Madeline’s POV
To say that I was nervous would be an understatement.
My heart was going to jump out of my body. I was sure of it. It was going to jump out and start bouncing from wall to wall. My legs were going to give out and I was going to pass out.
There were so many people around me, but I didn’t pay attention to anyone. I was completely focused on him and the way he was talking to the huge crowd like it was nothing. He was smiling at them and talking in a calm, but stern voice. I could tell that they loved him. I could tell that by the way they cheered when he stepped onto the stage and by the way they clapped after every small break he took.
He glanced at me and my knees buckled. He looked so freaking handsome and I was so sure that everything was a dream. I would wake up and it would be just another day in my life. I would go to work, take a few insults from his mother, and go to bed. There was no way that the man on the stage belonged to me. There was no way that he wanted me and loved me. There was no freaking way that he kissed me and touched me the way he did.
I felt Skye stir. She growled a little and tried to talk to me, but I ignored her. I couldn’t lose focus. I had to be prepared because Dimitri would ask me to join him anytime now.
“Are you ready, Mads?” Beta Will asked me quietly.
I forced myself to look away from Dimitri. Beta Will was looking at me with a small smile on his face.
I wasn’t ready, but I knew it didn’t matter. I would have to walk onto that stage in just a few short minutes.
I gave him a small nod and looked at the guards surrounding us. All of them were smiling at glancing at me from time to time. They already assumed who I was.
I looked back at my mate and my lower belly tingled. He had a smile on his face as he was talking about something. I couldn’t focus on his words, though. I was completely overwhelmed by the way his lips moved. I admired his posture and the way he was carrying himself. He was a King and it showed. I couldn’t see the crowd, but I knew that every eye in that room was fixed on him. He demanded attention and he got it.
Why did the Goddess think that I would be a good fit for him? I so clearly wasn’t good enough. I wasn’t made to be a Queen and everyone would immediately know that. Maybe they would even laugh the moment I stepped onto that stage. If not then, surely the moment I would come to stand next to him. Our difference would be so clear then. Everyone would see that I wasn’t good enough to be standing there.
His eyebrows furrowed a little and he looked at me. His eyes narrowed, but he continued speaking in the same tone as before.
What was that about?
‘I told Skol,’ Skye said, making me want to whine.
‘Why, Skye?’ I asked, trying so hard to stop myself from shaking.
‘Because I am not letting you lie to yourself,’ Skye said sternly. ‘I am not letting you doubt him or the Goddess. I am not letting you leave him.’
I took a deep breath and Dimitri finally looked back at the crowd.
“I would like to thank you all for coming today,” Dimitri said and I forced myself to listen to him. “It is always so nice to see all of you and be able to talk to you. My pack and my Kingdom have a special place in my heart and it makes me so happy to share some exciting news with you.”
The crowd cheered again and Dimitri smiled.
“Nine months ago a wonderful young woman joined our pack,” Dimitri said and my heart skipped a beat. “A lot of you already know who I am talking about. Those of you who met her know how wonderful and amazing she is.”
He looked at me and smiled.
“From the moment I saw her I knew that she was my mate,” Dimitri continued and I could hear a few loud gasps. “She was unfortunately underage at that time and I couldn’t tell her. She turned 18 yesterday and I was never happier than at the moment she realized who I am to her.”
My knees buckled again and Dimitri looked back at the crowd.
“I found your Luna,” he said and the crowd started cheering and clapping.
Dimitri smiled brightly and looked at me again. He reached out for me and my heart stopped beating.
“Breathe, Mads,” Beta Will whispered. “They will love you.”
I started walking toward Dimitri. I kept my eyes on him the entire time because I knew that I would get scared if I looked at anyone or anything else. I could hear the crowd cheering, but I just focused on him.
My body shivered when I finally placed my hand in his. He kissed it and pulled me toward himself.
I took a deep breath and looked at the crowd. My eyes fell on Janet and my stomach turned. She looked like she was about to shift and throw herself at me.
“I would like you to meet Madeline Clark, your Luna, and Queen,” Dimitri said as he placed a kiss on the top of my head.
The crowd cheered and started clapping. Seeing so many smiling faces helped me relax a little. My eyes fell on Seth and my heart clenched a little. He was smiling at me, but I could see the pain in his eyes.
I had to talk to him.
“Are you ready, princess?” Dimitri asked me quietly.
I looked up at him and gave him a small nod.
Before the speech, Dimitri told me that he would be making me a member of his pack today. He already notified my former Alpha who gave his permission.
He smiled at me and looked at Beta Will who nodded and went back to the small room we walked out of. My eyes fell on two thrones behind us and the doubt started creeping back into my heart. Was I really meant for this?
“I will be making Madeline a part of our pack now,” Dimitri said, making the crowd cheer again. “We will hold a Luna Ceremony very soon.”
I heard Beta Will walking back toward us. He was carrying a dagger and a golden cup. He handed them to Dimitri and gave me a small smile.
Dimitri placed the cup on the small table behind him. He turned back around me and I gave him my left hand.
It was time for me to become a member of his pack. It was something I swore I would never do, but I was now standing in front of him and waiting for him to slice my left palm.
