CHAPTER 10: Protecting the Chosen Luna

Morgan's POV

Violet stalked close to me, her eyes full of anger. Harry’s eyes widened, he instinctively stepped between us, reaching out to steady her, but she jerked away from his touch and faced me.

“What?” I asked, more startled by her tone than the question itself.

“She just got here, and already you're fawning over her? Catching feelings like some lovesick pup?”

“Violet,” Harry warned, his tone low. “He’s still your Alpha.”

Violet turned to him, eyeing him from head to toe in disdain. “An alpha that cannot keep his emotions in check is not an alpha”, she snarled.

I felt my anger begin to rise. “Violet Sinclair, you better watch the next thing that comes out of your mouth”, I gritted out, taking a step forward.

She hesitated, stepping back. I could smell the fear. Then she began to cry. 

“She is not your mate, Alpha. She is human, she can never be your mate. You're an alpha king, not just an alpha”. 

“You’ve been eavesdropping on our conversation”, I scowled in annoyance.

“It's not like I couldn't help Alpha. You didn't exactly tune me out. "We’re still bonded, remember?”

I exhaled slowly. “I’m sorry, Violet. But she is my mate. And yes… she’s human.”

“The moon goddess does not make a mistake, that's why I was chosen as your mate.”

I felt Harry stiffen, he was getting agitated, and I didn't know why.

“I know she is my fated mate because I felt it burning through me the moment I saw her.”

Her face twisted. “So you've found your mate and I have become old news”? "You're just going to discard me like used tissue paper and move on with your life”? 

“Violet, please,” I stepped forward, reaching for her.

She stepped back, shaking her head slowly, more tears dripping from her eyes.

“I will never accept her,” she said.

“Violet please, just listen to me…

She shook her head.

“Violet, just listen—”

“No.”

I looked at Harry, his eyes were fixated on Violet, hands clenched at his sides. He looked like he pitied her, like he wanted to go over and comfort her. Like it hurt to watch her break.

“Harry,” I said, my voice low. “Please… talk to her.” He had always found a way to get through to her when she was like that.

He didn’t answer. He instead gave me a blank expression.

I was desperate to get through to them, to fix whatever this was spiraling into. But the next thing that slipped out of my mouth...I hadn’t meant to say it.

“Every time I see her, I want to touch her. And every time I touch her, I forget that I could break her, but I also know that she is really human. No wolf. No magic. Nothing. Just fragile bones, soft skin, and a heart that can stop beating at any point in time”.

The moment those words left my lips, I knew I’d messed up.

Something behind Violet's eyes shattered at my words. Before I could process what had happened, Violet bolted out the door, slamming it shut behind her with a force that shook the whole mansion.

Harry snarled, baring his teeth at me, his fangs coming out, his eyes glowing bright gold now.

“You shouldn't have said that to her” he snarled, moving close to me.

“Harry” I called out in a warning tone.

“Why do you keep hurting her? She may not be your fated mate, but she deserves a little bit of respect!” he growled at me.

“Harry Walker,” I said, louder now, my voice echoing through the walls. I was sure everyone in the pack link could hear it.

His body stilled. His claws retracted. His eyes dimmed.

“I…I'm sorry Alpha,” he whispered, guilt written all over his face. I don't know what came over me. Please forgive me” he bowed his head, his hand shaking.

“I want to be alone,” I said in a controlled voice.

He nodded and backed away, 

“I'm very sorry alpha” he apologized again, before walking out the door, closing it softly behind him.

Silence fell.

I stood there, trying to breathe through the chaos.

What the hell had just happened?

“What in the world possessed my beta to snarl at me and bare his fangs? I had never seen him lose control like that. 

He was always protective of Violet, yes, but this… this was something else.

I shook my head. None of this made sense.

I sat down heavily on the soft cushion, my mind reeling with everything that had taken place. My thoughts drifted back to Alora.

How the hell am I supposed to protect something so breakable? I didn’t ask for this. "I didn’t ask for her." My anger came from the fear that she'd be hurt, rejected by my pack, or that I would lose her before I ever really had her.

I needed to reject her but just the thought of doing that had my heart in shreds.

Ragnar growled because he didn't care if she was human or a wolf. The bond created a pull he couldn't deny. Her scent, her voice, her presence calmed the beast inside him in a way nothing else could. 

I couldn't believe that after years of waiting, of watching my pack pair off, of ignoring the ache in his chest, this was what fate gave me.  A woman with no fangs, no instincts, no understanding of what it meant to belong to a wolf?

She was not even safe with me because I could smell her pain replacing her arousal, which had died down the moment I had begun to roar at her like a wild beast.

The scent of her fear had hit me like a slap. Ragnar had recoiled, whining at what I'd done. She was supposed to feel safe with me. Instead, I terrified her.

I was beyond angry, I was furious. Not at her. Not really.

At fate.

At the gods.

At myself.

She would die in his world.

My enemies would rip her apart just to hurt me. The pack would never accept her. She’d never survive the first full moon. I should walk away now. I should end it before it even begins. But then my enemies would laugh at me. An alpha king without a fated mate

Maybe I didn't care…as long as she was safe.

But then I wasn’t sure I had the strength to let her go.

She was supposed to feel safe with me.