Matilda's POV
Lena practically ripped me away from Marco the moment the teasing got too much.
"Come on, future Luna," she sang, dragging me toward the bathing chambers. "We have work to do!"
I barely had time to process before I found myself in a grand bathing room, steam already rising from the warm water. The scent of lavender and rose filled the air, the oils already poured in.
I hesitated at the edge of the massive tub. "Lena, I don't"
"Oh, hush," she scolded, hands on her hips. "Tonight is important. You're getting marked. Which means you need to be perfect."
I sighed but nodded, knowing there was no way out of this.
She smirked. "Now, strip."
I sputtered. "Lena!"
"Oh, please, don't get shy now," she teased, starting to unlace the back of my dress herself. "I know Marco's going to see all of this later."
My face burned. "That's not"
"Oh, it is," she giggled, finally tugging my dress off my shoulders. "After he marks you? You'll be begging for him."
I swallowed hard, the nerves already setting in.
Lena, of course, noticed. She softened slightly. "Hey," she said gently. "I know we tease, but… you're ready for this, right?"
I hesitated, but then I nodded. "I am."
She studied me for a moment before grinning. "Good. Because after tonight? You're really going to need that bath."
I gasped as she pushed me straight into the warm water.
"LENA!"
She howled with laughter.
I sat in the warm water, glaring at Lena as she laughed like she hadn't just shoved me into the bath.
"That wasn't funny," I huffed, wiping water from my face.
"Oh, it absolutely was," she countered, sitting on a cushioned stool beside the tub. "Now, relax, Matilda. Tonight's a big night."
I let out a slow breath, sinking into the scented water. The warmth eased my tense muscles, but my mind was still racing.
The marking ceremony.
It was really happening.
Lena reached for a small bottle of oil, pouring a few drops into the water before dipping a soft cloth in and beginning to scrub my shoulders.
"You're tense," she observed. "Cold feet?"
I shook my head. "Not cold feet. Just… nervous."
Lena hummed in understanding. "It's normal. You're about to be bound to the most powerful Alpha there is. It's a big deal."
I chewed my lip. "It's not just that. It's. everything. The ceremony, the pain, the pack watching, and" I stopped myself.
Lena smirked. "And Marco?"
I turned even redder.
"Oh, you are thinking about that part." She giggled. "Worried about handling your big bad Alpha?"
"Lena!" I splashed water at her, but she dodged effortlessly.
She cackled, handing me a bar of soap. "Relax, Matilda. Marco will take care of you. And trust me, after tonight? You'll be thanking the Goddess you ended up with him."
I buried my face in my hands, groaning. "You're impossible."
"I prefer helpful."
After the bath, Lena pulled me out and wrapped me in a fluffy towel. Then she led me to the vanity, where several outfits were laid out.
"Now, for the hard part," she said, tapping her chin. "What will you wear when Marco devours you with his eyes in front of the entire pack?"
I let out a strangled sound. "Could you not phrase it like that?"
Lena ignored me, holding up two options.
One was a deep red gown, elegant and regal, with intricate gold embroidery. The other was a soft, flowing white dress with silver accents, giving off an almost ethereal look.
I hesitated. "Which one do you think is better?"
Lena grinned mischievously. "The red one says take me now, Alpha. The white one says I'm innocent, but not for long."
I gawked at her. "I hate you."
"No, you don't." She winked. "Now, pick one before I pick for you."
I sighed, reaching out to make my choice
I ran my fingers over the soft fabric of both dresses, my heart hammering in my chest. The red one was bold too bold. The thought of Marco seeing me in it, of the entire pack watching as I stood beside him, made my stomach flip.
But the white one.it felt safer, softer, like it belonged to a moment I could still control.
I swallowed hard and picked it up. "This one."
Lena pouted dramatically. "Boring choice, but fine. You do look angelic in white." Then her smirk returned. "Too bad Marco will ruin that image by the end of the night."
I groaned. "Lena, please!"
She laughed, shoving the dress into my arms before pulling me toward a chair in front of the vanity. "Alright, sit. Time to make you look like a Luna."
I obeyed, and she immediately got to work, brushing through my hair with slow, deliberate strokes. The room was silent for a moment, the only sound being the crackling of a nearby fire.
Then Lena's voice turned softer. "You're really doing this, huh?"
I met her gaze in the mirror. "Yeah."
She studied me for a moment, then smiled. "You love him."
My breath hitched. "Lena"
"You don't have to say it," she said, waving a hand. "I can see it all over your face. And Marco? Goddess, he's been a lovesick fool since the moment he laid eyes on you."
I bit my lip, heat crawling up my neck.
Lena grinned, satisfied with my reaction, and turned back to my hair. She twisted strands into soft waves before pinning a few pieces back with delicate silver clips.
"There," she said, stepping back. "Absolutely stunning."
I looked at my reflection. My dark hair cascaded in waves over my shoulders, the silver accents gleaming under the soft candlelight. My skin glowed, my eyes seemed brighter almost like I belonged here.
I felt like Marco's Luna.
Lena placed a pair of earrings in my palm. "These belonged to the last Luna. Marco's mother."
I looked up sharply. "Are you serious?"
She nodded. "Marco wanted you to have them."
My heart clenched. I carefully fastened them, the weight of them grounding me.
Lena smiled at me in the mirror. "Ready?"
I took a deep breath. "Ready."