FATED TO THE ALPHA I HATE

Elara Pov

"You look beautiful, sister," Celestia said from the doorway.

I did not turn around because I knew what I would see. My twin stood there with her golden hair cascading down her back and her honey brown eyes gleaming with something that looked like pity but felt like triumph. She wore a silver gown that matched mine but somehow on her it looked right while on me it felt like a costume.

"Thank you," I said.

My hands shook as I fastened the last pearl button on my sleeve. Three months of investigation and all the evidence I gathered against Father sat hidden beneath the floorboards under my bed. Lyanna's journal with her elegant handwriting detailing every dark magic transaction and every lie was wrapped in cloth and tucked between my mother's old letters. I memorized every word because I knew I could not bring the journal to the altar but once Adrian and I were bonded and I had his pack's protection I would speak and everyone would finally know what Darius Moonshadow really was.

"Are you nervous?" Celestia asked.

"A little," I said.

She laughed and it sounded like wind chimes but there was something sharp underneath. "Adrian is a good man. You are lucky he agreed to this match despite everything."

Despite everything meant to be wolfless and despite the shame I brought to our bloodline and even though our mother supposedly killed herself because she could not bear the disgrace of birthing a defective daughter. I swallowed the bitterness and smiled at my reflection in the mirror.

"I know I am lucky," I said.

"Father wanted me to check on you," Celestia said. "Make sure you understand how important today is."

"I understand," I said.

"Do you?" she asked. "Because this marriage is the only thing keeping our family's reputation intact. Adrian's pack is powerful and his bloodline is pure and when you bind yourself to him today you will finally be worth something."

I turned to look at her then and saw the way her mouth curved into a smile that did not reach her eyes.

"I said I understand," I repeated.

"Good," she said. "Father also wanted me to remind you that you represent the Moon Chosen bloodline today. Try not to embarrass us more than you already have just by existing."

She left before I could respond and I turned back to the mirror and took a deep breath. Today would change everything and not in the way Celestia or Father expected.

The temple was full of territorial Alphas and their mates and pack members from across the region. I walked down the aisle alone because Father refused to escort me and said it would be inappropriate given my status. Whispers followed me like ghosts and I kept my chin up and my eyes forward. Adrian stood at the altar in formal robes with his golden hair gleaming under the sacred moonlight streaming through the glass ceiling.

He looked at me