The Forbidden Heiress At The All Male Alpha Academy-Chapter 191: I do...

The Crescent Cradle was a wide stone valley shaped like a half-moon, enclosed by smooth pale cliffs that curved inward. At its centre stood a white stone altar carved in a crescent shape, with faint silver veins running through it and catching the light. Tall pillars rose behind it, their surfaces marked by old claw scars, and the open sky above let moonlight spill freely into the space, giving everything a cold, solemn glow.

Except there was nothing solemn about today.

As she walked down the aisle, every seated face turned back to look at her.

Theo was surprised to see the faces of every Alpha of the four families. They sat in the front row, starting from Devereux and Blackthorn, who sat on the left, then Voss and Sinclair by her right. Seated behind her father were her brothers, and behind Sinclair was Liam.

A lot of men in black filled the rest of the seats, and she wouldn’t be so surprised if they suddenly pulled out guns and began to shoot. A part of her wished for that to happen - for them to ruin this moment - but they were all under Cain.

Speaking of the devil, she looked up and saw him standing by the altar. He had barely changed what he was wearing, that raw pressure seeping off him and dominating the rest of the Alphas combined. Behind Cain stood two men - Jarred and the Beta.

By the corner of the altar, Eric was standing in a tux. His head remained down as usual.

Theo looked back at her father, and the other Alphas. She wasn’t expecting to find any of them present, but given that Cain was involved, it wasn’t so surprising. Darius’s usual cold eyes were gone, replaced with an unbefitting emotion in them. Pity? Concern? Anger? She didn’t really care.

But she wondered if Cain knew about her secret marriage agreement with the Voss family.

Better not.

Despite all the eyes, she didn’t feel anything as she walked down the aisle and climbed the altar. There was nothing to feel anymore. She had left everything but vengeance back in the dressing room.

And as she faced Cain to take their vows, her eyes held nothing.

One of the council members - the oldest werewolf alive - was officiating the wedding.

The old council member stepped forward slowly, his movements measured, and his presence heavy with centuries of authority. His hair was silver-white, and braided down his back, and his eyes were clouded not with age, but with too much memory.

When he spoke, his voice carried easily through the Cradle, amplified by the stone and the open sky, "We gather under the witness of the moon and the old laws," He began, tapping his staff once against the altar stone, "To bind two bloodlines by vow, dominance, and fate,"

Theo stood motionless, the veil brushing against her shoulders with each faint breeze, but she barely registered it. Her gaze remained fixed somewhere just beyond Cain’s chest, not quite meeting his eyes.

The council member turned toward Cain first, "Alpha Cain of the Obsidian Crown Pack," He intoned, "Alpha of the North, bearer of sovereign blood and conquest. Do you stand here of your own will, to claim Theodora Blackthorn as your mate and consort, to rule beside you and bind her fate to yours under moon and law?"

"I do," Cain answered immediately.

The council member nodded once, then turned toward her, "Theodora Blackthorn," he said, softer now, "Daughter of Alpha Darius of the Bloodmoon Vanguard. Do you stand here of your own will—"

Her fingers tightened around the bouquet.

"—to accept Cain Pendragon as your Alpha, your future mate, and your ruler. To submit your blood, your strength, and your future to his claim?"

A murmur rippled faintly through the gathered Alphas. It was brief, disappearing as fast as it came, but Theo heard it anyway.

’Future mate’ those words suck hard.

That’s right. Cain would claim her, and he would force his mark on her neck and with time, Zeke’s would erase.

When she finally lifted her eyes, she stared at the moon instead

It hung high above the Cradle, full and merciless, silver light washing the stone clean of shadow. She thought about begging the Moon Goddess to erase this moment, but the deity has never once listened to her pleas. For a fleeting second, she thought about Zeke and Sylas again.

If they were here, the whole place would have turned upside down by now.

Her throat tightened as the tears began to gather again. Hours ago, she was having the best moment of her life in Zeke’s arms, and the next moment, she had watched his lifeless body burn to a crisp.

The council member waited, not rushing her at all. Old laws did not bend to impatience.

Cain shifted his weight slightly, a subtle movement that indicated discomfort and impatience, and the pressure of him intensified, curling around her like a tightening snare.

Theo lowered her gaze back down and looked into his eyes. Cain’s eyes held certainty, as if this outcome had been carved into the world long before either of them had taken their first breath.

Behind Cain, Jarred’s posture was rigid, his eyes sharp. The Beta stood impassive, hands folded neatly in front of him. At the edge of her vision, Eric hadn’t lifted his head once.

The council member raised his staff again, "Answer clearly, child of Bloodmoon. The Cradle hears truth whether you offer it willingly or not,"

Theo drew in a slow breath, and air filled her lungs. She imagined tearing this place apart stone by stone with that breath, imagined Cain on his knees, finally bleeding.

Not today.

Today was not for fire.

Today was for endurance.

"I stand here," she said.

Her voice sounded steady, even to her own ears. That surprised her.

The council member inclined his head, "And do you accept—"

"Yes," Cain cut in smoothly, turning slightly toward her, "She does,"

The council member’s brows knit together faintly, "Alpha Cain," he warned, "The vow must be spoken by her."

Cain snapped his eyes at the old man, and fear flashed in his eyes. He physically trembled, almost tripping over if not for the staff that he gripped tightly enough to draw back his weight.

Then, Cain turned back to her and his lips curved just enough to suggest amusement, or perhaps challenge.

"She will speak," Cain said, "But she doesn’t need to be reminded of what refusal costs. Now, ask her again!"

The old man looked like he’d just lost ten years of his life from that scare, and his voice was shaky as he repeated, "Do you accept Cain of the Obsidian Crown Pack as your mate, your Alpha, and your sovereign under the moon’s law?"

The silence stretched.

Her fingers loosened from the bouquet, the petals falling free and scattering at her feet. White against stone. Funereal.

Theo lifted her chin, but the words fell off her mouth quietly, "I do...," She paused.

She would survive this.

She would outlast him. She would keep reminding herself of that.

The moonlight seemed to sharpen, silver veins in the altar flaring faintly as the ancient magic stirred. The council member’s staff struck the stone once, to seal the vow."So witnes-"

And then, she finished, "...NOT!" She smirked, "I do NOT!"