For most wolves, they would be overly excited on the day of their Mating Ceremony.

For Emerson, he wished the day had never come.

He dreaded waking up the morning of. He wanted nothing more than hide under his covers until it was all over. Alas, he could not, as his father came bursting in. He prayed something would happen, something that would prevent this mating. He prayed the fates would take pity on him.

He did nothing but scowl as he was forced into a white button up and white pants. Shoes were not worn for whatever reason he could not remember. He hissed as his hair was styled, quite roughly, and hair sprayed.

His father shoved some notecards into his hands.

"I figured you wouldn't have written any vows so here. Memorize them." Benjamin left no room for argument.

Emerson flipped through the cards, his scowling deepening by the card. "I am not saying any of this bullshit. None of this is remotely true. The Pack knows of our situation. The only ones who would buy this would be the children. And even then, maybe not all."

Each notecard explained his "love" for Madeline, and that "despite losing their mates, I am happy I met you." All of it bullshit. None of it true. He would not read this. Madeline was here, and only here, to help glue his falling Pack together. She had no other purpose here. She would never serve another purpose here.

Benjamin rolled his eyes. "Then you have three hours to come up with and memorize your own. But I will review over it, to make sure you haven't put anything...inappropriate in it."

All Emerson wanted to bash his teeth in. He didn't care if Benjamin was his father. But he reigned in his anger (somewhat) and just nodded once. "Fine."

Seeming pleased, his father walked out, leaving Emerson alone with his thoughts.

Shit.

Now he had to come up with some "acceptable" vows.

What would he even say? "Thanks for doing this but I don't want you?" "Thanks but no thank?" "I'm doing this against my will?"

He doubted that would go over well with his father or the Pack.

After staring at a blank piece of paper for the past twenty minutes, he finally called in his Beta to help him.

Brandon walked in a few minutes later, an amused expression on his face. "So you have no trouble writing speeches and speaking to the Pack, but writing vows is tripping you up?"

Emerson scowled at his dark-skinned friend. "I wouldn't be having problems if she was my mate. Unfortunately, she died a five years ago. Or do you not remember?"

The amusement faded away. "Of course, I remember Abigail. I always will." He sighed and pulled up a chair, sitting next to his Alpha. "What do you admire about Madeline?"

"Nothing."

"What do you appreciate about her?"

"Nothing."

"What does she inspire you to do?"

"Nothing."

Brandon groaned loudly. He ran a hand over his face exasperatedly. "I can't help you if you don't give me anything to work with."

"Well, there isn't anything I like about her. She is only here for the pack. A decision that my father made, not me. I don't want her here, but I have little choice in the matter."

"Well you're going to have to learn to get along with her, or at least tolerate her. Madeline's going to be around until the day she dies. There's nothing you can do about it. I know you don't want to be mated to her. I know you don't trust her. But to make this all better and easier for the Pack, at least try and be her friend." He cut Emerson off as he started to open his mouth. "I'm not saying fall in love with her, or replace Abigail with her. I'm just saying the befriending her may make this easier. For you and for the Pack."

As much as Emerson wanted to argue, it was sound logic. Only problem, he didn't want to be her friend. He had no desire to befriend her. Tolerate, he could probably learn to do, but not make nice and be friends with her.

"Yeah, whatever. Just help me write this damned thing."

Brandon snorted and moved closer. He grabbed a piece of paper and began offering ideas, ones that were continuously shot down by Emerson.

***

Madeline was hurt by the words she had heard. She hadn't meant to ease drop, she was just walking past Emerson's door on her way to her room when she heard him talk about her. And it hurt, to hear what he said about her. It hurt enough that tears threatened to surface.

So she swiftly walked back to her room, grabbed her necklace, then hurried back out. She met her guards at the bottom of the stair and they escorted her back to Rosebud Boutique. The necklace in her hand was the only piece of jewelry she wanted wear, would wear. Her grandmother had given it to her before she had died. She wore at her first Mating Ceremony, she felt as if it was only necessary she wore it for this one.

The moment that she stepped back into the boutique, she was rushed the back, where Casey's suggested makeup artist and hairstylist waited for her. Casey had insisted that she get ready at Rosebud. Why? She wasn't sure. She was just happy to have a...friend. Yes, Casey was a friend to her.

Madeline was almost forced into the chair. She was told to close her eyes and tell her hairstylist if she pulled too hard on her hair. She nodded and did as she was told, holding still for them.

When they had finished, they rushed her over to the dressing rooms, where her dress awaited. They had covered the mirror up, insisting that she not look at herself until completely ready. She thought it was ridiculous, but she kept her mouth shut and obliged the ladies wishes.

Casey helped button her up in her flowing white dress. The one that Madeline had picked. The moment she had laid her eyes on this dress, she knew it was the one.

Casey led her over to where the big mirrors were. Madeline flushed softly at the sight of herself. The dress, it made her curves more visible, the skirts flowing around and pooling at her feet. Her hair was in soft curls, small braids were pinned back to keep her hair back. And her face...she had never looked such a way. Madeline knew she was beautiful. She always had been. But, she looked more...regal, radiant. She looked like a Luna.

She turned to the girls who were beaming at her. "Beautiful!" Casey exclaimed. She checked the clock on the wall and her eyes widened. "We have fifteen minutes. Let's get this show on the road."

Madeline was ushered outside, where her guards were waiting to escort her.

Ricardo whistled. "Look at you Luna Madeline. The Alpha won't be able to keep his hands off you."

She flushed and playfully slapped his bicep. "Stop that. You're just making me more nervous. And you of all people know he does not see me that way."

He rolled his eyes. "Please, any guy would be lucky to have you. If he can't see that then he's seriously fucked up in the head."

"If the Alpha hears or someone reports you, you're going to be in for it." Isaiah glowered at his friend.

"No I won't. And if the Alpha tries anything, I've Madeline here to protect me."

Madeline rolled her eyes at the two. They seemed to bicker all the time. Ricardo was the only one she'd seen get a reaction out of Isaiah, and that was only when he was annoying him. she had yet to see the impact his mate had. But she believed that she was strong woman if she was fated to be with Isaiah.

She took a deep breath as they came closer to where the Ceremony would take place.

Ricardo looked down at her. "Are you ready? Do you have vows ready? Do you know what happens after the Ceremony?"

She nodded, too nervous to say anything. She had already had a Mating Ceremony, but it was not...not like this. Yes, many had showed up at her Ceremony, but it had not been a requirement. Her and Lucas had just bitten each other, claiming the other as their mate, and then they had gone their newly built house and did not come out for a week.

This Ceremony was different. It was mandatory for all wolves to attend, only those on patrol were excused. Both Madeline and Emerson would have to cut their palms and then join them together, letting the blood mix. This would bring her into the power of Luna. Then they speak their vows as the blood mixed. Then there was the bite, to claim a mate. But instead of getting to hide away and finish the mating, they would all hunt as a pack, as a way to welcome their new Luna. Then they could hide away.

Madeline had a feeling Emerson would only consummate the mating tonight, and he would probably never touch her again. He had already made it very clear to her that she was not welcome. She doubted that he would ever be romantic or passionate towards her. He didn't seem like the kind.

But that was okay. It would be okay. She wouldn't mind it, she told herself. She was only doing this to help Mystic Peak and the Night Walker packs. She wasn't doing it for love. She knew she would get no love out of this mating.

But it was okay.

It was okay.

Okay.

One more time and she might believe it.

Unfortunately, she didn't have one more time say it again as it began.

Ricardo nudged her forward and she didn't even have it in her to glare back at him. She did her best to look at all the other Pack members as she walked by, doing so would only want to make her throw up.

She hoped no one could see how much her hands shook as she approached the dais. She kept her eyes trained in front of her, staring at nothing. She knew if she met Emerson's eyes, she'd see nothing but disgust. And if she looked at any of the Pack, she would become too overwhelmed and she doubted she would be able to go through with this.

Only did she look at Emerson when she stood in front of him, and she was surprised at what she saw. Not disgust as she had though, something else. Something she couldn't place.

The Mating Ceremony was always performed by the Alpha, but as this was the Alpha's mating, it would just be the two of them to do this.

Madeline tensed but did not protest as he raised the knife. There were no introductions. They just jumped right into it.

Emerson sliced his palm, a shallow cut. He cleaned the knife before handing it to her. With shaky hands, Madeline sliced her palm, wincing at the pain. She placed her bleeding hand in his and let their blood mix and the power slowly seeped into her. She watched their hands for a moment, making sure that no blood stained her dress, even though it would never be worn again after this. She tilted her head up at Emerson as he began to speak.

"I am not an easy man to get along with. Not even when...when my true mate was here. I've always been this brutal man." There was a flash of something, of sadness, but it was gone as fast as it had come. "I have accepted that I will never be that guy. The romantic and loving and passionate one. It is not something I can do."

He eyes closed for a moment, taking a deep breath, then he opened them and stared straight into Madeline's eyes. "You have chosen this, something that no other would have done. And for this alone, you are brave and strong. Or really stupid." The Pack chuckled quietly at that, and the corner of her lips turned up. "The road ahead of you, or us, will not be easy. It will be bumpy and rocky and dangerous. But I believe, that with you by my side, we will overcome the obstacles ahead of us."

Madeline couldn't tell if he meant what he said or not. He was so, so difficult to read. And she so wanted to believe him, believe that they could work out some sort friendship between them. Otherwise, this would not bode well.

She tried blinking away the few tears that had pooled in her eyes, but a couple rebel ones slide down her cheeks. Emerson raised his free hand and caught the tears on one cheek, and then the other.

She took a deep breath and swallowed that knot in her throat, then she spoke, "This may not have started well. This may not be well for quite some time, as I fear our differences may get in the way." She heard him huff a laugh, so quiet she almost missed it. "This may be because of an arrangement. This may be because our Packs need us, and so we must do what we can for them. This may be a lot of things. But I also believe that this will work in time. I believe that we will find happiness together. I believe that together, we will just and fair and kind. And I believe that, no matter the challenges ahead of us, we will have our happy ending."

Whether or not Emerson had been truthful with his vow, Madeline certainly was. And she made sure he knew. She did not hide the raw emotion on her face, in her eyes. She let him see the truth.

"Then if there are to be no objects to this mating, I claim you Luna Madeline.

"And I claim you, Alpha Emerson."

And with those words, Emerson pulled close, so close that her breasts were flushed against his chest. Her hands gripped his biceps. One of his arms were wrapped around her waist, the other on the back of her neck, tilting her head. He brought his head to her neck, and Madeline to his.

She felt her fang elongate, and she bit where the neck and the shoulder met, just as he bit her.

The wolves cheered as they had claimed each other and cheer more when the pulled away. She tasted his blood her mouth and wiped her lips of any that could be there.

Emerson turned to them, and Madeline did the same.

"Let's go hunting."