Wonderful Luna

8

Lucian’s POV

Who was that man meddling in Elise’s life?

I’d seen him before. He was someone close to her, but I hadn’t thought he was close enough to go to her house and make plans to spend the next day with her.

Although I didn’t say anything to Connor after leaving their house—so as not to raise suspicion about what was bothering me—I had him summoned to the pack house as soon as I arrived.

Connor appeared immediately.

“Tell me about that man who was at your house earlier,” I demanded of my Beta.

“You mean my sister’s friend, the guardian?”

“Who else?”

Connor raised an eyebrow, as if confirming to himself that I was showing interest in someone who perhaps shouldn’t even have been on my radar.

“He’s an old friend of Eli’s. They’ve been close since primary school. At one point, they even fantasized about being mates, but when Eli received her wolf and it became clear…” Connor stopped himself from finishing the sentence. “Well, it turned out they weren’t. But that didn’t stop them from being good friends.”

“Friends? Just friends?”

Connor looked offended by my question, his face hardening momentarily.

“Yes, just friends. Or are you implying that my sister…”

“Forget it. I misspoke,” I interrupted. “I know she… anyway. You said he’s a guardian, right?” Connor nodded. “Assign him to guard duty tomorrow at the Eastern border.”

Connor’s expression shifted from mild irritation to something resembling disbelief.

“The Eastern border? Are you sure? But that border…”

“It’s the most dangerous, I know. I have a good feeling about this guy,” I lied. “He seems like a capable, seasoned warrior.”

“But, brother, if I may contradict you,” Connor began, his voice cautious, “Riley is only a few months away from finishing his training. He’s not at all what you’re describing.”

I hardened my gaze.

If there was one thing that annoyed me, even coming from my Beta, it was having my decisions questioned—especially when his words hinted at the true reasons behind my orders.

“I have a good feeling about that guardian,” I repeated.

Though Connor’s expression betrayed nothing, I knew exactly what was running through his mind. Still, he had to obey me.

“The Eastern border is the most dangerous and remote area of our territory, Alpha,” Connor said, his tone steady but firm. “Only two types of warriors are assigned there: those being punished, or those with at least ten years of veteran experience. Sending him there, as green as he is, would be like sending him to his death.”

“You exaggerate, my friend. Yes, that border is particularly dangerous, but after the last blow we dealt to the Rogue King—before… before what happened—I’m certain it’s not as bad anymore. It will be an excellent place for that guardian to finish his training.”

I saw Connor’s shoulders tense.

“I must insist, Alpha. I don’t think this is a wise decision…”

“It’s an order, Connor. Or do I now need to justify every single order I give?” I growled.

“We both know exactly why you’re giving this order, brother.”

I was about to retort, but my lips clamped shut, and Connor seized the moment to continue his argument.

“My sister won’t take kindly to what you’re doing. She’ll know exactly why you’re doing it.”

“What your sister thinks…” I clenched my fists.

It wasn’t true.

I was going to say that I didn’t care in the slightest what Elise thought or said, but that wasn’t the truth. It was the opposite.

The mate bond, even after the rejection, was too strong for me to be indifferent to the pain my decision would cause Elise.

I was about to deprive her of her closest friend, and that would deal her yet another blow—just one more wound to add to the many she had endured over the past week.

Was I really capable of being so cruel?

Fenrir growled loudly in my head, fully aware of what I was about to do and how it would directly affect our mate.

“Are you seriously thinking of causing our mate more pain? Are you really going to do this because of some unfounded jealousy?” Fenrir protested.

Every muscle in my body tensed.

Connor took a step closer to me.

“I know Elise can survive the rejection you’ve subjected her to,” Connor said, his voice calm but firm. “But if she starts to see that you want to control her, that you’re willing to hurt her to achieve it, she’ll fight back, Lucian—and she’ll fight hard.”

“This has nothing to do with trying to control her,” I replied. “This decision doesn’t reflect what you or she might think.”

Connor’s jaw tightened. I knew that look well. It was the look of absolute loyalty—the kind of loyalty that would force him to follow my orders even if he wanted to strangle me for them.

“Is that your order, Alpha?” he asked, his stone-like eyes fixed on mine.

“You’ll cause terrible pain to our mate,” Fenrir warned. “Haven’t you done enough already?”

“This decision has nothing to do with what you or Elise might think,” I said, my voice steady. “It’s a unique opportunity for that guardian to receive more demanding training and, as a result, become stronger. It’s my decision, Connor. Now carry it out.”

Connor bowed slightly, his movements rigid.

“As you command, Alpha. Guardian Riley will be sent to the Eastern border starting tomorrow, at first light. Is there anything else I can do for you, Alpha?”

“That’s all. You may go and rest now.”

Connor offered me another bow—a gesture that made it clear he was placing a layer of icy formality between us, angry about having to enforce an order he obviously disagreed with.

I dismissed it and headed to my room, but as soon as I entered, I was hit by a wave of Elise’s scent.

Her aroma was still woven into the mahogany walls, the satin curtains, and the silk pillow she once rested her head on while we watched movies together.

It lingered in my closet, in the pajamas and sweaters she used to borrow when it got too late for her to go home.

Elise’s essence was everywhere.

Everything reminded me of her.

Everything led me back to her memory.

Why didn’t anyone understand that I was in pain too? That for rejection to work, both mates had to suffer?

I grabbed the first bottle of whiskey I could reach and, forcing myself to focus on the pack’s well-being, drank the liquor as if it were cool, refreshing water.