They’d actually picked the same hotel!
“…grant us eternal love and prosperity for our pack…”
Ethan continued with his vows, totally oblivious to me.
I was about to sneak out, but then Vivian’s shrill voice cut through the air:
“Sophia! What are you doing here?”
Everyone turned to stare at me.
Ethan’s face paled. “Sophia? Why are you here?”
I stood up, trying to stay calm. “I’m here for a friend’s wedding.”
“A friend’s wedding?” Vivian eyed me suspiciously. “You’re not here to ruin our ceremony, are you?”
“Ruin it?” I scoffed. “Why would I want to do that?”
Ethan rushed over to me, his eyes flashing with… something complicated. “You… you’re mating someone else?”
I blinked, then realized what he thought.
“No, Ethan. I’m just here for my friend Sarah’s wedding. A human wedding.” I gestured to the ballroom next door. “It has nothing to do with you guys.”
“Then why this hotel?” Vivian shrieked. “There are tons of hotels in the city. You had to pick this one?”
“Because the bride picked it,” I said calmly. “Besides, I figured you’d be at a traditional mating site, not some human hotel.”
Ethan flushed. “We… we wanted something more modern…”
“Modern?” I looked around. “Then why isn’t a pack Elder officiating? Why have the hotel event planner read a script? At least the Elders actually represent the Moon Goddess.”
Vivian’s face got even redder. “All those old rules are such a hassle!”
I shook my head. “You don’t even have basic respect, and you expect the Moon Goddess to acknowledge your bond?”
“We don’t need your approval for our bond!” Vivian fumed. “And I’m all set for the full moon ceremony. I’ll show everyone I’m a perfectly good Luna then!”
Ethan puffed his chest out. “That’s right. Vivian’s a natural when it comes to rituals.”
Just then, Ethan’s phone rang.
He glanced at the screen, a smug look on his face. “That’ll be the Elders’ Council. They’re probably calling to say how impressed they are with Vivian’s ceremony prep.”
He confidently hit the speakerphone button.
But the next thing we heard was Elder Grace’s furious voice blasting from the speaker, loud enough for the whole ballroom to hear.
“Alpha Ethan! What in the blazes have you two done?!’ Elder Grace’s voice was shaking with rage. “The sacred ritual is a total mess! The Moon Goddess’s blessing has completely GONE from our pack!”
