Denied by Destiny: Trapped in the Shadows of the Mate Bond

Alora POV

I wanted to hurt him, like he hurt her.

But he was still my everything...my joy, my heart...my soul.

"Alora?" He gasps out as his eyes start to sting from the impact of my fist reaching his nose. I had put a lot of effort into the throw of that punch, as I place my hand back down by my side I can feel the drain on my already depleting energy levels.

"How could you be so cruel...how could you do all of that to her?" I can hear my own voice wobble with my emotions.

"Everything I have done is to save you, for you."

"What about...." My eyes flicker to Kaia who looks still stunned by my actions.

I've not said anything, I didn't want her to have to relive what happened. I didn't want her to know that I overheard Hector and her. She loves him, and he loves her.

Its clear to see. But the mate bond was leaving everything confused.

I was confused. Conflicted....

My mate stood before me, now kneg, as he wraps him arms around my waist, clinging on to me. "Alora?" Unease hits me through the twin bond with Kala, strengthening every day since I joined this pack. "I want to kill him for what he did to you....I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for everything Kaia. For them knowing me and not you, for you losing the baby..." I respond to her through the mind-link, tears threatening to fall. We had made our peace, I thought I had but seeing Than before me it has only triggered underlying anguish. "Shh it's okay, I'm okay now...as you can see. Why don't you go inside...." She takes steps towards me, her tone in my head calm and soothing.

Even now she was thinking of others before herself. She was the most selfless person I had ever met. From the moment I walked into this pack she has been forgiving and kind towards me.

1 want to hurt you like you hurt her....you don't even realise what you did...the impact of what has happened to her." I seethe out at Than. The only way to hurt him would be to reject him.

"Alora, you won't survive rejecting him, it will eat away at your soul... at your very being." She whispers in my mind.

"You survived him rejecting you."

"Yes, but he never loved me, not like he loved you. Please, go inside with Father."

"Stop....stop trying to protect me, even now." I roar at her through the mind-link, how could she be so calm, so selfless. "Stand down, this is a family matter now...not a security risk." Kala orders at the warriors who start to

back away and only leave with Beckett's confirming nod.

With the warriors now dispersed, Zane walks over to Freya and pulls her into him by her elbow, claiming back what is his.

"Thank you Freya, you may return if that is what you would like to do." I offer out to her.

"What about you?"

"I'm staying.."

"Staying..." Than stands up now looking down from his great height, as his hands touch my arms.

"I bg here now Than, this is my home."

"No...no I am your home." He shakes me slightly, as if I wasn't thinking correctly. As if he could change my decision by shaking it out of me.

"This is where I should have been all this time, with Kaia, with Beckett." I respond remaining unmovable in my decision.

"I'm not leaving without you."

"If

you stay I will reject you where you stand Than. You need to leave, I'm not ready to forgive you yet." "You would pick her over me." He lets go of me, his voice trailing off.

"I would pick her over you...after what you did..." I don't believe he knew what he was doing, that he did give into the mate bond. I understand the gravitational pull, the building pressure of refusing it. He had a lapse in judgement but I can't deny how Kaia feels, of her experience.

And I maintain my stance, I will stand by her...no matter how much it pains me.

"Alora, please, Father doesn't know....I can't have him know..." Kaia's voice pleads in my mind.

"You need to leave..." I take a step back from Than.

"Please Alora...I love you." He looks broken. Nausea rises in the back of my throat, he needs me and I need him, But it can't be....not like this.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

"And I love you, but I can't choose you over her...."

I notice movement in my peripheral vision, Beckett slowly yet powerfully walking towards me.

"Alpha Than, you are hereby banned from the Nightshade Reformed pack. Lban you from being near my daughter and if you step one foot back on this pack, I will kill you.

ever see

For Alora's sake I will not kill you today, but for how you have manipulated and cruelly tricked Kaia into marriage for the sake of an organ you deserve a slow and painful death, which I will grant you if you again." Beckett seethes through clenched teeth, his hand placed on the tip of my shoulder. "There isn't anything I wouldn't do for my mate..." A low growl emits from Than. "And there isn't anything I wouldn't do for my daughters. So I advise you to leave before I put my daughter through pain she cannot cope with, because believe me when I say...you fucking messed with the wrong alpha family."

"Alora is mine, chosen by the moon goddess herself, if you think you can go against her divine providence. Than's chest is rising with every word, if he didn't leave he would shift which Beckett would see as a challenge.

"I don't give a shit what you think the moon goddess owes you. She was born of me...her blood is my blood...I will only have the best mates for my daughters. As Beckett continues Kaia walks towards us, Ezra closely following her.

"Is that a threat old man...." Than growls but is cut off by Kaia's next words.

"I, Kaia Glace, acting Luna of the Nightshade Reformed back do accept your rejection Than Sable, Alpha of the Amber Desert Pack and in doing so, reject you in return." He takes a small stumble backwards, the mate bond he claims he never wanted still painful for him to lose.

Once he regains his awareness he turns to Kala.

"I Than Sable, Alpha of the Amber Desert Pack accept your rejection, Kaia Glace and remove you as Luna of the Amber Desert Pack."

Kaia doesn't flinch once, doesn't tremble, doesn't stumble. Her head remains held high, she was beyond

stoic.

"Good....we are finally nothing to one another. Now get the fuck off my lands and stay away from my family." Kaia roars. Ebony Woods