The Howling Heart's Forgiveness

Chapter 114

Sitting in front of the mirror I watch the reflection of the Omega who was assigned to me as my Maid finishes the final touches to my hair. In an hour I will be Mated to Valor and become a full member of Pine Moon and Luna of this Pack. I will have power over all the wolves and my pup will become the next heir. It has been a long time coming and finally, I will no longer have to act like a love-sick fool. Valor was just a means to an end, an end that is coming all too soon for him.

“There, you are perfect Luna Tanya.” The Omega says meekly, backing away and bowing her head. She trembles slightly when I turn to look at her, the red mark from the lashing on her cheek still visible. Earlier today she had knocked my drink over, spilling it onto my legs and leading to me punishing her. I am glad to see that she learned her lesson and that she now fears and respects me.

“I already know I am perfect.” I scoff, glaring at the she-wolf.

“But thank you. Now leave me. I have some time before I am to be marked in front of the Pack and I wish to rest.” I order her. She bows before complying, shutting my door behind her. Now that I am left alone, I reach for my cell phone and eagerly call my father.

“Alpha Cross.” His voice floats through the line. It seems my father was busy because of how uninterested he sounded.

“Hi daddy, it’s me.” I greet cheerily.

“Oh, hi Tanya. How is our plan coming along?” My father responds back happily, the sounds of him moving in the background making me smile. It seems me calling was the right idea.

“Going as scheduled. I am to be marked by Valor in an hour. From there, I can slowly use the drug you sent me to poison him and take Pine Moon for our Pack.” I happily answer, catching my smirk in the mirror’s reflection. To think all I had to do to claim new land for my Blood Claws was to seduce a power-hungry bastard and produce a pup for him.

“You can keep Pine Moon for that pup inside you. My new Mate is pregnant and it is a male.” My father dismissively says, surprising me greatly.

“You have a new Mate?” I ask, anger welling up inside me. For the last few years since my mother’s death, my father has taken several chosen mates. Each one he took was either a Beta or Alpha blooded she-wolf and each one has had a quick death due to either not being able to bear a pup or producing a female pup whom he had put to death right away as he had no need for them. My father’s need for an heir has led to me being pushed farther and farther away from his affection. I thought that taking Pine Moon for him would improve my status as his one and only child with his Goddess given Mate, but it seems I now contend with my 8th stepmother.

“Congratulations on the pup, father.” I manage to squeeze out, hoping I sound happy enough for him.

“Thank you, my dear.” He sounds pleased, almost giddy at my words. I roll my eyes and try my best to not growl at the frustration I feel at being replaced.

“Anyways Tanya, I should end this call so that you can Mate Valor. I have high hopes for you when your little brother is born.” He adds quickly, the slight sound of a door opening on his end. Before I can say anything else, the call is ended without even a goodbye and I find myself pulling my cell phone away from my ear to stare at the device. There were only a few people who could get my father to end the call without a goodbye. His Beta, his head of security, and his Mate. I have a feeling that the person who took his attention away from me is that whore who is now pregnant for him.

A snarl escapes my lips as I throw the phone across the room, watching it land with a soft thud on the chaise lounge. I will need to find a way to get rid of this new bitch my father is obsessed with if I want to one day rule Blood Claws.

A sudden knock on my bedroom door catches me off guard, reminding me that I am not alone in this place. I am still considered an outsider in Pine Moon, a wolf that is technically still heir to another Pack.

“Come in.” I call out, hoping that whoever it is, they can state what they need and then leave. I still have thirty minutes left before Valor marks me and I want to spend them alone. My maid walks into the room, a worried look on her

“Sorry to disturb you, Luna Tanya, but Alpha Valor is asking that you join him for the ceremony now.” She squeaks out, her eyes cast downwards. It seems Valor is becoming impatient to make me his and provide his Pack with a Luna and heir.

With a deep breath, I call her over to help me stand from the vanity chair, the white dress I am wearing pooling around me while still showing off my growing baby bump. This little thing is all that is keeping me here in Pine Moon. If it weren’t for this pup growing inside me, I would be long gone from Pine Moon, moving on to find another male to sink my claws into while gaining their Pack for myself.

Taking the lead, I leave my room and slowly make my way downstairs following the sounds of hushed conversations and soft music towards the back of the Pack House. The Pine Moon wolves quiet as soon as I exit the Pack House, their conversations all ending abruptly as they bow to me, their eyes downcast. Only the Warriors look me in the eye, many of them under my control without Valor being the wiser.

“Ah, Tanya.” Valor calls out, a smile on his face as he leaves the small stage and walks towards me. His arms encircle my body, pulling flush against him as his lips press against mine. I close my eyes, relishing in the attention this man gives me.

“The moon is almost directly above us. Are you ready to become my Luna?” He asks as soon as the kiss ends, leading me towards the stage.

“I am.” I say coyly, hoping to appear like a blushing bride in his arms. Valor chuckles, happiness radiating off of him. To think this man was so easily tricked by his son’s fiancé and now is like putty in the palm of my hand.

“Well then, my love, let's enjoy the night for it is all about us.” Helping me onto the stage, Valor whispers these words in my ears. I catch sight of a few wolves that look at us in disgust and for a moment I agree with them. A wolf as old as Valor should have never been with someone like me. But he only wants the power I come. He believes that I am entirely smitten with him. How I can’t wait for the day I watch him die before my eyes while I take his Pack for myself.

It isn’t long till the moon is high in the sky, its soft light brightening the small garden and shining down on us. The crowd begins to gather in front of the stage as an Omega carefully walks towards Valor, handing him a dagger that reeks of silver.

“Wolves of Pine Moon.” He calls out, facing the crowd before us.

“Tonight we welcome a new member to our Pack. A she-wolf who will become our Luna and birth my heir.” Valor continues, turning to face me. ‘

“Tanya Cross, please give me your left hand.” I look back at the crowd, catching a few wolves sneering as they look on and make a mental note of who they are. Tomorrow I will punish them for disrespecting me with their looks of disdain.

Turning back to Valor, I tentatively place my left hand in his, making sure the palm is facing up. Valor is quick to cut along my palm, handing me the dagger and holding out his left palm. It takes everything in me not to stab the weapon into his heart, killing him instantly and taking the Alpha title right away, but killing the father of my pup would cause some harm to me and the babe inside my womb. Instead, I cut a slit along his palm before the Omega takes the dagger and bows, leaving the stage immediately.

Valor claps our hands together, his wound touching mine and our blood mixes together. I can feel the Pack magic enter my body, asking for permission to bond with me.

“Tanya Cross, do you accept the Pack bond as my chosen Luna? To support and provide the motherly love the Pack needs?” Valor asks, his eyes staring into mine.

“I do.” I answer, giving the man before me a bashful smile. The bond clips into place instantly and for a moment the Pack links crowds my mind as many welcome me into the Pack with fake acceptance. Before the chatter could cause a migraine, I shut the link off and breathed a sigh of relief. So far nothing has gone wrong.

Another Omega appears, this time handing Valor a wet towel. He is quick to clean the blood from my palm, placing a soft kiss on the closing wound before cleaning his own hand. After handing the sullied towel to the Omega, he pulls me flush against his body.

“As is tradition here in Pine Moon, Tanya will now be marked for all to see. After such, I will take her into the wood and claim her as my Mate before the Moon Goddess.” He announces. Some wolves in the crowd cheers, waiting to see a good show. Some wolves believe my pup is not Valor’s. If I am marked by Valor and the pup turns out not to be his, I will lose the pup in my womb and most likely be sent back to my father. But I know for certain that the babe inside me is his. He is the only wolf I slept with that I did not use condoms with. Not only that, but I secretly had a test done just to be sure and the positive results were now ashes in the fireplace of my bedroom.

Valor breaks me from these thoughts, his lips descending onto mine once more in a heated kiss. His tongue dives into my mouth, claiming and dominating me. His right arm is wrapped around my waist, keeping me pressed against him while his left-hand moves to fondle my sensitive breast.

An involuntary moan escapes my lips and Valor growls in approval, his lips trailing kisses down my jawline towards the crook of my neck. I can feel his canines poking my sensitive skin and my breath hitches when he finds the perfect spot. I shiver, hands clenching his shoulders as my eyelids flutter close. Then it happens.

His canines pierce my skin, the bond of chosen Mates clicking into place. I can feel his arousal for me as soon as I accept this bond and feel my own body responding in kind. The moment Valor pulls away, He scoops me into his arms and marches past the somewhat cheering crowd as the Pack bond grows stronger with Pine Moon gaining a long-awaited Luna while their Alpha carries me towards the tree line.

No one will be allowed in the forest until Valor and I return to the Pack House the next morning and Valor is branded with my mark sitting proudly on his neck.