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

- Cleo -

"How dare you, how dare you talk to us in the manner. Where is your respect." Luna Louise's shrieks, seemingly put out by Jace's threat of removing them if they did not remove themselves.

"Respect? How could I ever respect you...I know what you did, I know what you have done." Jace growls out, his thick alpha aura continuing to swirl around us all.

Rather than heed his warning, to my surprise, Luna Louise actually snarls out my mate. Sending me into instant defensive mode.

I take a step forward as Luna Louise flashes her teeth at Jace. I'm not the only one to take a menacing step forward, Kaia and Josie do the same.

It was female on female surrounding our male...but whereas they gain distance I am stopped, by Jaxon's arm that pulls me back.

Fury ignites within me, I'm not going to shift...I'm just backing my mate, reminding this female of where she stands. That nobody threatens my mate.

It would be the same if our roles were reversed.

Jaxon's protectiveness is because I am pregnant, I know it...but in the heat of the moment it angers me, that I would be treated so differently.

"Get off me." I seethe out to Jaxon, I have no qualms in telling him to back off. He doesn't frighten me like he does others, sometimes even his own family.

"Not a chance." He scoffs next to me, only riling me up even more.

"Alpha, Luna, the pack and family are in morning. I'm sure you understand that emotions are running high...perhaps we should think about getting you both home.

I'm sure Callie will follow in time." Mum is the only female to take a step towards Luna Louise in a non-intimidating manner. A diplomatic move.

“No, she has made her choice very clear...again. It stands that you have no place within our pack, that you are not welcome back." Luna Louise raises her chin, almost looking down at us all, but more so at her own daughter.

"I understand." Callie mutters out.

"Then you understand we will be forced to make suitable arrangements to secure the future of the pack, which will no longer involve yourself. We will do as we see fit." Alpha Bill sighs out.

"I wouldn't expect anything else."

What was a I missing, what is it that Jace knows but I don't. Secrets, they shared secret.

They were leaving, yet Callie was staying.

Why was she staying, why was she clinging on to a mate that wasn't hers...to a family that wasn't hers.

Am I being unreasonable...

My walls are up, they have to be. I'm not sure what to make of what I am witnessing, of how Jace

even crouches down to check on Callie...holding her face in his hands.

The way he touches me.

"You have a home here, a home with me. You stay as long as you need... understood?"

"I don't want to..."

"Nonsense Callie, you are part of the family now." My heart sinks at Kaia's words. part of the family. As angry as I have been at him, I'm starting to understand why Jace did what he did

Maybe it's the mate bond manipulating me to seeing his version of events, maybe it's now knowing how much he loves me....how I can feel his love for me coursing warmly through my veins. How much he wants me to be safe.

But how could another female pretend to be someone's mate, when she knew I was his mate.

How could she do that to another female.

I thought girls looked after girls. I could never have done something so harrowing

to another female.

I only accepted Than's proposal when I knew his mate bond was broken.

She knew, she knew all along, she had to. From the moment she answered the bedroom door in her red lingerie....just the image makes bile rise up to the back of my throat.noveldrama

He claims he had not been with her, but why was she semi naked in front of him. In such an intimate location, his old bedroom.

can feel my wolf's unease at Callie remaining here, of her closeness with Jace.

What if she tries to take him off me again....

I could feel myself spiralling, maybe it was lack of sleep, maybe it was pregnancy hormones...but I couldn't ignore the worry gripping at me.

I should be confident in my mate bond, have no doubt of my mate's affections...

that they are only for me. That I am the only one that he wants.

I know I am...but what if she wants him, what if she takes him from me.

"Cleo?" I must have spaced out, because I hadn't noticed Jace move to stand in front of me.

I scan the room to find all eyes on me, the front door closing...meaning Mum had managed to remove Alpha Bill and Luna Louise from the foom, cleverly diffusing a rapidly

deteriorating atmosphere.

Even Jace's aura is calming as he stands before me, his eyes calming as his wolf

is pushed back.

My eyes stop on Callie, hers watching mine intently.

"Cleo?" Jace's voice calls my name again, I didn't even notice he was touching

me.

My eyes move down to my arm, Jaxon's hand now gone..replaced with Jace's. My eyes move to the side of me, to Jaxon who was watching me with concern edged in his eyes.