Chasing the Runaway Luna

Chapter 1

ARABELLA

“I want you to meet Stephanie, Arabella. My fated mate,”

The world seemed to turn silent. All I could hear was the sound of my heart shattering into pieces.

I couldn’t speak but my eyes showed the pain that my mouth failed to utter. Hot tears trickled down my cheeks but I didn’t bother wiping them off.

We have been separated for almost three years. He went to Europe to earn Alpha King’s favor while I was left in Maine because he needed someone to look after the pack.

I have been counting the days to feel him again but I never thought seeing him again would be this painful. I never thought his return would be my biggest heartbreak because he wasn’t alone. Standing beside my husband was the woman promised to him by the Moon Goddess.

“Do you have to bring her into our territory, Adrian? You told me I was enough! You said even if you find your fated mate you won’t replace me-“

“I am not replacing you!” he shouted cutting me off. My body stiffened seeing him snap. He turned into a man I couldn’t recognize but when his blazing red gaze slowly turned gentle I saw the man that I love.

He went to me and cupped my face. His thumb gently caressed my cheeks. “No one can replace you, Arabella. Even her. I brought her here not to take your place but to keep her safe. She was a lowlife omega. She will be sold as a prostitute. Men will claim her and that will make my wolf feel an excruciating pain. You wouldn’t understand it because you haven’t met your wolf but the mate bond was strong Arabella. If other men touched her it would make my wolf lose his sanity,”

I haven’t met my wolf yet. I almost forgot that I was wolfless but was that enough for me to accept his mate? Was that enough to accept his decision?

I took a deep breath and glanced at the woman behind my husband. The moment our gazes met she immediately lowered her head as if she was ashamed to look at me.

Her clothes were ragged. There are a few scratches and bruises on her arms but I couldn’t deny the fact that she was beautiful. She has long brown hair that complements her pale skin. She wasn’t looking at me but I had a glimpse of her hazel brown eyes earlier. She looks like a Goddess who dared to walk on earth. She looks too innocent to be hated.

“Fine,” I defeatedly uttered turning to my husband who was looking at me with his hopeful eyes. “She can stay at our territory but promise me that you will reject her once her body is strong enough to accept the rejection,”

A wide smile tugged on his lips while nodding. “I will reject her. I won’t let her ruin what we have, Arabella,”

I held onto that promise. I believed in his words but as time passed by I felt like I was slowly being replaced. I feel like she was taking everything from me.

“You wore a different tie. You didn't wear the one I gave you,” I commented seeing an unfamiliar green tie hanging on his neck.

He glanced at it before looking at me again flashing an awkward smile. “Stephanie gave it to me. She said green suits me best,”

I can’t help but raise my eyebrows. Since when did green tie suits him? He said he hates that color but now that it was given by his mate he suddenly likes it?

“I thought you hated green?”

He shrugged his shoulders and fixed his tie in front of the mirror even though it was already perfectly centered. “Change of preference I guess? It’s not a sin to try something new right, Arabella?”

A lump suddenly formed in my throat. It wasn’t just about the tie anymore. It was something deeper. Something I couldn’t voice out because I was scared that if I did I might be proven right.

“Yeah,” I replied. “It’s not a sin to explore, Adrian,”

I don’t want to overthink things. I don’t want to think negatively but ever since he came back and his mate came into the picture I feel like he was slowly slipping from my hold. I feel like I am slowly losing him…to her.

A soft knock on the door broke the silence between us. I walked to the door and pulled it open only to be greeted by Stephanie. She was wearing a satin green dress that touched her ankles. Her hair was perfectly curled and her hazel brown eyes popped out because of her makeup. The way she looks now is completely different from her ragged appearance when she was brought here by my husband.

“Luna Arabella,” she politely greeted.

She was smiling at me but I couldn’t move my lips. My eyes were stuck staring at the green dress she was wearing. It perfectly complements my husband’s tie as if they have planned to match their outfit while I look like a complete outcast wearing a dark red gown.

“The party is about to start. They are looking for you, Alpha Adrian,”

Adrian smiled at her and the way they stared at each other felt like sharp knives that were stabbing me directly in the chest.

“Let’s go, Alpha Adrian,” she called him gently but it felt too sharp for me.

I watched Adrian as he made his way towards Stephanie. He didn’t hold her but seeing him standing beside her was enough to shatter me into pieces.

They didn’t even bother calling me. I was left there, watching them as they walked away. It suddenly hits me that in this marriage I feel like I was the mistress ruining them.

I was the one who walked down the aisle. I was the one who stood with him in front of the altar. I was the woman he promised to treasure and cherish for the rest of his life but it seems like all those promises vanished into thin air when the woman promised to him by the Moon Goddess appeared in the picture.

I don’t know where I should stand anymore.

“Arabella,” I was pulled out of my thoughts when I heard the voice of the man I am bound to lose. “What are you still doing here? The party is about to start. I thought you followed us,”

He held my arm and tried to pull me but I didn’t move. My feet were glued to the floor while my eyes were fixated on his face.

“Do you still love me, Adrian?” My voice almost broke. Tears formed on the corners of my eyes but I blinked them away. “I am not losing you to Stephanie right?”

He took a deep breath. His hand cupped my face. “I will always love you. I will always belong to you no matter what happens, Arabella,”

I didn’t speak. After a long stretch of silence, I uttered the words I had been dying to say.

“Then reject her tonight. She has already regained her strength. She can handle your rejection, Adrian,”

I felt his body stiffen. His hand turns cold. Hesitation clouded his eyes but after a minute of hesitation, he gave me a nod.

“I will reject her tonight,”

I hold onto his words just like the past promises he uttered.

We went to the garden together. He was holding my waist giving me the warmth that I needed.

The moment we reached the garden I saw Stephanie mingling with the pack.

She was smiling from ear to ear but her smile dropped the moment she saw us.

“Everyone was looking for you, Alpha Adrian,” she said irritation laced in her tone. She did not even acknowledge my presence.

He went to Adrian and held his hand pulling him towards the stage while I was left standing in the middle of the crowd.

I was about to follow them but I halted when she held the microphone and faced everyone.

“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who joined us in celebrating, Alpha Adrian’s birthday. But tonight we don’t just celebrate another year that was given to him by the Moon Goddess but also a greater blessing bestowed upon us,” she then turned to Adrian and held his hand. “I am pregnant, Alpha Adrian. I am carrying your heir,”