Elise Pov

" You pathetic loser! Do you think you deserve the Alpha?" Lilith made her way towards me, pushing me roughly.

I embraced the pain that I had anticipated as Lilith pushed me aggressively. Wasn't it bad enough to be the centre of attention by being mated to the most ruthless yet eligible Alpha?

" What bad-"

I couldn't finish my mumbling when a scent rushed through my nose, my body weakening as it ravaged my very being. Instead of the pain, I felt giddy and tingling in-between my V-spot.

Damn!

My legs wobble as my eyes caught those hazel eyes drawing me deep, enveloping my senses. Yes, my senses including my fucking sexual sense!

Memories of the steamy night rushed through and I could swear my face would be as red as tomato.

" Easy, sugary. I wouldn't want my Luna to be in pain," that masculine voice rasped in my ears, making me blush even harder. I swear, I was already wetting my damn pants.

As the Alpha's protective arm held me tenderly, I couldn't bring myself to look at that face again.

" Alpha-"

" Call my name. Xander. Or better still, you can call me baby," His soothing voice cut me off.

I felt my face getting hotter as he said the last statement. How come I never realise devils never have shame? Wasn't he the most ruthless devil Alpha?

I swallowed hard, refusing to call his name or whatever he wished me to call him. Dude, these pack members' eyes were almost ripping my soul off. Can he just have pity on me?

" You are seducing the Alpha? Do you think you are the Luna?"

I was still trying to pass a pleading message to him when the air suddenly turned stiff at the words uttered by Lilith.

" Oh...she is not? Please, tell me who she is?" Alpha Xander asked, smiling faintly.

The pack members all shivered at the familiar smile. Who hasn't heard of the deadly faint smile of Alpha Xander? That was his signature of being extremely angry.

" Alpha, don't fall for her trick. She is a worthless, wolfless girl that brings disgrace to the pack. She can't possibly have a mate, let alone be mated as your Luna," Lilith berated, her eyes filled with venom. Why does she hate me so much?

" Oh, really? Then I must be wrong.." Alpha Xander responded as his eyes remained fixed on mine, his voice booming through the gathering.

My illusions seem to shatter alongside his words. I felt my heart pounding as I slowly realised it was all just my hallucination.

" Alpha, I-"

" You bitch! How dare you seduce the new Alpha?" Lilith's voice rang out, taking a step towards me as her eyes were filled with mockery.

I stood frozen, my stepsister's words cutting deep into my heart.

"You seduced him, didn't you? You threw yourself at him like the desperate little thing you are," she sneered.

I felt a lump form in my throat as I tried to defend myself. I couldn't bring myself to look at Alpha Xander. Why was everything falling apart?

"That's not true," I said, my voice shaking. "I didn't do anything."

Lilith's laughter filled the coronation ground and I could see the pack members sneering at me.

"Save it. Everyone saw the way you were staring at him when he mentioned the Luna position. You're just a pathetic wolfless human trying to get attention from the Alpha."

I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes as I thought about everything, including last night. I wanted to hear Xander say something or perhaps reject me if possible yet all I could hear was the murmuring in the pack.

Alpha Xander was my second chance mate, and I thought he had accepted me. But now, I wasn't so sure.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Because you're a threat," she spat. "You're a nobody, and you're trying to steal the Alpha's attention. It's not going to work."

I felt a wave of sadness wash over me. I didn't want the Alpha's attention if he didn't truly want me. I wanted to reject him, to tell him that I didn't need him. But a part of me still longed for him, still wanted to be with him.

"I don't want him," I said, trying to convince myself more than my stepsister. "I don't need him."

But my stepsister just laughed again. " Of course, you don't need to want him. You're just a fool who doesn't deserve anyone," she said.

With Alpha Xander still looking at me, I let out a bitter laugh. I can't believe I got humiliated again and again by these people.

Lilith spat out again, " You think you can latch onto him after failing miserably with Jason? You are such a pathetic loser!"

" Failing miserably? Jason was my mate. You stole him..." I vented out, getting fed up.

" Your mate? How so when you don't even have a wolf? Even if you are a lycan, you still need your wolf to smell the mate bond. Stop being a pathetic loser!" Lilith mocked all over.

"Loser?" I asked, not believing Lilith's words.

I stole a glance at Jason. Even if he rejected me as his mate, shouldn't he clarify it? Shouldn't he tell the pack members that I wasn't lying?

" You pathetic-"

Before Lilith could say anything more, a loud painful growl filled the air and Lilith was flung to a nearby tree trunk.

" Too noisy. Take her away!" Alpha Xander's cold voice interrupted. Then he turned to the pack members, " Anyone against her being the luna?"

The crowd went silent, same as my troubling heart. Still wondering what Xander was up to, I felt my body drawing closer to his hard chest.

Alpha Xander drew me close to himself and without warning, he claimed my lips in front of the whole pack. His kisses rendered me breathless and wanting more. Didn't he hate me? He was clearly listening to Lilith's accusations, right?

I was still trying to wrap my mind around this rollercoaster feelings around Alpha Xander and his staggering behaviour when he whispered in my ears.

" Try calling him your mate again and I don't mind claiming you right here, sugary," he said, wearing a smirk.

Bastard! Yet I could do nothing. My body seemed to want more even as I tried hard not to glare at him.

" Be good. Let's do the rest in our chamber tonight," he whispered again.

Was this truly the ruthless alpha?

Elise

Biting my lower lips, I focused on everywhere except his piercing and lustful eyes. I wonder if he had been sex starved all his life. Even if he was ruthless, he surely has numerous women throwing themselves at his bed!

" Shameless"

" You seem to like it though, sugary. You looked red and inviting. Let's finish the ceremony so we can relive last night, shall we?" Xander's flirtatious tone made my face red like freshly plucked tomato.

" What night?" I managed to say, my V-spot tingling at the sound of his masculine voice. Why the hell was I almost wetting in my pants when I wasn't even in my heat period?

I couldn't find words to counter his shameless attitude not until I heard a low growl, in my ears, packed with sensual air. I dare not look up, knowing I was likely the cause of Xander's restlessness. Why can't I fucking control my lust around him?

Still trying to control my wild emotions, I heard murmuring from the pack. They were filled with indifference, anger and resentment.

" This is unheard of. How could a human be our Luna?"

" I heard she can't even fight off the weakest omega"

" Yes and her highest running distance can't even suppass a growing pup"

" How could a wolfless person be paired to someone as powerful as our Alpha? She doesn't deserve it!"

The murmurs and jeers went on for a while until a mighty growl seemed to shake the entire pack. The members whimpered as the aura from Alpha Xander shut their mouth up.

Then he turned to the pack members whose faces could kill me even at a glance even when they were shivering. The piercing glares from the pack members were like hot coals under my feet. I sighed, knowing it wasn't going to be an easy life for me in this pack.

Thinking all was settled, I heard a familiar voice and my heart grew cold. I scoffed, knowing he was probably writhing with anger at what was going on. He wouldn't have believed his rejected mate was paired with the man he serves.

Still, Jason's shameless attitude knew no bounds. " Alpha, I object to her being crowned as your Luna."

There they go, I sighed.

Looking towards the familiar voice, I watched as Jason made his way towards the Xander before bowing deeply. Bastard! Scum! How the hell didn't I realise that Jason had always been such a jerk?

I guess love was truly blind.

" Reasons?" Alpha Xander asked, still holding tightly to me.

His voice was cold, everywhere became chilly. The pack members could feel his anger perfectly masked by the faint smile on his face.

Jason, at first, was shaken. Stuttering at the fierce aura surrounding the pack. He could have stopped, yet he didn't. Instead he braced himself up to say whatever gibberish he wanted to sprout out.

" She- she is my mate, Alpha. It's impossible for her-"

Alpha Xander let go off my hand, taking a step towards him. " Mate? You mean my LUNA happens to be your mate?"

" Alpha, I-"

" I clearly heard your little fiance saying my Luna was wolfless and can't get a mate, right?" Xander cut him off, glancing at the badly limping Lilith.

" Alpha, she is truly my mate and-"

" Your mate? You clearly have a mate and yet cling to a slimy eel? Maybe, you don't deserve to be a beta. If you can't be loyal, what use do I need you for as a better?"

" Alpha, I can explain-"

" Please, do me the honour of explaining your relation to my Luna. My woman," Alpha Xander's tone was final and dripped of unhidden threats.

His words seemed to calm my nerves. I felt safe knowing someone was behind me, in everything. Someone so powerful calling me his woman. Despite my shortcomings, he stood tall and imposing as he shield me away from the pains I had endured for so long.

Jason's eyes locked on mine, hatred brewing around. His expression flickering between proving his loyalty to Alpha Xander and the perfect excuse for stopping Alpha Xander from making me his Luna.

It was getting interesting and I watched in secret, smugly. I wonder if he would be so bold as to tell Xander the truth.

" Cat caught your tongue?" Alpha Xander asked, patiently.

Biting his lips so hard, Jason knelt down. " Alpha, I- I must be mistaken. Elise wasn't my mate. But she can't be your Luna. She is too weak..."

" Weak? Why would she need to be strong when she has me? That's my duty and that's why I made so strong that I could crush anyone with just a snap of my fingers. Do you need me to show you?"

Jason's fear laden face was enough answer to his question.

" Any other objections? If not, then let the Luna ceremony begin!" Alpha Xander said, his voice piercing through everyone as a warning and command.

The place was suddenly silent, except for the croaky voice of an old woman as she made her way to where I stood with the Alpha.

" Brat!" She called out, grinning.

My eyes darted nervously as I stared at the old woman. That was Xander's grandmother, the Pack's priestess.

I had heard rumours of the powerful priestess but had never had an encounter with her. It was rumoured that she fought alongside Xander's grandfather during the Great war that made the Moonstone pack to be one of the most feared pack. She was also the source of the Pack's peaceful existence.

It was said Xander possessed his strength from her. He was only made the new Alpha after he passed her tests. Seeing her at the coronation wasn't something to be surprised about, but then what if she insist on testing me too?

I shuddered at the thought of being tested by her. I swallowed hard at every sound of her movements towards us. My hands trembled slightly, clutching the hem of my dress. I could hear my heavy breaths with each sound of her staff which aid her walking.

She was a powerful warrior, feared by everyone even when she was looking old and frail. I sighed, it seemed I just went from frying pan to fire!

" Brat, you finally got a woman?" She said, running her eyes between Xander and myself.

Her aura was indeed strong. It was so powerful that I had to hide behind Alpha Xander. My face felt pale as my lips pressed together in a thin line, anxiety fully clouding my body.

" Stop scaring her, Amma," Xander said, bringing me forward. Then he added," Don't be afraid. She won't hurt you."

" Brat! Snitching on your grandma?"

I was struck at their bickering. Wasn't the priestess a scary old lady?

" She is too skinny. Don't you eat, sweetheart?" She asked me, scrutinizing my body as though she were some X-ray machine.

" I-"

" Don't worry, Amma would make sure you are well fed. I still want to carry my great grandchildren," she said, winking at me.

My face went red again. Now I see where Xander got his shamelessness!

" Then you better hurry, Amma. The coronation needs to be done so I can carry my filial duty of giving you great grandchildren," Xander chipped in, seriously.

I wanted to roll my eyes at him. He never let go of any opportunity of flirting with me. I must be mistaken because this Xander wasn't exactly the ruthless Alpha we all knew him to be.

" That's right. Let the ceremony begin!" Amma announced, her voice echoing through the pack gathering.

As Amma stepped forward, she beckoned on some of the maids around. " Take the future Luna and get her properly dressed."

" Yes, Amma!" The maids echoed, bowing them.

I glanced at Xander who smiled at me. Left with no choice, I followed the maids to get dressed up. It wasn't until an hour or more before the maids were satisfied with my look.

As I looked at myself in the mirror, I couldn't help but smile. One of the maids draped a transparent veil over my face before leading me out of the room.

It still felt like a dream to me. Nevertheless, I was ready to drown in this dream than face the harsh reality of being the unwanted wolfless girl.

With that thought in mind, I walked out of the room to face my dream. The dream of being pampered by my mate. As I walked through the crowded gathering, I could hear the whispers but this time the whispering was different.

Even Xander's expression was gradually changing too.