strange sensation overtook her body—and then, just as quickly, it passed. Her body returned to normal, but her breath caught in her throat. W..What was happening? Before she could move, a golden string appeared between her fingers. Her hands trembled, but she couldn’t pull away. The golden thread stretched to Zavren’s hand and fastened to his ring finger. And just like that—it vanished. W-What was that? Why is everyone so calm... like this is normal?! Her head spun with thoughts as the hall remained deathly still. No one moved. "Bound by body and soul, the string guides and bonds our Luna and Alpha," the priest announced. To Ariana’s shock, the entire hall stood. Then, in eerie unison, they chanted: "Moon Goddess, guide our Luna and Alpha." The room echoed with the sound, and then everyone calmly sat. Ariana did her best to keep her composure. She had never attended such a wedding, so it all sounded new. But her eyes snapped to Zavren, filled with questions. ’Why am I just finding out about this now?’ As if he sensed her confusion, Zavren’s gaze locked with hers. Her heart stuttered. It felt like he had a switch to her pulse—on and off with just a look. "In the name of the Moon god, we bind you two..." But the priest’s words trailed off as a second string appeared—this one dark, almost black. It curled and slithered toward Zavren’s thumb, then tied itself to Ariana’s. An agonizing pain slammed into her chest. Her eyelids fluttered open, body trembling. Zavren leaned in and whispered, voice gentle: "It’s okay, sweetheart. It’ll pass... soon." Ariana’s eyes flew open in pain and confusion. The room had gone silent. Even the priest stared in shock. In all his years of wedding Alphas and Lunas, he had never used that string. Zavren’s lips curved into a haughty smile. He leaned closer, whispering: "Now we are bound... by blood." Ariana’s blood ran cold. What is this man doing to m..me? The priest’s voice wavered as sweat dripped down his brow. "T-that must be... the forbidden string. A dangerous one..." he said to himself, managing to keep his composure even though he now resembled a man that had not been given permission to pee for more than an hour—the way his legs trembled, the sweat falling from his face. But he didn’t finish his thought. "Your Highness," the priest said with a tremor in his voice, "do you take Lady Ariana as your lawfully wedded wife—your Luna, your mate, and your bride—in times of war and peace, in joy and sorrow, in good and ev... ?" The word evil had barely left his lips when Zavren’s face split into a chilling smile. His crimson-grey eyes gleamed—dead and amused. As if that word was the only one he truly heard. "I do," he said, his deep, silk-smooth voice echoing through the silent hall, commanding every breath to still. Ariana’s body trembled. For reasons she couldn’t name, just hearing those two words from his lips sent a shiver down her spine. The priest turned to her, his eyes filled with nervous urgency. "Lady Ariana, do you take Alpha Z-Z-Zavren as your lawfully wedded husband—as Alpha, as mate, and as king—in times of war and peace, in sorrow and joy, in good... and in evil?" The hall fell into a heavy silence as every eye turned to Ariana, waiting. Slowly, she nodded. Zavren’s lips curled into a knowing smile, as if he had predicted her answer all along. Now, Ariana understood completely—why he had taken her to that meeting. It hadn’t just been a show of power. It was a warning, sharp and dangerous. That for some unknown reason... was only the tip of the iceberg. A mere glimpse of what would happen if she ever dared to refuse him. The priest cleared his throat, his voice steady low with finality. "If anyone here objects to this union or wishes to break this bond with a moment of truth, speak now... or forever hold your peace."

Chapter 29: Do You Take…

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