CLAIMING HER!

ELORA.

"Please, Father! Don't leave me like this! Please, stay!" I sobbed uncontrollably, clutching my father's weak, bloodied body in my arms.

Tears streamed down my cheeks as my only desire was to somehow save him, to give him another chance at life.

"I'm... I'm too weak to go on, Elora," he rasped, his voice choked with pain. He paused, coughing up blood, and the sight shook me to my very core. My eyes widened in shock and fear, unable to comprehend the severity of the situation.

"Father, please!" I wailed with all my might, my heart pounding and tears streaming down my face.

"Listen to me," he struggled to speak, his voice weak and strained.

"The Ocean pack... it's in your hands now. Keep it safe. And to do that, you must marry Alpha Killian."

His words hit me like a tidal wave, and I froze in disbelief at the mention of marrying Alpha Killian.

"What? I... I can't do that!" I protested vehemently, shaking my head in refusal, tears still blurring my vision as I struggled to understand the weight of his request.

"That's the only way to save the pack, Luna Elora!" he insisted, his voice urgent and filled with desperation. He reached out as if to touch my cheek, but his hand fell limply to the ground, his eyes closing.

"Father? Father!?" I screamed in anguish, my heart shattering into a million pieces as I realised he was gone.

"Nooooo!!!!!” I roared furiously and in pain.

*********

"Elora? Elora!" Bryce's voice snapped me back to reality, his hand resting gently on my shoulder.

I must have been lost in thought for quite some time, not even noticing what was going on around me.

"What's the matter, Elora? Aren't you happy about getting married today?" Bryce asked, his gaze fixed on me, taking in my white gown and the flower in my hand.

"It's nothing, Bryce," I replied, trying to brush off his concern. I stood up, intending to leave his presence, but he grasped my hand, stopping me in my tracks.

As I turned to face Bryce, his expression was etched with genuine concern.

He had always been there for me, my closest confidant, so it wasn't surprising that he noticed something was amiss.

"You're not okay, and I know it. If you don't want to go through with the wedding, I can..." Bryce began, but I interrupted him before he could finish.

"I'm fine with getting married, Bryce! I just got lost in thoughts about my father," I replied softly, forcing a smile onto my lips despite the uproar within.

"I'm sorry, Elora, but believe me, this marriage will bring about the change he always desired," Bryce reassured me, attempting to ease my worries.

I nodded, grateful for his support, even though a part of me still felt apprehensive about the path ahead.

"Now, let's go get you married!" Bryce declared, his words laced with a hint of excitement.

Despite my lingering nerves, I couldn't help but chuckle. Bryce had always been a source of comfort and support, and I cherished him for that.

Following him out of the room, we made our way towards the wedding hall.

As we stood before the imposing doors, I felt a surge of apprehension grip me, my fingers tightening around the flower in my hand.

I couldn't deny the butterflies fluttering in my stomach. Marriage was never something I had envisioned for myself at this stage of my life.

I had hoped to remain single for a while longer. But as the Alpha now, responsible for the welfare of my pack, I knew I had to fulfil my duty by joining forces with another Alpha.

My father's dying wish weighed heavily on my mind. While I understood the necessity of his command, a part of me still longed for the freedom to pursue my own desires.

As the doors swung open, I took a deep breath and started down the aisle, with Bryce faithfully at my side.

The cheers of the crowd filled me with a sense of reassurance, and I couldn't help but feel a glimmer of excitement.

My eyes locked onto the figure waiting for me at the altar.

Alpha Rohan stood there, his bright smile melting away some of my nerves.

Finally reaching him, I stood before him as the ceremony commenced, the joining of two Alphas about to take place.

"Do you, Alpha Rohan Michaelson, take Elora Hale as your Luna?" Chief Gray's voice rang out, cutting through the tension in the air.

Without a moment's hesitation, Rohan answered confidently.

"Yes, yes I do!" his voice echoed throughout the hall, sealing our fate together.

The excitement coursing through me was palpable as I tightened my grip on Alpha Rohan's hand, feeling a surge of anticipation as Chief Gray turned his attention to me.

"Over to you, Elora... do you take Alpha Rohan as your Alpha?" His words hung in the air, waiting for my response.

“I…” I turned to face Rohan, ready to profess my commitment to him when suddenly, chaos erupted.

"No one is getting joined to what belongs to me!"

A commanding voice echoed through the hall, causing a collective gasp from the guests as the doors were forcefully flung open.

The interruption brought the ceremony to an abrupt halt, and I couldn't help but whirl around to see who had dared to disrupt my wedding.

Anger surged within me, ready to confront whoever had dared to ruin this memorable occasion.

But as my eyes landed on the owner of the authoritative voice, all thoughts of retaliation vanished, replaced by shock and disbelief.

"Alpha Killian..." I gasped softly, my eyes widening in disbelief at his unexpected presence.

"Killian, what in the world are you doing here? Why are you causing such a commotion?" Chief Gray demanded, his displeasure evident as he stood behind me.

"Because Elora is my bride and Luna! No one, not even Rohan, is allowed to join with her!" Killian's declaration ignited a fire within me, filling me with instant fury.

"I am not yours, Killian!" I asserted firmly, my voice trembling with indignation.

"That's right, Alpha Killian! Leave, now!" Alpha Rohan intervened, stepping forward to defend me.

"When adults speak, don't interfere, Rohan!" Killian warned, his gaze piercing as he locked eyes with Alpha Rohan, the tension between them palpable.

Alpha Killian's anger was clear, directed at both Chief and me for choosing to align with Rohan. But his opinion didn't matter in this decision.

I had made my choice to be joined with Rohan and his pack, and that decision was final.

"Elora, why does he keep claiming you belong to him?" Chief's question caught me off guard, and my heart raced with apprehension.

Despite Chief's concern, I couldn't bring myself to reveal the truth about my father's preference for Alpha Killian over Rohan.

"I... I don't know, Chief," I replied, my voice faltering as I avoided Chief's gaze, unable to share the full truth. Instead, I turned back to face Alpha Killian, my fist clenched in defiance.

"We both know you're lying right now, Elora!" Killian sneered, his words like venom as he advanced towards us, his strides deliberate and menacing.

The pack members watched in stunned silence, their jaws hanging open in disbelief.

"What do you mean by that?" I retorted, attempting to mask my unease with false bravado.

"Come on, Elora! Your father chose me to be your Alpha, not Rohan! I am your father's dying wish Alpha!" Killian's revelation hit me like a ton of bricks, freezing me in place as the truth I had tried to hide was laid bare for all to see.

"What?" Chief exclaimed in shock from behind me.

"Elora, tell me it isn't true! You said you were supposed to marry Alpha Rohan! Then why is Killian here?" His demand for answers was palpable, but I found myself at a loss for words.

"To..." I began, but Killian cut me off, seizing the opportunity to speak his piece.

"To claim what is rightfully mine, Chief! I am here to take what belongs to me!"