QUEEN OF ROGUES BECOMES THE PROPHESIED LUNA

ENTER NATE

LEXIE'S POV

My heart races. My head aches and pain throbs inside my scar.

I can't believe that the man who caused me unbearable pain is standing right in front of me, no doubt coming to spoil my day. How can he?

I stand transfixed on the spot, speechless. It's like I have seen a demon from my worst nightmare.

For a moment, I am taken back to that terrible day by the swimming pool. I can almost hear the laughter. I can almost feel the humiliation. I remember the way everyone looked at me after Nate rejected me.

I remember how small he made me feel.

But I am not that girl anymore.

I have survived. I have trained vigorously I have improved, risen through the ranks in my pack.

I am now the Queen of Rogues.

I have fought battles and built a family among people who once had nothing.

And now I am standing here, about to be introduced as Paul's mate and Luna.

Nate has no right to come into my life and destroy this moment.

Mara sees the look on my face. She knows that this is not good. She doesn't even ask me what to do. Like the good friend she is, she encounters him.

“You are not supposed to be here. Go away. We are behind schedule and your presence here is not welcome.” She tells him. The two ladies look silently.

But Nate is not listening to her.

He stands there quietly looking at me.

I hate what he's trying to do. He wants to see whether he still has any power over me. He wants to see me running all over him, begging for his attention like the girl he rejected years ago. Other girls have done so, like Abigail, but not me.

I won't give him that satisfaction.

I want him to see that I have zero feelings for him.

“Get out of here Nate, now, or I alert Paul.”

For the first time he speaks, and his voice reminds me of that day by the swimming pool.

“I don't want any trouble. I came here to inform you that I am very sorry for what I did to you, and if you can find it in your heart, please forgive me and come back to me.......”

I didn't know that I could hate someone very much the way I now hate him. I have always avoided hatred, because it clouds my judgement. But right now I feel so much of it. I hate his guts.

Come back to him? After everything he did to me?

I stare at him in disbelief.

Does he really think that a few words of apology can erase seven years of extreme pain?Or he thinks that I am still the frightened fourteen-year-old girl he rejected in front of his then girlfriend?

“STOP!”

I turn towards the two ladies and instruct them to call security.

“Please Lexie, you don't belong here...” He says as the ladies move out. I don't listen to any more of what he is saying.

My hands begin to shake.

Not because I am afraid of him but because I am angry, very angry.

Just then Alfred appears, accompanied by Rowan and a few guards. By the look on their faces, they have not come for a friendly chat.

“How did you get here Alpha Nate?” Alfred barks, angry at Nate.

Nate turns towards him and gives him a calm smile.

“Breach of security? Let's assume I was the enemy. You are seated at the hall, having a good time, but you left your house unguarded. Is it my fault that I gained access unhindered?”

Alfred's face becomes even more serious.

“You need to get back to where the other guests are now, or we throw you out.”

Nate looks at him for a moment before turning his eyes back to me.

I sit back and watch, so angry that I can't even speak. I am sweating all over my face and Mara does the difficult task of wiping the sweat away.

Thank goodness I didn't have makeup.

In the background I can hear the speeches at the hall and someone announces that the Alpha's mate will walk in soon.

Obviously, they have no idea that in the changing room everything that can go wrong has already gone wrong.

I close my eyes for a moment.

This was supposed to be a happy day.

My parents are here, Mara is here and so is Rowan.

Paul is waiting for me.

For once, I was supposed to forget the past and enjoy the present but Nate has walked into the middle of everything.

“I will go. But rest assured that this is not over. Nowhere near over.”

Nate says this to Alfred, then he walks away, as if he has achieved some victory.

Two men escort him away. They try to handle him, but he brushes them off. Being stronger than them, they almost fall off after losing balance.

I watch him disappear.

Something tells me that he came here for more than an apology.

But what exactly does he want?

I don't know and perhaps I don't want to know.

“I am so sorry we let the security lapse around here. We were so engrossed in the festivities that we forgot that we have a pack to guard.” Alfred apologizes.

I look at him but don't answer.

I don't know how to react to this.

Nate's presence has really thrown me into an emotional mess and I feel like crying.

Actually I feel like going back to my pack and forgetting about everything that's happening here.

I look at Mara. She looks at me.

“Maybe I should just leave.”

She immediately shakes her head.

“No.”

Just then the two ladies come back and announce that we are expected at the hall in less than ten minutes.

“I think you should call Paul in here. We should postpone this. I don't think I can do it now.” I tell Alfred.

“No way, Lexie.”

Mara jumps from her seat and holds me by the shoulders from behind. I feel some comfort.

“We didn't come all the way from Dark Forest for us to back down because of one man.”

I look at her.

“But Mara…”

“No buts Lexie,” her voice is firm, “you are not going to let him take this from you.”

Rowan steps closer.

“You will be giving him exactly what he wants. He will be happy seeing that his visit here has destabilized you to the point of distraction. I say, get ready now.”

I look at Rowan.

He is right.

Nate has already taken enough from me. He took my dignity once. He took years of my life. He will not take this moment too.

I take a deep breath.

“Okay.”

Taking the cue, the two ladies put on some final touches on me and I am now ready to go.

I look at myself in the mirror.

The gown is beautiful. The tiara sits perfectly on my head.

And my scar is visible.

I touch it gently.

For years I hated this scar but today I refuse to hide it in makeup because it is part of me. It reminds me of everything I survived, how far I have come.

I straighten my shoulders.

I am Lexie Hale, the Queen of Rogues. Maybe I should add that the Moon Goddess has talked to me severally.

After years of anguish I am walking into that hall as Paul's mate.

Nate cannot change that. I can't allow that.

“Listen Lexie, Nate will be in the hall. He will try to distract you again. Just focus. You will walk in and Paul will already be in the podium. He will hold your hand and maybe hug you as a way of introduction. Then that's all.” Alfred says.

I nod.

My heart is still beating fast, but I feel stronger now.

I hear the music coming from the hall. The guests are waiting. The suspense is high.

Paul, my parents, Alphas and invited guests are now eager for this moment.

And somewhere in that crowd is the man who once believed he had the power to destroy me.

The door opens and I take one final breath.

Mara reaches for my hand and squeezes it. I squeeze back.

“You are not alone.” She says.

“I know.”

Rowan gives me a reassuring nod.

I step toward the door. Inside the hall the crowd cheers.

This is my moment.

And I refuse to let Nate Rivers take it away from me.