Chapter Five: Turmoil

Third-Person Pov 

As they arrived close to the border gate, the air was tinged with tension as Luna and Lucas stood facing each other. They both seemed lost for the first few minutes before Lucas finally noticed he was still holding Luna's wrist, his grip loosening as he released her gently.

"Luna, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to drag you away like that. I know I went a little out of line, but please forgive me," Lucas said, his voice soft and apologetic.

Luna looked visibly confused, her eyes searching his face for answers. She wasn't exactly upset that he had dragged her with him because she had wanted nothing more than to be away from the drama, but the fact that he had pulled her out instead of letting her leave on her own and sorting things out with Ava was what confused her.

"Why did you do it then? You could've sorted things out with Ava instead of making a scene by taking me with you. I mean, it's already quite clear that she hates my guts, and I think you only made it much worse by coming with me," she said, not bothering to hide what she really thought.

"I... I honestly didn't think it through, to be very honest. All I wanted to do was get you out of there because I knew she wasn't going to stop lashing out at you," Lucas replied honestly.

He hadn't really thought things through because he knew that Ava wasn't going to stop trying to attack Luna, and knowing that, despite how calm she seemed, Luna had a short fuse, he decided that getting her out of that situation was the best way to keep the peace.

"I didn't want you to feel disrespected for coming to see me, especially with everything we had spoken about and the possibility that her words could have been very upsetting to you," he added.

Luna's heart clenched at the hint of concern she heard in his voice. She had been fighting hard to maintain her composure, knowing that her true emotions threatened to spill over even though she could not dare express them.

 She was aware that Deep down, her wolf longed for something else besides talking with Lucas, but Luna was determined to stand strong because she knew for sure that there was no place for her in life, and she was content with that.

"You know what, Lucas? I understand now. After meeting Ava, I completely get it," Luna said, her voice steady despite her inner turmoil. 

"I have no intention of butting into your relationship or making things complicated between both of you. All I need is for you to talk to my father in case he gets upset about the rejection. You already know how he can be, so talking to him myself may not be the best idea. Once that's done, I'll handle the rest. We'll go through the rejection ceremony once he comes to terms with us not being meant for each other, and after it all, you and I can go back to being enemies," she explained. 

 As much as her wolf was hurting, she also believed that she and Lucas were far too different to be together, and even though it hurt her pride that she was getting rejected, she managed to mentally convince herself that it was for the best.

Lucas nodded, grateful for her understanding, though conflicted by the heaviness he certainly felt in his heart. "Thank you, Luna. I promise I'll talk to Alpha Robles when the time is right. I'm sure he'll understand."

Luna couldn't help but notice the relief in his eyes, and her wolf stirred within her, restless and frustrated. She forced herself to appear like she was doing just fine, hiding the storm of emotions inside her.

With a polite smile, Luna bid Lucas goodbye, attempting to leave before her feelings overwhelmed her. As she turned to walk away, Lucas stopped her suddenly, his hand reaching out to gently touch her shoulder.

"Before I forget, may I ask why you came back earlier? Was there something you wanted to say to me?" Lucas asked with genuine curiosity in his voice.

 He didn't expect her to come back on her own, even though he had wanted to follow her, and he almost forgot to ask him what it was that brought her back. 

Caught off guard, Luna's heart pounded in her chest, and she struggled to find a suitable reply. She couldn't bear to tell him the truth—that her wolf had called out to him, yearning for a connection that was not meant to be.

 She couldn't tell him that she had foolishly let her instincts win and that she wanted to see if there was a slight chance that he would change his mind about not wanting to be with her. 

 As pathetic as it sounded and as foolish as she felt, she blamed her unusual attitude on her wolf and the stupid mate bond. She constantly had to remind herself that before the discovery, she wanted nothing to do with Lucas and that every emotion of jealousy, desperation, and sadness she felt weren't her real emotions. 

"I... I don't remember what brought me back, honestly," she lied, looking away to hide her unease. "But regardless, it doesn't matter now."

Lucas studied her face intently, sensing that there was more to her return than she was letting on. He wanted to insist further and figure out what she was really thinking, but he knew he had already made his choice.

Deciding not to press her further, Lucas reluctantly let her go, his heart heavy with conflicting emotions. As Luna walked away, she turned to look at him, and the last words she said to him almost made his heart drop.

"See you at the rejection ceremony."

*** 

 As Luna walked away from the border gate, Lucas turned his back in the direction she had left. He couldn't deal with the thought of heading to his bedroom, knowing that Ava would be there and that she would be most likely upset with him for leaving with Luna. 

 The weight of the situation felt like a huge burden on his shoulders, and he didn't feel up to comforting his girlfriend when his own emotions were all over the place.

Instead, he headed to his office, the familiar space offering a momentary escape from the chaos he would have to be faced with later in the day. As he settled behind his desk, the distant sound of footsteps reached his ears, followed by a knock on the door.

"Come in," Lucas called, his voice subdued.

The door creaked open, and Helene, his Beta, stepped into the room. She closed the door gently behind her, her expression cautious as she took a seat opposite Lucas's desk.

"Do you need anything, Helene?" he asked, trying to sound composed.

Helene hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I don't have any specific reports or needs, but I do have a question, and I would really love it if you responded to me honestly," she said.

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Go ahead, ask your question."

Helene took a deep breath, her gaze steady. "Why was Luna in our pack to see you?"

Lucas's heart skipped a beat as he wasn't expecting Helene to ask about Luna, and he fumbled for an answer. He knew Helene was sharp and wouldn't easily buy a vague explanation. "She came to deliver a message from her father," he lied, not certain if his response was good enough.

Helene's eyes narrowed, not accepting his response. "Luna wouldn't willingly deliver a message for her father to you. Besides, even if that were the case, you two would have met in the general meeting room, not away from prying eyes like you had something to hide," she countered.

Lucas felt his defences rising, and he clenched his jaw. He didn't owe Helene an explanation, but he also couldn't risk her jumping to conclusions.

"Helene, stop asking so many questions," he said, trying to remain calm.

Helene, however, persisted. "As your Beta, I have the right to know what's going on. We're facing a delicate situation with the alliance between our packs, and we can't afford secrets and misunderstandings."

Lucas sighed, his patience wearing thin. "I'll tell you when the time is right, but for now, I'm not ready to share anything," he replied.

Helene studied him for a moment, sensing his reluctance but not backing down. She knew Lucas better than most, and she wasn't one to be easily convinced.

"Is it about Luna, Lucas? Did what you two have to talk about involve her?" she asked bluntly, her voice firm.

Lucas's eyes flickered with surprise at the directness of her question. He hadn't expected her to be so straightforward, but he couldn't avoid responding to her.

"Yes, it was about Luna and our personal business," he admitted, his voice tinged with resignation.

Helene leaned forward, her eyes searching his. "Be honest, Lucas, is she perhaps your mate?" she asked suddenly, taking Lucas by surprise.

Lucas's heart pounded in his chest, torn between the truth and the fear of the consequences of admitting it. He had already rejected Luna, but people finding out she was his mate would only bring chaos, and he wasn't sure he was ready for it.

Regardless, he made up his mind to speak the truth.

"Yes," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "She's my mate."