Your ‘Bro’ in Our Ritual? I Reject You. Chapter 01

Your ‘Bro’ in Our Ritual? I Reject You. Chapter 01

I was about to step onto the parade float—a tradition where the Crimson Pack’s Alpha and Luna parade around the city to receive the pack’s blessings before their formal bonding—when Archie Blackwood stopped me.

“Let Caroline ride the float. I arranged another car for you.”

I froze.

Archie continued, “Caroline doesn’t believe in bond, but she wants to experience a mating ceremony. I already agreed to let her walk the entrance.”

I looked over his shoulder. His Beta, Caroline White, sat on the float holding a bouquet of red roses, wearing a Luna gown identical to mine.

Ignoring my hurt and anger, Archie sounded completely indifferent.

“The ceremony is just a formality. You’re the only one getting my mark and becoming Luna. Besides, once Caroline is done, you can take your turn.”

Without that, he turned and led the convoy of dozens of floats away without looking back.

I closed my eyes, tuning out the cheering pack members lining the streets.

It had been like this since we started planning the mating ceremony.

Just because Caroline was against bond and would never have a ceremony of her own, she got to try on the gown first, choose the venue, and now take the first turn at my ceremony.

As the last float rounded the corner ahead, my taxi got stuck at a red light, falling further behind.

The driver gripped the steering wheel, his voice trembling slightly. “Luna Olivia, don’t worry. As soon as the light turns green, I’ll catch up.”

I looked at the empty street ahead and forced a cold smile. “No need. Turn around.”

I didn’t want a second-hand ceremony, nor did I want a second-hand mate.

…

My words fell into the silence between song transitions on the radio.

The driver’s eyes widened in fear at the thought of angering Alpha. “What? Turn around?”

I smoothed down my gown.

My phone screen lit up from my touch, displaying our lock screen photo where I was the only one smiling happily.

Muffled gossip from the pack members outside leaked through the car window.

“Did you see that? That wasn’t Luna Olivia on the float! It was Beta Caroline!”

“I heard Alpha Archie never wanted Olivia Green anyway. His heart belongs to Caroline. Putting her on the float is a public slap in Olivia’s face. He’s defying fate for true love…”

I clenched my fists, my inner wolf stirring restlessly.

Another pack member hushed them hurriedly, pointing toward my car. “Olivia’s in there.”

The chatter died down.

I retracted my claws, looked up, and said firmly, “Head back to the hotel. I’m not bonding with Alpha Archie.”

The red light shifted to green. Horns honked impatiently behind us.

The driver swallowed his words, spun the wheel, and pulled a U-turn.

As the car smoothed out, messages from Archie popped up.

Archie: [I had the convoy leave you behind on purpose. Don’t bother chasing us.]

Archie: [Tell your driver to slow down so you don’t run into Caroline at the venue. She doesn’t like being upstaged.]

Archie: [And take the back entrance through the alley. Caroline cares about appearances. She doesn’t want the elders gossiping about her.]

It was rare for Archie to send me so many messages one time.

Every single word catered to Caroline’s feelings and reputation.

Yet earlier, when he dragged me off the float in front of everyone and shoved me into a taxi at the back of the line, he never once cared if I would lose face.

I opened the chat box and typed: [I’m not going through with this bond. Do whatever you want.]

Just as I was about to hit send, notifications flooded the top of my screen.