Evelyns POV

I rush back into the large ballroom filled with large crowds of people standing everywhere. It seems like their numbers have even quadrupled in size since I left a couple of minutes ago.

Holly runs over to me, her eyes wide and wild, "oh gods, so glad I found you..." she grabs my hand, her palm sweaty in mine, "we must get you prepared in the proper spot, come along"

She pulls me abruptly into a direction in the room on the right, in front of something resembling a stage at the far side of the room. Atop it is a group of regal looking people, they eye cold and hard.

Holly brings me to one side and turns me to face her, "okay the ceremony is almost ready to begin," she brushes my hair away from my face and smiles slightly as she pulls a jar out from under her robe.

She pulls out a container filled with dark powder which she sticks her finger into then pulls it out. Instead of dark powder like I assumed, it seems to be a cream of some sort. She pulls her fingers up and drags them across my forehead down to my cheeks then down to my neck leading to in between my breasts.

She breaths out pulling her hand away and wiping in on her apron, "all ready!!" She says excitedly.

I look at her warily, "what is that?" I ask

She nods knowingly to the stage, "all of your questions will soon be answered."

And with that she drops my hand and walks away, leaving me at the bottom of the stairs leading to the stage.

I sigh and look around, everyone seems to have sat down and we're now looking up at the stage. Even as I say this they all turn to look at me expectantly. I freeze my cheeks heating up with the sudden pressure.

Drums sound from above on the stage, and almost instantly my heartbeat picks up with the rhythm, my blood pumping through my veins at an alarming rate. I can feel everything. 

My legs start moving on their own turning me to walk up to the stage, the drums increase. My heart pulses rapidly in my chest. I look out to the crowd and they gazes are fixed onto me as I walk numbly up the stairs. I can't control my body, whatever is happening I am not making myself.. that's when I remember the black powder. Whatever that is must be making me act this way.

As my gaze leaves the crowd my legs stop and I look up across the stage and see Trystan standing there. His shirt is basically all undone, the buttons leading down his chest flown apart revealing a built chest. Swirls of the black powder are marked over his golden skin, like mine they lead from his chest up his neck towards his cheeks.

I stand mesmerized by him. I never truly allowed myself to marvel at his beauty. He radiates it. But when I meet his eyes they are still cold, yet underneath there seems to be an urgency and fear?

I look away then, down to his hands, they're trembling.

The drums are a lull now. All I can hear is Trystan's heartbeat, which, like my own shares the same steady beat of the drums.

He takes a steady step towards where I am standing, then another until he is almost nearly close enough to reach out and grab me.

His eyes burn into my own, I try to stand tall, but my heart falters, fear is creeping in.

Although I know he won't hurt me I still see the anger and ruthlessness in him, deep where no one can penetrate it lies dormant under his skin.

His hand comes up and brushes against my cheek, I realize, where the powder sits. His hand moves down, down my neck, it rests on the crook of my neck at the base where it meets my shoulder. A low sensation builds in me. I realize it's desire. For his touch. For him.

I shudder and try to step away, the drums won't let me. They hold me there to him. His grasp.

I look up and his eyes darken further, his head coming closer, his eyes leave mine and go down to that spot on my neck.

The drums a distant hum, I don't notice how everyone takes a deep breath in the hall, or that Trystan's hands still shake, almost as if he regrets his decision. Regrets me.

At this moment it almost feels like we're the only two in the room. Or in the entire world.

My neck goes numb, before I know it his head is down by my neck. I feel his warm breath on my skin. I shudder again, my skin prickling under his breath.

I feel him take a breath. An overwhelming sharp pain starts at my neck completely taking over me. My vision fades and I feel my self go slack in Trystan's grip, his other arm going around my back as his other rests on my shoulder.

Everything goes dark.

-

Trystan's POV

Dread and regret. I feel her pulse quicken almost instinctively at my touch. It pains me to know I have this much control over someone. Her eyes are so round as they bore into me, almost revealing every secret and painful memory I've hidden away.

I want to shrink away. Leave this.

I come back to reality, Evelyn is before me, her cheeks and neck covered in black luster powder. I see how stiff she is, she's feeling the urge of the drug in her skin, it's need to make contact with the sibling powder that will make it sizzle.

I try not to give in to the temptation of the drug, the power is enormous. Even to me. To her—as a human— it must be overwhelming. All-encompassing, it makes every urge that to match it with its other half. Simply called the binding powder. When placed on two separate soles it allows itself to transform into its other half, calling to it.

That is what promotes the mating ceremony, however in my case this is solely a Luna crowning ceremony almost similar it shares a different meaning, instead of being matched to your other half you are instead connected to another, artificially. While our souls might connect, it won't be as truly desirable as if I were to complete the ceremony with my true half.

That was Lea. This is my second ceremony. I didn't think I'd have to go through it twice.

My hand trails down Evelyn's cheek, her skin warm under my cold hand. I bring my palm lower down her neck feeling her strong pulse radiate under my fingers. I take a breath feeling the spot at the bottom where her neck meets shoulder. I look up at her sending an apology. Either to her or Lea. I can't be sure.

The urge moves my head forward, the drug pulsing in my veins controlling my movements now.

My mouth comes up to the spot where my hand rests against her neck, the skin so supple, so easy to break.

One bite and everything will be righted in my pack. On bite.

I take a breath and feel my teeth break her skin.

Then everything explodes.

Evelyn slumps against my arm as my veins ignite with the sensation, Evelyns blood runs through me and into my blood mixing together.

My grip on her tightens and I pull her flush against my body as my teeth retract slowly from her skin, leaving a welt that has already begun to bruise.

My breath turns ragged as I feel my sweaty grip hold Evelyn to my chest, her unconscious head lulled backwards. 

The drumming stops almost instantly and I am brought back to myself. But my thoughts remain on Evelyn, the feeling of her against me, her deep breaths warm against my chest.

I look out to the crowd, they are applauding and cheering, I cannot hear them.

I pull Evelyn into me and carry her bridal style. I walk back across the stage eyeing the royals committee as I do, they're gazes impassive, but their postures seem almost relieved.

They can all go to hell.

I walk down the hall, getting pats on the shoulder, hands reaching out to touch Evelyn. The new Luna. People are gripping at me, I continue on.

They will all celebrate into the morning, I will not.

Evelyns life has changed forever, she will always be linked to this world, the world that I brought her into.

Her eyes remain shut her lips a flat line, her cheeks pink as the blood continues to pulse in her veins.

People follow after me, no doubt my close circle.

"Alpha, are you not going to join the festivities? What a joyous day, the Luna was accepted by The goddess Luna her self!" Ty exclaims from next to me patting me on the shoulder.

Joyous indeed.

"Go. Enjoy the revelries I need to tend to Luna." I say, my voice horse, tired, I realize.

He nods, glancing back at us before he saunters back towards the hall.

I carry Evelyn into my room, I lay her down underneath the covers, then I go to shower.

It shouldn't have been that way. It wasn't supposed to feel like that. Like it did with Lea.

None of this makes sense. It feels like it did when Lea and I mated. I growl in frustration. The gods must have thought this would be punishment enough.

I towel off and Saunter back in the room where Evelyn is sitting against the headboard. Her eyes wide, searching mine.

I gasp, the breath leaving my body as I come up to the side of the bed. Her hand reaches for me. I don't take it.

I look down at her with much indifference. If this is a punishment. If she is the punishment, I will not give in.

I pull on some loose pants, take one last look at Evelyn, her small form under my sheets. Her eyes wide. fearful.

Her mouth opens to speak but before she can I walk out the bedroom door and down the hall.

I leave through the back door to not let anyone hear.

As soon as I'm out I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

And I run.