Goddess of the Moon: The Challenging

Chapter Two

JORDAN POV

My heart sinks when I first make eye contact with her. Ruger, my wolf, is elated. Without even processing what I’m doing I run over to her and wrap her in my arms. I’m so shocked that I’m not even fighting my wolf for control. I pull away and Ruger stares into Fallon’s eyes. She’s smiling back at him but I can see the indecision clearly on her face. This isn’t the way it was supposed to be.

People are cheering, whistling and clapping, and my heart is pounding. My parents look surprised, but happy.

“Snap out of it, Jordan,” my future Beta and best friend, Zane, mindlinks me. “You need to take back control before it becomes obvious to everyone that you’re disappointed your mate isn’t Violet.”

My mate isn’t Violet.

I take a deep breath and shove Ruger back, but he’s practically bouncing he’s so happy. How could he be happy?

Because Fallon is our mate, he answers angrily. She is the one the Moon Goddess has chosen for us, and it is our duty to love her and take care of her. She is OURS. You need to push Violet out of your head.

I don’t respond. I can’t push Violet away. I won’t. Where is she? I know she has to be devastated. I need to see her. I need to talk to her.

“Get me out of here, Zane. I just need a minute to breathe. I can’t think straight.” I plead quietly to my Beta.

“I’ll work on it,” he responds.

Fallon’s scent is intoxicating. The most amazing thing that I’ve ever smelled, but every fibre of my being is shying away from it. This isn’t how things were supposed to be. I love Violet.

“I am so sorry,” Zane says, out loud this time. “I don’t mean to interrupt this joyous occasion, but there’s something at the pack house that needs your attention immediately.” He pulls me away from Fallon, who looks disappointed, but she nods in acceptance. “I’ll bring him right back, I promise.” Zane grins at her and swiftly pulls me away as the party shifts back to individual mingling, dancing, and eating as it was before this mess happened.

As I follow Zane through the maze of people, I block multiple attempts to mindlink from my parents, and instead search for Violet, but I don’t see her anywhere.

The thought of her running away, tears streaming down her face, breaks my heart in two. I have to find her. As we exit the party I break away from Zane but he pulls me back.

“Where are you going?” He asks. “What are you thinking? That’s your mate, man!”

“I’ve got to find Violet,” I snap. “She didn’t deserve this! I have to make this right, I have to find her, I have to apologize…”

“And then what?” Zane demands. “Reject Fallon?” Ruger growls at the insinuation, but it’s not far-fetched. That was immediately what I thought of. “All of those people just saw you find your mate. You need to take a step back and really think about this. You’re going to become Alpha soon, you need to make wise decisions.”

“And Violet isn’t a wise decision?!” I roar, my entire body shaking.

“That isn’t what I’m saying,” he says calmly, holding his hands up in surrender. “I’m just saying that this is a big decision. Take some time. Go back to the party and talk to Fallon, put on a good face, and once you’ve calmed down, then you go talk to Violet. If you choose her, I’ll back you up, but it matters now what the pack members think.”

He’s right. I take a deep breath. If I reject Fallon, my pack will think that I question the Moon Goddess. They’ll lose faith in my decisions. I can’t be rash.

“Okay…” I agree slowly. “I’ll go back to the party.”

*****4 YEARS LATER*****

It was a mistake. Going back to that party was a mistake. I think about it every day of my life—especially when my best friend walks into my office with her scent all over him. It takes everything in me not to lunge across my desk and rip his throat out.

But my mate is next to me. So I hold myself back.

We’re planning our mating ceremony. I’ve postponed it as long as I could, but Fallon was way past suspicion at this point. She’s ready to be mated, to begin life as my Luna, and to start having pups.

My heart clenches.

Violet and I used to talk about the day we’d have pups. We daydreamed about their names, what they’d look like, and the type of parents we’d be. And I haven’t spoken to her since that dreadful night. I’ve barely even seen her, but at least once a week Zane comes into my office smelling like her. I try not to be mad—he has no idea that I’m not happy with Fallon—but Violet should have been mine. He should know better than to fool around with my ex. And what the hell is she thinking?! Zane?! My best friend? My beta? The man that I’m supposed to trust my life with? That’s who she chooses to f**k in my place?

I want to confront her about it, but I know that I have no right to. She isn’t mine anymore.

But, Goddess, I wish she was.

“I’ve made Cathrine Devereaux aware of the guest arriving tonight. She will have everything ready for the King’s stay.”

I nod, but Fallon tenses. She always does at any mention of Vi or her parents. Right after we mated, she put up a wall, and I have no idea how she’s feeling. Angry that Vi won’t talk to her? Hurt? Alone? Impassive? I have no idea. I’d imagine she’d be upset at the least, considering they’ve been best friends since they were born.

Fallon knows that something with our mating isn’t quite right but neither of us address it. She doesn’t ask why I’m distant, she just pretends we’re the perfect couple, and so I do the same.

But I only ever think about Vi.