Beneath the Alpha's Moon
Chapter 248: The Banquet

Chapter 248: The Banquet

Mai’s P.O.V.

Liam was mine.

My father had made it clear, not just to me, not just to Liam, but to the entire pack. I could still feel the weight of his words pressing against my chest, a mixture of pride and something much more dangerous curling in my stomach. Possessiveness.

And yet... all I wanted in that moment was to take Liam’s hand and disappear.

But that was impossible.

As my father stepped forward and raised his goblet, his voice rang through the hall, authoritative and proud.

"Let the feast begin!"

A loud cheer erupted, the tension from earlier dissolving into joyous celebration. Music started up—drums, flutes, and the deep, resounding chants of warriors—and people rushed toward the long tables piled high with food. Roasted meat, spiced vegetables, honeyed bread, and sweet fruits lined every surface, filling the air with an intoxicating aroma.

I should have felt relieved. The focus was off the confrontation. The pack had moved on, ready to celebrate. But instead, Liam and I became the center of attention all over again.

People surrounded us, their voices a blur.

"Mai! Liam! When did you know you were mates?"

"Did it happen recently or have you known for long?"

"I always knew something was between you two!"

"Lucky! You got a mate like Mai!"

"Liam, tell us, how did it feel when you found out?"

Liam stiffened beside me, his fingers twitching at his sides. I could feel his discomfort like a second skin. He hated attention. He had spent his whole life trying to avoid it. But now... he was drowning in it.

I tightened my grip on his wrist, keeping him close.

He leaned toward me, his voice barely above a whisper. "Mai, I—"

I knew what he wanted. He wanted to leave. He wanted out of the crowded, suffocating space where people poked and prodded, their curiosity unrelenting.

And truthfully? So did I.

But I couldn’t.

Not tonight.

Tonight was for us. Tonight was in our honor.

I clenched my jaw, pushing down the urge to teleport away. My mother’s warning echoed in my mind. "No disappearing tonight, Mai. You will stay for the pack. For your family. For Liam."

I hated when she was right.

Liam let out a shaky breath as another group approached, all smiles and excitement. His grip on my wrist tightened.

I turned to him, offering a small smirk. "You okay?"

He gave me a look. A classic, ’Do I look okay?’ kind of look.

I laughed under my breath. "Don’t worry, you’ll survive."

"Easy for you to say," he muttered. "You have always surrounded by people. You might not admit it but, you actually like people."

I leaned in, brushing my lips against his ear. "No. I like you."

A shiver ran through him, and for a second, just a second, I felt his tension ease. But then someone else was clapping him on the back, asking more questions, and the moment was gone.

The night stretched on, the celebrations carrying us along like a relentless tide.

Ollie was being swarmed as well, warriors talking happily about his strength, his training, his status as a future leader. He handled it with grace, his smile easy, his posture relaxed. He thrived in the attention.

Me? Not so much.

Liam? Even less.

Everywhere we turned, there were people. Talking, laughing, clapping us on the shoulders. My patience frayed with every second, my fingers itching to drag Liam away to someplace quiet, someplace where we could just breathe.

But we were stuck.

And then, finally—finally—the fire was lit.

A massive bonfire roared to life at the heart of the celebration, sending golden sparks into the starry sky. Shadows danced across the ground as people gathered around, their faces illuminated by the flickering light. The music slowed, shifting into a more softer, deeper song.

I exhaled slowly, pulling Liam down to sit beside me on a log. He all but collapsed against me, his shoulder pressing into mine.

"You survived," I teased, nudging him.

"Did I?" His voice was dry. "Because I feel like I just got eaten alive by questions."

I laughed, threading my fingers through his. His skin was warm, his touch grounding.

"Well," I murmured, leaning in closer, "you are my mate now. You better get used to the attention."

He groaned. "I was afraid you’d say that."

I smirked, tilting my head to look at him. "Would it be so bad? Being seen?"

His blue eyes flickered, catching the fire’s glow.

"I don’t know," he admitted. "I’ve spent so long hiding. It’s... weird."

I reached up, brushing his bangs away from his scars. He flinched instinctively but didn’t pull away. I traced my fingers over the rough, uneven skin, my touch featherlight.

"You don’t have to hide anymore," I whispered.

Something unreadable passed through his eyes.

"I know," he said softly.

The warmth of the fire, the murmur of voices, the steady rhythm of the drums—it all faded as I focused on the boy in front of me. The boy I had hurt before. The boy who had every reason to hate me, but instead, loved me.

I leaned in, pressing my forehead to his.

"I love you," I breathed.

His fingers curled into my shirt, his grip tight, almost desperate. "I love you too, Mai."

My heart clenched.

I closed the distance between us, capturing his lips in a kiss. It was slow, deep, filled with everything words could never express. He melted into me, his hand sliding to the back of my neck, holding me there like I was something precious.

Cheers erupted around us, people whooping and laughing. Someone shouted, "Get a room!"

I pulled back just enough to smirk against his lips. "Want to?"

He snorted. "Tempting."

I laughed, shoving him lightly. "Come on, enjoy the night with me. Just for a little longer."

He sighed but nodded. "Fine. But only if you promise we can sneak away after."

I grinned. "Deal."

After that, Liam and I sat quietly together lost in each other’s presence, our fingers still tangled together, his warmth making me contented.

But then, my father rose to his feet.

The crowd quieted immediately, all eyes turning to Alpha Lucian Blackwood. He stood tall, his presence commanding as he gazed over the gathered pack members. Beside him, my mother, rested a hand on his arm, her eyes filled with happiness and pride.

I sat up straighter, a strange feeling twisting in my stomach.

"I have an announcement," my father’s deep voice carried effortlessly over the clearing. "As you all know, this is a season of new bonds, of mates finding each other as the Goddess intended. And as tradition dictates, those who have found their mates will participate in the Mate Bond Ceremony in two weeks’ time."

The crowd murmured in approval, excitement sparking through them. I could feel Liam stiffen beside me, his fingers twitching in mine.

My father’s eyes found me, then Liam. "This includes my daughter, Mai, and Liam Rivers."

Silence followed.

Then an eruption of cheers, howls, and claps filled the night. People turned to look at us, some with grins, others with curiosity, and a few with something colder—doubt, judgment. I didn’t care about them.

But I did care about the way Liam’s breath hitched.

I turned to him, squeezing his hand. "Hey."

His blue eyes darted to mine, wide, uncertain.

"I know," I murmured. "It’s a lot."

He nodded, his fingers tightening around mine.

My father wasn’t finished. He lifted a hand, signaling for silence.

"There is one rule," he said, his tone brooking no argument. "None of the chosen pairs may consummate their bond until the ceremony."

A wave of hushed laughter and amused murmurs swept through the crowd. Some people elbowed each other, others smirked knowingly.

I smirked too. Typical of my father to act like he had any control over that.

Liam, on the other hand, looked like he wanted to disappear into the ground. His entire face burned red, his ears practically glowing.

"Did he—" he whispered hoarsely. "Did he just—"

"Oh, he did," I drawled, biting back a laugh. "And now the entire pack knows we can’t have sex for two weeks."

Liam groaned, pressing his hands over his face. "Kill me."

I chuckled, leaning closer. "Tempting. But then who would keep me from losing my mind?"

He peeked at me between his fingers, exasperation clear in his eyes. "You are ridiculous."

"I love you," I shot back, grinning.

He let out a breath, shaking his head. "I love you too, crazy girl."

I nudged his shoulder. "Hey."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It’s not the ceremony, or even the—" He waved vaguely, his ears still red. "The other part. It’s just... this is real, Mai. It’s happening."

I studied him, my smirk fading. "Does that scare you?"

His lips parted, but he hesitated, searching for the right words. Then, softly, "Yes. But not because I don’t want it."

Something in my chest tightened.

Liam rarely spoke about his fears. He joked, he deflected, he let me drag him into trouble, but real, raw honesty? That was rare.

"Then what?" I asked, keeping my voice gentle.

He let out a slow breath, his gaze flickering to the fire. "I just... I don’t deserve this. You. The bond." His voice dropped lower. "Not after what happened."

Pain lanced through me. I hated this. Hated that he still carried the weight of something that had happened when we were children, something I had done to him.

I grabbed his wrist, pulling his hand to my face, forcing him to look at me. "Liam."

He blinked at me, startled.

"You are mine," I said fiercely. "And I am yours. The past doesn’t change that. I won’t let it."

He exhaled shakily, his thumb brushing absently over my knuckles. "You make it sound so simple."

"It is." I held his gaze. "We’re mates. You love me, and I love you. That’s all that matters."

He gave a small, reluctant smile. "You make it sound easy."

I arched a brow. "That’s because it is. Now stop sulking and come dance with me."

His face went from soft to horrified in a second. "Mai—"

"Oh, no, you don’t." I shot to my feet, dragging him up with me. "You are not getting out of this."

"Mai," he hissed. "I can’t dance."

I grinned. "Good. That makes two of us."

And before he could argue, I pulled him into the crowd.

The rest of the night passed in a blur of music, laughter, and stolen touches. Liam loosened up eventually, even laughing when I tripped over my own feet and nearly took us both down.

For a moment, I let myself forget everything—the ceremony, the pack’s judgment, the past.

For a moment, it was just us.

And that was enough.

For now.