Miranda's POV
I am giddy with happiness. I feel like calling Celine immediately so we can celebrate. I want to laugh out loud and jump up with joy but I can't. It's not the right place and time to do that.
'I can't believe this is happening to me for real. I can't believe I am now the Luna of the largest pack in the whole of North America' I thought in disbelief as I watch Ash shed bitter tears while I stand in her mate's embrace, hugging him close to myself
Since I never at first believed it could ever be possible to steal someone else's mate. Standing in his embrace right now feels so unreal like I'm living in a dream.
Despite everything, the sorcerer put my body through... eating unimaginable yucky and stinky stuff. Standing for hours inside a cauldron filled with different matter that comes out of Ash's body. Taking away Pinky, my wolf's mind so she won't ever recognize her own mate if they meet in the future.
Despite all these, deep down within me, I still never believed that it would work because I had zero experience and belief in sorcery. I may have allowed Celine and her family to convince me and willingly did whatever the sorcerer asked of me but I still had reservations about the potency of what they were dragging me into.
I just wanted to hurt Ash. My burning desire to take away her mate and see her grovel at my feet outweighed all other things. Nothing could stop me. Not my lack of faith in sorcery, not even the voice of my conscience, or could it be rational thinking that kept sounding warning bells inside my head, telling me something will go wrong and I will regret my decision?
Now standing in Thor's embrace, I'm glad I didn't give up despite the lack of faith and warming bells ringing in my mind. I gloat in my mind as I watch the bitch leave with her tail in between her legs.
'Her tail in between her legs!' I smirk with self-satisfaction. I would have loved to see that happen literally. What a sigh it would be to watch Ash's wolf, walk away with her actual tail between her legs.
After she has left, I look around me at the different faces that surround us. They look back at me strangely and I wonder why. But when my new mate and Alpha possessively wrap his arm around my waist to introduce me to them, I forget about their strange look and smile.
He's the most good-looking and sexiest shifter that I've ever seen and it feels incredible to have his arm around me.
''Have you met my mate?..." I hear him say and my heart flips with joy, and then it quickly plummets when I hear... "Her name is Ash.''
'What the hell!' I thought and wince with shock, embarrassed by his words.
'What the fuck is he talking about!?' I start to panic as I think to myself.
'Why would he address me by the freak's name? What sort of botched magic is this? If their magic can make him forget his mate and recognize me in her stead then why can't the same magic make him address me by my name?'
This is so embarrassing. How would I ever face my parents, the Alpha, and Luna of the Night Howlers pack? How would I ever face my friends? How would I ever face the Night Howlers pack members that knew who Ash actually is?
I try not to show how much I was dismayed by his words and attempt a smile. They would be calling me Luna anyway, what does it matter the name they know me by?
My lips tremble and the smile died on my lips when I see the hostility on their faces.
'They hate me!' I thought with a sinking feeling in my stomach. 'But why? How could they hate me this much when we're just meeting for the first time? Or did they already know who Ash is?' I wonder
The only person that smiles at me is the one in front of us. His smile is not a pleasant one. It's mocking me. His eyes are cold and threatening. So unsettling I shrank into Thor's side for protection.
I swallowed the lump clogging my throat and the saliva goes down the wrong way, making me cough profusely.
Apart from Thor who leads me to a chair, patting my back to calm me down, the rest of them all stand aside, watching me with hate-filled eyes. But do I care about the way they feel about me?
Hell, no! I sure don't give a shit about their feelings toward me! Whether they like me or hate me, that doesn't change the fact that I am their Luna and they will address me as such. Their feelings toward me won't change the fact that they will attend to my needs and bow their heads in respect whenever I walk by.
Bunch of inconsequential morons. That's all they are and that's all they will ever be to me. I will talk to Thor about their attitude toward me but first, I need to talk to Celine. Not just to celebrate with me but to inform her about this name issue as soon as possible, and I need to find a quiet place where I can talk to her without the fear of anyone listening in on our conversation.
"I would like to use the bathroom please?..." I tell Thor after I've calmed down considerably, making sure my voice is meek and I look pitiful enough. I once heard from Ethan's mom that men, especially Alpha, love women they can take care of and protect, not a woman that will try to rival their position as the head.
His brows furrow as he looks at me like he's studying the contours of my face, committing them to memory and I coyly smile at him. Instead of smiling back, he turns his face away, almost like he can't bear to look at me anymore.
"Where's Ella?" He snaps so suddenly that I can't help but jump in my seat out of fright.
One eyebrow is arch questioningly as he turns to coldly look at me this time, sizing me up and making me squirm under his scrutiny.
'Is he our mate?' Pinky, my wolf fearfully asks in my mind
'Yes, don't you find him attractive? He's by far the most attractive shifter that I've ever set my eyes on.' I say, trying to rouse her excitement and get her to see the bright side of such a fearful Alpha being our mate
'I don't know. He's so scary, he makes me shiver with fear.'
'Don't worry about his countenance, you'll get used to him in no time.'
'Are you sure? But why can't I feel his wolf? Why can't I smell him?" Her voice quivers as she asks
For a moment I feel guilty for making her lose the ability to smell her mate. No matter what, she will have to bear it and make do with
Ash's mate. He's our mate now, there's no going back. Not that I have it easy myself. Afterall I also will no longer be able to smell and connect with my real mate.
When I feel she wants to lay another complaint on me, I immediately shush her to keep quiet. I need to think about the cold vibe I now sense coming from Thor and her constant complaints are not helping matters