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nShe hurried out of the room, and as she closed the door, her heartbeat raced. She started to exit when she saw Cora waiting for her in the main hall. Kayla didn't know what to say so she just walked out with her head lowered. As soon as she was out of the palace, she ran towards the guesthouse they were staying at.

nHer brothers and Kuro were there. They asked her how it went, but she ran into her room without answering them. She crashed onto her bed.

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"What will happen now? They will find out about me,

" she thought. She had to run away or else she would be lynched. Without thinking too much, she got up and snuck out of the house through the rear backyard and started walking hurriedly towards the jungle. She was so anxious that she didn't even see which direction she was headed in. As soon as she entered the thick forest, she shape shifted into a wolf and speedily ran. She must have only gotten a few miles away when she suddenly felt as though her limbs were being trapped in a whip made from lightning. She stumbled and rolled head first, falling several yards away. When she tried to get up, she saw the same man who she had seen in the hall before passing out.

nShe growled at him and tried to threaten him, but she found that the lighting whip became tighter around her. She whelped in pain as she tried to get out of the trap. She shape shifted.

"Who are you?

" she asked with a pained look.

n---

nBack in the bedroom, Adrianna and Dmitri were feeling as though their body temperatures had gone up. Dmitri shouted at his servants to bring water. Both of them wanted to go and immerse themselves in a cold shower, but the time for the wedding was approaching. So they drank some water – lots of it. Dmitri asked Nate to keep lots of water beside them during the ceremony. After lunch, they were not supposed to eat anything because they had been asked to fast.

nThey soon left the room and went to the venue where the shaman was waiting. It was the same canopy where Dmitri had announced that Adrianna would be his luna. The canopy had become all the more beautiful after being decorated with flowers that hung from the ceiling. A circle, nine feet in radius, was created only for the bride and the groom to be in.

nCora and Keisha were watching the two of them, waiting for Adrianna to fall. They couldn't contact Kayla as she was nowhere to be seen. But Keisha was happy inside because of Kayla's absence. This way, Keisha thought that once Adrianna died, she could immediately take Adrianna's place in order to save their pack's honor.

nDmitri and Adrianna entered a circle where a wooden fire had been kindled in the center. The wood that was selected for the fire was black poplar. The shaman invoked the spirits to bestow him the power to wed them and then knelt within the circle. He prayed and then started incanting. As soon as the incantation finished, he kissed the ground three times.

nDmitri and Adrianna were feeling very hot, but both of them were controlling their discomfort in front of others. Cora noticed Adrianna's discomfort and came to her rescue.

nShe stopped the shaman and said,

"Can't you see that Adrianna is unwell?

" Then, she went to Adrianna and placed her hand on her forehead.

"Her temperature is high. Dmitri, we need to show her to the healer now.

" She thought that Dmitri would take the bait as he was constantly concerned about Adrianna all the time.

nBut Dmitri looked at his mother and said,

"Adrianna can tolerate this much, Mother. Don't interfere with the ceremony now.

"

nCora gritted her teeth and stepped back.

nFor the first ritual, the shaman lifted a chalice that let out smoke from the blue calamus root, which both of them had to inhale. This ceremony was for purification, which ended in an exchange of secrets that both of them needed to share with each other through whispers.

nFor the second ritual, the hands of the newlyweds were tied with a flower ribbon. Then, they held a white candle while saying their wedding vows.

nThe last ritual was left and there were no signs of the poison working on Adrianna. Cora was becoming more impatient by the minute. She couldn't let the ceremony conclude. If the last ritual took place, it would seal Adrianna and Dmitri as mates. Then he would never accept Keisha. She shouted,

"Wait!

"

nEveryone in the pack started glaring at her. Ed became especially irritated and said,

"Cora, I am warning you now. Do not interfere with the ceremony.

"

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"There is a ceremony where the bride's sister has to place the sacred beads around the bride's neck,

" said Cora, taking off a beaded necklace that she was wearing.

"Where is Kayla?

"

nIt was at that time when everyone became aware of Kayla's absence. The shaman narrowed his eyes at Cora and said,

"There is no such ritual.

" He was peeved that someone would actually challenge his knowledge on this ceremony. It was time for the unification ritual.

nIgnoring Cora, he asked Adrianna to extend her hand. He took a knife to make a slash in her palm and her blood started flowing. Then, he made a gash in Dmitri's palm. He took their bloodied hands to join them in union, when Cora again shouted,

"Wait!

"

nBut it was too late. The shaman had placed Adrianna's hand on Dmitri's for the ultimate blood vow.

nAs if by magic, there was a glow around Adrianna which engulfed Dmitri also. It was so bright that the people present were blinded by the aura around them. It was unique because none of them had ever witnessed this kind of a mystical phenomenon before.

nAdrianna and Dmitri were unified as the hearts of both of the alphas became identical. From now on, they shared one heart. For them to become mates for life, Dmitri had to mark his wife.

nAs soon as the ceremony ended, Adrianna knelt down, her insides not able to withhold it any longer. The healer was called and both of them were taken to the nearest room.

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