Chapter 5 Ronald's Pov

The documents on my desk stretched on and on, but my mind wasn't in the contracts or the partnerships I was supposed to be going over. 

My thoughts kept bringing me back to her, the mysterious woman of that night. Her soft laughter, the twinkle in her eyes when lit up by the faint light of the bar, and how she had felt within my arms. Try as I might, I could not get rid of her.

A sharp knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts. My beta, Hades, stepped in, his usual smirk replaced by something more serious.

“Got news,” he said, folding his arms. “I found her.”

I froze. “Who?”

“The woman you’ve been obsessing over since that night,” Hades replied, raising an eyebrow. “Her name’s Solene Hathaway.”

Solene.

I leaned back in my chair, the name echoing in my mind like a distant memory.

"There's more," answered Hades, and I knew from the sound of his voice that I would not like whatever was about to come. "She's the Luna of the Red Moon Pack."

My breath caught. "She's. Luna?"

"To Alpha Wesley Styles," answered Hades, looking at me watchfully. "The same pack we're obligated to reconcile with."

A derisive laugh escaped my lips. Of course, fate would be so cruel. The woman I couldn't shake from my mind was another man's, an Alpha, no less. But on a fundamental level, I couldn't shake the feeling that she was meant for me. There was something about her, something beyond lust, something that felt to be. fate.

Solene.

I whispered her name under my breath, already knowing that seeing her in front of me again would turn my world around.

The next day, Hades and I went to the Hilltop Pack's mansion. The tension and unspoken words hung thick in the air.

The banquet was extravagant, typical of Wesley's ego, and some of the council elders were there to see the peace treaty between our packs. But none of it mattered to me. I was searching for her.

And then I saw her.

Solene walked in, hand in hand with Wesley, and my heart stopped. She was even lovelier than I remembered, but the look of shock on her face when her eyes met mine was unmistakable. She hadn't been expecting me. She hadn't been prepared.

Neither was I.

I couldn't turn away from her. My whole body was crying out that she was mine. But she was his now. I curled my fists, setting a polite face as I saluted Wesley, who obviously was unaware of the storm raging below.

"Congratulations," I snapped, touching glasses with him. "You look great with your Luna on your arm."

Solene's eyes flashed with panic, and I wished I hadn't spoken almost instantly. Almost.

She shifted restlessly, attempting to withdraw from the room, but Wesley halted her with a mere glance. I saw it at once,the unspoken instruction, the possessiveness in his eyes. And I despised him for it.

After the banquet and the sealing of the peace agreement, I was pacing the pack grounds, in need of fresh air.

 I had left Wesley to his elders, sensing I needed time alone. But strolling by the quiet gardens, I was brought to a stop by the faint sound of sobbing.

I followed the noise until I came upon her.

Solene was sitting on a bench, head buried in her hands, tears streaming down her cheeks. My heart ached at the sight. For no reason, I headed towards her.

"Solene," I said softly.

She looked up, shocked. "Ronald, no. you shouldn't be here."

"I had to," I replied, sitting beside her. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she replied hastily, brushing away her tears. "Just. leave me alone. I don't know you."

I let out a humorless laugh. "We both know that's not true."

She turned away from me, but I wasn't about to let her shut the door on this. Not when I felt this pull toward her. Not when my heart understood what my head was still racing to keep up with.

"Solene, come on, talk to me," I tempted. "You're angry. What's wrong?"

She hesitated, and for a moment, I thought she would push me away again. But then she whispered the words that changed everything.

"I'm pregnant," she said. "And. it's yours."

The world around me melted away. I stared at her, stunned.

"Mine?" I echoed, as if by saying it out loud, it would be true.

She nodded, tears brimming in her eyes. "From that night. it's your baby."

A whirlwind of emotions washed over me, shock, incredulity, and then, a massive feeling of joy. She was going to have my baby. Our baby.

"This is. this is good," I said, smiling through the maelstrom in my head. "Solene, this is my chance. We are meant to be together. I knew it from that night."

She shook her head, the tears flowing now. "No. It's not that simple.".

"Why not?" I replied, laying my hand on top of hers. "We're destiny partners, I can sense you feeling it too."

"I do," she whispered, her voice trembling. "But Wesley. he knows the child isn't his. He threatened me that if I ever come forward with the truth, he'll kill me for adultery. No one will be able to prevent him."

Anger rage inside me. That piece of shit had the nerve to threaten her life for a lie?

"I won't let that happen," I swore, holding her hand hard. "I'll keep you safe, Solene. I'll rescue you from him."

She stared at me, caught between hope and fear. "How? He's my Alpha, my husband."

"Be my Luna," I told her sternly. "Leave with me, and I promise I'll keep you safe. You and our baby."

Her eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, the weight of the world was lifted. But I knew that convincing her would be the hardest battle of my life.