Fated Hearts: Rejected by the Moon

Chapter 02:

Thorne's POV

"Tell me you don't feel it," Lyra said, her voice shaking as she stood only inches away, her scorching eyes searing through me.

"Tell me you don't feel the bond, Thorne. Lie to my face if you must. But look me in the eye and say it means nothing."

The words hit like a dagger, twisting in my chest, but I kept my face inscrutable. My heart beat beneath the surface, the tug of the mate link greater than ever.

She was right—I felt it. I felt it every second of every day, like a flame blazing in my spirit that no amount of rejection could extinguish. But none of that mattered. Not anymore.

"I don't feel it," I said, my voice like steel.

Her sudden intake of air cut through the tension, and for a tiny minute, I feared she may smack me. Instead, she clenched her fists, her nails digging into her hands as her eyes glistened with unshed tears.

"You're a coward," she spat, her voice shaking.

"You're running from something you don't even have the courage to face.

What are you so terrified of, Thorne?"

My jaw clenched, the weight of her words crushing down on me. What was I terrified of? Losing her.

Hurting her. Watching her become a pawn in a game she didn't even realize she was playing. But I couldn't tell her any of it.

Not with the shadows watching. Not with Zane's ever-calculating gaze lurking in the background.

"I'm not afraid," I responded firmly, knowing it was a plain lie. "I'm just not willing to sacrifice everything for something that was never meant to be."

She took a step closer, her blazing defiance tinged with anguish. "Never meant to be?" she repeated, her voice shaking.

"We're mates, Thorne. Fate doesn't make mistakes."

I glanced away, unable to hold her eyes any longer. "Fate doesn't know the secrets this pack is hiding."

"What secrets?" she shouted, moving in front of me, obstructing my passage. Her perfume, warm and sweet, wrapped around me like a vice, making it nearly hard to think straight.

"If you know something, tell me. If you care for me at all, tell me."

I couldn't. I couldn't tell her about the prophecy, the power that raced through her veins, the peril that came with it.

I couldn't tell her that rejecting her wasn't just about protecting myself—it was about protecting her from the enemies that would stop at nothing to take what she carried.

I couldn't tell her about Zane's intentions, the relationships he'd built with forces worse than anything she could comprehend.

"Leave it alone, Lyra," I replied, my voice low and tinged with caution. "You're better off not knowing."

Her laughter was harsh, her eyes narrowing. "Better off not knowing?

Better off being rejected and humiliated in front of the entire pack without so much as an explanation?

You believe you're protecting me, but all you're doing is breaking me."

The break in her voice was my undoing. I wanted to grab for her, to bring her into my arms and convince her everything would be well. But I couldn't. Instead, I let the stillness stretch between us, thick and stifling.

Finally, she stepped back, shaking her head. "You're hiding something, Thorne. And I vow, I'll find out what it is. You can't push me away forever."

Her words were a vow, and I knew she meant every phrase. But before I could react, a deep growl rumbled from the darkness behind us.

Both of us froze.

The roar came again, deeper, more dangerous. Instinctively, I went in front of Lyra, my senses heightening. "Stay behind me," I whispered, my voice barely above a whisper.

She didn't protest, though I could feel the stress pouring off her.

The relationship was still there, no matter how hard I attempted to separate it. She trusted me, even now.

The roar became louder, and out of the darkness walked a pair of bright red eyes.

My stomach sank. It wasn't just any rogue—it was Varek, the vicious wolf who had been exiled years before for actions so vile they were scarcely spoken about. And now, he was here, in our turf, staring at Lyra like she was prey.

"Well, well," Varek drawled, his voice a horse rasp. "The future Luna and her ever-so-dutiful mate. Or should I say… former mate?"

Lyra tensed behind me, and I could sense her perplexity and terror. "What do you want, Varek?" I ordered, my voice firm despite the uneasiness coiling in my stomach.

He grinned, his sharp teeth glinting in the moonlight. "Oh, nothing much. Just come to convey a message." His gaze flicked to Lyra.

"You, little Luna, are far more valuable than you realize. And there are some who would pay dearly to have you."

I hissed, edging closer, my body braced for a battle. "You won't lay a finger on her."

Varek laughed wickedly, unaffected. "You can't protect her, Wilder. Not from me.

Not from what's coming. You've already sealed her fate by rejecting her. Now, she's fair game."

My blood went cold, the weight of his words soaking in. He wasn't bluffing.

I could see it in his eyes—he knew something I didn't. Something that made Lyra a target.

Before I could react, Varek pounced, his claws aimed at my throat. I met him midway, our bodies clashing with tremendous force.

The woodland burst into mayhem, the sounds of snarls and cracking fangs booming through the trees.

"Run!" I yelled over my shoulder, but Lyra didn't move. Instead, she stood still, her eyes wide with dread and something else—determination.

"No!" she cried, snatching a fallen branch and flinging it at Varek with all her power. It took him off surprise, giving me the chance I needed to drive him back.

"Lyra, go!" I yelled, my voice leaving no space for dispute.

She hesitated for a heartbeat before eventually turning and sprinting into the woods.

Relief rushed me, but it was short-lived. Varek recovered swiftly, his gaze hardening as he watched her depart.

"You can't save her," he snarled, his voice filled with sadistic delight. "She's marked by forces far beyond your control."

I didn't react. Instead, I attacked with everything I had, my claws tearing through his skin.

He fought back ferociously, but I was propelled by something stronger—fear for Lyra. I couldn't let him win. I couldn't let him take her.

Finally, with a brutal strike, I sent him falling to the ground. He hissed, bleeding but alive, and retreated into the shadows before I could inflict a last blow.

Chest heaving, I stood there for a second, my mind racing. Lyra was gone, but I knew she wasn't safe.

Varek's words resonated in my ears, freezing me to the bone. She's marred by forces far beyond your control.

I turned and rushed into the trees, following her smell. I had to locate her before it was too late. But deep inside, I knew this was simply the beginning.

The darkness I had worked so hard to hold at away was creeping in, and Lyra was at the center of it all.

As I neared the edge of the woodland, I noticed her standing in a clearing, her back to me. Relief rushed over me—until I observed the figure standing with her. Zane, his fingers clutching her arm, a chilly smirk on his face.

"Let her go!" I yelled, my voice booming across the woods.

Zane turned to me, his countenance opaque. "Oh, Thorne. You've made this considerably more complex than it needed to be."

Before I could react, the ground under me began to quiver, and a shadowy form emerged from the darkness, its brilliant crimson eyes focusing onto Lyra.

My heart stopped as I realized we were no longer battling one enemy—we were fighting something far worse.