CHAPTER4 The Rejection Ceremony

"Don't you think that is inappropriate?" Kenneth asked his Luna from the doorway of their bedroom.

"Not at all. It is a joyous occasion," Mandy said as she applied burgundy lipstick and stood up. She brushed the wrinkles out of her blue sweater dress as she looked herself over in the mirror before approaching him with a slight smile. "You should change. That suit is so depressing."

"The suit is proper attire for the custom. You shouldn't take this much glee in her suffering," Kenneth responded, causing Mandy to frown.

Mandy scoffed and said, "Don't try to act like you care about the little brat now. Don't be a hypocrite. You could care less and this arrangement will benefit the both of us."

"At least make it believable in front of the Hunters," Kenneth reasoned. Mandy rolled her eyes. Of course she would behave. What kind of idiot did he take her for?

"Come. You wouldn't want to keep Lily waiting," Mandy said condescendingly.

Again, Kenneth didn't respond and followed Mandy to the entertainment hall. Both packs were in attendance.  Both acknowledged their presence, showing their necks to them both.

Alpha Jack and Luna Kelly looked agitated by the entire situation. The Luna of Grey Blood Pack was very against the rejection ceremony. However, she didn't have much say in the situation since both Alphas agreed to it.

"Where is she?" Kenneth asked one of the omegas that were serving wine.

"She is coming, my Alpha. We are watching her closely. There is no chance she will run away again," the omega answered.

Kenneth nodded and walked to the stage with Jack following behind him. He took a spoon to his wine glass to get everyone's attention.

"Thank you for joining us here tonight to celebrate the union of two great packs," Kenneth began and turned to Jack, "It is an honor that our packs will be united."

"Yes, we look forward to our unified strength," Jack nodded.

"Lily, Brandy, and Matthew Hunter, please come up here," Kenneth said.

Brandy quickly came to greet her father. Kenneth frowned at her attire as he reluctantly hugged her. She was always scantily clad, even after telling her to dress appropriately for the occasion.

'Like mother, like daughter,' Kenneth's wolf, Jasper, said before growling in irritation at seeing Matthew. Kenneth had recently learned that Matthew had been sleeping with Brandy behind Lily's back. As a father and a believer of old customs, he wanted to choke him, but it was better this way. At least one of his daughters would be a proper Luna.

'We should tear his throat out for humiliating Lily,' Jasper growled.

'Calm down,' Kenneth told him.

'You're a pathetic father,' Jasper responded before blocking himself from Kenneth like he always did.

After a few minutes, Lily did not show. Kenneth frowned and he spoke over the microphone, "Where is Lily? Bring her here!" He didn't need her defying him in front of both packs. This union had to happen.

"I am here, father!"

Matthew stood on the stage awkwardly. He didn't expect that both packs would be here for this. Matthew assumed that this would be a private affair, but he knew his mother had to have had a hand in this.

Kelly had been horrified and disappointed in Matthew when she discovered that Matthew had been sleeping with Lily's little sister. No one in their line had ever denied the Moon Goddess' will up until now. The only thing that calmed her was that Lily would still marry into the pack.

Matthew didn't really want to be mated with Brandy. He just wanted to have fun before he was forever bound to Lily. However, he understood why his father wanted him to mate Mandy instead. An Alpha had to be seen as strong. A weak Luna was a liability. He could not rule a pack with an omega Luna.

'It is not the right choice!' Baldur growled within him. 'Why did the Moon Goddess curse me to be bonded to you until death? She is meant for us! You know it!'

'There is nothing we can do now. It is done,' Matthew responded.

'You fool. You're going to regret this.' Baldur warned before Matthew suppressed him again like he always did when he didn't want to hear what he had to say.

After Kenneth and his father Jack's speech, there was a pause as they waited for Lily to appear. She had not shown up, which infuriated Kenneth. As he demanded to know where Lily was, her voice rang out.

"I am here, father!"

Lily emerged from the crowd, taking Matthew's breath away. There were murmurs from the crowd as they watched Lily. She wore a simple form-fitting strapless white dress with an overlay of lace. Her hair was pulled up in a bun, and a white veil covered her face. Lily wore her wedding dress to the rejection ceremony.

When she got to the stage, she hugged her father, ignored Mandy, and curtsied to Alpha Jack and Luna Kelly before taking her position in front of Matthew. Lily kept a calm expression, but Matthew could see the fury in Lily's eyes.

"Lily, I…" Matthew started, but she raised her hand, stopping him.

Lily gave her hand to Jack and nodded to him. Jack smirked. This little female had sass. It was a shame that she was not an Alpha. Jack took the ceremonial blade and cut her palm. Matthew gave his hand to Kenneth, and he cut Matthew's hand.

"I… I…" Matthew stammered. He found that he could not bring himself to say the words. Everything in him told him it was wrong. "Father, I can't. I…"

"I, Lily Bray, the first-born daughter of Alpha Kenneth Bray, and my wolf, Dina, reject you, Matthew Hunter, the first-born son of Kenneth Hunter, and your wolf Baldur for your betrayal of our mate bond with my sister, Brandy," Lily said firmly as she grabbed Matthew's hand. "Do you accept?"