CHASING HIS LUNA: THE BILLIONAIRE CEO IS MY ALPHA MATE

Ryan goes after Nia

Ryan Lucas stepped out of his law firm, the weight of unfinished business lingering in his mind. As he walked to his car, his wolf stirred with excitement, an instinctual longing to see Nia, his mate. It had become somewhat of a routine for him to drive around Avila Street in search of her, a desperate attempt to catch even a glimpse of his mate who had captured his heart. Truly he had promised himself to stay away from her till he proved her innocence but there was no fighting the mate bond.

Ryan instructed his driver to go home, he wanted to drive alone, hoping that this time he might spot her. He had no way of contacting her apart from going to her house. Despite giving her his business card, he knew she wouldn't reach out. The card had become more of a symbol of his fruitless efforts than a means of communication.

As he cruised down the familiar streets, Ryan's heart raced with anticipation. Thoughts swirled in his mind, wondering if he was being persistent or crossing the line into stalking. He didn't want Nia to feel uncomfortable by his actions. That was the last thing he desired.

Although he knew where she lived, he understood that taking advantage of that knowledge would be wrong. Instead of going to her doorstep and knocking on it, he preferred to cruise around town, hoping that fate would bring them together. He imagined chance encounters, rehearsing excuses in his mind. Perhaps he could pretend to be in the neighborhood for a legitimate reason, like meeting someone or enjoying a stroll.

As Ryan continued driving down Avila Street, a mix of anticipation and unease filled him. He knew that this approach was far from ideal, but he felt like he was running out of options. The thought of reconnecting with Nia, even by happenstance, filled him with both hope and anxiety.

Ryan parked his car a few blocks away from Nia's apartment and rolled down his window, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. Suddenly, his heart skipped a beat as he saw Nia walking down the street. Their eyes met, and a wave of surprise, anger, and confusion washed over her face. Nia had noticed this particular car around her house a few days ago and had wondered who owned the luxury car and why it was parking a few houses away from hers. Seeing Mr. Lucas in the car's window intensified her suspicion, so she quickened her pace and approached his car, her expression a blend of suspicion and fear. What was he doing around her house at such a time? Nia checked her watch and saw that it was almost 7pm. She had gotten hungry and had to make a dash to the mall to get emergency groceries.

Once Nia reached his car, she glared at him, causing him to stammer. Ryan tried to maintain his composure under the scrutiny of her eyes. "Nia, I... I..." He struggled to find the right words to diffuse the tension. As he stammered he wondered how a young lady could cause him, a renowned and powerful alpha in his world to start stammering. It has never happened before.

Anger and skepticism laced Nia's voice as she confronted him. "What are you doing here? Are you stalking me? Do you think it's okay to drive women home and then stalk them weeks later?" Her words pierced the air, and Ryan's heart sank as she continued. “First you harass me by the waist and I let it go, then you come to my house without my permission?”

Shocked, Ryan protested, his voice tinged with hurt. "No, no, Nia, why would you say that? It's not like that at all, believe me." He hurriedly stepped out of the car to meet her, hoping to explain himself. But before he could finish his statement, Nia cut him short.

As Nia's fear turned to frustration, she continued to voice her concerns. "Are you a kidnapper, a serial killer? Mr. Lucas, what am I supposed to think? You can't just show up like this without any explanation."

Ryan's eyes widened in shock at the accusations. "Nia, I'm not any of those things. I understand why you're suspicious, but please believe me when I say that I've been struggling with how to approach you. I never wanted to scare you or invade your privacy."

Gradually, Nia's guard began to soften as she saw the sincerity in Ryan's eyes. She felt conflicted. While she believed him, she didn't want him to have it easy. She didn't like the way she felt around him. He constantly broke down the walls she had worked so hard to build. She remembered that he had given her his business card, but she hadn't reached out. Not because she didn't want to, but because she didn't plan on being just another woman in his line of conquests. She had come across several stories and articles about him online, portraying him as Crestmont's most handsome and richest eligible bachelor. Those stories hadn't made her feel comfortable. The last thing she needed in her life right now was a fling with a wealthy Casanova.

Pointing her finger at him and scrutinizing him from head to toe, she asked, "If you're not a killer, a r****t, or a kidnapper, then who are you and why are you here?"

Ryan's heart sank at her words, his wolf recoiling in pain. It was as if each word she spoke pierced through his chest, tightening it with aching rejection. The connection he had hoped to establish with Nia seemed to crumble before his eyes, and it tore at his soul.

Ryan swallowed hard, his voice laced with genuine remorse. "I'm truly sorry, Nia. I didn't think it through," he said, his words almost a whisper. He moved closer to her, desperate to bridge the growing distance between them. "Nia, I just want to see you again. Can you at least give me your number? Please? I only did this because I had no way of reaching you."

Nia was taken aback by his audacity, her eyes filled with disbelief. She tightened her grip on the grocery bag, her body language a shield of protection. "After stalking me, you have the nerve to ask for my number?" Her voice trembled with a mix of anger and hurt. "I don't know who you think you are, Mr. Lucas, but believing that I would simply give you my number or anything else is a mistake. If I see you here again, I will not hesitate to call the police. Please respect yourself."

With a roll of her eyes, Nia turned on her heels and walked away, leaving Ryan standing there, consumed by a mixture of regret, disappointment, and the lingering ache of his wolf's pain. The rejection cut deep, but he knew he had brought it upon himself. He had hoped for a different outcome, but his actions had only pushed her further away. Dealing with a human mate was harder than he thought, he had no idea, no idea at all how he was supposed to even get to make her his own.