THE LUNA'S REJECTION

CHAPTER 5: The Obsession

The sun was sinking low in the sky, casting a warm, golden light over the Silver Moon Pack’s territory. Shadows stretched long across the ground, and the forest seemed to settle into a quiet hush as evening approached. But within the Alpha’s Keep, the atmosphere was anything but serene.

Rowan paced the length of his chambers, his movements restless, agitated. His mind was a whirlpool of conflicting emotions, all of them centered on one person: Aria. Since her return, she had occupied his every thought, her presence an irritant he couldn’t ignore. The way she had looked at him—so calm, so indifferent—had unsettled him more than he cared to admit. It was as if she no longer saw him as a threat, no longer feared him as she once had.

That realization gnawed at Rowan, stirring something dark and possessive within him. He had been the one to cast her out, the one to reject her, yet now she walked among the pack as if she belonged, as if she had every right to be there. And the worst part? She had changed. The vulnerability he once exploited was gone, replaced by a confidence that challenged his authority at every turn.

It infuriated him.

And yet, beneath the anger, there was something else—something that twisted and coiled in his chest whenever he thought of her. A longing, an obsession that had only grown stronger since her return. He had convinced himself that rejecting her had been the right choice, that she had been too weak to stand by his side. But now, seeing the woman she had become, he couldn’t help but wonder if he had made a mistake.

Rowan’s fists clenched at his sides as he tried to push the thoughts away. This wasn’t like him. He was an Alpha, the leader of the Silver Moon Pack, and he couldn’t afford to let his emotions cloud his judgment. But every time he saw Aria, every time he heard her voice, that control slipped a little more.

He needed to regain the upper hand. He needed to remind her who was in charge.

With that thought, Rowan abruptly turned on his heel and strode out of his chambers, his determination solidifying with every step. He would find Aria, confront her, and put an end to this game she was playing. She needed to understand that no matter how much she had changed, he was still the Alpha, and he would not be undermined.

The corridors of the Keep were dimly lit, the flickering torches casting dancing shadows on the stone walls. Rowan’s footsteps echoed in the silence as he made his way through the halls, his mind focused on the confrontation to come. When he reached the courtyard, he hesitated for a moment, scanning the area for any sign of her. The courtyard was empty, the only sounds the rustling of leaves in the evening breeze.

Frustration flared within him, but he pushed it down. He knew where she would be. She had always been drawn to the forest, even when they were younger—long before he had rejected her, long before everything had changed. Rowan headed toward the edge of the pack’s territory, his instincts guiding him.

As he reached the tree line, he spotted her. Aria was standing at the edge of the forest, her back to him, her figure bathed in the golden light of the setting sun. She was alone, seemingly lost in thought, her posture relaxed but alert. The sight of her standing there, so calm and self-assured, sent a surge of something intense and undeniable through Rowan.

He had to fight the urge to approach quietly, to watch her a little longer, but his impatience won out. Rowan stepped forward, the leaves crunching beneath his boots, and Aria turned at the sound, her amber eyes meeting his.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Rowan took in the sight of her, his mind flashing back to the last time they had been this close. But this time, there was no fear in her gaze, no trace of the girl who had once looked at him with hope and vulnerability. She was a woman now—strong, confident, and completely unreadable.

“Why are you here?” Aria asked, her voice steady and without a hint of the deference most wolves would show him.

The question only stoked the fire in Rowan’s chest. He took another step closer, his eyes narrowing. “I could ask you the same thing.”

Aria’s expression didn’t change. “You know why I’m here.”

Rowan’s temper flared. “Do I? Because all I see is someone who thinks they can waltz back in here and act like nothing happened. Like you belong here.”

“I do belong here,” Aria replied calmly. “Whether you accept that or not is up to you.”

Her words, so sure and unyielding, struck a nerve. Rowan closed the distance between them in a few quick strides, his anger boiling over. “You think you can just walk in and challenge me? You think you’re stronger now, is that it?”

Aria held her ground, her gaze never wavering. “I don’t need to challenge you, Rowan. I’m not here to take your place. I’m here because this is my home, and I’m not going to let you or anyone else push me out again.”

Rowan’s eyes darkened, and before he could stop himself, he grabbed her arm, his grip firm but not painful. “You’re not the same girl I remember, Aria. But that doesn’t mean you can just ignore the past. I rejected you for a reason.”

For a brief moment, Aria’s eyes flickered with something—anger, hurt, perhaps even regret—but it was gone in an instant, replaced by the cold detachment that had become her shield. “You rejected a girl who didn’t know her own strength,” she said quietly, her voice laced with an edge of steel. “But I’m not that girl anymore. You can’t control me, Rowan. Not like before.”

Rowan’s grip tightened slightly, his emotions a chaotic mix of frustration and desire. He wanted to shake her, to make her see that he was still in charge, still the Alpha. But at the same time, he wanted something else—something he couldn’t quite name, something that made his pulse quicken whenever he looked at her.

He opened his mouth to say something, but the words caught in his throat. Aria was staring at him, her expression unreadable, and for the first time in years, Rowan felt a sliver of doubt. What had happened to her? What had she gone through during those years away?

The silence stretched between them, charged with tension. Rowan could feel his resolve weakening, his anger giving way to the same confusing mix of emotions that had plagued him since her return. He didn’t know how to handle this, didn’t know how to handle her.

Before he could gather his thoughts, Aria spoke again, her voice cutting through the silence like a blade. “Let go of me, Rowan.”

There was no fear in her tone, only a quiet command that brooked no argument. And for a moment, Rowan hesitated. He had never been one to back down, especially not when he felt challenged, but something in her gaze stopped him. Something that told him he was losing control, that if he pushed too hard, he might lose more than just a battle of wills.

Slowly, Rowan released her arm, his hand dropping to his side. He took a step back, his mind still reeling from the intensity of the encounter. Aria’s expression remained calm, her eyes watching him with a mix of curiosity and something he couldn’t quite place—pity, perhaps? No, that couldn’t be right.

“You can’t intimidate me, Rowan,” Aria said, her voice soft but firm. “Not anymore.”

Rowan clenched his fists, struggling to regain his composure. He wanted to argue, to force her to see things his way, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, he found himself staring at her, wondering how she had managed to slip so far out of his grasp.

Just then, a movement caught his eye. Kellan stepped out from the trees, his presence as quiet and commanding as ever. He had been watching from the sidelines, his green eyes gleaming with interest. Rowan’s jaw tightened at the sight of him—of course, Kellan would be here, observing, waiting for his chance to step in.

“Am I interrupting something?” Kellan asked, his tone light, but Rowan could hear the undercurrent of amusement.

Rowan glared at him, but before he could respond, Aria turned to face Kellan, her expression unchanged. “No, you’re not interrupting anything,” she said calmly. “Rowan and I were just having a conversation.”

Kellan raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on his lips. “A heated one, it seems.”

Rowan’s frustration grew as he watched the exchange. Kellan was always so damn smooth, so composed, never letting anyone see what he was really thinking. And now, he was here, watching with that infuriatingly calm demeanor, as if Rowan’s struggle to maintain control was nothing more than entertainment.

“Aria and I were discussing pack matters,” Rowan said, his voice tight. “Nothing that concerns you.”

Kellan’s smile widened slightly, but he didn’t take the bait. Instead, he turned his attention back to Aria, his gaze softening. “You seem to have a way with words, Aria. I’m impressed.”

Rowan bristled at the compliment, but Aria simply nodded in acknowledgment. “Words are important. But so are actions.”

Kellan’s eyes gleamed with interest. “Indeed. Actions speak louder, and I look forward to seeing yours.”

Aria met his gaze steadily, then turned back to Rowan. “We’re done here.”

Rowan, seething, watched as Aria walked away, Kellan’s presence only amplifying his frustration and the growing realization that he was losing control.