The Alpha's Exchanged Mate
The Alpha’s Exchanged Mate – Chapter 35

Edwina’s POV…

I can’t believe I finally pulled it off with my life intact. It was a whole lot of work and stress, but Becca and Ramona came through for me. They were so proactive and efficient in delivering, so I had less to worry about. It was party time, and I had not yet seen Alex. I was getting worried. Had I pushed him away with my reaction?

I should understand things aren’t easy for him, too, he was betrayed in the worst possible way, and I don’t want to downplay his struggles. He became crippled in the cause of their infidelity, and he doesn’t even know about it yet.

I knew I had to dress extra special today. First, I needed to dress to make an appearance. It will be my first public appearance to the night howlers as the Luna. And as tradition may have it, I am the one supposed to pour the sacred oil on the new Beta after his being crowned by the Luna.

And also, I need to dress beautifully to appease my husband. I was tired of the back and forth, and as Becca had suggested, maybe we needed a honeymoon, it might not make me fall in love with him, but at least we would be at peace.

I can work with peace for the rest of my life, and we can maybe be friends. I think I can settle for that.

I took a good amount of time doing my makeup. I had insisted on doing it myself today and given Becca the rest of the day to rest and prepare for the party, and then I picked a black gown. It had stones on it, and I wore the golden Luna crown for the first time ever. The crown was meant for special occasions, and I think this was one.

I stood before the mirror smiling. I had truly outdone myself.

There was a slight knock on the door, and before I uttered a word, the door slowly opened, and Alex appeared, wheeling himself towards me. He was already dressed and looked dashingly handsome. It was like we planned the color; he was also wearing black with a slight touch of golden and wore his crown also.

Would it be wrong if I told him how handsome he looked? He paused when he was directly opposite me.

“Wow,” he said with a grin on his face, “You look so beautiful,” he complimented, and I tried not to blush, but my pink cheeks were already given that away. “Becca did a great job with the makeup.”

“Thank you,” I replied with a smile on my face, “I did the makeup myself,” I spoke proudly with a smirk on my face.

“Wow, we should consider opening a beauty parlor for you,” he teased, and I chuckled.

“You look handsome, black looks good on you,” I said calmly.

“Thank you,” he replied.

Soon an awkward silence took over the room, and I couldn’t help but be disappointed at how cold we went in minutes.

“I am sorry for what I said yesterday,” he finally said, breaking the silence.

“No, you shouldn’t be, I understand where you are coming from,” I interrupted him. “You have been through a lot and truly that would alter anyone’s ability to trust again,”

“It hasn’t altered yours,” he countered, and I gave a half-smile.

“Who said so, maybe I just can hide my pain better than others,” I replied, and he came close to where I stood, and I sat down on the edge of the bed to put us on the same level. He held my hands.

“You must have been used to the pain of this nature. That isn’t how it is supposed to be,” he spoke, and I could hear the empathy in his voice. There is something about this man that feels so familiar to me.

“Well, what really can I do about it,” I muttered calmly to him, and he breathed out.

“We should head out, most of the guests are already arriving,”

I held his hand, “Alex,” I said, and he smiled.

“I love the sound of your name on your lips,” he held my hands together with his and caressed them gently.

“I was thinking,”

“About what?” He asked almost immediately,

“Since we got married, we haven’t gotten any time to stay together,” I swallowed in a gulp of saliva. I don’t know why it is so hard for me to mutter words as simple as this.

“Alone,” I paused, took a deep breath, and continued, “I think we should take out some time to spend alone and get to know each other more. Far from here, away from the noise,”

A smile formed instantly on his face as I was shamelessly blushing pink. I can’t believe I was proposing a romantic getaway.

“Edwina,” he called my name, and I also loved the way my name sounded on his lips, ” are you proposing we have our honeymoon?”

I lowered my head in embarrassment. What was I thinking? Immediately he raised my head up and tilted towards me, instantly taking my lips into his, kissing me with intensity and passionately. This was the first time we would be kissing this intensely, knowing fully well it wouldn’t be leading to s*x. He held onto me for a while, his hot breath on my face, and I knew if it weren’t that we were already late and it would be so hard to get this stupid black dress off, I would have wanted more. I can’t deny the fact that we were sexually active together and had undeniable chemistry.

“I would love that. I think we need it. We rushed into this thing and didn’t have time to get to know each other. I know you don’t love me, not the way you love Ben.”

I frowned at what he said.

“I am sorry,” he quickly apologized when he noticed the change in my countenance, “but what I am hoping is this marriage doesn’t turn out to be something horrible. You might not love me, but still, I am hoping we can be friends,”

“I am hoping we can be friends too,” I replied with a smile on my face.

“So dear friend, when do you want us to take this trip?” He asked as I stood up to adjust my dress and headed to the dressing mirror to put on my lipstick again, as he had smeared the previous one while kissing me.

“What about tomorrow? Why wait for a week or two?”

“I think I like your impulsive side. We can go immediately after I am done clearing some things at work. It might be tomorrow or next.” He replied, and I nodded my head.

***

We went into the grand banquet hall, hand in hand, with elegant smiles on our faces. I could feel a lot of eyes on us as the crowd split into two, clearing the center of the hall for us to pass through. It was glamorous to see how they honored the invitation even with such short notice. We waved as we passed most people and stopped to greet some of the Alphas who were present and paid our respect to them. Alex introduced me to everyone as his Luna, and I gave a beaming smile whenever he did. It was amazing to be given something so relevant. When we made our way to the stage, a mic was handed to me to make a speech.

Becca had already briefed me on what was expected of me to say, and all I needed to do was to follow the script.

“Good day, everyone. It’s an honor for me and Alpha Alexander to have you in our humble abode, thank you for honoring our invitation on such short notice,” applause submerged from the hall briefly, and I smiled.

“But today isn’t about me. It’s about a great man who would take on the mantle of leadership by being the night howler’s Beta wolf. This man had shown great resilience and battle strength, and we can’t help but give him all due respect which we know he deserves.” I paused and glanced at Alexander, who was flickering with a smile on his face. He couldn’t hide his amazement.

“Without further ado, let’s bring to the stage for his coronation, the man of the moment. Caleb,” and there was loud applause as he walked grandly to the stage, and when he got there, he bowed down to me and Alpha Alexander. Then the coronation started. Some of the elder chiefs helped in the ritual, and then soon, people began to turn back and murmur, submerging the hall once more.

“What is going on?” Alpha Alexander asked. And a group of men appeared wearing black and with skull tattoos in front of them, they wore evil grins on their faces, and you could immediately tell they were bad news.

“Sizzlers,” Alexander and Caleb chorused together.

The sizzlers, the same people we were in a large feud with.

“What are they doing here, did you invite them, Edwina?” Alexander asked, facing me.

“No, I didn’t,” I replied. Why would I when I know they are our sworn enemies?”

“Hmmm,”

The tall, muscular man who seemed to be their leader came forward.

“A party and you didn’t invite the sizzlers, are we that much of an enemy, Alpha Alexander.” He yelled out, obviously wanting all the attention to be on him. He got it already.

“What are you doing here, Alpha Bethel? You are not welcome here,” Alexander replied to him. He was with a mic, so he didn’t need to shout.

“Oh come on, is it because I asked for your Luna in exchange for a settlement,” Alpha Bethel said again in a loud bass voice.

I glared at Alexander, I didn’t understand what he meant by what he was saying, and I was willing to know, but I knew this wasn’t the time I asked him or questioned the authority of my husband in front of everyone.

“I just came here to let you know that the time is ticking. I am waiting for your reply else I will reign hell and water on the night howler territory,” he threatened and, without waiting for a reply, turned back and walked out of the hall. There was a lot of chattering coming from every angle of the hall. We were able to control the crowd enough to complete the ceremony. And after just a few minutes of greeting some people, Alpha Alexander and I retired to our bedroom. As soon as the doors were shut, I cast a glare at him, demanding an explanation.

“I am so sorry, I should have told you,” he apologized.

“Tell me about what, what does he mean by the settlement?” I asked curiously as I was confused.

“They want to start another war and they asked as an exchange for settlement I surrender you to them,”

“What, why will they ask__,”

“I will never do it. I would rather die, the sizzlers will always keep asking for something. Last time they asked for half of our territory and its people and now this,” he explained while lurking his hands through his hair. I could tell he was highly agitated.

“That’s absurd. There is no way we are heading to their threat. Why didn’t you tell me? I wouldn’t have organized such a large gathering. Look at what happened now. They just used it as an avenue to create chaos among the pack,” I muttered as I went on my knee to hold his hands and prevent them from scratching off his hair.

“I know, I am sorry, I will have Caleb manage it, don’t worry things will be fine,”

I nodded my head and pulled him into a hug. I don’t know if this was the right time to tell him of Ben’s affiliation with the sizzlers.

No, he already had enough blow for one night. I think I will tell him during our trip.