"Are you running away from me?" His voice was low and laced with something that mirrored hurt. I wasn't sure. I stared up at him, my back pressed against the cold bathroom wall. His dark green eyes intently searched mine, the intensity of his gaze making it almost impossible to look away. "I..." I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. Zane stepped closer until there was no space between us, his body heat radiating against me. His jaw was clenched, his breathing uneven, like he was holding himself back "You ran out the first time," he said, his voice low and rough. "Why do you keep running away from me?" My mouth opened, but I couldn't think of anything to say. My mind was a mess from being so close to him. What could I even say? That the idea of being his mate terrified me? That I couldn't push back the impossibility of this bond? That I was a delta, and he was the Alpha of the strongest pack in the region? "I..." I tried again, my voice trembling. "I don't think this is right." I muttered, mostly to myself. His eyes narrowed "Not right?" He leaned in, his hands bracing the wall on either side of me, trapping me in. "Do you think the Moon Goddess made a mistake? Do you think I would choose this..." his voice was shaky and underlined with frustration. I swallowed hard, my pulse thundering in my ears. "Y-you already had a mate," I blurted. "You... you don't get a second one. Not even an Alpha does. No one can. How can this be real?" Zane's expression softened, though the intensity in his eyes still lingered. He stepped back slightly, giving me space to breathe. "I don't know," he admitted, his voice quieter now. "But the moment I saw you, I felt it. The bond is there, Nina. Denying it won't make it go away." I shook my head, my hands trembling. "I'm just a delta" I said, my voice breaking. " I haven't even awakened my wolf and you're an Alpha. We're not..." "We're mates," he interrupted firmly. "That's all that matters." Silence stretched between us, the weight of his words sinking in. I wanted to argue, to push him away, but a part of me, some deep, instinctual part, was drawn to him, pulled toward him like a moth to a flame. The bond was real, undeniable, no matter how much I wished it wasn't. "I can't do this," I whispered, tears welling up in my eyes. "I don't belong in your world, Zane." His jaw tightened, and his gaze softened with something that looked almost like... pain. "Are you going to reject me?" he said, his voice steady. I shook my head profusely. I didn't think I could do that. The consequences of that would be devastating, especially for Zane. He let out a shallow sigh and stepped back, his expression was back to normal "I'll give you time," he said, his tone calmer now, though still laced with authority. "But don't run from me again. It won't change anything." With that, he turned and left, leaving me alone in the bathroom, my heart still racing and my mind thrashing. I took short breaths to calm my drumming heart. Then turned on the faucet. The cool water splashed my face, reducing the heat that had crept up. I stared right back at my reflection. My damp black hair now stuck to my forehead, my face still red. I left the bathroom after making sure I was able to think properly and went back to the dining room. My eyes searched for Zane, his seat was empty and my dad had the biggest smile. I wondered if he didn't understand the implications of me, a delta, being mated to an alpha. I stopped right in front of my father, giving him a questioning look. "What?" He chimed, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "This is a good thing kiddo" I raised a brow at him, slightly surprised at his immediate approval. "How?" "Well for one thing, you are mated to Zane? I worked with him since his father died and he took leadership. He's a good man" "And he's the alpha of our pack dad," I added, the frustration that it seemed like I was the only one worried about was starting to creep in. I sat down on the chair beside my dad, my heart filled with uncertainty. "What if... what if people think it's a mistake?" He sighed, giving me a soft smile and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Let them think" his voice was low. "I only care about you. And if they think the moon goddess made a mistake? To hell with them" "You are a strong, beautiful loving young lady. And you would make an exceptional Luna" his eyes glimmered with pride, his voice stern but soft. His words made my heart full, and just for a second I wasn't so worried about everything else. I smile back at him and let out a sigh. "Thanks dad" "Anytime kiddo" I stood up and cleared the dishes, my dad attempted to help but I stopped him "It's fine. I can take care of it" He nodded wordlessly with a smile and headed upstairs. I was finally alone with my thoughts. The silence in the house was only broken off from time to time by the clattering of dishes in the sink. I know my father had my best interest at heart but I still couldn't help but feel conflicted. The whole pack would probably look down on me, even though the alpha makes me his Luna because of my rank. That's just nature. But what I was most concerned about was Summer. A chill ran through my body that wasn't from the cold water in the sink. She had that look in her eyes when she talked about Zane. Like she would do anything it took to get there. I had two choices before me, betray my best friend or the bond divinely placed. The two tugged in my mind like a tug of war scene. I didn't want to lose Summer but I also didn't want to live the rest of my life without a mate, loveless. I would probably be in pain for the rest of my life. I let out a frustrated groan and cleaned my hands after I was done with the dishes. I walked sluggishly to my room as the weight of these two choices weighed me down. I plopped onto my bed staring emptily at the ceiling, my thoughts spiraling till I drifted off into unconsciousness.
