Chapter 5

MILES' POV

"You did what?" my father roared, his face clouded with disbelief and fury. "Rejected your mate? That’s unheard of. No one in our lineage has ever rejected their mate, and it’s not going to start with you."

I held my ground, feeling that familiar, crushing weight he always managed to pile onto my shoulders. He had always wanted to dictate everything happening in my life. I had spent years away trying to prove that I could stand on my own, that I could make my own choices—but here he was, still pulling the strings.

"It’s my choice, Dad," I said, keeping my voice steady.

"It shouldn’t be!" he snapped.

My mother placed a hand on his arm, and I watched as the anger drained from his face, his shoulders relaxing. It was an effect only a mate could have—their scent, their touch, instantly calming. I had felt a touch of that bond last night, even though I had fought it, I couldn’t deny what I felt from the bond.

"Honey, calm down," my mother said gently. "We don’t need your blood pressure spiking again."

I blinked, taken aback. Blood pressure? I had always seen my father as this immovable force—never imagined him as someone with health concerns. "Is he ill?" I asked, glancing between them.

My mother sighed, a weary look in her eyes. "His blood pressure has been high lately."

My father huffed, clearly irritated by the attention. "Which is all the more reason not to provoke me." He shot me a glare. "And you should thank the goddess Rhea didn’t accept your rejection. Do you think she would bind you to someone without reason? She knows why she gave you that girl as your mate.”

I shook my head, resolute. "But I love someone else, and I want Roxy as my Luna."

My father’s face hardened; his voice sharp. "Over my dead body."

“Honey, stop this,” my mother cautioned. Then she turned to look at me. "Listen, Miles, sweetheart." She came over, cupping my cheeks in that gentle, motherly way. "We all love Roxy—she is charismatic, smart, and beautiful. She even won us a medal at the inter-pack games. But the goddess has her reasons. Rhea may be quieter, but she is a kind soul, and she has never caused trouble. She would make a good Luna for our people and a loyal wife."

I slowly pushed her hands away, frustration tightening in my chest. This wasn’t what I wanted to hear. Roxy was more than just a crush to me. I owed my life to Roxy. Aside from that, she was my promise, my first love, the one I had saved my heart and body for. I wanted that girl to be my first, my one and only. I didn’t picture myself with someone else, mate or not, and had even prayed several times to the goddess to make her my mate. Now, look at all these complications. The goddess must be mocking me. She must be making a joke out of me.

"But I don’t want Rhea," I said, struggling to keep my tone calm. “I want Roxy. They may be twins, but they’re two completely different people. I fell in love with Roxy, not Rhea."

My father’s gaze hardened. "Does that give you the right to threaten to banish Rhea?" he demanded. "You’re not Alpha yet, Miles, and you don’t have the authority to throw people out of the pack."

"I said it in the heat of the moment," I replied, feeling a spark of defensiveness. "She crashed the party, and my coronation is in a few days anyway. What difference does it make?"

My father’s voice dropped, cold and final. "I don’t want an Alpha who throws his power around just because you have it. There will be no coronation until you accept your mate. That’s final."

I stared at him, stunned. "You can’t be serious." I looked to my mother, silently hoping for some backup, but she looked torn, glancing between us.

She opened her mouth to speak, but my father held up a hand, stopping her. "Honey, don’t. I’ve made up my mind. Miles needs to understand what responsibility means."

“Honey, you can’t make these proclamations when you are angry. I will talk to him,” she called after him.

He turned to leave the courtroom, but we were interrupted by a knock at the door. The warriors stationed there opened it, and in stepped Yuri, dressed sharply as usual. His eyes flicked briefly to mine, but he kept his attention on my parents and bowed slightly to them.

"Alpha, Luna," Yuri greeted, his voice smooth and respectful.

"Yuri!" My father’s face brightened with a rare smile. "Are you all set to leave?"

"Yes, Alpha," Yuri replied with a polite nod.

For reasons I couldn’t quite explain, a prickly resentment toward Yuri simmered inside me. He hadn’t done anything wrong, but something about his presence set me on edge, as if he were intruding on territory that didn’t belong to him.

My father clasped Yuri’s shoulder in a fatherly gesture. "It’s been a pleasure having you here, son. We’ll miss you. Be sure to send my regards to your parents. I saw the gifts they sent—they were very generous, and we’ll be sending something in return. I trust the alliance our packs have built will hold strong between you and my son."

Yuri gave a respectful nod, his easy smile never faltering. "Of course, Alpha. The bond is as strong as ever."

I felt I shouldn’t be here anymore. Nothing was my business here. But the moment I started to take a step away from the courtroom, Yuri spoke.

"Actually," he began, glancing at my father and then at me, "my friend wants to see Miles."

I paused mid-step, my brow furrowing. I knew exactly who he was talking about—Evans and Rico had already told me that Yuri spent most of his time with only one person. Rhea. I didn’t understand why she wanted to see me, especially after last night. I had made it painfully clear I wanted no part of her.

"I’m not in the mood for visitors," I muttered, turning to leave, but my father’s firm voice stopped me.

"Let her in," he commanded.

The doors opened, and in walked Rhea. She looked…different. Today, she seemed composed, almost serene. Her burgundy hair was neatly pulled back in a ponytail, accentuating her delicate features. She wore a light, floral dress that swayed just above her knees, and for a brief, unwanted moment, my heart faltered. I brushed it off immediately.

She approached my parents and dipped into a respectful bow. "Alpha, Luna."

My mother’s face softened. "Rhea, my dear, how are you holding up?"

Rhea offered a faint, polite smile. "I’m fine, Luna." She turned to me, her gaze steady. "I came to formally accept your rejection, Alpha Miles."

My heart skipped, and for a split second, doubt crept in. Was I doing the right thing?

"I, Rhea Chapman—" she began, but my mother interrupted, stepping forward and gently placing her hands on Rhea’s shoulders.

"Rhea, darling," my mother’s voice was full of warmth and compassion. "I know Miles hurt you, and I know what he did at the party was humiliating. But please, give it a little more time."

Tears shimmered in Rhea’s eyes. "But Luna… if I don’t accept the rejection, I’ll be the one punished by the bond. I’ll suffer, not him. He’s with someone else, and I’ll bear the weight of it alone."

"I understand, dear," my mother replied softly, her own eyes glistening. "But please, wait a bit longer."

"How long?" Rhea’s voice was strained, her expression filled with anguish. "For all I know, I could start feeling the pain at any moment. I’ve endured enough already." She sniffed, wiping her nose with the back of her hand, looking small and vulnerable.

A strange ache stirred in my chest, but I forced myself to look away, reminding myself that it was just the mate bond trying to sway me, not actual feelings.

"Just until the coronation," my father interjected firmly. "I’ll make sure you don’t feel the pain until then. Miles and Roxy won’t be together, I would make sure of that."

I stared at him, disbelief simmering in my veins. "You can’t seriously think you can control my life this way," I snapped. "I’m too young for marriage anyway. I’m not ready for that."

“Your mother and I married at the ages of eighteen and nineteen. You are twenty and ready for marriage. If you are ready to run a pack, then you’re ready to start a family,” my father retorted. “This issue ends here. I don’t want any more talk about it. Rhea, my dear, please give him until the coronation. If he still doesn’t accept you, then you’re free to accept his rejection.”

Anger boiled over, and I stormed out of the courtroom, slamming the door behind me with a force that shook the entire room.