The Luna’s Second Chance Mate

Kaden’s POV

Stupid. Just stupid. The walk back to my study was brisk and almost painful as I stomped my way down the stairs.

Angry couldn’t describe what I felt in that moment. I pushed the door open harshly and slammed it after me, hard enough to send the glass in my hands reeling on the ground.

I was leaning against the door, breathing heavily and raking my hands through my hair. I was pissed and the last thing I cared about was the shards of glass now scattered on the ground.

What was I thinking? What the fuck was I even doing? There were goosebumps littering my exposed arms. I despised her guts despite her goody two shoes demeanor.

I hated that somehow, everything about her was growing on me. Her scent? It was the same reason I’d subconsciously filled some of the flower pots with Freesias. I wanted to forget that scent that reeled me in, yet I tossed it in the wind and kissed her.

Her dark eyes? I saw them in every other eye. The way she spoke? There was something polished about it, and it constantly reminded me of the fact that she had been another alpha’s wife from a pack I’d never even heard about before. Not just his wife or mate, but a fucking cheat. I didn’t want to have anything to do with her, I had made that resolve not to let myself be swayed one more time by a fucker like that. But no, I kissed her.

What bothered me more was that I liked it.

Yet it felt like it was Amaya once again in my arms. I couldn’t help but reminisce of the first time we’d ever kissed. It was just like this, in my room when we both admitted that we loved each other regardless of whether or not we were mates. She was shy, heck we were shy as fuck. And it felt so right. It felt right with Larissa, in all the wrong ways.

There was a difference this time. It felt like I had kissed a broken doll who could do the things Amaya couldn’t. She didn’t seem to ever realize when I was upset or too hurt to speak, she didn’t even consider me or her baby before running off with that bastard Nik. I had been startled when she pointed out my thoughts, despite my hostility. My thoughts felt vulnerable to her, the thought of that made me want to hate her more.

But she looked so innocent. You’re one confused bastard, Kaden.

“Shut the fuck up, Peter.”

I wasn’t confused. But how the hell was she pulling me in like that? It didn’t make any sense.

She’s your mate.

“And I object. So, get lost.”

Letting out a sigh, I shook my head as if that would drive my thoughts away. I needed a distraction. Glancing ahead, the monitor on the screen caught my eyes. Of course! What better way to get her the fuck out of my head than to finish up on my work?

Without any more thought, I made my way to the desk and took a seat before turning on the monitor. I needed to et her out of my head, and I needed to do that fast.

*

The last few days have been severely underwhelming, save for work and an unwarranted visit from yet another fucking Luna who just can’t keep it in her pants.

The whole lot of them were irritating and horribly testing my patience. I could remember when one nameless fool who showed up in all the regality of the one who’d brought me obsidians and onyxes, professing love and strong ties between our packs. For the love of all things good, I was tempted to claw the fuck out of her face.

Hunting felt like a million needles pricking at my skin. Those bloody hyenas were popping up like weasels every hunting day, where the fuck were they even coming from? It was only a matter of time before I razed the entirety of their kind to extinction. But even worse, she was avoiding me.

Larissa.

She’d always managed to evade me. I didn’t want to see her either in concern that I may do something to her again like sending her to prison. Yet a part of me longed for her.

Standing there in front of the mirror with a black tie in my hands, I could vividly visualize the curved outline of her petite frame. The way her wavy blonde hair often hung down in a high ponytail, the way the sides of her lips twitched when she was nervous and the way her eyes were prone to looking at everything but me when she fiddled with her fingers. Damn her actions were delicious.

But I feared that it was more than just mere physical attraction to her body. And I’ll be damned if it was anything else. She is just as much a cheat as Amaya is, don’t forget that, I reminded myself, wrapping the black fabric beneath the collars of the peachy shirt tucked in perfectly in my pants.

Knotting it carefully, I shook my head one more time before looking at myself in the mirror. I ran one hand through my hair to fluff it out for volume, I didn’t want the whole officiality tied to being the CEO of my company today. I fluffed it out one more time, straightening my back muscles before grabbing my keys and walking out of the room.

I went to Declan’s room first where I met him resting peacefully on his bed. When I saw that he was enjoying his rest a little too much, I chuckled. It had been such a long time since I’d seen him run around or play the way he has ever since Larissa came here. Perhaps he needed to recharge.

Shutting the door quickly, I turned on my heels and continued down the stairs.

Then I remembered. Jackson had left me a file in the study last night. He’d said it was important, but not enough to distract me from my meditation.

I sighed out before walking to the study, but my eyes narrowed visibly at the sight in front of me after the figure had bumped into me with wider eyes the size of mini saucers.

“Oh I-I’m so sorry- ” She started, cutting herself of when she looked up to see who shed bumped into. She straightened almost immediately, patting at her apron before clearing her throat harshly. “I’m sorry.”

I stared at her face darting around for a few seconds before I was snapped back to reality.

“I should go.”

“Stop right there.” I cut in sharply. “I didn’t say you could leave.”

This was the same woman that I was hell bent on driving away. But I just couldn’t let her leave. Part of me wanted to apologize for walking away the last time, but she was a fucking omega. I couldn’t do that and compromise my authority, that just wasn’t me.

She stood there, clenching her eyes shut. What was she thinking?

“What should I do then?” She questioned softly, finally raising her head to look at me. Her eyes held no emotion, and it irritated me. I preferred to see her afraid of me rather than running her mouth.

Cocking a brow, I crossed my arms.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“Why is Declan still in his room?” I blurted out, not knowing why exactly I couldn’t let her go. It was more than obvious that she was avoiding me at all costs. She tilted her head in slight confusion, now crossing her hands behind her back.

“You didn’t know? Declan isn’t feeling well. He had a nightmare last night and I had to nurse him before inviting Annalise to take a look at him.” She answered swiftly and looked away again. Wait, what?

“What?”

“He’s fine now, but he needs to rest.” She finished and brought her head up. I could definitely taste the vile in her tone. She was upset. What fucking right did she even have to be?

She continued to look at me before she brought one hand to wipe at the rim of her eyes. Surprised, I saw that there was liquid in her eyes. Wait, was she crying?

“Are you crying?” I questioned subconsciously, eyes widening.

She said nothing, instead making frantic efforts to clean her tears. It didn’t work. She shook her head slowly and started to walk away, but I turned on reflex and pulled her back by the arm.

“Answer the dan question and don’t walk away from me!” I snapped a tad bit harsher than I wanted to, but it did the job. She flinched and looked at me with a mix of fear and surprise in her eyes.

“I got something in my eye.” She lied.

If anything, my eyes narrowed even further. I couldn’t understand what I felt seeing her like this. It was beginning to feel like being clawed by a hyena. Why was she crying?

“Is it because of what happened at the balcony that day? Because of that?”

Her eyes widened, her lips parting ever so slightly as if she was going to say something. But the words never came out, instead hanging in her throat. My curiosity piqued, wondering what her smart mouth had to say about it again.

But the rapid buzzing in my pockets forced me to shift my attention. The phone wouldn’t stop ringing, to the point where it was growing irritating.

Looking at her one last time, I reached for my pockets and swiped out the phone. I glanced at the caller ID, surprised to see a phone call from Jacob. Why didn’t he just mind link me? Why call?

“What is going on?” I questioned, bringing the phone to my ears. I could hear panting from the receiver, and a sudden uneasy feeling bubbling in the pit of my stomach. Something was wrong. Something was definitely wrong.

“My Lord, there is a situation this morning.” His voice sounded like broken muffles. “A horrible situation. I’m on my way to the woods on the Luna’s orders to find a murderer, but all the evidence points to the Luna herself.”

“You’re not making any fucking sense!” I snapped irritably, still holding onto Larissa’s arm. The heavy breathing continued before he finally continued.

“Her suitor, Nik was found dead this morning in the living room of the pack house. My thoughts are, she realized that he once had ties to Griffin-howl. Whoever was responsible for Derek’s rebellion has his claws deep in the South Sea pack as well. The Luna was just a distraction, and we fell for it.”