Chapter 45


    Chapter Forty-Five


    Daphne’s Point of View


    When I first woke up, I was confused. I have gotten so used to Caleb having his arms around me that


    not having him here in bed with me is foreign. If I am honest, I do not like this feeling at all. Turning to


    where he should be in bed with me instead, I find a note. Daphne, I can not wait untilter today


    when we are bound as one in front of ourmunity, and friends. I know we had a difficult day


    yesterday and I am sorry. Words can not express how happy this day with you makes me. Per tradition


    I am not supposed to see you before the ceremony, so I snuck out, while you were still sleeping. I am


    having breakfast brought up to you. Hannah, and the other girls will be overter to help you with hair


    and makeup. I just want you to rx and enjoy today. I will be waiting with bated breath until you are in


    my arms. Love, Caleb. P.S. You are so adorable when you are sleeping. 7


    Caleb’s note is possibly the sweetest thing


    I have ever read. It is so hard to believe how much my life has changed in thest month. I can say that


    I am honestly happy, and I feel safe. In a lot of ways Caleb is like my real-life white knight, but I know


    that he is not the only reason I am happier in my life. Even with the age difference I feel like Hannah


    and I are friends, and there are many people here that I havee to care for, and I believe they care


    for me as well. Today I officially be their Luna, and I know that I will strive to be the best Luna I


    can be, and to put their interests and well-being first. 2


    My thoughts are interrupted by a knock. I let the person in thinking that it was the breakfast that Caleb


    had said he hading. To my surprise it was not only that, but Scarlet was delivering it. From her


    eyes I can tell that she has been crying.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.


    “Hey how are you holding up?” I do not want to bring up bad memories of yesterday, but I want her to


    know that I am here if she wants to talk things through.


    “I am doing alright, sad and disappointed with Dorian’s behavior. A little embarrassed by all of it


    truthfully, but I have gotten so used to it that it took him. behaving like that here for me to really


    evaluate how bad things have gotten.” Scarlet’s voice is so soft right now that I lean over and wrap her


    in a hug.


    “I am so sorry Scarlet. I understand if you do not want toe tonight.” I do not want her to feel


    pressured to be there, especially when her world is falling apart.


    “Daphne I would not miss your mating ceremony for the world. Caleb seems like a good man and I can


    see how happy you are. That has always been my wish for you, that you would find some happiness in


    this world. Plus, your man is smoking hot, you hit the jackpot.” We giggle a little at herst words and


    some of the tension seems to ease. I love the fact that we have this time to talk and bond some more.


    “Caleb is a good man, and he does make me happy. Scarlet, how do you know when you’re in love?”


    “I would like to think that it is when you would do anything to make sure that your mate is happy, even if


    it means that you are unhappy. Although, I am starting to rethink my idea of love. I tried to make


    Dorian happy, and I ended up miserable, and I do not think that is how love is supposed to be. So, I


    think my new definition is when the very thought of the person you love puts a smile on your face, and


    makes you feel safe and secure.”


    Scarlet’s eyes have started misting over and I can tell that she is having a difficult time with everything.


    “Scarlet, I know that it is toote for you to reject Dorian as your mate, but you do not have to stay with


    him. You could stay here; I know that Caleb would allow it.” I can not help wanting to ease her pain in


    anyway that I can. Truthfully, I want her to stay here, I would love having my sister close to me.


    “Daphne that is very sweet of you, and it is very lovely here, but I have to go back. Not because of


    Dorian, but because I am the Luna of the pack now. I have not done a very good job of helping my


    people, but I think that they are going to need me now more than ever. Things there have to change,


    and I do not know if anyone else will stand up to Dorian.” My respect for Scarlet grows with her words.


    She is starting to act like the Luna I wish to be, and putting her own people’s needs before her own. I


    do want her to stay, but I understand why she is choosing to go back. 2


    “I understand that. I am worried that he will hurt you. No offense but Dorian does not seem like a kind


    man anymore.” I do worry about Scarlet’s safety going back.


    “I cannot lie to you; I am slightly worried myself. At one time I thought he was a decent man. The power


    of being Alpha has consumed him and his ego has gotten out of control. Even though I am scared, I


    cannot allow him to continue terrorizing what is left of the pack.” I can see the determination in Scarlet’s


    eyes, and I know that there is no talking her out of it. Perhaps I can speak to Caleb and see if any of


    our warriors can go with her, just until she gets Dorian’s behavior under control.


    “Enough about that though, eat your breakfast it is getting cold. You my dear are going to be a fully


    mated woman tonight and you will need your strength.” Scarlet is giggling as she wiggles her


    eyebrows, insinuating what will ur in the bedroom tonight. I start eating the eggs, bacon and toast


    that she brought up with her.


    “Caleb left me a note letting me know that Hannah and a few other girls will being over to help with


    hair and makeup before the ceremony.” I can see Scarlet visibly wince at Hannah’s name.”


    Sorry, do you want me to call her and ask them not toe?” I do not want Scarlet to feel


    ufortable, or Hannah for that matter. 2


    “No, I need to apologize to her for Dorian’s behavior. Hearing how he attacked her made me review


    how he has treated some of the ve girls in our pack, and it makes me sick to my stomach. When it


    first happened, I thought he cheated on me because I had not gotten pregnant. Then it just kept


    happening over and over, and I grew numb to it. Now I wonder how many of those girls were willing,


    and how many of them were forced.” I had not honestly thought about all the horrors that Dorian. has


    committed until Scarlet said that.


    Although, I had been a ve once, I had never been subjected to that kind of mistreatment. I cannot


    even fathom that depth of depravity, and it feels like the breakfast I just ate is about to make a


    reappearance. I am once again grateful to my wonderful mate for not having ves, and always


    showing respect to women. 4 Just then my phone tings with a text message from Hannah letting me


    know that they are on their way soon. She stopped by the town center and check in with how the


    preparations wereing for the ceremony and assures me that everything is perfect. She also lets


    me know that Alpha Marcus has already arrived, along with a few of the neighboring packs. Just like


    that my anxiety is back and I am worried about making a fool of myself in front of everyone. 2


    “What’s wrong you are frowning?”


    Scarlet snaps me back into reality, and I let out a nervous giggle.


    “Uh Hannah just texted me to let me know that the decorations and food all look fantastic, and it seems


    that some of our neighboring packs have arrived, along with Caleb’s good friend Marcus. Then I


    thought about the binding ceremony to the Mood Goddess and I am scared that I am going to make a


    fool out of myself. It seems like there is going to be so many people there and it makes me nervous.” I


    like that I can be this honest with Scarlet. I always wanted this kind of rtionship with my sister.


    “Do not worry. You will have Caleb right beside you, and truthfully you will be so focused on him that


    you will not even notice anyone else is there. I think that he really loves you Daphne.” Scarlet’s words


    shock me a little bit. I know that I have been falling in love with Caleb, but is it possible that he is falling


    in love with me too? The thought alone has me smiling like a hyena. 4


    I can hear that Hannah has arrived, and it sounds like she has Bethany with her. Their voices are


    getting closer and Scarlet tenses up a little I squeeze her hand letting her know that everything will be


    alright. The girlse in the bedroom, with their bags of makeup and hair supplies, and I am reminded


    of the night of the Mabon Ball. So much has happened since then, but tonight will be different. Tonight,


    I will be dered Caleb’s mate for everyone to see, and the Luna of our pack.


    “Hannah, I am so sorry about Dorian. I wish there were words to truly express how terrible I feel, and


    how I am sorry that he ever came near you.” Scarlet did not waste any time trying to talk to


    Hannah, who has not even put her bags down yet.


    “Oh no please Scarlet do not apologize for him. You did nothing wrong, and I am sorry that you had to


    go through it too. He made his own decisions; you were not even here.” Hannah is quick to put her


    bags down ande over and hug Scarlet who looked like she was ready to burst. into tears. It makes


    me very happy to see my sister and my friend get along. I was worried that the events of yesterday


    would put a damper on today.


    Soon all four of us are pulling out different makeup brushes, and hair essories. We areughing like


    school children as everyone is trying to decide. how my hair should be done, and how my makeup


    should look.


    “If you were mascara make sure that it is waterproof. You might tear up and you do. not want any


    stains ruining that beautiful dress of yours.” At Hannah’s words all the girls are calling for me to pull out


    the dress. I hurry and bring it out of the closet, carefully unzipping it from the bag. 7


    “Hold on I have the perfect thing to go with that.” Scarlet stands up quickly and disappears from the


    room. Shees. back momentster with a tiara, the same tiara she wore to her mating ceremony. It


    was also the one that our mother wore the day that she mated with our father.


    “I know that our family has not treated you well, but I thought that you might want to wear this. It goes


    with the dress, and I think it is time you had it.” Scarlet’s words bring tears to my eyes. It is true that our


    family has not been great to me but having her here is all the family I need.


    “I would love to wear this.” I finally let her know when I can speak again. With that decision made, the


    girls decide that they should curl my hair and leave it in loose curls down my back. It seems like no time


    has passed, before we are all getting into our dresses, and applying makeup. Scarlet tears up a little


    when she sees me in my dress, telling me that I am. beautiful.


    Finally, we all have our dresses on, makeup done, and our hair looks amazing. I love the way I look


    tonight, and I think Caleb will love it too. I am still nervous about the binding ceremony, but


    I put that out of my mind. Caleb will be there; he will know what to do.


    Theoes and knocks on the door and lets us know that it is time. He tells me that I am beautiful in


    my dress. Hannah and Bethany leave to take their ces at the ceremony. Scarlet stays with me to


    walk me down. She gives me a big hug, and we leave the room walking downstairs. This is it, here we


    go.