Chapter 2

Isabella Martini - POV

For every girl, their mating ceremony would be one of the most special days in their lives. You are supposed to be happy and giddy with a huge smile on your face. But I guess the moon goddess had robbed me of that happiness. 

The golden dress that I wore was quite tight and the low-cut neck showed a little too much cleavage than I would prefer while my hair was done in a messy bun with minimal makeup. "You will never be happy." I heard a bitter voice, which made me turn away from the mirror when I saw my mother standing in the doorway. 

"Mom…"

"Don't you even call me that! You are not my fucking daughter after what you did," she yelled while I stood there with my heart broken into a million pieces. 

"I hope you are happy now that you can finally be the Luna." with those words, she left my room, leaving me to stand there like an idiot. Not even five minutes later, I saw my brother near the doorway. He was wearing a three-piece navy blue suit with his black hair neatly gelled back and a blank look on his face. 

"Let's go." was all he said as he walked out of there. I took a deep breath and walked out of my room. The ceremony was happening in my backyard, and not many people were invited either. As I walked out into the backyard, I saw Alpha Romano already waiting for me next to the priest while my father and mother were standing next to him.

Taking a deep breath, I slowly made my way toward Alpha Romano and took my place opposite him. As soon as I arrived, the priest began the ceremony. "You may say your vows now." the priest said, and this made my eyes slightly winded in shock. 

I don't think I prepared any vows. "I, Alpha Gael Romano, Alpha of the Blood Moon pack, take Isabella Martini as my mate and Luna," he said, but there was no emotion in his words. The priest turned around to face me.

"I, Isabella Martini, member of the Blood Moon pack, take Alpha Gael Romano as my mate and Alpha." I felt something within me stir as I finished my vows, and the priest walked back to the wooden table, took a golden bowl and a small dagger, and gave it to Alpha Romano. 

He looked me directly in the eye as he sliced his finger and let a few drops of blood fall into the wine that was inside, and he passed the dagger over to me. 

This is it, Bella. You are sealing your fate forever. 

I sliced my finger and did the same. "Now, please, take a sip from this wine." the priest instructed and passed the bowl to Alpha Romano, who took a sip of the wine before he handed it over to me. As I took a sip, I felt a surge of power within me when I felt like something clicked into place. "The ceremony is complete." the priest announced, but he turned around to look at Alpha Romano. "Do you want to mark your mate here, Alpha Romano?" the priest asked, but he shook his head. 

"I will deal with that later," he said in a monotone before he walked out of there. Soon, the rest of them walked inside while I stood in the garden, looking up at the full moon. I don't know if I made the right decision. But if this would prove my innocence, then I am willing to try.

"Luna Isabella." I was broken out from my train of thought when I looked to my left to see a warrior standing there. "Alpha Romano wants you in his house," he informed me, and I nodded my head. I walked inside my house, and ironically, there was no one there to send me off. 

This will pass, Isabella. I told myself as I walked to the foyer. When I was about to pick up my bags, I felt the warrior step forward and take them from me. "You can go and get inside the car. I will take care of your bags," he said, and I nodded my head and walked outside. 

Strangely, I didn't feel the agony that I expected to feel, instead, all I felt was a numb feeling wash over me. I walked towards the SUV and got inside when I realized that I was alone. 

"You shouldn't have done this to us," Rose yelled at me while I simply blocked her out. 

"I am sorry." that was all I was able to say. The warrior quickly got inside, and we drove away from my house. As we passed the pack house, my anxiety started to gradually increase. Alpha Romano's house was located a short distance away from the rest of the pack in an isolated area. The car soon came to a stop in front of a beautiful cabin house, and the warrior got down and helped me out of the car as well. 

"Alpha Romano is inside, please head inside, Luna, I will bring your bags," he said, and I nodded my head and walked toward the porch. As I opened the door and walked inside, I was hit with the scent of orange and rose, and for a couple of moments, I froze on my spot. 

How is this possible? 

This was Lorena's scent, and the entire house smelt like her. I heard a click of the lock when I saw Alpha Romano walk downstairs wearing only his dress pants. "How do you like your new house, mate?" he asked me with so much venom which made me want to take a step back. 

"Gael, I…"

"I am still Alpha Romano to you, Isabella. You do not have the right to call me using my first name," he said as he moved closer to me, and before I knew it, he held my jaw in a tight grip and made me look him in the eye. 

"You wanted to be the Luna, and I will show you just how worthless you are for this position." with those words, he let me go, while roughly pushing me to the floor.