Moonlight’s chosen

Chapter 6

Thank you,” I said, looking at Fin. He nodded. Every instinct I had was telling me to step closer to him, but I stayed rooted to my spot.

“Listen,” I started. “I’m sorry. I know it isn’t fair to you or our wolves, but I have a chosen mate. I have not accepted him, as I promised my father I would wait—to let him try to train him for some alpha duties.”

“Serene is very angry about this, but I love him, and I know she will too. I promised her I would not reject you tonight, but I’m afraid if I don’t do it now, she will keep taking control until she gets what she wants.”

Fin flinched. I could clearly see the pain in his eyes. I started to say, “Fin, beta of the Silver Moon Pack, I rej—”

Fin’s hand clasped over my mouth.

“Lacey, do not finish that sentence,” he said firmly. “I just listened to you tell me how you love another man, and not once did I open my mouth to reject you or argue your feelings. But I will not let you reject me the same day you found me.”

“You do not have to accept me right now. If the man you love feels the same love you do, I’m sure you don’t have to accept him right now either. Everyone involved has a lot to think about, and a very hard decision to make that should not be taken lightly or made with haste.”

“All of that aside, you also made a promise to your wolf, and you almost just broke it. That could have been unforgivable. You do not want to deal with trust issues between you and your wolf for the rest of your life.”

Fin slowly removed his hand from my mouth. Standing there silently for a moment, I let all of his words sink in. I said nothing in return. Spinning on my heel, I walked back out the door.

My mind was moving too fast for me to say anything or know what to do at all.

I ran to my bedroom, sinking to the floor as I let the tears fall. Today was never supposed to go like this. It was supposed to be the first day of my dreams coming true.

I stood up. I needed to find Ben. I hadn’t seen him at all during the party—not that I’d been able to stay long. I crept down the stairs, making sure to stay hidden as much as possible. Many people from our pack stayed at the pack house to eat, converse, and clean up. I did not want to alert them and ruin my mother’s lie about me not feeling well.

I spotted Ben in the corner of the room with a plate of food. I made my way closer, Serene whining in my head and trying to push forward to take control. I focused on blocking her.

I reached Ben, pulling him into the hall quickly and throwing my hand over his mouth so his shout of shock wouldn’t alert anyone.

“Lacey, what are you doing?” he whispered. “I’ve been looking for you. I heard you didn’t feel good. I went to your room, but you weren’t there. Lisa’s been worried too.”

“I’m sorry,” I said quickly. “It’s a long story. It’s been a very crazy night. I’ll catch you up on everything as soon as possible.”

Serene was growling loudly in my mind.

You are wrong, she declared. I could never love this man. I feel his darkness, and I’ve only been in his presence for five minutes.

“Shut up,” I shouted back internally. “You don’t know what the f**k you’re talking about.”

Ben grabbed my shoulders, making Serene growl louder.

“Lacey, do you hear me? I’m talking to you. What do you mean ‘as soon as possible’? Why can’t you tell me right now?” His eyes searched mine. “You’ve found your mate, haven’t you?”

My heart dropped. I nodded.

“But that’s not it,” I rushed. “I love you, and I’ve already made him aware that you’re the one I love.”

“Good,” Ben said, nodding. “So you already rejected him.”

I tensed.

Serene lost it—slamming into the wall repeatedly, trying to break through. I was using all my strength to keep her back.

I shook my head. “I haven’t.”

“And you’re not going to,” Serene shouted, making me clutch my head.

“But I made sure he knows that I love you and have no intentions of accepting him.”

“You can’t accept me either,” Ben shouted, making me jump. “When you have a fated mate you didn’t reject.”

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I can’t accept you yet either. I made a deal with my father.”

“I see,” Ben said quietly, looking hurt.

Guilt twisted in my stomach, and Serene’s growling wasn’t helping.

“I’m sorry,” Ben said, stepping forward. “I know this is a lot. Yelling isn’t helping.”

“It’s okay,” I whispered, stepping into his arms.

“We’ll figure everything out,” he assured me.

I tilted my head up, and his lips met mine. His tongue swiped across my bottom lip until I opened my mouth, giving him access.

Serene went absolutely insane.

Fin can f*****g feel that, you selfish b***h, she screamed, slamming into the wall again.

I no longer had the strength to hold her back.

I watched in horror as she took control—claws extending from my hand without me noticing. She slashed Ben across the chest and shoved him back.

“We will never accept you,” she screamed. “I will make absolutely sure of it. I can feel the evil flowing through you. Just because Lacey is too blind to see through your mask does not mean that I am.”

She ran—straight into the woods surrounding the pack.

I screamed at her to give me my body back as she ran.

“This is both of our bodies,” she shouted aloud. “Yet you only think of yourself.”

“I’m sorry,” I cried. “I was going to break my promise to you—but hurting Ben was never okay.”

And the things I said were true, she interrupted. I feel the evil inside him. Who are you to decide my instincts are wrong?

“Who are you to decide mine are f*****g wrong?” I screamed back. “I’ve known him for six years. We’ve been together for four. He’s been there for me through s**t you weren’t.”

Serene went quiet.

Exactly, she said softly. Yet I’m the selfish b***h—for not wanting to trade the man you’ve loved for years for a bond we just found today.