I nodded, “That sounds like a h.ell of an idea, just one not suited to tank members and their flair for showing off. Also, what would the Lunas do then? Die from boredom most likely,” I mused and the man next to me laughed, it boomed and it caught Nolan’s attention along with his mother and father.
I stared at them all with a smile on my face.
Camilla moved away from the table finally, only to come around to sit next to Nolan on his other side. People actually moved so that Nolan could pull up a chair for her.
Anger surged a real thing that I could hold onto. How dare she?
What was Nolan thinking? I know he was being polite but this crossed a line.
I scooted next to him as soon as the man left with his apologies to Nolan and his parents. After he left, most others left leaving the ranked members and a few stragglers including my parents behind.
Camilla smiled at Nolan so genuinely that I wanted nothing more than to wipe it off of her mouth. I knew that I should share this with him out of joy but this was too perfect of an opportunity to pass up.
My spite and joy were keeping the same company this evening.
“Your gift,” I slid it to him smiling, “I wanted to give it to you earlier, but.” I shrugged, chewing on my bottom lip.
He looked at me curiosity evident on his face as he opened the box and pulled out the paper. My stomach filled with butterflies as he read it, I couldn’t wait for his reaction.
This is something we both wanted but it hadn’t happened until now. It felt like perfect timing. The Moon Goddess blessed us with a baby months before we would take over the pack, ensuring the Alpha’s line.
“Willa?” He looked at me, hurt flashed in his eyes momentarily before he locked his jaw, “I wish we could have done this privately.”
My stomach clenched, did it matter? No one else knew, he didn’t even announce it.
“I Nolan Hemming future Alpha of the Blue Ridge Pack Reject you, Willa, er Wilhelmina Balfour as my mate and future Luna.”
I didn’t understand his words but my body did.
Pain rippled through me as I felt our bond start to snap. I couldn’t breathe. Fire sparked through me replacing my blood.
I swear this was the end. I would die from this. My vision blurred and went black.
Angry shouts and warm familiar hands lifted me up. My eyes blinked open as I was drawn away from the table.
The last thing I saw before I drifted back into agonizing darkness was Camilla comforting my mate through the pain.
The pain lessened, only barely.
I was able to start to think and feel things other than the agonizing pain that rippled through me.
My first thought sent waves of terror through me, was the baby okay? There was no way they survived that. Agony replaced the burning hurt. I couldn’t lose them too, they were my last link to Nolan to the life I still so desperately wanted.
I blinked my eyes open and saw that I was back in my room, my childhood room in my parent’s house. A fresh wave of tears sprung to my eyes, I was back here instead of the room that I shared with Nolan in the packhouse. I had hoped it was all a bad dream, but this felt final.
“Honey?” My mom came in with some water and helped me sit up.
My throat was dry and I drank the entire glass without stopping.
“How long?” I asked, talking hurt.
“Almost two days,”
My first thought was that I missed his birthday and I hated that I was still thinking about him first, but I always did, even before he noticed me.
“He wants to talk to you when you’re ready.” I nodded, every part of me still yearned for him and his embrace.
He must have changed his mind, and it was the only thing that got me out of bed and in a shower. I pulled a comb through my hair but nothing would fix the bags under my red-rimmed puffy eyes.
Good, he should see me like this.
I walked to his office determined, or his dad’s office that he was using today. I knocked and opened it without waiting for a reply.
Nolan was sitting behind the desk and looked surprised to see me. I was happy that he looked worse for wear, but not half as bad as I did.
“Willa,” He breathed motioning me to sit down, I couldn’t read his expression. His face was taunt and his eyes were hard, not like the soft dark brown eyes that I saw when he looked at me.
I remained standing behind the empty chair my chin jutted forward. I didn’t speak, this was on him.
“I regret how that happened, I panicked, it shouldn’t have been done like that. I should have talked to you after the party,” He rubbed his hand over his face and my heart thrummed.
“I panicked, but now that we are more contained,” He looked at me, “I need you to finish it.”
I tilted my head, I didn’t understand.
“Willa, I need you to accept my rejection so we can move on. Both of us”
The air whooshed out of me and I fought to stay standing my grip on the chair.
“You can still stay in this pack, your things are being packed up now for you and will be sent to your parents to make it easier.”
My ears were ringing and I couldn’t hear anything but what sounded like my blood rushing through me.
“Willa?” He sounded far away.
“I Wilheminia Balfour accept your rejection to be your mate and your future Luna of The Blue Ridge Pack.” The last shred of me cracked. Somehow I made myself walk away from him without begging, without asking the questions that were coursing through me.
What about the baby? Why? Why?
I didn’t notice anyone that I walked past as I ran to the clinic. Running was uncharacteristic of a Luna but I wasn’t going to be a Luna anymore so f.uck it.
I ignored the nurse at the front desk and launched into Dr. Lilian’s office.
“Is the baby okay? I need to know.” I demanded. Her eyes softened when she saw me in this state, she must have known.
The baby was fine, I wasn’t, but that was something.
Thankfully, no one was home. I crawled into the bed in the home that I lived in until Nolan claimed me as his mate. Now, a few months before I was to become his Luna I was back here heartbroken and confused.
It might have been hours or days later that my mom got through to me.
“Sweetie, I know it’s difficult. Your father and I can’t even imagine the pain, but we need to talk.” I sat up and she placed a tray of food in front of me, soup, and thick slices of homemade bread.
More Kickass Werewolf Reads
Dive into our collection of free werewolf romance novels—where fierce Alphas, daring heroines, and heart-stopping twists await. Every story burns with forbidden desire, loyalty, and destiny. Don’t wait—here’s a world where love bites hard and nothing is stronger than the call of the mate.
Leave a Reply