Chapter 2
1416 Words
Chapter 2: The Mate I Never Wanted
Luna couldn't breathe.
The bond pulsed through her chest like a living thing, sending waves of heat through her body.
Mate.
The word echoed endlessly in her mind.
Across the courtyard, Ryder Blackwood stared directly at her.
Neither of them moved.
For a brief moment, the world seemed to stand still.
Then Ryder looked away.
Just like that.
As though she meant nothing.
As though the sacred bond connecting them didn't exist.
Luna's heart sank.
The reaction hurt more than she wanted to admit.
For years, she had secretly admired him from afar.
Not because he was handsome.
Not because he was powerful.
But because of the way he carried himself.
Strong.
Confident.
Unshakable.
He had always seemed like someone who knew exactly who he was.
Someone who belonged.
Everything Luna wasn't.
And now fate had connected them.
Yet the look on his face hadn't been joy.
It hadn't even been surprise.
It had been a disappointment.
A cold knot formed in her stomach.
Something wasn't right.
"Luna?"
Mia's voice broke through her thoughts.
"You look pale."
Luna blinked.
The crowd returned.
The music returned.
The ceremony returned.
Reality crashed back around her.
"I..." she whispered.
"What happened?"
Luna hesitated.
How could she say it aloud?
How could she possibly explain what had just happened?
But Mia was her best friend.
If there was one person she could trust, it was her.
"My mate."
Mia's eyes widened.
"You found him?"
Luna nodded.
"Who is it?"
For a second, Luna couldn't answer.
Then she forced the words out.
"Ryder."
Silence.
Mia stared.
Then stared some more.
"No."
Luna laughed bitterly.
"That's exactly what I thought."
"No, seriously."
"Mia."
"Ryder Blackwood?"
Luna nodded.
"The future Alpha?"
"Yes."
"The Ryder Blackwood?"
"There aren't many of them."
Mia looked completely stunned.
For a moment, Luna almost felt better.
At least someone else thought it was unbelievable.
Then Mia grabbed her shoulders.
"Luna, that's amazing!"
"No."
"Are you kidding me?"
"Mia—"
"Do you realize what this means?"
Luna did.
Unfortunately.
If Ryder accepted the bond, she would become his Luna.
The future Luna of Silver Moon.
The position every unmated female dreamed about.
The highest honor in the pack.
The thought should have made her happy.
Instead, she felt sick.
Because she remembered the look on Ryder's face.
He hadn't looked happy.
Not even close.
Before she could respond, movement near the platform caught her attention.
Ryder was leaving.
Fast.
Without speaking to anyone.
Without acknowledging her.
Without even looking in her direction.
Luna watched him disappear into the crowd.
Her chest tightened.
Why was he leaving?
The ceremony wasn't over.
Most newly discovered mates couldn't wait to speak to each other.
Yet Ryder looked like he wanted to escape.
The realization hurt.
More than it should have.
"Maybe he's shocked," Mia said.
Luna hadn't realized she'd spoken aloud.
"Maybe."
"He probably wasn't expecting it."
Neither was I.
Mia squeezed her hand.
"Don't panic."
Easy for her to say.
The rest of the ceremony passed in a blur.
Luna barely heard the announcements.
Barely noticed the celebrations.
All she could think about was Ryder.
And the expression on his face.
Hours later, the ceremony finally ended.
Families gathered together.
Newly discovered mates celebrated.
The courtyard slowly emptied.
Luna lingered near the edge of the crowd.
A small part of her hoped Ryder would return.
That he would explain.
That he would tell her she was imagining things.
That everything was fine.
He never came.
Eventually, Mia convinced her to leave.
The journey home was quiet.
The streets of Silver Moon glowed beneath the moonlight.
Stone pathways wound between cottages and noble estates.
Most windows remained illuminated as families continued celebrating.
Luna walked silently beside Mia.
Lost in thought.
"You should sleep."
Luna laughed.
"I don't think that's possible."
"Try anyway."
They stopped outside Luna's small cottage.
Unlike the grand homes owned by noble families, her house was simple.
Modest.
Ordinary.
Just like her.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Mia said.
Luna nodded.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
Mia hesitated.
Then smiled.
"Congratulations."
Luna managed a weak smile.
"Thanks."
After Mia left, Luna stepped inside.
The cottage felt unusually empty.
Quiet.
Lonely.
She lit a lantern and sat beside the window.
Sleep never came.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Ryder.
His expression.
His disappointment.
His rejection.
No.
Not rejection.
Not yet.
But something close.
The bond pulsed softly inside her chest.
Reminding her he existed.
Reminding her that somewhere nearby, her mate was awake too.
Did he feel it?
Was he thinking about her?
Or was he wishing the bond didn't exist?
The questions haunted her.
Hours passed.
The moon drifted across the sky.
Still she remained awake.
Then suddenly—
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Luna jumped.
Her heart raced.
Who would visit this late?
The knocking came again.
Louder.
Urgent.
She hurried toward the door.
When she opened it, her breath caught.
Ryder Blackwood stood outside.
For a moment, neither spoke.
The bond immediately reacted.
Heat flooded her chest.
Mate.
Ryder's jaw tightened.
As though he felt it too.
"Luna."
His voice was deeper than she remembered.
More serious.
More distant.
"Alpha Ryder."
Something flickered in his eyes.
Annoyance.
Perhaps disappointment.
"I'm not Alpha yet."
"Sorry."
An awkward silence followed.
Luna suddenly became aware of everything.
Her messy hair.
Her simple clothes.
The fact that the future Alpha stood on her doorstep.
At midnight.
"What are you doing here?"
The question escaped before she could stop it.
Ryder glanced away.
As though searching for patience.
Finally, he sighed.
"We need to talk."
A chill ran through her.
The words sounded wrong.
Not romantic.
Not hopeful.
Wrong.
Still, she stepped aside.
Ryder entered.
The cottage suddenly felt much smaller.
Much poorer.
Much more embarrassing.
Ryder remained standing.
Luna noticed he never looked around.
Never commented.
Never smiled.
His expression remained cold.
Carefully controlled.
Finally, he spoke.
"You know what happened tonight."
Luna nodded.
"The mate bond."
"Yes."
The room fell silent.
Luna waited.
Ryder seemed to be choosing his words.
And for some reason, that terrified her.
"I never expected this."
Neither did I.
"You deserve honesty."
The knot in her stomach tightened.
Honesty rarely came before good news.
Ryder rubbed the back of his neck.
The first sign of discomfort she'd seen from him all night.
Then he looked directly into her eyes.
And everything changed.
"There has to be a mistake."
The words hit harder than a physical blow.
Luna froze.
For a second, she wasn't sure she'd heard correctly.
"A mistake?"
Ryder exhaled.
"The Moon Goddess."
Luna stared.
He continued.
"The bond."
Her chest tightened.
"You think I'm not your mate?"
"I know what I felt."
"Then what's the problem?"
Silence.
The answer came too slowly.
And somehow that made it worse.
Finally, Ryder spoke.
"I had different expectations."
Luna felt something c***k inside her.
Different expectations.
Not another mate.
Not another bond.
Her.
He had expected someone else.
Someone better.
Someone worthy.
The implication was impossible to miss.
"You don't want me."
Ryder immediately looked uncomfortable.
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't have to."
"Luna."
"No."
She stepped back.
Pain spread through her chest.
Hot.
Sharp.
Humiliating.
Because deep down, she'd already known.
The moment she'd seen his face across the courtyard.
The moment he'd looked at her like fate had ruined his life.
She'd known.
"I understand."
"You don't."
"I do."
Her voice shook.
And she hated it.
She hated that he could see how much he was hurting her.
"I know exactly what you're saying."
Ryder ran a hand through his hair.
Frustration flashed across his face.
"This isn't easy for me either."
The words only made things worse.
Luna laughed bitterly.
Not easy for him.
The future Alpha.
The most admired wolf in Silver Moon.
The man everyone respected.
Compared to what?
Being matched with someone like her?
The humiliation burned.
Ryder took a step forward.
"Luna—"
A scent suddenly drifted through the open window.
Sweet.
Floral.
Female.
Ryder froze.
The reaction was immediate.
Instinctive.
Luna noticed.
And for the first time, suspicion stirred.
Ryder's attention shifted toward the scent.
Toward whoever carried it.
Something cold settled in her stomach.
Someone else.
There was someone else.
Ryder realized she'd noticed.
His expression changed.
And in that instant, Luna knew.
The problem wasn't the mate bond.
The problem was that Ryder Blackwood wanted another woman.
And suddenly, she wasn't sure her heart could survive what came next.
- Writer
