CHASING HIS LUNA: THE BILLIONAIRE CEO IS MY ALPHA MATE

Second encounters are the charm🥂

Who dared to run into him like that, were humans always so blind? Ryan was irritated and angry, but soon a familiar scent hit his nose- like lavender, he knew who owned this scent.

It was his mate, he smiled, happy to be meeting her again. However, the sudden commotion caused several people to turn towards Ryan and Nia. Embarrassment washed over Ryan as he realized the consequences of his exit. He quickly apologized to the server and turned to Nia.

"I'm so sorry," Ryan said, his voice laced with genuine regret. "I didn't mean to cause a scene. Are you alright?"

Nia, taken aback by the unexpected encounter, looked up at Ryan with surprise and amusement. Her initial annoyance at the mishap gave way to a small smile as she assessed the situation.

"I’m good, thank you," Nia replied, her voice carrying a hint of amusement. "Accidents happen." She smiled and her eyes wandered across his body. As Nia's voice reached his ears, a wave of intoxicating desire washed over him, causing his wolf to stir within. It was as though a magnetic force was pulling him closer to her, urging him to delve deeper. His heart quickened and his chest tightened with a mix of longing and he felt his wolf groan hungrily with desires. He wanted Nia, every inch of him desired her.

Nia continued to take in his appearance, if she thought he was hot the first day she met him then she had no words to describe his present appearance. He looked desirable, like the wet dream of every young lady in Crestmont. His wet suit and shirt which were tightly glued to his toned muscles only heightened the spark Nia was feeling in her belly, she tried to gain composure but her eyes wandered further till her eyes met his, and in that fleeting moment, a surge of electricity passed between them. Nia tried to control herself especially because she was still angry with him for his actions the last time they met but right now, in this moment she couldn’t bring herself to express anything besides what her heart was telling her to do.

Feeling a bit ashamed, Nia coughed and hurriedly reached into her clutch to get a small hand towel. The simple gesture, coupled with the underlying sparks between them intensified Ryan's longing. He yearned for more.

"Let me help you wipe that," she offered, moving closer to Ryan. Her hand gently brushed against his shirt, absorbing the champagne residue. As she cleaned his suit, she further noticed how attractive he was up close. She noticed how his lips looked enticing than the last time, the space between them calling her in and her mind wandered to thoughts of their lips meeting, the softness of his mouth against hers. Ryan's muscles tensed and she caught a glimpse of his neck vein pulsing as he swallowed hard, his breath hitching under her touch. Lost in the intimacy of the moment, Nia hadn't realized how close she had gotten to him until Ryan held her hand, stopping her from cleaning him further. Ryan didn’t know how long he could resist his wolf’s desires if she was touching him like that.

"Thank you," Ryan breathed, his voice lowering to a husky tone. The words rolled off his tongue seductively sending more shivers down Nia's spine. A playful, knowing smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, his eyes sparkling with tease.

In the midst of the heat, Ryan said, "You know, amidst all this chaos, I could use a breath of fresh air. I’ve been meaning to speak to you. I think I was rude to you the last time and I’m sincerely sorry.”

“That’s okay.” Nia said smiling, she didn’t understand why he evoked such responses from her.

“Meanwhile, if you don’t mind, can we step away to –”Ryan stopped mid sentence as he saw someone shouting Nia's name and approaching them.

It was Evan. Nia had completely forgotten about him. After he had gone to get drinks for both of them, she had run into Ryan and had been lost in the moment ever since.

"I'm here," Nia replied, "and I'm safe." She knew Evan had a tendency to be overprotective whenever they went out together. While she found it sweet and endearing at times, she also grew weary of it. She knew he loved her, but he needed to learn to keep his distance. She made a mental note to make sure that he got a piece of her mind later.

"And who's this?" Evan asked, eyeing Ryan suspiciously. "Was he disturbing you?" Evan asked before grabbing Nia's hand, but Nia immediately swatted it away.

Ryan's discomfort with the man touching his mate was palpable, his wolf sensed an air of suspicion surrounding him. The way the guy touched Nia, even in a seemingly innocent gesture, sent a surge of jealousy coursing through Ryan's veins. His wolf growled low in his chest, aching to confront Evan and protect what was rightfully his. Yet, Ryan managed to maintain his composure.

As Nia swatted away Evan's hand, her fiery gaze locked onto Evan, daring him to challenge her. Ryan admired her strength, her refusal to let anyone disrespect her. He couldn't help but be drawn to her even more in that moment.

"No, he was not," Nia glared at Evan angrily while gritting her teeth. She was frustrated that Evan had come to interrupt her conversation with the attractive man and even more frustrated that she couldn't hear the rest of what he had to say to her.

"Well, my uncle wants to see you, and it's very important. I've been looking for you for a while now," Evan said, eyeing Ryan once more before taking Nia's hand and dragging her away.

Watching Evan drag Nia away caused Ryan's mind to race with questions. Did his mate have a boyfriend? If she did, what was he supposed to do? The possibility of another man in her life was something he couldn’t allow. He couldn’t imagine that after he had waited several years for his mate and he wouldn’t be able to have her because of some cheap asshole. He felt disrespected. Even if he was her boyfriend, he expected at least an introduction or some acknowledgment. He rolled his eyes and cursed Evan inwardly.

Meanwhile, Nia reluctantly followed Evan, her thoughts still consumed by the conversation she couldn’t have with Ryan. As Evan guided her through the bustle of the party, Nia's irritation towards him grew. Evan's overbearing nature was getting on her nerves. She knew he was her best friend, but he needed to respect her boundaries.

Finally reaching a quieter corner of the venue, away from the lively music and laughter, Evan turned to face Nia. "Nia, I'm sorry for interrupting your conversation," he said. "But my uncle needs to see you. It's important."

Sighing, Nia momentarily set aside her frustration, understanding the gravity of the situation. Evan's family held significant power and influence, and she didn't want to jeopardize their relationship by disregarding their wishes.

"Alright, I'll go see your uncle," Nia replied, her tone laced with acceptance. "But please, give me some space. I need space to breathe and think for myself."

Evan's face fell, his concern shifting to a mixture of hurt and disappointment. He opened his mouth to say something, but Nia raised her hand, cutting him off. "Not now, Evan. Let me see your uncle first. We'll talk later, but right now, I need space."

With a heavy heart, Evan reluctantly nodded, allowing Nia to proceed on her own.

As Ryan kept wandering in his thoughts, he felt a slight vibration in his pocket. Retrieving his phone, he saw a message from Mr. Gauye that he had arrived at the party. He turned to look for the man who had invited him. As he reached the center of the party venue, his attention was instantly drawn to a fight. He heard people raising their voices and several blows being exchanged. With a mix of concern and curiosity, he hurriedly went nearer to see. As he moved nearer, his gaze settled on a sight that caught him off guard. Evan's fist flew through the air with thunderous force, his knuckles colliding viciously against some other guy's jaw, causing teeth to clash and blood to spray. The impact causing instant chaos in the party.

Nia stood beside them, her face etched with distress as she struggled to calm Evan's anger. Ryan's protective instincts surged within him, and he moved through the crowd to protect his mate.

Nia was confused about why Evan was fighting the guy. She had just returned from speaking with Evan’s uncle, and confusion filled her mind as she watched the brutality of her best friend as his hands landed blow after blow against the helpless guy's face, leaving behind a trail of bruises.

Worried about his mate’s well-being and the escalating tension, Ryan reached out to intervene. "What's going on?" Ryan asked once he had reached Nia's side. "Are you okay?" He reached out to hold her hands.

"I'm okay," Nia replied before smiling uncomfortably. Ryan realized he was holding her hand and quickly released it.

While he wanted to stay longer to ensure that she was okay, he needed to find Mr. Gauye. Without much thought, he pulled out his business card and handed it to Nia. "Here's my card. You can call me anytime," he said, and with that, he left to search for Mr. Gauye.

Nia was confused. Amidst the punches Evan was throwing at the guy who had simply been flirting with her, and the noise of the party, she didn't even notice when Ryan left her side. All she knew was that she had his card in her hand.

After Ryan left, Nia hurriedly approached Evan, desperately trying to get his attention and make him stop punching the innocent guy. "Evan, stop!" Nia shouted at the top of her lungs. "Stop this right now!" She grabbed his arms and shook him severely to get his attention.

When Evan noticed Nia shaking him to stop, he moved back from the guy he was punching and took a deep breath. His eyes were bloodshot, but his anger began to subside as Nia's words pierced through the haze. He wiped away the sweat running down his forehead with the back of his hand, feeling the weight of his emotions and the consequences of his impulsive behavior.

Nia noticed the anger on Evan's face and impulsively stepped back from him. His bloodshot eyes and the guy lying battered on the floor increased the fear coursing through her veins. She continued to step back, trembling with a mixture of anger and hurt. The sight of Evan, who was usually gentle and caring, acting like a monster deeply scared her. She struggled to reconcile the person she knew with the one standing before her.

Now more composed, Evan tried to reach out to her, his voice filled with remorse. "Nia, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt anyone. I just... I thought he was a threat to you. I couldn't stand seeing him get closer to you."

Nia's eyes brimmed with tears as she stared at him, the hurt in her eyes mirroring his own. She shook her head, unable to understand the cause of his actions. "Evan, this isn't the way to protect me. What's wrong with you?”

“I’m sorry, I just wanted to make sure you’re safe,” he said and took a step nearer to her but she withdrew from him and took steps backward.

“If you're going to keep acting this way, I might have to stay away from you."

Her words hung heavy in the air. Evan's expression shifted from hurt to anger, but he took a step back, allowing Nia the space she so desperately desired.

Nia turned away, her heart heavy with confusion. The Evan she knew had always been overprotective, but she had never expected this level of violence. She couldn't help but question the their friendship.

As the noise of the party continued, Nia decided she needed to be away from the scene of Evan's anger. It was hard for her to believe that Evan could be like that. Determined to leave, Nia realized with a sinking feeling that she hadn't taken any cash or cards with her earlier because Evan had come to pick her up from her apartment. How was she going to get home without any money? The thought of walking home was practically impossible, considering the time and the long distance she had to cover. With a heavy sigh, she resolved to call an Uber and hoped they would be understanding enough to allow her to get cash upon arriving at her place. It was a long shot, but it was her only option at that moment.

Stepping outside onto the front porch of the building, Nia reached for her phone to request an Uber driver. However, in her nervousness and clumsiness, her purse slipped from her hand, tumbling to the ground. She hurriedly ran a few steps further to retrieve it, her heart racing, it felt as though the universe was conspiring against her, bringing one terrible event after another.

As Nia bent down to pick up her fallen purse, she looked up to see a car speeding towards her. She froze, her body stilling in one place as it refused to move. Her heart skipped a beat, shock washing over her. In that moment, she couldn't help but wonder what awaited her next. Was she going into the after life?