Luna On The Run!

Alpha Zane’s POV

Eric and Ariel have left my study.

My mind still cannot comprehend what happened a few minutes ago.

My mate and I rejected each other and it went so smoothly as if we were just friends instead of fated. Strange thing.

Kensley is right, especially for an Alpha, breaking the bond it should have been a more painful experience. But I felt nothing, no thong snapping or short circuit in my body, as described by male wolves who have been through this process before.

And Ariel sat there indifferent, nothing was noticeable with her either.

Or she is an excellent actress. My pain lies more in her attitude. Doesn’t it bother her to leave me today? Her indifference hurts like hell. And why did Eric leave right after her? My Beta swore that she was not his mate and that he did not desire her. Even though her attitude said otherwise.

“Zane, this is not possible. An Alpha and Luna rejecting each other would have to go through the whole pack. Even Eric and I should feel some of your pain,” Kensley insists. He walks towards me.

“Are you sure she was your mate? Or was it just your desire to have a mate that drove you to her?” my Head Warrior begins to question. “Because it surprised everyone that a fully mated and marked Luna had another Alpha as a mate. Was it all in your mind?”

I shake my head in denial. “She was my mate. Her scent when I smelled her clothes and the sparks when I held her hand were real. I told you,” I insist. “She’s already mated with Gorgio, maybe that’s why? Because she was never attracted to me. No bond, no effect”.

Kensley is not convinced, but that doesn’t change anything. Ariel is leaving and I am single again. I have to get used to being lonely as before. The only consolation is that my best friends have not yet met their mates, so I am not reminded every day of what I am missing.

“Is she going back to Alpha Gorgio, do you think? She was here for about two weeks but never contacted him”. He stares thoughtfully at the wall. “I’ll send our intel to Eclipse Howl and Blue Blood. This Luna is very strange. She resisted you, survived the rejection unharmed and is moving on. I need to know more about her.”

The last thing I feel like is dwelling on the subject.

What is done is done, Ariel is now out of my reach and can go on with her life as she sees fit. If Selene agrees, I will meet a second chance mate. A new desire arises in me. Yes, I can see myself falling in love again, but this time with an unmated she-wolf, without all the strings I have to tie.

As I start to get up, I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my chest.

“Kensley … hurt … my chest,” I stammer as I stumble to my feet. Within a second he is on top of me, preventing me from hitting the hard floor. A blur appears before my eyes and slowly lifts as I clutch my chest.

“Zane!” Kensley blurts out. “Man, what is it? Is it the pain of rejection after all?”

He helps me to the couch in the corner of the room and stretches me out. I still clutch at my chest, where the intense pain is slowly subsiding. A large cloud of Ariel’s scent reaches my nostrils, but it dissipates as well.

“I think it’s the rejection,” I stammer breathlessly. My friend hurried to a cupboard and returned with a cold cloth, which he placed on my forehead. Soon I felt better.

“That’s more like it. But this is still not the traditional way,” he persists. I’m not going to try and change his mind. Once Kensley has bitten into an assumption, it is hard to get him off it.

“Has she left yet?”

His eyes clouded for a moment. “Yes, she’s boarding now. Eric is supervising it. He was at the airstrip to see her off. What a gallant Beta he is,” he remarks sarcastically.

“I offered him to take her as his mate. But he denied that they had a bond and suggested sending her to the Alpha King’s pack himself. Eric would never betray me with my mate. She is not his fated. I do believe him in that.”

“Well, I just saw how she couldn’t take her eyes off him. And when I picked her up on the back balcony, his scent was all over her,” he remarked again dryly.

“Makes no sense, Kensley. If they’re mates, why wouldn’t Eric take her? Ariel and I only slept side by side, we never had sex. She turned her back on me every night. I think your suspicions are misplaced.”

Standing up, feeling almost like my old self again.

I pour myself another shot of whiskey.

“Why don’t you take a week’s holiday, Zane? Take the yacht and go sailing. There’s a great yacht club in Human Town, lots of werewolves go there. It will be a good distraction from all this,’ my friend suggests. “Eric and I will keep the pack running for you. If there are any emergencies, we can reach you by phone or mind link.”

Vacation sounds good. After this episode, I could use some time to myself.

“Thank you. Good idea. Get the yacht ready. Captain and two warriors who can also provide food, nothing more. I want all peace I can get, not many wolves around me.”

Kensley leaves my office to carry out my order.

Then I turn to the glass wall and look out over the pack.

Strangely, I seem to feel the bond with Ariel rising again. Vaguely like before, but it’s still there.

Oh well, waste of time. I will get rid of the burden and enjoy the week, forgetting the past days. …