THE REJECTED LUNA ALPHA'S HIDDEN HEIR

"Do you ever think," Rowan asked in a low voice, "that some bonds are made out of duty instead of love?" I felt the words more than a slap. As I put down the silver tray, the smell of roasted meat and herbs filled the air like smoke, making my eyes burn. There were only a few people in the dining hall, with my husband sitting at the head of the long table like a stone king. "I don't get it," I said, trying not to cry as I got closer. "Why do you want to know that?""" There was no look from Rowan Blackthorn at me. His jaw set and his fingers got tighter around the glass. His knuckles turned white. The Sleepy Hollow Pack's boss. Hey, friend. My husband. The man who had been months without touching me. He told her, "I'm just thinking out loud." Having a thought. That's what he always said when his words hurt too much. The tray was down, and I sat down next to him. I was close enough to feel his warmth, but far enough away to feel the space. As always, our connection hummed softly, but lately it felt... turn off. Like a string that is too tight. To break the quiet, I said, "I spent the day with the pack women." You were told to look into it because "they're worried about the crops that are close to the east border." Then he looked at me with gray, sharp, and stray eyes. "Did you?" "Yes," I replied, "that's my job." Just like Luna. He couldn't tell what was on his face—not anger or happiness, but something cooler. He stated, "You don't have to worry about every little thing." "The pack will live on." "The pack will live on," I said. What about me? People talked in short bursts and there were long stretches of quiet during dinner. I got up and reached for his arm because it was habit. It was a soft "Rowan." "Did I do something wrong?""“ He stopped moving. I thought for a brief moment that he would turn around, hold my face in his hands, and tell me I was dreaming and that I was still his Luna and choice. Instead, he pulled his arm away. "You're tired," he told her. "Take a break." He left after that. After I stopped hearing his footsteps, I stood there for a long time. My chest hurt, and the lights were not burning brightly enough. The hall seemed too big or too small. That night, I couldn't fall asleep. I lay in bed and stared at the sky while the moonlight came in through the tall windows. The sheets on his side were clean and cold. He didn't come back. It hurt like hell when I put my hand on my chest, where the mate bond lived. I wanted to beg through the bond, "Talk to me." *Please let me in. * But Rowan had built walls around them that not even the bond could get through. By morning, the pack was buzzing. As soon as I stepped outside, I could hear whispers and see wolves looking at me and then quickly turning their heads away. The courtyard had more people than normal; elders were standing by the steps, and warriors were all around. And she was in the middle of it all. The Seraphina Vale. She stood next to Rowan with her hand on her chest as if she were weak. Her light hair sparkled in the sun, and her clothes were soft and flowy, making her look like she was straight out of a story meant to win hearts. I walked more slowly. She needed to leave. Her name came back to me from Half-Word Stories and Warnings about Rowan's past. His first love. The woman who left him. "What's going on?""I asked one of the maids in a low voice. She quickly looked at him and said, "She came at dawn, my Luna." "My Luna." The words didn't sound right. Rowan then turned around and saw me. The sound, the people, and her were all gone for a short time. Just us. I could see it in his eyes. Fight. Seraphina also looked up, following his eyes. She smiled in a small, sad way and took a shaky step forward. It was a whisper, but she said, "Rowan, I didn't want to come like this." I had to do it. He got up and left before I could. He took one step, then another. He was standing in front of her, and his stressed face told me it. I should have been worried about that. "What do you mean?"""Why?"He asked. She swayed, so he reached out to catch her. The bond inside me woke up quickly and sharply. "I tried to stay away," she said, tears in her eyes. "But the pain wouldn't heal." The link... It hurts so much. People in the crowd made a noise. My heart was beating hard against my ribs. My voice was louder than I meant it to be when I asked, "What bond?" Seraphina finally turned to look at me. Hardly looked. "I'm sorry," she said softly, but it sounded like she meant it badly. "I didn't know he had already picked someone else." Picked. Rowan still had his hands on her arms. "Explain," I asked as I got closer. "Now." She gasped and opened her mouth, then held her chest. Her knees gave out. "Seraphina!" "Rowan caught her before she hit the ground." A lot of adults moved quickly to meet them. One of them, Elder Corvin, looked at Rowan with a tough face. He said, "Alpha." "Her signs are clear." A mate bond that has been hidden but now comes back to life. The world turned over. I replied, "That's not possible." "Rowan is *my* friend." No one replied to my message. She opened her eyes and looked right at Rowan. She said in a low voice, "I felt it the moment I crossed the border." "You're still mine." Rowan had a white face. It was very quiet for a long time. Then Elder Corvin said something that made me lose the last bit of ground I had. "We need to look into this bond." Rowan didn't look at me when he said "yes." "I agree." I broke down inside. Rowan didn't think twice about following them as they took Seraphina to the healer's hall. With no turning back. I was by myself in the courtyard, with my pack and my friends all around me. I didn't feel like I belonged there. I could feel the bond in my chest pounding so hard and fast, like it knew what was going to happen. And I felt fear for the first time since I became Luna of Nightfall Pack. I knew this was just the beginning. I was going to lose everything.