why he was here.Peter's hand clenched tighter around my wrist as he pulled me forward."She's ready for you now," he said. I almost scoffed at how airy his voice w

ring to step closer."Or maybe it's a curse," he said so harshly that I flinched."I can't lead with someone like you by my side," he said. "You're too weak to be a luna. You can barely even stand on your own, and your father still treats you like a child. And of course we cannot forget what your father did to mine."I turned my face away like he had just slapped me."I don't want a luna who cowers in corners when there's something hard. I don't want a luna who's okay with being abused by her father and kept in the basement. You barely even fought to get out."I snapped my head at him, shocked that he knew about it."Don't think I'm stupid, Seraphina. Of course I knew. I'm not a child. You barely cover your bruises well, and you wince in pain when you make certain movements. If you're too weak to stand up against your own father, then how can you-""That's not fair! How am I supposed to-""I need a warrior by my side," he interrupted in return.I felt my throat closing up as the truth started to hit me and I realized he wasn't here to take me to his pack like I had allowed myself to believe."So, that's it?" I asked. "You're going to reject me again?"He nodded once, and I could feel my heart breaking before he said the words."I, Alpha Kaelen of Crimson Wood Pack, reject you, Seraphina as my mate."We stood in silence as the bond didn't weaken. Instead, it surged.My heart slammed in response. As if he felt the same thing, his eyes widened and I saw his pupils dilate.He swayed forward like something unseen had yanked him toward me. I felt it as well. It was a pull, almost as if gravity had paused its work. His breath hitched and his eyes dropped to my mouth.He leaned in, so close.I felt the heat of his body and the storm in his eyes as he fought with himself internally while our lips almost brushed.He pulled back sharply, his breath ragged."This is wrong. You are wrong.""Don't leave me here. Please!" I begged as he turned around and started to walk off, but he didn't care to stop."Kaelen, please don't-""I won't be returning," he said over his shoulder, not giving me a look. "Not even if the goddess comes do