Chapter 2
Aiden’s face was a storm of emotions, his Alpha aura crackling in the air like a brewing thunderstorm.
“Mazie,” he said, his voice low but commanding, “can’t you just let it go for Zaria’s sake? She’s still young.”
I stared at him, my heart clenching painfully. “It was my decision to cut her hair. What does it have to do with her?”
His jaw tightened, his broad shoulders tensing as he stepped closer. “It’s just a haircut, for the Moon Goddess’ sake! Why do you have to make such a big deal out of it and insist she cut hers as well?”
His brow furrowed, his dark eyes flashing with frustration. “Zaria has always been proud of her looks since she was a pup. Do you know how much this will hurt her confidence? Can’t you see the impact this will have on her?”
His words were sharp, laced with an Alpha tone that made my chest tighten. I could feel my wolf whimpering in the back of my mind, her pain mirroring my own.
“Can’t you just be reasonable and stop causing a fuss?” he added, his voice softer now but still edged with impatience.
Listening to him, my eyes stung with unshed tears. It felt as though all those years of effort—of trying to prove myself as his mate—amounted to nothing more than a cruel joke.
“Alpha Aiden,” I said, my voice trembling despite my efforts to steady it, “I’m supposed to be your mate, your Luna.”
I clenched my fists, the bond between us burning faintly in my chest. “You need to sort out your priorities...”
I don’t know which of my words struck a nerve, but suddenly Aiden’s emotions flared. His Alpha aura surged, his voice angry, the veins in his neck standing out as he glared at me.
“Mazie,” he snapped, his tone sharp enough to make me flinch, “why the sarcasm? My feelings for Zaria are purely platonic, like a sibling. There’s nothing inappropriate between us!”
His words cut deeper than any rejection, and I could feel my wolf recoiling in pain. “Why do you always have to be so suspicious? It’s such a trivial matter. Why do you keep dwelling on it?”
With those words, Aiden took Zaria by the hand, his protective stance unmistakable. Before he walked away, he shot me a lingering look, his expression unreadable.
“Mazie,” he said, his voice quieter now but still firm, “think about this carefully. It’s bad luck to see each other before the mating ceremony. Let’s just avoid meeting these next few days. This was just a prank; don’t spread it around. It won’t be good for Zaria.”
Throughout it all, Aiden only ever saw things from Zaria’s perspective, never considering mine.
The sound of the closing door echoed through the room, the finality of it sending a shiver down my spine.
And Aiden’s last words lingered hauntingly in my mind: “In seven days, I’ll still come to claim you as my mate.”
I looked up at the ceiling, feeling a rush of bitterness clawing at my chest. The bond between us, once a source of comfort, now felt like a chain tightening around my heart.
Aiden, I thought, my resolve hardening as my wolf growled in agreement. I’m not going to be your mate. Not now, not ever.
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