Page 26 of Rejecting the Future Moon Goddess

“I did, darling. You were supposed to be up an hour ago as we have a meeting with Lace and Mika before the Alpha Ceremony tonight.” Ariven calls out, causing me to release the twins now that I know who the mastermind behind today’s rude awakening is.

My anger is directed at Ariven now, my Theta slowly walking towards me with hands up in surrender. I growl as he comes too close, the betrayal of him hiding that Hidden Claws was the pack to request help, tricking me into accepting said request and now having me being woken up rudely knowing I am exhausted being the breaking point.

“Ariven Lucas Cross, you have crossed a line.” I growl, walking over and, without thinking, slapping the wolf before me across the face in rage.

“First, you accepted a request from the pack that abused me, hiding this fact until it was too late and tricking me into coming!” I shout, my body shaking as I allow the hurt and betrayal to finally have their space.

“Then you go on thinking that this betrayal is fine and that I am okay with being here when I am not. I hate being here, even if the trip is going smoothly. You try to act like everything is normal between us when it’s not! I trusted you, and you usedit to trick me!” I continue, anger fading as tears start to flow from my eyes. I wrap my arms around myself, trying my best not to become a sobbing mess as the hurt takes control, the hurt from my friend, the hurt from facing my old pack, the hurt from facing the mate who rejected me, the mate I grew up with who betrayed me.

“And finally, you allow Matt and Maddie to wake me up knowing how exhausted I am from dealing with being around my old pack and old abusers, as well as trying to get intel on the Soulless to send to Ira and Amberle.” I finish, my voice weak. I want to go home to my pack Silver Crystal Crescent. I no longer want to stay in Hidden Claws. Ariven can take over training; I am just too mentally and physically exhausted to continue pretending that everything is fine between the wolves of Hidden Claws and me, that things are fine between Ariven and me when they aren’t.

“I’m sorry, darling. I never wanted to hurt or betray you.” Strong arms pull me into a body I always find comfort in for the last three years, Ariven’s scent wrapping around me as one hand combs through my hair gently. Allowing myself to feel weak, my hands clutch his shirt, and I sob. The hurt, pain and betrayal from the years of abuse in Hidden Claws, from Ariven’s trickery, and the fact Mika has spent every waking hour since arriving back here trying to rekindle the mate bond are too much to bear.

“I know you never wanted to come back here, even refused to talk about the past to me when you would wake from a nightmare. I couldn’t keep watching you go on like that and knew you had to face your demons, darling. I did it to help you.” His words are gentle, guilt blending in with his own pain as he tightens his hold on me, allowing me to just cry.

“You needed this to become a strong Alpha,a strong Goddess. Mika is your weakness, the bond still strong enough to cause you pain, to cause your heart to hurt and the pain of him with another wolf to nearly kill you. I couldn’t watch you go through that for another month.” Ariven finishes, kissing my forehead and tucking me under his chin. His steady heartbeat and the truth of his words help me to calm myself, my sobbing being the outlet to release all the pain until nothing but numbness remains.

“I’m sorry I slapped you.” Comes my quiet whisper. Ariven just chuckles for a moment as he pulls away, his eyes staring into my own as he wipes away my tears.

“I deserved it, Geminie, so don’t apologize.” He smiles at me before surprising me and planting a gentle kiss on my lips.

Surprised at first, I find myself closing my eyes and leaning into his touch, my heart fluttering and mind going blank with nothing but Ariven as my focus. The kiss is cut short as a loud feral growl causes the two of us to separate and Ariven pushes me away just in time as a blur tackles him to the ground.

“Stay the fuck away from my mate!” Mika’s angry voice calls out, the scent of Ariven’s blood filling the air as my ex’s nails turn to claws and Ariven’s skin is cut deeply. My mind snaps: watching the man I consider my home being injured angers m e to no end and the grip on my power slips. Mika falls off of Ariven, clutching at his throat as I slowly draw the air from his lungs.

“For the last time, Mika, I am not your mate and will never be your mate!” I state, allowing my Alpha blood to radiate the power inside. I see the panic in Mika’s eyes, his face slowly losing all colour, and the thought of strangling him is tempting.

“Geminie, stop. You’ll kill him.” Ariven is by my side once more, his strong arms wrapping around me and pulling me flush against him once again. I consider his words, looking intohis worried-filled eyes, and decide that Mika has learned his lesson. As soon as I pull my power back and hear Mika take a deep breath, something inside me pops and fizzles out, a peace of mind I have not felt in two years fills me, making my body go limp. If Ariven wasn’t holding onto me I would have collapsed onto the ground.

“No! No! No!” Mika exclaims, a crazed look in his eyes as he stares at me, clutching his head. He crawls towards me, taking my hand as tears fill his eyes, a pained expression on his face. I feel nothing at his contact. No sparks, no heat, nothing. It’s then I realize that the bond has finally broken. We are free from each other, and now I can gain a proper mate, a mate who will love me for who I am.

“Like I said, Mika, I am not your mate.” Reiterating my statement, I look at Ariven who gets the hint and scoops me into his arms, carrying my tired body into the guest house and leaving Mika to mourn the broken bondby himself.

?Chapter 24 – Alpha Lace?

“Thank you for making me accept this request.” I whisper to Ariven as we cuddle in bed, the television playing some gaming channel on YouTube that Ariven watches while I doze on his chest, his hands gently rubbing circles on my back. An hour has gone by since the bond broke between Mika and I, pack mates coming to inform me that he is still outside waiting for me to come and talk, for him to apologize for the years of hurt he has given me. I just tell them to make sure that his pack stays away for the wolf to grieve and that no one attacks him. It’s the least I can do for Mika, considering our history and the lack of animosity he has shown on this trip.

“You don’t have to thank me. I tricked and betrayed your trust to get you here.” Ariven answers, and I smile, planting a kiss over his heart and snuggling closer to the man below me. This reaction gives me a deep chuckle in response, his own light kiss being placed on my forehead before he continues to draw circles on my back, and I contently doze in and out of sleep.

“Gem, John said I could find you in here.” Lace’s voice calls out before she enters my room, a look of surprise on her face when she spots Ariven and I cuddling. I sigh, already knowing where this conversation is going, as I climb off of Ariven and walk toward the soon-to-be Alpha.

“Before you ask, yes the bond broke. No, I do not care for your brother. No, I will not mate with him now or ever. Yes, we can build a friendship.” I state before the blonde can fire her questions at me. Lace chuckles, leaning against the wall as she rolls her eyes for a moment.

“Honestly, you deserve better. I was just coming to ask if you could come help me get dressed for the ceremony. Mika is already at our house since the idiot finally regrets what he has done to you.” My friend retorts, waving at Ariven who smiles and waves back, the smiling causing the cuts from early to pull making him wince. I check on the injuries, relieved to see they should be healed before the ceremony before Lace impatiently takes my hand in hers and drags me out the door.

“Have fun, darling!” Ariven calls out instead of coming to save me from Lace’s clutches.

???

“I told you this dress would look amazing on you, Gem!” Lace exclaims, pushing me towards the floor-length mirror with our reflections staring back at us. My eyes widen at the floor-length, silver fit-and-flare gown adorning my body, the simple sweetheart neckline and long sleeves giving me an ethereal glow as my prismatic hair flows around me in loose curls. Lace has done an amazing job on me, her skilled hands placing just enough makeup to highlight my features and making me look like the Goddess I am meant to be.

“You look amazing too! I always said gold was your colour.” I compliment, moving aside so the blonde she-wolf can see her reflection as well. A strapless A-line gold dress hangs from her body, with minimal jewellery and makeup on as the power in her blood radiates off of her. She holds herself in a graceful way that demands the attention of the room, as a true Alpha should, and I can’t be any prouder to be called her friend.

The sky is dark as night settles in, and the half-moon is high in the sky as the ceremony is waiting to begin.I turn to study Lace, seeing in her Alpha Sorus’ determination and the grace of Luna Reena. They would have been proud to see their daughter being the Alpha this pack needs. A knock on the door alerts our attention to someone coming in, and Ariven’s scent wafts through as soon as it is opened the cuts caused by Mika finally healed leaving no scare at all thankfully.

“Sorry to intrude, but the ceremony starts in ten minutes, and I came to gather Geminie.” He states, coming to stand beside me and holding out his hand. I happily take it, watching as he bows and places a kiss on top before gently pulling me to his side.

[If he isn’t your second-chance mate, I want to meet your mother and yell at her myself!] Lace links me, causing me to blush and glare at the soon-to-be Alpha. She just smirks, waving her hand in a “shoo-shoo” gesture that has Ariven chuckling. We wish her luck before exiting the room and making our way down the stairs of the familiar pack house.

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