Chapter 4
Luna's POV
That low, deep growl, It vibrated through my bones like thunder rolling in my chest. I froze in place, another sound followed. It was a slow inhale, like someone breathing me in.
And then, a voice, it was low, dark and dangerous.
“Mine.”
The word wrapped around me before I could turn. My pulse stuttered, my breathing caught. The air thickened with something heavy and sweet, almost dizzying.
The scent, the scent, I turned, and there he was.
Alpha Cassius Grey.
Tall, broad shouldered, the kind of man who looked like the earth itself would move if he told it to. His eyes locked on me, unblinking, his jaw clenched, his nostrils flared like he was fighting to breathe.
For a moment, nobody spoke, the pack members in the hall had gone silent, all eyes flicking between us. I could hear my own heartbeat in my ears.
He stepped forward. “You are my mate.” His voice was deep, rich, and final.
Everyone in the room gasped. I swallowed hard, my lips trembled. “W-what?”
Cassius took another step closer, his eyes burning into mine. “You are mine.”
I didn’t know whether to cry, scream, or collapse right there. My chest ached, the bond thrumming like a live wire between us. I could feel him, his pull, his heat , like gravity dragging me forward.
I whispered, “Alpha Cassius…”
But then his expression shifted, his jaw tightened even more, and his gaze hardened into something sharp.
“But…” He turned his head slightly, loud enough for everyone to hear.
“I reject you.”
It felt like someone punched the air out of my lungs, my knees buckled. The murmurs started, a low blast of whispers from every corner of the room.
Cassius didn’t look at me. Instead, he stepped back and reached for her. Piper, she was standing behind him, smiling like the sun had chosen her and only her.
“She will be my mate,” Cassius said, pulling Piper close. “Piper is who I choose.”
I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t think, my voice came out as a broken whisper.
“You are rejecting me? In front of everyone?”
He's eyes finally met mine again, it was cold and detached. “Yes.”
Something inside me cracked, the bond between us, the thing I had just started to feel twisted cruelly. It burned through my chest, into my ribs, clawing its way down into my stomach.
I staggered back, clutching at myself like I could hold my heart in place. “ Alpha Cassius, please-”
“No,” he cut in, his tone was flat. “It’s done.”
The pain exploded, I dropped to my knees, my hands pressed against the floor, trying to ground myself as a wave of hurt tore through me.
It wasn’t just emotional, the mate bond was ripping apart inside me, shredding every thread that had just begun to weave.
I heard someone gasp, someone else mutter, “She is breaking.”
I could barely hear them, my world had narrowed to the pounding in my skull and the deep, unbearable ache in my chest.
“Get her out of here,” Cassius ordered. His voice sounded far away. “I don’t want her in my sight.”
My fingers were curled into the wood floor, tears blurred my vision. You don’t want me in your sight, you don’t want me at all.
I forced myself to stand, though my legs shook violently, I didn’t look at anyone, I didn’t want their pity, their curiosity, or their whispers.
I walked away.
I don’t remember making it back to my room.
I just remember sitting on the edge of my mat, staring at the wall, the taste of him still in the air and the scent still clinging to my skin.
Every time I thought the pain might ease, it slammed back into me, tearing through every nerve. I clutched my chest, curled over, gasping.
My voice was hoarse when I whispered into the empty room, “Why? Why me? What did I do?”
Nobody answered, hours could have passed, or minutes. I didn’t care, The only thing I knew was that I couldn’t stay here, not with him, not with her. Not with everyone who had seen me get discarded like I was nothing.
I shoved my things into a bag, my hands shook so hard I kept dropping things. I didn’t take one last look around, I just left.
The night air was cold against my face, I kept my head down as I crossed the courtyard, my heart racing with every step toward the gates.
No one stopped me, no one even spoke, once I hit the tree line, I ran.
The city lights glistered in the distance like I pushed myself faster, ignoring the burn in my lungs and the stitch in my side. I just needed to get far enough away that his scent couldn’t follow me, that his voice wouldn’t echo in my head.
By the time I reached the city, my legs felt like they were made of plastic, the noise hit me first, the traffic roaring, brakes screeching, people talking and laughing. It was a completely different world from the pack lands.
I walked through the sidewalks, trying not to make eye contact. My bag thumped against my hip with every step.
When the ache in my chest flared again, I ducked into an alley. It smelled like garbage and wet concrete, but at least it was dark. I pressed myself behind a dumpster, sinking down until my back hit the cold wall.
I wrapped my arms around my knees and tried to breathe. But my mind kept replaying it, Cassius stepping toward me, saying mine in that deep voice, the way my heart had leapt and then the way it shattered seconds later.
My breath came in shallow gasps. I whispered into the dark, “Why would the Moon Goddess do this to me?”
A car horn blared somewhere nearby, jerking me back to reality. I stood quickly, wiping my face with the back of my hand. I couldn’t stay here, I had to keep moving.
I slipped back into the street, staying close to the buildings, hiding in the shadows whenever headlights passed.
People passed by without noticing me, I was glad, I didn’t want anyone’s questions. It was from another block, another corner, another alley to cut through.
My worn out splashed through puddles, soaking my legs, and then as I stepped out of the alley and straight into something solid.
I stumbled back as the force hit me hard. It was a sleek black muscle car.
“I'm…sorry.” I muttered in pain and fear as the car suddenly parked.
It was the kind of car that didn’t belong on these streets, the door opened and my heart skipped.
The bond ache flared again, but this time it was different.