Chapter 5

Mia’s POV

As soon as the breakfast ended, Beta Daniel had announced that it was time to commence the Pack
Bond Ceremony to connect Bloodmoon Pack to Silver Lining pack and Alpha Alessio. Everyone had
gathered in the pack field.

Beta Daniel was almost the same height as Liam. With his dark skin, light stubble, military cut hair he
looked like someone very serious but that constant amused smile on his face betrayed his appearance
and showed his playful side quite openly instead. With the heat down on us in the ground, even though
it was still a bit chilly, he wore a black west and black cargo pants with white sports shoes.

Most of the pack members stood on the sidelines, Beta Daniel stood on the stage. I was standing on
the other side of the ground, leaning against a pillar, away from everyone. There were eyes on me, and
whispers, but I kept my eyes on the ground and remained silent.

I could see the excitement and nervousness on their faces, anticipating the process of pack binding.
The air in the place was thick with it. The scent of it made my stomach turn.

“I think this is happening for good. This is our new start with a sexy new alpha.” Olivia giggled excitedly,
hanging onto the arm of Alicia, one of her close friends.

“Me too. This is the first time we will see something like this happen to our pack. Imagine the new
hotties that will come in here now after we are united as one.” Alicia grinned.

“You know who I want. All others are just eye candies anyway.” Olivia smirked, her eyes twinkling
brightly.

Alicia giggled at her words, “of course I do. He might be coming out soon.”



For a brief second my eyes slid to Liam who was standing behind everyone, alone, emotionless. He
had come to stand next to me when I had come to the ground but I had moved away immediately. After
what had happened yesterday, I absolutely did not want to face him at all. I already had had enough of
crappy days within the past forty-eight hours, maybe half a lifetime of pain, tragedy and traumas had
been inflicted on my mind in these past few hours. I did not have the strength to fight or argue or even
spare a glance at anyone.

“Attention. Alpha is here.” Beta Daniel announced at the stage as Alpha Alessio crossed the main door
and came to stand in front of everyone, on the high stage. From where I stood, I could see him clearly
and if he turned his face to the left, he would see me at first glance.

I shivered, my palms tightening on my arms self consciously.

I hadn’t seen him since our last encounter. The way he had looked at me yesterday, his words rang
inside my head constantly, making it practically impossible for me to get any sleep at all. He hated me,
it was clear as day from his words and his eyes. He despised me and felt disgusted by me.

Even though he had rejected me so cruelly, I still could not help but stare at him. His face was set in a
grim expression. Aloof, but arrogant. For someone taking over a very large pack without any bloodshed
at all, he looked quite unhappy by the look on his face.

I wondered if he also felt something like me in his heart right now. This hollow, sad feeling making me
think that I might never feel happiness again. Never feel what love is ever again.

I wondered… if he also missed seeing me even though it had not been even twenty four hours since
we last saw each other because I did. And I didn’t want to feel like this. Is this how depression feels
like?

His eyes were staring straight ahead at the crowd. I knew he would have already sensed my presence
by my scent but he was not looking at me on purpose. I dropped my gaze back to the ground.



Two omegas were right behind alpha. One was bringing a small table made of copper. The other
omega was bringing an empty grail made of gold in his hand. Once they reached the middle of the
ground, they placed the table there and then the grail on the top of it. Then they fished out a similar
gold dagger out of a box and placed it beside the grail. The table was high enough to reach Alpha
Alessio’s waist.

“Let’s begin.” Alpha announced in his gruff voice, “with this ceremony I will be binding all of you to
myself as your alpha and my pack, Silver Lining. We will be one big pack, and hopefully, live a peaceful
life without any crisis.”

The first person stepped in front of Alessio.

“Lift up your hand, palm up.” Beta Daniel instructed.

The girl did as he asked. Alpha Alessio grabbed her wrist, a sharp jolt of anger surfacing inside me out
of nowhere the moment their skin touched. I forced myself to stay put and watch silently as he made a
small cut on her hand, and dripped a few drops of her blood into the grail.

“Done. Next.”

One by one, all of the pack members stepped forward, offering Alpha Alessio their hand for the blood
binding.

When it was Olivia’s turn, in her little red dress and open wavy hair, she walked towards the alpha
gingerly. She offered him her hand for the ceremony. My jaw clenched tighter than ever because I knew
what her intentions were towards Alessio. Her lust. Her greed. She could not hide them from her eyes
even if she tried to. And knowing all that, seeing her get close to my mate pains me.

Just as Alpha wrapped his hand around her wrist, Olivia snatched it back, bursting into tears.



Alpha Alessio and other members stared at her in surprise.

“I am just so, so glad that you have now saved us from murderers, alpha Alessio. I was just so freaking
scared about what was going to happen to us, you know?” Her gaze quickly swiped to me for a brief
moment as her eyes dripped fat drops of tears on her rosy cheeks. With her sniffling nose and red
eyes, she really looked like a damsel that Liam and I had forced into distress.

Fucking bitch.

My eyes slid to Alessio to see his reaction, afraid and kind of already convinced that he had believed
Olivia’s every word with her oscar-winning performance.

He looked… bored.

A smile slipped on my face, pleased with Alessio’s reaction but I was immediately caught off guard as I
realised how, since the moment I had walked here, I have been unable to take my eyes off of Alessio.
He had rejected me already, for fucks sake! How desperate I am for his attention that I am unable to
even not look at him when he is standing anywhere within my vicinity? This freaking mate bond is
scary.

I gulped hard, biting the insides of my lips till I tasted the bitter taste of blood. I need to avoid him.

I turned my head away, my eyes swiped throughout the ground in an attempt to look anywhere except
for Alessio but that was perhaps a wrong move as the next thing I knew, I was staring into Liam’s eyes.

I quickly averted my gaze. I was no way in hell ready to face him right now. The only safe place was
ground, I guess. So I dropped my head again, staring at the brown soil and wondering when this will be
over so I can get out of this place.



For some reason, I could feel a burning sensation on my skin, like a thousand ants were crawling over
my skin. I had felt it a few times before as well since the ceremony had started but had been unable to
fathom why I was feeling this way. Irritated, I looked up instinctively, only for my gaze to collide with a
pair of dark eyes.

Alpha Alessio’s dark eyes.

He turned his head away immediately, his eyes shooting to Daniel.

Beta Daniel who, despite pressing his lips very tightly to not burst out in laughter, strode over to Olivia
and gave a push to her back, “It’s all good. Let’s finish this now.”

I had to grab onto my arms tightly, tight enough to feel the pain of my nails digging inside my skin to
avoid the sensation that made me feel sick to the core. He hates me.

They finished the ceremony. After Olivia, all the pack members were quick and smooth until… it was
Liam’s turn.

Liam’s face was emotionless, cold in fact, lacking any sign of respect or fear or happiness at all when
he started to walk towards the stage. Right before he could climb on the stairs, alpha Alessio snatched
the grail off the table, his other hand holding the dagger, and stormed off in Liam’s direction with a
dangerous stance. The look in his eyes sent shivers down my spine.

My heart was racing. Even though Liam had crossed a line yesterday, I didn’t want Alpha to hurt him!

The air grew thick with tension, the atmosphere intense.

Alpha came to stand in front of Liam, grabbed his palm by his wrist, and swiped his palm with the
dagger.



The blood gushed out, a big, gaping wound appeared on Liam’s palm. I gasped, my hand shooting up
to cover my mouth as my eyes stared at Liam’s hand in horror.

Liam was clearly furious, and in pain. His sharp teeth were clenched tightly together, the muscles in his
jaw clenched so tightly it was a wonder they didn’t crack.

The other wolves stood frozen, staring at Alpha and Liam in silence.

Both Liam and Alessio’s eyes were burning with an anger that seemed to consume them, glaring at
each other with pure hatred.

Alpha Alessio then brought the grail under Liam’s hand, letting a few drops of his blood drip down into
the glass.

“Done.” he muttered, letting Liam’s hand drop nonchalantly.

Liam was raging, but swallowing everything, he took back a few steps, away from the alpha without
turning around.

“Now the last one, Mia.” Beta Daniel’s head turned in my direction right before his full body did. He
stared at me from the bottom of my overly used, dirty shoes to the orange and oversized t-shirt.

I straightened, my hands dropping to my sides loosely. I started to walk towards the alpha to finish my
binding pact. I was just one step away from him, his gaze was on me when he suddenly took one step
back, turned around, and walked out of the pack field.

Leaving me stranded, flabbergasted, and in complete shock.


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