The Luna He Never wanted.

Chapter 5

Ronan’s POV

The bond went silent.

Gone.

I stood there, just inside her room, my hand still on the door, my body completely still.

That wasn’t possible.

A mate bond didn’t just disappear.

Not unless—

No.

I pushed the thought away immediately. She wasn’t dead. I would have felt that. I would have known.

But this—This felt like nothing. Like the connection had never existed in the first place.

My jaw tightened slowly.

“What is this…” I muttered.

The room was quiet. Too quiet.

I stepped further inside, my gaze scanning every corner. Nothing was out of place. The bed untouched. The window closed. No scent of struggle.

And yet—She had been here. I could still feel traces of her presence faint and lingering.

But not enough. Not right.

My wolf didn’t move. It didn’t react, it didn't push forward like it had before.

It was… silent.

Watching.

Careful.

That alone was enough to put me on edge.

“You feel it too,” I said under my breath.

No answer.

For the first time since I could remember—My wolf had nothing to say. That was worse than anything. A slow breath left my chest as I stepped further into the room.

A mate bond doesn’t vanish. It doesn’t cut off.

Unless something interferes. Something stronger.

My eyes narrowed slightly. That meant one thing. Whatever she was—It wasn’t normal.

The air shifted slightly, almost too subtle to notice.

But I felt it.

A faint trace of heat.

I turned my head toward the far corner of the room.

There,the feeling was stronger.

I moved slowly, my steps quiet, controlled.

“Come out,” I said coldly.

Silence.

But I knew she was there. I could feel it.

Not through the bond—But through something else. Something dangerous.

“Lyria,” I said again.

This time—A small movement, a shadow shifted near the wall.

And then—She stepped forward.

My eyes locked onto her instantly. She looked the same on the surface.

But something was different.

Her posture.

Her presence.

Her eyes.

They weren’t glowing. Not anymore, but they weren’t right either. There was something deeper in them. Something watching.

“You left your room,” I said.

Her lips parted slightly, like she was about to respond, but no words came out.

Instead, she just stared at me like she was trying to understand something.

“What just happened?” I asked.

A pause.

Then—“I don’t know,” she said quietly.

Her voice sounded normal, but something about it felt off. Too calm. Too controlled.

“You expect me to believe that?” I asked.

“I don’t expect anything from you,” she replied.

That answer irritated me.

“You lost control,” I said. “I felt it.”

Her gaze flickered slightly. For a moment, something else looked through her eyes.

Then it was gone.

“I didn’t lose control,” she said.

Lie.

I stepped closer. Slowly.

“Then explain this,” I said, my voice lower now. “The bond.”

Her expression changed slightly. Confusion real this time.

“What about it?” she asked.

“It disappeared.”

Silence.

Her brows furrowed slightly.

“That’s not possible,” she said.

“No,” I agreed. “It’s not.”

But it happened. Which meant—Something was wrong. Very wrong.

The air between us grew tense.

The closer I got, the clearer it became.

Her scent. It had changed. Not completely but enough. It was stronger and darker now. Something beneath it—Something I couldn’t place.

“What are you?” I asked quietly.

Her breath hitched slightly.

“I don’t know,” she said again.

I watched her carefully, studying every movement, every reaction. Looking for something because I didn’t believe her.

“Your eyes changed,” I said.

Her body stilled.

“You moved faster than any wolf I’ve seen,” I continued.

She didn’t respond.

“Your scent changed,” I added.

Still nothing.

“And the bond—” I stopped slightly, my jaw tightening. “The bond disappeared.”

That got her attention. Her eyes snapped to mine.

“What?” she whispered.

I held her gaze.

“You didn’t feel it?” I asked.

She shook her head slowly.

“No…”

That wasn’t good because I had, clearly and completely. It hadn’t weakened. It had been cut off, like something blocked it. Or removed it.

My wolf stirred slightly at that thought.

Uncertain.

That was new.

“You’re hiding something,” I said.

“I’m not,” she replied quickly.

But her voice, it wasn’t steady anymore. There was something underneath it now.

Fear.

Confusion.

Or something else.

“Then explain what’s happening to you,” I said.

“I can’t,” she admitted.

That was the first honest thing she had said.

Silence stretched between us again.

Then—The air shifted suddenly and sharply

My body tensed instantly. I felt it.

A presence.

Not hers.

Not mine.

My head turned slowly toward the window.

The temperature in the room dropped slightly cold and unnatural.

My wolf went completely still again with silence and watching.

What is that…

I stepped slightly in front of her without thinking. The realization hit a second too late.

I didn’t move away because whatever this was—It wasn’t normal.

The presence grew stronger and closer.

And then—A voice.

Soft.

Cold.

Not human.

“She’s waking up.”

My eyes darkened instantly.

“Who’s there?” I demanded.

No answer.

But the presence didn’t disappear.

If anything—It grew stronger.

“He shouldn’t be here,” the voice continued.

My body tensed.

He?

The air shifted again.

And this time—I felt it clearly.

Not inside the room but outside, watching and waiting.

I moved toward the window slowly and carefully.

Every instinct on alert.

Behind me, I could feel her—still, silent and watching.

I reached the window.

Then—I saw it.

A shadow standing just beyond the treeline.

It wasn't moving, not hiding, just watching.

My eyes narrowed.

That wasn’t one of mine.

And worse—It didn’t feel like a normal wolf.

A low growl built in my chest.

“Stay here,” I said without turning.

I stepped outside, the air hit colder.

The presence was stronger now.

Whoever it was—They wanted to be seen. That alone made them dangerous.

I moved forward a few steps. The shadow didn’t move. It didn’t react.

Just stood there.

Then—It stepped forward into the moonlight.

And my body went still, because I recognized him.

Alpha Zarek Thorn stepped out of the shadows, his silver eyes locked on me.

Then his gaze shifted—past me.

Toward her.

And he smiled.

“So… she survived.”