Chapter Eight - The First Night
932 Words
Chapter Eight
The First Night
“No.”
Kael’s voice cracked across the gardens.
“The Moon Goddess wouldn’t choose anyone else.”
Ronan didn’t even look at him.
“The Moon Goddess didn’t reject her.”
Kael’s fists clenched.
“I made a mistake.”
“You made a choice.”
“They aren’t the same thing.”
“No,” Ronan agreed calmly.
“A mistake is forgetting a promise.”
“You broke a soul.”
The words hit Kael harder than any punch.
I couldn’t watch.
“I don’t want to do this.”
Both men looked at me.
“I’m exhausted.”
“I’ve lost everything today.”
“My home.”
“My future.”
“My mate.”
My voice caught.
“And everyone keeps arguing over me like I don’t have a say.”
Silence settled over the garden.
Then Ronan did something neither Kael nor Cassian expected.
He stepped back.
“Then choose.”
I frowned.
“What?”
“You said you’re tired.”
He gestured toward Blackwood Manor.
“You may stay here tonight.”
Then toward the line of black SUVs waiting beyond the gates.
“You may come with me.”
Finally, he folded his hands behind his back.
“Or you may walk into those woods alone.”
His golden eyes never left mine.
“No one will stop you.”
The choice stunned me.
Kael immediately stepped forward.
“She isn’t leaving.”
Ronan raised an eyebrow.
“You rejected your right to decide that.”
“I’m still Alpha.”
“And she isn’t your Luna.”
Kael looked at me.
His expression softened.
“Please.”
The single word almost broke me.
Hours ago…
That voice would have sent me running into his arms.
Now…
All I could remember was hearing it say—
I reject you.
I closed my eyes.
“I can’t stay here.”
Kael’s face fell.
Every corridor of Blackwood Manor held a memory.
The staircase where he’d kissed my forehead after training.
The library where we’d planned our future.
The balcony where he’d promised we’d have children.
Every room would remind me of what I’d lost.
“I need to leave.”
His breathing hitched.
“Isla…”
“I’m sorry.”
I wasn’t sure whether I meant it.
For leaving.
Or for still loving him.
Cassian rubbed the back of his neck.
“Well.”
“This has become awkward.”
No one laughed.
⸻
An hour later…
The gates of Blackwood Pack opened.
A convoy of sleek black vehicles waited outside.
Not military.
Not flashy.
Just impossibly expensive.
Cassian leaned lazily against one, scrolling through his phone.
“I’ve booked an entire hotel.”
Ronan looked at him.
“We’re staying in the mountain lodge.”
Cassian frowned.
“The one with no Wi-Fi?”
“Yes.”
“I suddenly understand why nobody likes you.”
For the first time all evening…
A tiny smile tugged at my lips.
Cassian noticed immediately.
“There it is.”
I blinked.
“What?”
“Your smile.”
He pointed dramatically.
“It exists.”
Heat crept into my cheeks.
“I wasn’t smiling.”
“You absolutely were.”
“I wasn’t.”
“You were.”
Ronan cleared his throat.
“Cassian.”
“What?”
“Stop flirting.”
“I’m trying to cheer her up.”
“You’re trying to flirt.”
“Those things aren’t mutually exclusive.”
Despite myself…
A small laugh escaped.
Real this time.
Kael heard it.
From where he stood beside the manor steps.
His shoulders stiffened.
His eyes locked on me.
Not angry.
Not possessive.
Just…
Devastated.
Watching me laugh with another man less than twelve hours after rejecting me was tearing him apart.
A cruel part of me thought—
Good.
Then guilt followed immediately after.
Because I didn’t want him to hurt.
I just wanted him to understand how much he’d hurt me.
⸻
The mountain lodge sat high above Blackwood Valley, surrounded by towering pines and silver waterfalls.
It was beautiful.
Quiet.
Safe.
Inside, warm light spilled from enormous stone fireplaces.
Everything smelled of cedar and cinnamon.
A woman in her sixties hurried forward.
“My Alpha.”
She bowed to Ronan before looking at me.
Then her eyes widened.
“Oh…”
She smiled warmly.
“So this is her.”
Ronan’s expression softened in a way I’d never seen.
“This is Mrs. Alden.”
“She practically raised me.”
Mrs. Alden ignored him completely.
She cupped my face in both hands.
“My poor girl.”
The simple kindness almost shattered what little composure I had left.
“I’ll run you a bath.”
“I’ve baked bread.”
“And absolutely no brooding Alpha is allowed to bother you until you’ve eaten.”
Cassian grinned.
“I like her.”
“You don’t count as an Alpha tonight.”
“You’ve been demoted.”
As Mrs. Alden led me upstairs, I glanced back over my shoulder.
Ronan was still standing exactly where I’d left him.
Watching to make sure I reached the top safely.
Only once my bedroom door closed behind me did he finally look away.
Outside…
Hidden among the trees…
A pair of glowing green eyes watched the lodge.
A cloaked figure lowered a spyglass.
“So…”
A cold smile spread beneath the hood.
“The Moonborn has chosen her protector.”
He turned toward the darkness.
“Tell our master.”
“The game has begun.”
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