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“Yelena, what’s happening?”

“Yelena, can you tell us who got hurt? Is it bad?”

“Yelena, are we at war?”

I slow to a walk and try to school my features. No matter how heartbroken and hurt I feel, people look up to me, and I can’t start a panic.

“I don’t have any information to share,” I say calmly. “But I’m sure Alpha Malaki will update everyone when he is ready.”

The gathered pack members murmur and talk among themselves, giving me the perfect chance to escape. I hurry up the steps to my porch, holding back my tears until I can get safely inside my house. Once back in the comfort of my home, I run toward the bathroom and lock myself in, leaning against the door.

“Why won’t you let me help you?” I whisper to myself.

The tears start to fall almost immediately. My heart hurts. More than anything else, I want to bring peace to Austin’s life.Our life.

It’s what I’ve always wanted. We were promised to each other as children, raised knowing that our destiny is intertwined. Fated by the Moon Goddess Herself.

Yet, he continues to push me away.

Every time I try to care for him, tend to him as a mate should, he refuses to allow me to do so.

Over the years, I’ve grown accustomed to his coldness. The distance. The rejection.

I’ve tried my hardest not to let it affect me. I’ve thrown myself into my work, becoming the best pack healer that I can be.

I want to be useful to him, to our pack. As the Alpha’s heir, Austin’s duties are numerous. He is in charge of security, reporting to his father. He is in training to one day ascend as the Alpha of our pack.

His responsibilities are overwhelming.

If I can find a way to prove myself as a mate, show him that I will be a worthy Luna one day, perhaps he will open up to me.

Because no matter how many times I tell myself it doesn't matter if he accepts me or not, or reassure myself that my place is by his side, now and always, I always hold out hope that someday he might see me as more than just a duty.

Moon Goddess, why have you mated me to someone who hates me?

I take a shuddering breath as I lean against the bathroom door, the icy sting of rejection burning through me. My hands tremble as I press them to my chest. It’s one thing that he keeps me at arm’s distance among the pack, but this time, his rejection feels more personal than usual.

To reject my touch and not even allow me to tend to him cuts deeper than anything else ever has before. All I want is to carefor him. To love him. To show him that I am worthy by using the few gifts, I have to ease his suffering.

Instead, he’d rather be in pain than have me touch him.

Am I that repulsive to him? Am I so horrible as a mate that he'd rather endure a night of white-hot pain and suffering than my touch?

I squeeze my eyes shut and try to quell the fresh onslaught of tears.

You are the future Luna of the Nightwing Pack, Yelena. You must pull yourself together.

Even if Austin won’t let me tend to him, there could be others from the same attack who need help

I cannot let my personal hurt feelings prevent me from realizing my duty to my pack.

With a deep breath, I reach one shaking hand up to smooth my hair and straighten my sweater. A peek in the mirror shows dark purple bags under my eyes and tear stains on my cheeks. I splash more water on my face and try to put on a brave face.

It’s time to go to work.

Leaving Austin and not being the one to take care of him feels like torture. Every step I take away from him feels heavy, like stepping through mud. My heart aches and my instincts scream at me to go to him, to beg or do whatever it takes to be allowed to stay and be the one to tend to him. What if his injury had been worse? What if they hadn’t got here in time? So many different scenarios could have resulted in Austin dying today.

My place is by his side…or at least, it’s supposed to be.