Moon-Bride: The Alpha's Reluctant Wife

Chapter Nine

I slammed out of the dining room, my thoughts a tangle of distrust and anger. If I was only to be returned to my genetic ancestors, then why hadn't anyone else in my family been chosen before?

It didn't make sense. If I was not here to be a Bride, then what was I? What was the Bride program, really? I needed answers.

I searched for the cinnamon and wood smoke scent. Xander owed me an explanation. Immediately.

I couldn't smell him. What the actual hell? Did he just cease to exist?

I barreled through the front door, flying down the steps of the porch and into the yard. There were people on the lawn doing drills. Wrestling and fighting. I saw him, not Xander but Rhys, leaning against a low wall.

His eyes widened as I snatched his arm on my way by, dragging him along with me. I could hear the whispers following us, but I didn't care. Rhys was my first real acquaintance here and I needed the truth.

I knew, deep in my heart, Rhys wouldn't lie to me. I could trust him.

I kept going, my feet flying toward the treeline. I needed space from the other wolves for this.

We reached the gloom of the forest and I whirled. My breath came in heaving gasps as I tried to pull air into my lungs. "Tell me it's not true!"

"What, beautiful?" He crowded close to me, his honey eyes searching mine. "What's wrong? Has Xander–"

"Did nothing but collect his kin apparently." I shook my head. "Tell me I'm not a genetic throwback to human atrocities. Tell me the Bride program is not to make reparations for stolen women."

"Oh, beautiful." He threw his arms around me. I vaguely registered his scent. Chocolate. Straight up decadence. I shivered in the circle of his arms. "I'm sorry. We aren't allowed to enlighten humans. But you're a wolf now."

"So what is this, really?" My voice was plaintive. "Why must I wed Xander and bear his children?"

He stepped back, hands brushing tears from my cheeks. I didn't know I was crying. Frustration poured through me. I was so confused. And hurt.

"The stolen women were Lunas. Our strongest females. That's why only Alphas qualify for the program. In our society, Lunas never mated below their station." He pulled away, his eyes sad.

"We rioted. Destroyed governments. The Daemons and Fae came next, their Queens done just like the Lunas. And it's even harder for Daemons and Fae to conceive. So it was more brutal on them."

"But why? Why all of this now?"

"Because genetically you were always ours. Your ancestor was promised to an Alpha of Xander's line. This is the way it is now. We are slowly reclaiming our women, no matter that they are more closely related to humans."

"So Xander–"

"His line has been waiting for you for centuries, beautiful." His voice was strained and he stepped back up to me. My breath caught in my chest as I dragged my eyes to his.

"He needs to claim you." He breathed, crowding me. I moved backward until my back was pressed into a tree. The rough bark scratched at me. "His scent is on you." His head dropped, nose pressed to my shoulder.

Rhys was close. Too close. Heat flooded my cheeks and I stifled a moan. "He's too busy with pack business. Why is this happening?"

He pressed his nose more firmly to my shoulder, breathing me in. "He's my closest friend." It wasn't an answer, but I didn't care. I couldn't think. Not with Rhys this close. "I'm better than this."

I wanted to say something, anything to break this moment. Xander set my blood on fire, razed through me like a fever. But Rhys. Rhys made my thighs clench and my knees weak. Get it together, Syn. I felt guilty. I didn't know why. Xander hadn't been my choice.

Didn't I deserve a choice?

Eclipse was strangely silent. It brought me out of the moment. Which is why I registered the scent above Rhys' chocolate one.

Cinnamon and wood smoke.

My eyes flew past Rhys' hulking body. There he was. Xander, my mate. My Husband. My breath shuddered in my chest.

Rhys pulled back, his face a mask of fury. What the hell?

"Xander." He snarled, turning to face the Alpha. Something feral and wild ran through me.

"Rhys." Xander growled, his eyes narrowed.

I hadn't done anything wrong, but I felt like a shithead. Rhys bristled in front of me, flinging his arms out as if to hide me away from Xander.

"She isn't yours, Rhys. This is just nature." How could Xander be so calm? Even though his voice was dark, his tone was even. "You are being drawn to the one unmated female we have."

"She could be, if she chose." Rhys stalked forward. "She could be if I claimed her."

"Would you do it?" Xander challenged. "Would you touch what didn't belong to you?"

"She is a person, Xander!" Rhys' voice shook. "She deserves better."

"Than what?"

"Than to be callously tossed aside. To feel as if she is unimportant! You are her mate and yet you let her walk around with an unclaimed bond."

"If I claim her I steal her choice!" Xander thundered. "She deserves the chance to choose me! Too much has been out of her control, Rhys."

My heart melted. I couldn't help it. It was the words I had longed to hear. Someone cared if I actually chose this.

"I can't. It's too strong." Rhys dropped to his knees shaking. "The pull, Xander. The need." He choked out. "I can't stop myself. Not anymore. Not while her wolf calls to mine."

Xander met my gaze above Rhys. I called to him? My wolf, by being unclaimed? My stomach twisted. I didn't want to hurt either of these males. And that was what I was doing. Right now. I was hurting two people who had done nothing but show me kindness. Mostly.

Rhys remained bowed. Was Xander doing that? I could feel the Alpha pull, the need to obey. I shook it off. I knew what I had to do. I had come here with a purpose. Who and what I was didn't matter. Not in the face of Rhys' obvious pain. He didn't want to betray his Alpha, his friend. And I was the one stealing his choice.

"Xander! Mate! I choose you. Please." The words ripped themselves from my throat.

He stared at me. His gold eyes were dark. My breath caught in my throat as Rhys groaned from the ground in front of me. My pulse kicked up. I felt stripped bare under his gaze.

He stalked past Rhys, stopping in front of me. "You choose me?" His voice was soft, and the forest around us melted away. Did I? Really?

"Yes." I breathed.

He jerked me into his arms roughly, his lips slamming on mine. Shitballs. I was about to be so screwed.