Chapter 12
Juno’s POV
“No, what do you want, Matthew?” I asked in exasperation.
He took a step forward, his eyes filled with anguish. “I need to talk
you. I need you to give me a chance.”
1 let out a bitter laugh. A chance for what? To explain why you threw away our marriage? Why you let another woman into our home?”
“I know I’ve hurt you.” He moved closer. “And I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness. But I can’t let you go, Juno.”
“Your pain is nothing compared to mine,” I said.
“I understand why you’re angry. I even understand why you were flirting with Kieran.” Matthew’s voice cracked. “I deserve that. But please, give me a chance to make this right. I’ll do anything.”
He reached for my hands, and I was too stunned to pull away. His fingers wrapped around mine, warm and familiar.
“Isabelle’s situation… it’s complicated. It’s gotten out of my control. But I’m trying to handle it. I’m learning to be better.” A tear slid down his cheek as he pressed his forehead against my knees. “Please, Juno. I’m begging you.”
His wolf, Zephyx, whimpered within him–I could feel it through our weakened bond. The sound tore at something deep inside me.
I pulled my hands away and stood up, needing space between us. “How can you say that? The moment she arrived, you abandoned me. You let her father force his way into our life, into our pack.”
“Do you have any idea what it’s been like for me?” My voice rose. “I’ve become a joke in my own home. The pack members who once respected me now whisper behind my back. I’ve lost everything because you couldn’t say no to her.”
“If you really loved me, you would refuse one of us. And since you can’t refuse her, you should let me go.”
“I can’t,” he whispered. “I can’t lose you.”
Before I could respond, his lips were on mine. The kiss started gentle, a plea for forgiveness, but quickly ignited into something desperate and hungry. His fingers tangled in my hair, tugging slightly to expose my neck.
I knew I should push him away. This would only make things harder. But my body remembered his touch, craved it despite everything.
Why is this happening? The thought slipped through our weakened bond without my intention.
Matthew growled and lifted me up, laying me gently on the bed. His eyes had darkened with desire, his body pressing against mine with familiar heat.
“Let me mark you,” he whispered against my ear. “Let me claim you as mine again.”
My wolf yearned for his mark, even as my mind told me this was a mistake. But tonight, just for tonight, I needed this comfort, this reminder of what we once had.
His lips trailed down my body, every sensitive spot he’d discovered over our years together. When he reached the faded mark on my neck, he lingered there, his tongue tracing the outline.
“You’re my Luna, always,” he breathed. “Nothing can change that.”
1/3
Chapter 12
As desire overwhelmed reason, Matthew’s Instincts took over. Ills me rements became more dominant, more primal. When my climax crashed through me, I called Fis name through our bond withmut mening to, surprising us both,
Afterward, he didn’t leave as I’d expected, Instead, he held me close his face burled in my neck, breathing in my scent as if memorizing it. Then we began again, our bodies finding each other the darkness with desperate need.
Later, as Matthew slept beside me, I stared at the ceiling. I’d already sent a request to that Alpha in Fireland. In one month, I would leave this place behind–leave him behind. Tonight was goodbye, even if he didn’t know it.
We can’t go back, Seraphine whispered in my mind. But we needed th tonight. Even as a farewell.
I woke up early the next morning. And for a moment, disoriented by sleep, I forgot everything that had happened. Matthew’s arm was draped over my waist, Ins chest rising and falling against my back. Just like every morning used to be. But this wasn’t our life anymore. This was just a stolen moment.
“Good morning, Matthew murmured, pressing a kiss to my shoulder
Before I could respond loud banging on the door shattered our fragile peace.
“Matthew!” Isabelle’s voice, shrill with anger, came through the wood “I know you’re in there!”
Matthew tensed beside me. The pounding continued.
“You should get that,” I said coldly, pulling away from him.
He hesitated, then rose and pulled on his pants. When he opened the door, Isabelle stood there, her perfect face contorted with rage. She pushed past him into my room, finding me still in bed.
“So this is where you’ve been all night,” she spat, glaring at Matthew
I rose from the bed, wrapping the sheet around me, my patience snapping. “This is my territory, and you have no right to barge in.
Get out of my room. Now!”
Matthew gripped Isabelle’s arm. “She’s right. Let’s go.”
“No!” she tried to yank free. “How dare you-”
“Now, Isabelle,” Matthew growled, he rarely used. He pulled her toward the door, shooting me an apologetic look before closing it
behind them.
I could hear them arguing in the hallway, their voices carrying clearly through the door.
“How could you?” Isabelle demanded. “She’s just your chosen mate, not your fated one!”
“She’s my wife,” Matthew replied firmly. “I can’t just ignore that.”
“But I’m your fated! How can you do this to me?”
“I never said I wouldn’t be there for you. But Juno is still my wife, and that doesn’t change.”
A slap echoed in the hallway, followed by Isabelle’s voice, trembling with fury. “Do you want me to partially reject our bond? It will be painful, you know,”
I held my breath, expecting Matthew to back down as he always did. But his next words shocked me.
2/3
Chapter 12
“I’m tired of this, Isabelle. Junt is my wife. Before you and your fath came along, we had a perfect life, We built Pineridge Pack together. I won’t turn my back on her.”
My heart hammered in my ches. After weeks of weakness, Matthew was finally standing up for me, for us.
“You can’t mean that, Isabelle’s voice broke. “You’re my fated mate!
“And she’s my chosen one,” Matthew replied quietly. “Go back to your room. We’ll talk later.”
Over the next few weeks, Matthew started to try to treat me like hesed to. Isabelle stormed off to her father’s house several times but always returned, unable to stay away from, her fated mate for long.
I’d learned from Joel that shed reported the situation to her father, ut Charles Richards couldn’t intervene without risking conflict with the other Forestvale packs who respected Matthew.
I could see the toll it was taking on Matthew, forcing his wolf to obey when Zephyx wanted nothing more than to fully accept his fated mate.
Still, I noticed how pack members began shifting their respect toward Isabelle. Some even openly disrespected me.
I stopped performing Luna duties, letting Isabelle handle the problems that arose. What was the point in fighting for a position I would soon leave behind?
A month passed quietly. I heard nothing from Kieran, which both relieved and disappointed me. Part of me had hoped he would follow through on his interest, giving me a clear escape route.
Then one afternoon, as I was sitting in my room sorting through clothes, the door burst open. Matthew rushed in, his face pale with
alarm.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, instantly alert.
“We’re under attack,” he said, with urgency. “Clifflands wolves. A full battle party.”
I stared at him in shock. “The Alpha King’s forces? Why would they attack us?”
