Luna's Rejected Vengeful Mate
Luna’s Rejected Vengeful Mate Chapter 11

The Dark Moon, pack

Blake’s father – Alpha Elias Hunter

When Blake called me and asked me to visit the Moon Howlers pack with one of our elders, an unsettling feeling spread through me, and uneasiness crept inside my heart. What had my boy gotten himself into, again?

I notified one of the elders to meet me at the packhouse. When he arrived, I told him Blake needed us at Rays’ pack, not giving me the reason.

Deep in thought, I closed my eyes, and my mind wandered into the past, feeling guilty for my son’s behaviour.

Blake had always been my weakness-he was the son my beloved Anna had given me and my pillar of strength after his mother’s sudden death. My son had always been a clever, solid and restrained young man-he had the perfect personality for a future Alpha.

And I messed things up for him big time. A one-night stand with one of our pack’s omega females a few years after my mate’s death brought Drake into our lives. Drake’s mother passed away giving birth to him, and Blake supported me in raising his younger brother, although he was only four.

Blake loved his brother dearly and could not see what I saw in Drake. I also loved my youngest son, but I knew Drake envied his eldest brother, and I was always alert. I never considered that Drake would persuade Blake’s mate, Elisabeth, to reject my elder son and run away with him ten years ago.

His brother’s and mate’s betrayal changed my dearest son’s character in a single night. I will never forget his reaction that night. It took a lot of effort on my behalf to calm Blake down after turning Ray’s packhouse into ruins and persuading him to accept Elisabeth’s rejection.

I knew the rejection hurt my son and his wolf deeply, but Drake’s betrayal hurt Blake more. I could see that when my son realised Natalia had fled that night after Ray feared for her life, Blake was devastated.

From then on, there was nothing I could do to stop Blake from creating trouble for my dearest friend, Ray White, Natalia’s and Elisabeth’s father, although he was not to blame for his daughter’s actions. For many years, he messed with Ray’s business and created crisis after crisis for my friend’s company.

And now, Blake called me to go to my friend’s pack with one of our elders. I was distraught, knowing Ray had requested Blake’s help regarding the rogue attacks a few days ago. What was my son up to again?

I didn’t even realise when we arrived at Rays’ pack. The car stopped outside the gates, and the guards let us in after confirming that I was expected.

I looked around as the car drove towards the packhouse. Nothing had changed since I last visited Ray ten years before.

Lucas and James White waited for us at the packhouse entrance-they asked the elder to remain in the living room and wait for Blake to call him. They led me to Ray’s room on the second floor, and I was surprised to see a beautiful young woman standing next to my son. There was something familiar about her, something I could not comprehend at the moment.

What surprised me more was the words that came out of her mouth. Wedding? What wedding? And who was she?

“Blake?”

My son turned to face me at the sound of my voice, and so did the young woman. And that was when it hit me. Those dark blue eyes and beautiful face belonged to Natalia, Ray’s youngest daughter-she was a replica of her deceased mother, Alana.

“Natalia?”

She looked at me and, with a sweet smile on her face, she walked towards me and placed a k**s on my cheek, hugging me tenderly.

“Hello, uncle Elias. Long time, no see.”

I hugged her back and then took her beautiful face in my hands. She locked eyes with me and smiled.

“You have turned into a beauty, my child. You are the spitting image of your mother, isn’t that so, Ray?” I turned to face my friend and noticed the medical equipment surrounding him.

“Ray, what’s wrong? What happened?” I left Natalia and rushed to my friend’s side.

“Nothing serious, Elias. Don’t worry, my friend.” Ray consoled me, a weak smile on his face.

I turned and faced my son, who had a cold expression watching my interaction with Ray and his daughter.

“Blake, what’s this all about, son? Why did you ask me to join you here?”

Then the word ‘wedding” struck me-that was what Natalia was talking about when I entered the room.

‘Blake, what have you done, my boy?”

I last cried ten years before, watching my son’s breakdown, blaming myself for it. And now, my eyes filled with tears as I looked at my dearest son, waiting for his reply.

Blake

Distressed by how Natalia referred to our wedding, I hardly noticed my father entering Alpha Rays’ room.

I turned at my father’s voice and watched him as he looked at Natalia, stunned, trying to figure out who she was. I was surprised to see her reaction when my father realised she was his best friend’s youngest daughter. A sweet smile made her face glow when my father recognised her. She walked toward him and tenderly kissed and hugged my Dad.

I felt a lump form in my throat when my father hugged Natalia tenderly. It reminded me of when our families met, and Natalia would always run and hug my Dad, being his little “princess”, as he used to call her.

And then my father addressed Alpha Ray. His genuine concern for his friend made me feel even guiltier. Was I doing the right thing by marrying Natalia under the circumstances?

“Good question, Einstein!” Ariel growled, and I blocked him the minute Natalia turned to look at me.

Good thing my father intervened, asking me what I had done. I focused on him, ignoring Natalia’s intense stare, and tried to ignore the pain that squeezed my heart when I saw his watery eyes.

“What do you mean, Dad?” I disguised my true feelings by keeping my coldness.

“Come on, son. Natalia is here after so many years of absence, and you mean to tell me that you have nothing to do with it? Or the wedding I heard Natalia mention when I entered the room?”

My father was frustrated and started shaking. Natalia walked to him and held his hand, smiling.

“Uncle Elias, you don’t need to get upset. Blake and I discussed things and agreed that we should marry to form a stronger alliance between our packs and deal with the rogue attacks. I might have had my arguments at first, but talking to Blake made me realise that this wedding will benefit both packs, right, Blake?”

Natalia looked at me, a warning glint in her eyes. I didn’t reply immediately-I had never lied to my father, and he had always known my true intentions regarding the Moon Howlers pack and Alpha Rays’ family.

This time was different, though. I hadn’t seen my father cry for the last ten years, and today his eyes were filled with tears. Was that disappointment and hurt he was feeling at my behaviour? Or had his guilt for what Drake did to me surfaced again? Whatever the reason, I didn’t want my father to think that way-he was the only family I had.

“Dad, Natalia is right. We will get married and try to confront the rogues and whatever comes our way as one. We need to do that because everyone knows how bad my relationship with Alpha Ray and his pack was all these years, and it’s the only way to convince them that we have joined forces.”

“But son, you and Natalia are not mates, right?” My father insisted, still confused and worried.

“Uncle, none of us believe in the mate bond anymore, and we can all understand why. What Blake and I are doing right now is for our packs’ sake, and that is way more important than a mate who can betray us any time-no offence, Blake.”

Natalia’s cold words shook me to the core and made me stiffen. The indifference in her voice and the arguments she used to make my father understand our “decision” should make me feel good. Why was I feeling so freaking upset then?

I looked at her, trying to see a sign that she was at least affected by her words, but she kept a straight face, provoking me to say something else and upset my father.

“Dad, listen. As Natalia told you, our packs are our main priority. And Natalia, as the future female Alpha of the Moon Howlers pack, has agreed to my proposal to marry me, forming a family bond between our packs and ensuring this alliance benefits both sides. That’s all.”

Alpha Ray watched our conversation silently and locked eyes with me before addressing my father. I knew that I wouldn’t like what he would say.

“Elias, whatever the reason, the children have decided to get married. We can do nothing to make them change their minds. They are grown-ups and not the first to choose a mate instead of waiting for their destined partners. I want Blake to promise that he will care for Natalia and never hurt her. That’s all.”

I gritted my teeth, irritated. Natalia’s father had just tricked me into making a promise in front of my father, and my Dad would make me keep my promise. That slimy old fox!

I never expected Natalia to leave my father’s side, come to me, and put her hand on my bare elbow, holding me softly and smiling at me before turning to both our parents. Her long, delicate fingers touched my skin; her touch was soft and steady and felt natural on my arm, like her fingers belonged there. When she smiled at me, I felt a warmth spreading all over my body, forgetting about the tension her father’s words had caused me a minute before.

“Daddy, why wouldn’t Blake treat me well? We are old friends, after all. Let’s leave the past behind us and move on. Don’t you agree, Blake?”

Natalia was smiling, but there was amusement in her stare when she looked into my eyes. That devilish female had realised her father’s purpose and made fun of me in front of our parents. And I had to follow her game and erase my father’s worry by confirming her words.

“Yes, Natalia, I agree with you. Alpha Ray, don’t worry. I will treat Natalia the way she deserves.”

My words had a secret meaning, and I felt her squeezing my arm in defence and her nails digging into my flesh, indicating her rebellious reaction. She kept the smile on her face and spoke through gritted teeth, so soft that only I could hear her.

“Try anything funny with me in the future, and you will see what happens when I get pissed off, Blake dear.”

“Holy shi.t. Who did you choose to marry Blake? The woman screams DANGER,” Aries protested, and I saw Natalia giggle before her wolf answered mine.

“That will teach you a thing or two, Wolfie. So, be careful in the future and teach your human how to behave. You have both messed with the wrong female.”

I had to block Aries again. For heaven’s sake, how was I supposed to communicate with my wolf? In secrecy?

I had to do something to end this discussion and do it fast. It was not to my benefit to continue bantering with Natalia in front of my Dad.

“Dad, listen. We have discovered the rogue’s plans-we have already captured one of them, so we must act fast. They plan to attack our packs tomorrow evening during the Lunar eclipse. They believe I will be busy defending the Moon Howlers pack, and my pack will be unprotected.

So, Natalia agreed that we should get married today and announce a celebration for our wedding this evening between our packs. Using our wedding as an excuse, we will set that filthy rogue free, and he will definitely inform their leader. That will put them at ease for tonight, and that’s when we will attack and take the rogues by surprise.”

“Natalia, is what Blakes says true, my child?”

My father still had suspicions about my intentions and asked Natalia for confirmation.

“Yes, Uncle Elias. The sooner we proceed with the wedding, the better,” she smiled at my father and placed her hand into my palm, joining her fingers with mine.

I struggled to stay calm and not reveal how affected I was by her touch. For fuc.ks sake, other women touched me this way, and I felt nothing. Why was I feeling like that with my enemy’s daughter?

I turned to Alpha Ray to ease my tension, still holding Natalia. “Alpha Ray, I suggest we proceed with the wedding here in your room so that we do not have to move you away from your medical equipment. Is that okay with you?”

I had to be polite for my father’s sake. Otherwise, I didn’t give a s**t where I married Natalia.

“No, Blake. We should perform the wedding in the packhouse garden so that more people can be witnesses, and when you set the rogue free, he can see that what you told him is true. Besides, the doctor will ensure Ray is well taken care of without medical equipment for a while. Right doctor?”

My father replied instead of Alpha Ray and made my situation more awkward than it already was. When the doctor replied and assured my father that nothing would happen to his friend if he had no medical equipment supporting him for a while, I hit bottom. There was no way I could avoid getting married in the garden.

I looked at Natalia; she also seemed uncomfortable with how things turned out. That made me feel better; I was not the only one feeling weird.

“It’s settled then. Let’s proceed and prepare the garden. James, could you please tell your staff to make the necessary arrangements? And Lucas, can you tell our pack’s elder who is waiting downstairs to prepare for the ceremony? Ah, James, you two, please inform one of your Elders as well.”

My father was giving orders as if what was to follow was the most natural thing on earth. He even called Jacob and asked him to bring a suit and tie for me and do it fast.

I lost the game, and there was no way I could reverse things. Natalia’s eyes were brimming with tears. That was only for a minute, though. She soon collected herself, smiled as if nothing had happened, and looked at me, waiting for my reaction.

“Natalia, honey, you should better prepare yourself. I will send someone to your room to help you.”

Alpha Ray’s weak voice interrupted our silent interaction. Natalia turned to her father and nodded obediently. She took her hand out of mine, and I suddenly felt lost.

Nearing her father’s bed, she kissed him on the forehead and left the room, her head high and a smile plastered on her face.

“Here we go, Blake. Let’s see where this wedding and your plan for revenge will lead us, boy. I hope it will not turn against us in the end,” Aries warned me, and for the first time after I decided to use Natalia for my revenge purposes, I had the same thought as my wolf.

What the hell did I get myself into this time?