Alpha's Second Chance

Chapter 3

"I will never love you!" Adriana screamed, her voice shattering like glass hitting the floor. Her brown eyes radiated anger, though there was a flicker of confusion she couldn't hide.

Ryan stood by the bedroom door, his face expressionless, but his jaw clenched. He didn't respond immediately. No emotion shone from his gaze, only darkness that made Adriana feel even more cornered.

"You've tried that before." His voice was flat, almost devoid of emotion.

"And look where we are now, Adriana. I'm still here. You're still here. We're still... bound."

Adriana clenched her fists, holding back the heat in her chest. Ryan's words were always like that: cold, sharp, piercing to the bone.

"I don't care. I don't care what fate says, Ryan. I never asked for this. And I won't play your games."

Ryan took a long breath, walking towards the small table in the room. His hand picked up an empty glass there, twirling it between his fingers. Adriana knew this was Ryan's habit. He always seemed calmer when his hands were occupied. But this time, she didn't care.

"You can try to fight it. You can try to hate me. But you know what happens, Adriana." Ryan looked at her sharply, his voice like the whisper of a threat that filled every corner of the room. "You'll always come back to me. Always."

"No." Adriana shook her head vehemently, trying to convince herself more than anyone else. "This time is different. I'm not the same person I was."

Ryan chuckled, his low voice echoing to Adriana's ears. "Really?" He stepped closer, slow but sure. Adriana could feel the air around her change, becoming tenser, heavier. "You might feel that way. But you know, Adriana. The moon never lies. It never gives us a choice we can't live with."

Adriana stepped back, her body hitting the side of the bed. Her breath was slightly ragged, not from fear, but from frustration. "Don't bring the Moon Goddess into this, Ryan. Don't pretend to know what I want."

"I don't need to know what you want." Ryan stopped right in front of her, close enough for Adriana to catch the scent of wood and spices that always clung to him. "What I know is that you are mine. And I am yours. That's all."

Adriana couldn't take it anymore. She pushed Ryan back, though she knew her push meant little to him. "I am not your possession, Ryan! I have rights to my own life, and I won't let you or anyone else control it."

Ryan didn't move. He just stared at Adriana, his sharp eyes trying to read every thought in her mind. Then, without warning, he chuckled again. But this time, the laugh sounded weary.

"You can say that over and over, Adriana. But in the end, you know what will happen."

A Confusing Morning

Adriana woke up with cold sweat on her forehead. Ryan's voice, his gaze, all still echoed in her head. But what disturbed her more was... she knew Ryan was right, and it made her heart feel squeezed.

"Why do I have to come back here?" she whispered to herself.

She sat on the edge of the bed, looking out the window. The faint moonlight on the western horizon was slowly being replaced by the orange hues of the morning sun. The Moon Goddess had given her a second life—that was a fact she couldn't deny. But why was Ryan still here? Why wasn't she given the freedom to choose?

"You know the answer."

Adriana flinched. The voice came from within her. Her wolf's calm, yet confident voice.

"No, I don't know anything." Adriana responded, although she knew it was futile.

"You know, Adriana. Ryan is your mate. He is your destiny."

Adriana shook her head hard. "He might be my destiny, but I don't want him. I don't love him."

Her wolf was silent for a moment, as if thinking. Then, the voice returned. "Love doesn't always come at the beginning. Sometimes, love is something that grows from trust. From time."

Adriana snorted. "You sound like an old, wise poet."

"And you sound like a stubborn child."

Adriana didn't reply anymore. She knew arguing with her wolf would lead nowhere. But still, it was hard for her to accept this reality.

The Rejected Dinner

The day passed slowly. Adriana avoided Ryan all day, though she knew it was only a matter of time before they had to meet again. And sure enough, that evening, Ryan knocked on her door.

"Do you have time?" he asked from behind the door.

Adriana hesitated for a moment but finally opened the door. "What is it?"

Ryan looked at her with an expression Adriana found hard to read. "I want to take you to dinner."

Adriana raised an eyebrow. "Dinner? For what?"

"To introduce you as Luna to the other packs."

The news left Adriana silent. She knew this would happen sooner or later, but she didn't expect Ryan to do it this quickly.

"No." Her answer was firm, without hesitation.

"No?" Ryan repeated, clearly surprised.

"I'm not interested. If you want to announce me as Luna, do it within this pack. I'm not interested in attracting outside attention."

Ryan looked at her for a long time, as if searching for the reason behind her refusal. But eventually, he just nodded slowly. "Alright. If that's what you want."

Adriana didn't know why Ryan gave up so easily, but she felt relieved. At least for now, she could avoid an unwanted situation.

The Lingering Question

That night, Adriana sat alone on her bedroom balcony. The cold night wind brushed against her skin, but she didn't care. Too many thoughts were swirling in her head.

She thought about Ryan, the Moon Goddess, and this new life of hers. She wondered if she could truly accept everything, or if she would continue to fight until the end.

"Why won't you give him a chance?"

Her wolf's voice came back, making Adriana sigh deeply. "Why do you always defend him?"

"I'm not defending him. I'm defending you. You know, fighting destiny will only make you suffer more."

Adriana bit her lower lip. "I just want my life back. A normal life. Without Ryan, without destiny, without all this."

Her wolf chuckled softly. "A normal life? You know that was never an option for us."

Adriana didn't answer. Her eyes gazed at the moon in the sky, which seemed to watch her with a calm assurance.

Suddenly, the sound of a knock on the door shifted her attention. Adriana stood up, walking cautiously to the door. When she opened it, she found Ryan standing there.

"What now?" asked Adriana with a weary tone.

Ryan looked at her with a more serious expression than before. "I just want to know one thing, Adriana."

Adriana furrowed her brow. "What?"

Ryan looked into her eyes deeply, then asked in a low voice, "Do you really believe you can live without me?"

Adriana was silent. Those words hung in the air like a shadow that couldn't be ignored.