"Alpha’s Unwanted Luna: The Awakening"

Chapter Seven

His focus wasn’t on Nichole’s victory. It was on the girl in the stands who looked far too relieved, too happy—his mate.

Selene, sitting beside him, tilted her head. “You don’t seem impressed.”

Damien finally turned his gaze away from Ava. “It’s just a game.”

Selene smirked. “Liar.”

Damien ignored her and stood up. “We’re leaving.”

Adrian frowned. “But the celebration just started—”

Damien shot him a look, and Adrian sighed. “Fine, fine.”

Selene, however, was watching Ava again, a curious glint in her eyes.

Damien clenched his jaw.

This was only the beginning.

The stadium buzzed with excitement as Nathan’s team secured their victory. The scoreboard flashed the final score, confirming their win. Cheers erupted from the crowd, and his teammates tackled him in a pile of congratulations, their laughter echoing through the field.

Ava stood near the bleachers, a small smile playing on her lips as she watched her younger brother get lifted onto the shoulders of his teammates. His wide grin was contagious, and for a moment, she forgot about the unease that had been lingering in her chest all day.

"You did it, superstar!" Ava called out as Nathan finally made his way toward her.

Nathan, still out of breath from the match, grinned. "Of course, we did! Did you doubt me?"

Ava smirked, crossing her arms. "Hmm, maybe a little."

Nathan rolled his eyes but laughed. "Haters will always doubt, but champions prove them wrong!"

Their mother, Vivian, pulled Nathan into a proud hug. "You played wonderfully. I knew you had it in you."

As the celebration continued around them, Ava suddenly felt a strange sensation—like someone was watching her. It wasn’t the usual glance from a passerby or the admiring stares of a stranger. This was different. It was heavy, calculated.

She subtly turned her head, scanning the crowd, but saw nothing unusual. People were chatting, parents congratulating their kids, and friends taking pictures. Shaking off the feeling, she forced herself to focus on Nathan’s excitement.

Across the stadium, Damien stood near the VIP section.

His cold blue eyes were locked on Ava.

He had seen her the moment she arrived. He wasn’t sure why, but something about her presence had drawn his attention. There was something off about her—not in an obvious way, but in a way that made his instincts sharpen.

Selene, standing beside him, noticed his gaze and frowned. "What are you looking at?"

Damien didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he exhaled slowly, his expression unreadable. "Nothing important."

Selene followed his line of sight but saw nothing noteworthy. Just an ordinary girl and her family, which is Ava.

She scoffed, brushing a strand of her perfectly styled hair back. "You’re acting strange today."

Damien didn’t respond.

Ava Sinclair.

He and his mate are in the same space, which is driving him crazy.

Can he really reject her?.

He has to.

But something told him he wouldn't be able to.

Even if he tries.

…

Ava stood near the refreshment table, sipping on a glass of chilled fruit punch. The energy in the room was lively, filled with laughter and cheers as people celebrated the match. Nathan and Adrian’s teams had given an intense game, and the excitement still lingered in the air.

“Excuse me,” a smooth, melodic voice called from beside her.

Ava turned, and her gaze landed on a strikingly beautiful woman. She had long, flowing chestnut-brown hair, and her emerald-green eyes held an undeniable charm. Dressed elegantly in a deep red dress that hugged her figure perfectly, she exuded confidence and grace.

“I couldn’t help but notice you earlier,” the woman continued, offering a warm smile. “I’m Selene.”

Ava blinked, caught off guard by the sudden introduction. There was something oddly familiar about her, but she couldn’t place it. Still, she returned the smile politely. “Ava Sinclair.”

Selene’s smile widened as if she had just confirmed something. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ava. You have such a unique presence. I assume you’re here to support one of the players?”

“My younger brother,” Ava replied, gesturing toward Nathan, who was engaged in an animated conversation with his friends across the room.

Selene nodded, her gaze briefly following Ava’s gesture before returning to her. “That’s wonderful. Family is everything, isn’t it?”

Ava simply nodded. Something about Selene’s presence felt… odd. On the surface, she was friendly, charming even, but there was a weight in her words, like an undertone Ava couldn’t quite decipher.

Unbeknownst to Ava, Damien stood a few feet away, his piercing blue eyes locked onto their interaction. He held his drink with a relaxed grip, his expression unreadable as he observed Selene’s every move.

“I hope we can talk more sometime,” Selene said, lightly touching Ava’s arm in a gesture of familiarity. “I feel like we could be great friends.”

Ava forced a small smile, not wanting to be rude but unsure why Selene’s words sent an odd shiver down her spine. “Sure…”

Selene held her gaze for a moment longer before gracefully stepping back. “Enjoy the rest of your night, Ava.” With that, she walked away, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor.

Ava exhaled slowly, shaking off the strange feeling settling in her chest.

Meanwhile, Damien took a slow sip of his drink, his expression darkening slightly as he continued watching.

Ava found herself wandering toward the balcony, needing a moment of fresh air. The crisp night breeze was a welcome contrast to the warmth inside the event hall. As she leaned against the railing, a familiar voice spoke from behind her.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Vivian remarked, stepping beside her with a knowing smirk.

Ava sighed, running a hand through her hair. “I don’t know, Viv. That woman, Selene… Something about her felt off.”

Vivian frowned slightly, sipping from her glass. “Off how?”

“I can’t explain it,” Ava admitted. “She was friendly—too friendly. And the way she spoke, it felt like she was… studying me.”

Vivian’s playful demeanor faded. “Maybe she just found you interesting?”

Ava shook her head. “No, it was more than that. It was like she knew something about me before we even spoke.”

Vivian was silent for a moment before shrugging. “Well, you do have a habit of overthinking things.” She nudged Ava lightly. “But if you feel weird about her, just be careful and don't go close to her. Trust your instincts.”

Ava exhaled and nodded. “Yeah… Maybe I’m just being paranoid.”

But deep down, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Selene’s interest in her wasn’t just a coincidence.

…

Inside the hall, Nathan was busy laughing with his teammates when a soft voice called his name.

“Nathan.”

He turned, his expression instantly softening at the sight of Sofia Carter—his classmate and the girl he had been secretly crushing on for months.

Sofia was effortlessly pretty, with warm brown eyes and long black hair that cascaded over her shoulders. Unlike some of the girls who enjoyed the attention of the star athletes, Sofia was quiet and reserved, always focused on her studies. That was part of what drew Nathan to her—she wasn’t interested in the spotlight, just in being herself.

“Hey, Sofia,” Nathan greeted, trying to sound casual despite his heart picking up speed.

“You played really well,” she said with a shy smile. “I just wanted to say congratulations.”

Nathan grinned. “Thanks. I didn’t expect you to be here.”

“My brother’s on Adrian’s team,” she explained, glancing toward the group of players. “So, I had to come support him.”

Nathan chuckled. “Well, at least you got to see me win.”

Sofia laughed softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Yeah, I guess I did. You did great…today”

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The noise of the celebration faded into the background as they stood there, just looking at each other.

Nathan finally cleared his throat, gathering his courage. “Sofia… would you maybe want to grab coffee sometime? Just the two of us? Alone?”

Sofia’s eyes widened slightly before a soft blush crept onto her cheeks. She hesitated for a second, then nodded. “I’d like that.”

Nathan felt a surge of triumph, but he kept his cool, flashing her a grin. “Great. I’ll text you.”

As Sofia walked back toward her family, Nathan exhaled, shaking his head in disbelief. Maybe tonight was even better than he thought.

Damien Blackwood had never been one for social gatherings, but appearances had to be kept. His presence at the game was a mere formality, an obligation to support his cousin Adrian. He barely paid attention to the match itself, though his sharp eyes had flickered to Nathan Sinclair a few times—Ava’s younger brother.