Chapter b196 /b

    The guard’s face paled. “I didn’t mean-‘

    “Get away from us.” I turned back to Lilith and helped her sit up slowly. “Can you move? Does anything

    feel broken?b” /b

    “I’m alright, E. Really.” Lilith struggled to her feet with my help, wincing as she rotated her left ankle. But you need to get inside. The ceremony-b” /b

    “1

    “Forget the ceremony.” I kept one arm around Lilith’s waist and pulled her to her feet. “We need to get you

    to a doctor.”

    “E, no.” Lilith gripped my arm. “This is Alexander’s coronation. You cannot miss this.”

    “I can and I will if it means making sure you’re okay.” The cut on her temple was still bleeding, and I was

    pretty sure she’d twisted her ankle when she fell. “You’re more important than any ceremonyb./b”

    “Sweetheart, please-b” /b

    “What’s all thismotion?”

    I looked up to see two people approaching us–a distinguished–looking older man and an elegant woman with perfectly styled gray hair. I recognized them immediately: Sophia’s parents.

    What the hell were they doing here?

    “Alpha John, Luna Helen,” the security guard said, bowing at the waist and gesturing to me. “We have a situation here. This woman is trying to gain entry to the ceremony, but she doesn’t have proper

    identification-”

    “This woman,” Alpha John said, “is Luna E. She’s the Alpha King’s mate.”

    The security guards looked stunned. “But sir, she doesn’t look-”

    “I don’t care what she looks like,” Helen aid sharply. “She belongs in that cathedral with her mate. Now

    step aside.”

    I stared at them in confusion. Why were Sophia’s parents helping me? They had no reason to care whether bI /bmade it to the coronation or not. If anything, I would have expected them to enjoy seeing me

    humiliated like this.

    “Luna E,” John said, turning to me. “Are you injured? Do you need medical attention?”

    “I’m fine, but Lilith was hurt when the guard pushed her.”

    Helen hurried over and examined Lilith’s head injuries. “It’s not serious, but you should have both looked at by a doctor. However…” She nced toward the cathedral doors. “The coronation won’t wait.”

    b“/bI’m not leaving Lilith,” I said firmly.

    “E, please.” Lilith squeezed my hand. “I’m fine. Go to your mate.”

    “But-b” /b

    “I’ll take care of her,” Helen said with a smile. “You should attend the ceremony.”

    I looked between Lilith and Sophia’s parents, still trying to understand why they were helping me. But before I could make sense of it, Lilith gave me a gentle push toward the doors. “Go, dear. I’ll be fine.”

    I hesitated for another moment, but the bells had stopped, and I could hear a loud voice booming within the cathedral, indicating that the official ceremony had begun. If I was going to do this, it had to be now.

    “Fine,” I muttered, gently disentangling myself from Lilith so she could lean on Helen and John. The security guards stepped aside without another word, and I walked through the massive wooden doors

    into the cathedral.

    The sight that greeted me made my steps falter.

    The cathedral was packed with hundreds of people, all turned toward the altar where Alexander was standing in full ceremonial robes. The Alpha King’s crown was being lifted above his head by the High

    Priest, ready to be ced.

    And every single person in the cathedral turned to look at me.

    The silence was deafening. Hundreds of pairs of eyes taking in my torn, oil–stained dress. My bare feet. My tangled hair.

    At the altar, Alexander had gonepletely still. The crown was frozen in the High Priest’s hands as Alexander stared at me with his mouth agape.

    Without hesitation, I turned around and walked out,pletely humiliated.