Chapter Nine
1558 Words
Ryan let out a breath and rubbed the back of his neck. Then, after a moment, he grinned—though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "Alright, Ava Sinclair. I hear you loud and clear."
She relaxed slightly.
"But," he added, stepping back, "you should know something about me."
Ava raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Ryan smirked. "I'm not the type to give up so easily."
And with that, he winked at her and walked out of the café, leaving Ava with a strange mix of relief and unease.
Because for some reason… she had a feeling this wasn't the last time Ryan would ask.
Damien sat behind his massive desk in his penthouse office, his fingers steepled as he listened to the two men standing before him. The dim city lights outside cast long shadows, adding to the weight of the conversation.
Lucian, his Beta, stood tall and unwavering, his expression serious. Marcus, his most trusted assistant, leaned casually against the bookshelf, arms crossed, eyes sharp with unspoken thoughts.
"You know what needs to be done, Damien," Lucian began, his voice steady. "Selene has been by your side for centuries. She’s strong, capable, and devoted to you. The pack council already considers her our Luna. You made a promise, and it’s time to fulfill it."
Damien said nothing, merely swirling the whiskey in his glass.
Marcus scoffed. "A promise made about 700 years ago holds no weight against fate, Lucian. Ava is his mate. You can feel it, can’t you, Damien? You’re drawn to her."
Damien’s fingers tightened around the glass, but he didn’t answer.
Lucian stepped forward. "Drawn to her? What does that even mean? A human girl with no standing in our world? The pack will never accept her. And even if she is his mate, it doesn’t change the fact that Selene has been waiting for centuries."
Marcus pushed off the bookshelf, his expression darkening. "Selene is obsessed, not patient. She’s been keeping an eye on Ava, and you know it. You think she’ll just step aside?"
Damien’s jaw clenched. He had seen the way Selene looked at Ava at the celebration. It wasn’t the look of a woman who would surrender gracefully.
Lucian exhaled sharply. "So what? He throws away everything he’s built with Selene for a girl who doesn’t even know who she is?"
Marcus smirked. "You’re acting like Damien doesn’t have a choice. The bond won’t let him ignore Ava forever. And if he keeps rejecting it, it will destroy both of them."
Silence filled the room.
Damien finally set his glass down, his blue eyes flashing with restrained frustration. "I don’t need either of you telling me what I already know," he said coldly. "Ava is my mate. But Selene… She is my responsibility."
Lucian straightened. "Then do the right thing."
Marcus met Damien’s gaze. "And don’t make a mistake you’ll regret."
Damien sighed, rubbing his temples. His world had always been one of control, yet for the first time in centuries, fate was forcing his hand.
And he wasn’t sure if he was ready to face the consequences.
…
Ava sat by the large window in her bedroom, staring out at the city lights. The evening air was crisp, carrying the distant hum of traffic. She pulled her knees to her chest, her mind tangled in thoughts she had been trying to avoid all day.
Ryan had asked her out again.
It wasn’t the first time, and she doubted it would be the last. He was persistent, but not in an overbearing way. If anything, Ryan was patient—always waiting for her to come around, always hopeful that one day, she’d see him the way he saw her.
And maybe she should.
She sighed, resting her chin on her knee. Tasha’s voice echoed in her mind from earlier that day.
"Ava, he’s perfect for you. He’s sweet, stable, and clearly into you. What more do you want?"
That was the problem. Ava didn’t know what she wanted.
Ryan was nice. Too nice. He was the kind of guy any girl would dream of dating—charming, thoughtful, and respectful. He had been there for her, always offering her an easy, predictable kind of affection.
And yet… she hesitated.
Why?
Ava wished she had an answer.
Was she just scared of commitment? Or was it because, deep down, she knew she didn’t feel that spark?
She groaned and buried her face in her arms. Maybe she was overthinking things. Maybe she should just stop waiting for some ridiculous fairytale romance and say yes to the guy who actually wanted her.
But even as she thought that, a strange unease settled in her chest.
Because for some reason, she couldn’t shake the feeling that her life was about to change in ways she wasn’t ready for.
And Ryan? He wasn’t part of that change.
Meanwhile…
Across the city, Damien sat in his office, staring at the name on the file in front of him.
Ava Sinclair.
His mate.
Marcus had spoken about her again today, subtly pushing him toward the idea of acknowledging their bond.
Damien exhaled sharply and shut the file.
No.
He had already made his decision.
Selene was his future.
Ava Sinclair was a distraction.
One he wasn’t going to entertain.
…
Ava ran her fingers through her hair as she stared at her phone screen. Ryan’s last message was still unread.
Ryan: Take your time, Ava. I’ll wait.
She sighed, tossing her phone onto her bed. He was always like that—patient, understanding. She should appreciate it, but instead, it made her feel even more pressured.
A soft knock on her door pulled her out of her thoughts.
“Come in,” she called.
Nathan peeked in, his expression casual. “Mom made tea. You okay?”
Ava forced a small smile. “Yeah. Just thinking.”
Nathan stepped inside, crossing his arms. “Thinking about Ryan?”
She rolled her eyes. “Tasha got to you, didn’t she?”
He smirked. “She may have mentioned something.”
Ava sighed, shifting on the bed. “I don’t know, Nate. He’s great, but I feel like saying yes just because he’s a good guy isn’t fair to him—or me.”
Nathan nodded, leaning against her desk. “That makes sense. But what exactly are you waiting for?”
Ava hesitated. “I don’t know… Something more?”
“More what?”
“More… everything. Excitement. Passion. That feeling that I can’t be without him.” She ran a hand down her face. “Maybe I’ve read too many romance novels.”
Nathan chuckled. “Or maybe you’re just not ready.”
Ava exhaled slowly. “Maybe.”
Nathan pushed off the desk. “Whatever you decide, just make sure it’s what you want. Not Tasha, not Ryan. You.”
She smiled softly. “Thanks, Nate.”
He grinned. “Anytime. Now come downstairs before Mom sends a search party.”
Meanwhile – Damien’s side
Damien sat in his private lounge, a glass of whiskey in hand. Across from him, Lucian and Marcus sat in silence, watching him.
“So,” Lucian finally said. “What’s the plan?”
“The plan,” Damien said, swirling the whiskey in his glass, “is the same as it’s always been. Selene is the future Luna.”
Marcus leaned forward. “And what about your mate?”
Damien’s jaw tensed. “I’m not discussing this.”
“You can’t just ignore her existence.”
“I can, and I will,” Damien said firmly.
Marcus shook his head. “You keep saying that, but it doesn’t change the fact that she’s out there. She’s yours, Damien. Whether you like it or not.”
Lucian smirked, arms crossed. “You should know what you want by now Damien. You’ve been holding onto a promise for seven hundred years. Maybe it’s time to reconsider.”
Damien’s grip tightened around his glass. “I don’t break my promises.”
Marcus met his gaze. “And what if keeping this promise destroys you?”
Damien didn’t answer.
Because deep down, a part of him knew Marcus was right.
And it terrified him.
…
Ava sat at the bookstore cafe, her fingers drumming lightly against the counter as she stared at her untouched cup of coffee. The late afternoon rush had passed, leaving the place quieter, except for the occasional chatter of customers in the corner.
Ryan hadn’t come by today, which was unusual. She was used to him dropping in, flashing that easy smile, and making her laugh even when she was in a terrible mood.
Maybe he was giving her space.
Maybe she had finally pushed him away.
She should feel relieved, but instead, there was an ache in her chest that she couldn’t quite explain.
The bell at the door jingled, and Tasha strode in, her eyes immediately narrowing when she spotted Ava lost in thought.
“Oh no,” Tasha said, sliding into the seat across from her. “You have that face.”
Ava raised a brow. “What face?”
“The ‘I think I just made a huge mistake face’.”
Ava sighed, stirring her coffee even though she had no intention of drinking it. “I didn’t make a mistake, Tasha.”
- Writer
