sat at the head of the long table, his face etched with a mixture of determination and frustration. The decision to marry Seraphina h

ve rather than majestic. She had been summoned by Damon, and though she knew what was coming, she still found herself dreading the co

s voice cold but steady. "We need to di

n shock. "Marriage? Damon,

The pack is divided, and the child you're carrying is at risk. If we're to protec

ose demeanor had always been distant and harsh, was horrifying. "But you can't force

don't want. It's about what's necessary for the safety of th

e will solve everything? It won't. This is about more than just the pac

understand this isn't what you wanted, but we both have responsibiliti

bubbling to the surface. "And what if I re

e are real, and the pack will not accept the child if we're not uni

she had seen the pack's divisions and understood the danger they posed. But the idea of

o I?" she asked, her voic

teady. "Not if you want

hands, feeling the oppressive weight of her new reality. The thought of marrying Damon,

ers slumping in resignation. "Fine. I'll do it. But

he nodded in acknowledgment. "Understoo

rust into a whirlwind of arrangements and ceremonies, her own feelings and fears pushed aside. The

rs, she was approached by Marcus, Damon's advisor. His expressio

his isn't easy for you. Damon is... resolute, but

rs. "I understand the need for it, but it doesn't make it any ea

ight now. The external threats and internal sabotage are real. The marriage

heart felt heavy. "I just hop

ness. "We all do. Just remember that you're not alone in this. T

d taken. The ceremony was to be held in the grand hall, the same place where Damon had made his d

She wore a simple but elegant dress, her hair styled in a way that was both formal and underst

ence. He looked every bit the Alpha he was, his expression a mixture of seriousness and determina

dding. The words were spoken, the vows exchanged, and the ring placed on Seraphina's fi

here were whispers and murmurs, and though some were supportive, others were filled with disapproval. Th

phina felt a strange mix of relief and emptiness. The marriage wa

ina and Damon made their way through the crowd, exchanging polite but distant conversation with the pack members

ked out over the crowd, the festive atmosphere at odds with the turmoil she felt inside. The marria

pression softened by the dim

mixture of frustration and resignation. "I'm ma

to stay strong. The pack's division and the threats we face ar

. "I hope it's enough. I want what's best for the child, bu

er. We might not have had the ideal start, but we have to make

n, filled with challenges and conflicts. But as she looked at Damon, she saw a

echoing in the quiet corridors. The marriage had been a forced alliance, but it was now a real

the first step in a difficult journey. And as they faced the challenges ahead, they would do so with the knowledg

ight of their new reality. The road ahead would be long and fra

certainty that lay ahead. And with that resolve, they stepped into the night, ready to confro