Chapter 4: The Ceremony of Betrayal

The bells of Dawnwatch Hall rang out.

The adult members of the Ashvale pack, witnesses from neighboring packs, elders, and friends and family from both sides filled the pews.

They had come to witness Noah publicly claim me. The ceremony itself wouldn't create a mate bond, but from this day forward, the entire pack would see me as his chosen partner.

If this lie was allowed to stand, any future exposure would be framed as my betrayal—my attempt to destroy a vow the pack had witnessed.

I stood at the entrance in a white gown, the train dragging behind me, my bridesmaids clustered around.

Only Scarlett wasn't standing with them. She remained quietly at my side.

She had clearly been crying; her eye makeup was slightly smudged.

She was also wearing a white dress, while the other bridesmaids were in pale gold. She looked more like the one waiting to be claimed than I did.

The groomsmen emerged from a side door with Noah.

One of them slapped him on the shoulder.

"Noah, don't grab the wrong hand in a minute. The elder won't give you a do-over."

Noah laughed, shoving him away. Then he looked up and saw us.

His gaze swept past the crowd and landed directly on us.

The bridesmaids all shifted aside.

Scarlett didn't move.

Noah reached out his hand.

He reached for Scarlett.

The groomsmen erupted in laughter.

"Wrong one! The girl you're claiming is next to her!"

"The Mercer sisters might look alike, but you can't grab the wrong one before the ceremony."

Laughter rippled through the onlookers.

Noah's hand hung in the air for a moment.

Then he slowly drew it back and turned to me, his eyes carrying a threat only I could understand.

"Ruby, you don't mind, do you?"

My nails dug into my palms.

Only I knew it wasn't a mistake.

From the very beginning, the person he wanted to take by the hand was Scarlett.

"I don't mind."

My voice was so calm it surprised me.

The corner of Noah's mouth lifted, pleased with my obedience.

After the welcoming vows, everyone moved to the banquet hall to await the exchange of claiming tokens and the signing of the witness register.

I was checking the seating chart at the entrance.

At the center of the head table, in the seat of honor that should have been mine, the name card read Scarlett Mercer.

My own name was at a small table in the corner.

Noah walked past me without a glance.

He pulled out Scarlett's chair at the head table, then sat down beside her as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

I walked alone to my corner table and watched them receive congratulations, side by side.

"Why is Ruby sitting so far away?" someone asked.

The banquet's din quickly swallowed the question.

Noah glanced in my direction.

His expression was clear: Endure it.

Then came the exchange of claiming tokens.

Scarlett carried the moonstone ring box, walking down the red carpet with perfect poise.

On either side sat elders, family witnesses, and pack members.

Someone murmured, "Why is she wearing white, too?"

"If I didn't know who was being claimed today, I'd think she was the main event."

"She's even sitting at the head table."

Ceremony rules forbade guests from interrupting the vows without evidence, so the murmurs quickly died down.

Noah picked up the gold claiming ring and slid it onto my finger.

The ring was too big. It hung loosely at the base of my finger.

I looked down at it.

"This isn't my ring."

Noah frowned, his irritation palpable.

"Ruby, don't make a scene."

I lifted my head and raised my voice.

"This claiming token was not made for me."

I turned, grabbed Scarlett's hand, and slid the ring onto her finger.

The cameras projected the moment onto the giant screen in the hall.

Everyone saw it. The ring fit Scarlett's finger perfectly.

And engraved on the inside of the band were two letters.

S.M.

A wave of shocked gasps swept through the hall.

The color drained from Scarlett's face. She tried to yank her hand back, but I held it fast.

Noah glared at me, his voice a low hiss.

"Ruby, have you lost your mind?"

"Think about the pup in your belly. Do you want him to be born without a father?"

"Do you want the whole pack to know you're carrying a child with no mate claim?"

He thought he still had me under his thumb.

"Destroying this ceremony won't do anyone any good."

"It won't do you any good," I corrected him.

"What?"

"You're the one who needs this ceremony as a cover. Not me."

"And that child won't be born without a father."

I looked him straight in the eye.

"Because he won't be born at all."