Love Paradox

Luna's Pov Flashback “Don't tell me that since three days back when Alpha Darius caught you from falling, you've been wearing that dress,” Monroe, my best friend said, jolting into my thoughts. “His scents intoxicates me and makes me sleep well at night even when my parents start fighting again, so why should I pull it off,” I responded dreamily, picturing his sharp jawline, his silvery blue eyes that shone like the moon. “Please don't tell me you're seriously dreaming about him again. If you don't stop dreaming about the alpha, you might forget the scent of your own mate, have you forgotten that you'll be 18 in just a few hours?” Monroe said, pulling a twig from a tree as she used it to playfully whip my ass. I could help but sigh, Monroe was right about the fact that I'd be 18 soon, "I know, I know. But it's hard to think about my mate when I've never even met him. And Alpha Darius is just so... captivating." Monroe gave me this look that said, ‘You're a hopeless case’ but I couldn't care less. I continued with a giggle, “And did you see the way he looked at me? Like I'm the only one in the pack." Monroe frowned, obviously tired of me, "Luna, you need to snap out of this. You're not some lovesick pup anymore. You're almost 18, and you need to start thinking about your future. Your mate is out there, and you need to be ready for him." ‘Seriously, don't act so serious every chance you get,’ I thought, pouting. "I am ready. But since I'm not 18 yet, can't I just enjoy the alpha's attention for a little while longer? It's not like I'm going to mate with him or anything." I said, a nonchalant gaze adorning my face. “Luna, you need to be careful. The alpha might have seemed nice, but he's still a powerful werewolf with a reputation for being ruthless. Don't forget that." Monroe said sternly, as she stopped walking. She was probably trying to prove a point. I sighed dreamily, leaning against a tree, "I know, but I can't help how I feel. And besides, I'm sure my mate will understand. Maybe he'll even be jealous of the alpha's attention." I said giggling, feeling a searing burn on my head. Monroe signed as if giving up on me, shaking her head from side to side, "You're something else, Luna. Just be careful, okay?" “I will, Monroe. Don't worry about me. I can handle myself." I replied skipping away, while she went on her own way too. As always, as I got nearer to my home, I could hear the constant argument of my mom and dad, it was something I had grown accustomed to, so I pulled out my headphone and turned on a rock music, because of my heightened hearing, it wasn't too high, just high enough to block out some of the noise as I walked passed them as unnoticeably as I could. I couldn't wait to be 18 in a few hours. I couldn't wait more for the prospect of meeting my mate and falling so hopelessly in love with him, marrying him and then we can have a lot of pups and live happily ever after. My dream was that simple, and I was happy that I had the opportunity to live that dream in just a few hours. Time seemed to move very slowly or maybe I was moving too fast, I couldn't tell but running out of what to do, I found myself daydreaming about Alpha Darius, I found myself wondering how soft his lips would feel on mine, how he would taste. I could still scent him faintly on my dress, where he had held me. I didn't know exactly when I blacked out but I woke up to someone calling out to me, more like whisper to me. The bright moon draped its moonlight over me as if kissing me. I grab my phone and it was a minute to midnight, when I would finally be able to sense my mate. I subconsciously held my own breath counting the feeling seconds left. ‘Would my mate be as handsome as the alpha? Would he have silvery blue eyes? Would he be as…’ My thoughts were cut short as my alarm blared, the time stricking 12. I waited for a few seconds, half expecting that my mate was close by and the other half feeling suddenly nervous. Then suddenly, a familiar scent wafted into my nostrils only this time, the scent was stronger almost like he was close by. ‘What was he doing around here by the time?’ I wondered, peeking outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of him. But for some reasons, I was no longer calm, how could I be? So I jumped out of bed, stealthily jumped down the window and into the woods, I began following the Alpha's scent, I didn't know how far I had gone until I reached where the scent stopped, it was only then I realized I was standing in the middle of the whole of silvermoon pack. I stood trying to catch my breath, heaving heavily as I looked behind me. “Mate?” I heard a voice behind me, the voice awfully familiar as I turned back to meet the eyes of the man whose face had haunted my dreams… in a good way. Alpha Darius stood in all his glory, his chest heaving slightly. Then it occurred to me… Mate? Him? “You're my mate?” I asked, when all I wanted to do was to run into his embrace and remain there. I was already addicted to his scent even before now. “What are you doing here?” he asked gruffly, his voice becoming cold. ‘Was he angry?’ “I followed your scent here, I didn't know how far I had come until it stopped here,” I said, trying to explain myself. “Go home, Luna,” He said, my name drawing out of his lips so seductively I was literally holding my breath. Just then, I felt the mate bond, a soft pull and the voice of my wolf screaming, ‘Mate!’ “Mate?” my voice shaking, I rushed into his obviously not stretched out embrace, “You're my mate,” I said, my eyes were tearing up in happiness. ‘The moon goddess granted my heart desire. Monroe will have a shock of her life if she finds out I was mated to the alpha.’ I was probably too happy that I failed to see how Darius eyes constricted. All I felt was, the mate bond will be the glue that binds us together and make us fall in love, even my wolf thought so too, but I was just about to find out how wrong I was. Darius gently pulled my hands that were circled around his waist apart, taking a step back as he said, “Go back home, and forget what happened tonight.” Without another word, he turned his back, and started walking away. My wolf whined as if feeling the loss of her mate. "Darius," I called out, my voice echoing through the woods in the quiet night. "I need to tell you something." The night was indeed dark and cloudy, a sign that winter was coming. I was standing in the forest where I grew up and had run through as a cub. His gaze upon me was withdrawn, icy cold and intense, making a shiver run down my back. "You should be quick with whatever you want to say. You should know my time is greatly limited and you just had to call me back," he said, snapping at me, thoroughly dissatisfied. ‘How was I supposed to say anything when he looked so angry like I had committed an unforgivable sin. Or maybe, I had. Calling the alpha sounded like a huge crime, but darn it, he was also my mate’ I wondered, but I dare not say. Taking a deep breath, I hurriedly began to speak quickly as I wanted to get everything out before I lost courage, "I love you, Darius. With all my heart, I love you." As if he wasn't the one I was talking to, he didn't move at all, not even an inch like a molded statue in the misty air. My heart, which had been beating fast with hope, was quickly shattered the moment he opened his mouth. His words were like glass pieces, each one piercing through my dreams, all the dreams I had thought would be fulfilled with the arrival of a mate - my mate. "Luna, you are not my mate," he declared, his gaze meeting mine intently. "And not just that, you will never be my mate." He completed indifferently, not caring about how harsh his words sounded. ‘Wasn't a mate one of the greatest reasons for our existence? Every wolf in this pack all had one goal in life, to meet their mate, so why was mine rejecting me?’ I felt a headache incoming as a wave of confusion and pain hit me, like a storm that could knock me over. "Why?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "What's wrong with me that makes you reject me like this?" Darius turned away, his body blending into the darkness of the woods. "There's nothing wrong with you, Luna," he said, his voice getting further away from me. "But I have important duties and responsibilities. I can't let my feelings or all of these mate bonds get in the way." "But that's not even a valid reason for rejecting me," I said, taking a step forward. The leaves under my feet crunched on impact. "Please don't go yet. At least tell me the reason, Darius. Let me understand why you're doing this to me." Darius stared at me again, his eyes held a lot of conflicting emotions that were difficult to keep a tab on. "Why bother about that? The reason is mine to keep," he said, his voice firm but I could sense sadness mixed in. "You have to trust that this is for the best." The best? The notion was a bitter draught to swallow. How could rejection without reason be for the best? I searched his face, seeking a c***k in the armor he wore so well. "Darius, please," I begged, my eyes giving way to tears. "You can't just push me away without at least giving me a reason." He hesitated, definitely he didn't want to say anything. His mouth opened and closed until finally he said, “Luna Evergreen, I can't,” he said, shaking his head from side to side. My breath got caught in my throat. "Then let me stand with you, Darius,” I reached out to touch him but he stepped back immediately, leaving my hand hovering, “Let us face these forces together, as equals, as mates." He shook his head as he stepped back again, the distance between us, made my eyes water. "You cannot, Luna. This is my path to walk in. Yours doesn't include me." "But love knows no boundaries, Darius. We could face whatever challenges come our way together." He shook his head, a pained expression etched into the lines of his face. "You don't understand, Luna. There are things about me that I cannot burden you with. You deserve someone better, someone who can give you the life you deserve." Tears welled in my eyes, blurring the world before me into a hazy, unfocused mess. "I don't want someone better, Darius. I want you. I've loved you from the moment you caught me when I had lost my footing and fell off the tree. I love you so much I didn't mind risking being laughed out but have lived in this dress for three days, your scent." His hands moved in like a drowning man between us, lingering there momentarily, seeming to contemplate embracing me and yet wanting to keep away. “Luna, please stop it,” he said, his hands balling back by his sides, “Go back home.” ‘Was he trying to mend my heart or he just wanted to see it more broken?’ "Can't you see, Darius, that there must be some way to make you change your mind, just for me? I just want to prove that there are no risks, my love for you is enough. " He slowly shook his head, his mouth falling open slightly to give the final judgement, “In the presence of the moon goddess, I, Darius Frost, Alpha of silverwood pack, reject you, Luna Evergreen as my mate.” “Ahhhh!” I cried out in pain, feeling as if my heart had been torn, pain moving like tremors in my body as I fell to the grass, the pain becoming severe. “Accept it, Luna.” I heard Darius in between my swiveling consciousness. “I accept it,” I howled, unable to handle the hurt, ‘Was that how much I loved him for it to hurt like that?’ He turned on his heels and left, my eyes on his and he never turned back - not for once. End of flashback *********************************************** Eights years later “Wow, it sounds like some werewolf tale,” Michael said, prompting me to slap the back of his head in playful way. “It's a werewolf tale, dummy.” I replied, joining him as I folded some of his clothes into his travelling bag. “You know it's not easy to get used to, I mean, you look totally human… until I saw you turning into a wolf that night. That's never ever gonna leave my memory not even if I have a memory loss… like ever.” he said, holding his chest, a smile playing on his lips. “Well, that can work, I mean we're both going to silverwood like right now, where they change at will. It's gonna be hard to forget such. Now we would be on our way to the airport if you hadn't forgotten to put your clothes in, I mean who forgets such? I asked incredulously, finding it difficult to believe. “Well obviously, I do.” He answered, pointing towards himself. We were done packing the clothes in his luggage, which he pulled to the car and placed it in the car boots. It had been years since I left Silverwood pack, not being able to face my mate after he rejected me without a solid reason. My wolf hadn't spoken to me since then, she must still be feeling the pain of loving so much but having it all thrown in your face. I didn't even get to know her name. As soon as we were entering the airport, our flights were being announced, we rushed to finish our clearance before the plane took off. We were the only ones on first class, giving us ample space to discuss freely.