010

DOMINIC POV 

I had spent the entire night making sure everything was perfect.

It was Rosie's birthday, and despite my mixed feelings of the moments we've had, I wanted it to be memorable. Ashton had been the one leading the preparations, planning every little detail, making sure the celebration was exactly what she deserved.

He had been so meticulous with the planning. Every detail was just right. He wanted her to feel special, to know how much he cared. And despite everything, I wanted that, too.

For her. For them.

Ryk had been restless all night. My wolf had been pacing in the back of my mind, irritated, uneasy, and for no good reason. At least, none that I could understand.

"She isn't ours," I reminded him when his growls got too loud.

"You don't know that." He shot back.

But I ignored him.

I had pack duties to handle in the morning, which meant I wasn't even there when she arrived at the party. I hadn't seen her reaction to the decorations, the cake, or the gifts. By the time I stepped inside, the event was in full swing.

That's when it happened.

A scent. Warm, intoxicating.

It hit me like a blow to the chest, stopping me in my tracks. My entire body locked up as my wolf went wild. Ryk roared inside me, his voice filled with need, with certainty.

MATE.

The word slammed into my brain, shaking the very foundation of my reality.

No.

No, no, no.

I refused to believe it. It had to be a mistake.

My eyes darted across the room, searching, desperate to prove my senses wrong. That moment, my eyes narrowed into hers.

Rosie.

Standing in the middle of the room, her gaze locked onto mine. She wasn't smiling anymore. Her expression was unreadable, a mix of shock, confusion, and something deeper.

I couldn't move.

I couldn't think.

All I could do was stand there as the bond coiled itself around me, wrapping tight, sinking deep into my bones. It felt... right. Too right. Like everything in my life had been leading to this moment.

I could feel Ryk pressing against my control, urging me to step forward.

Go to her. Say her name. Claim her.

But I couldn't.

Definitely never.

Not when Ashton stood just a few feet away, watching with suspicion.

Not when I had already had secret moments with Rosie, when I had already crossed too many lines.

Not when my rejection was the only thing that could save her from me.

I took a shaky breath, forcing my emotions down. Forcing myself to do what had to be done.

With every ounce of strength I had left, I straightened my back, hardened my gaze, and opened my mouth.

"I Dominic Lockwood of Red Moon Pack rejects you, Rosalie Draven, as my fated mate." I said subtly.

The room went silent.

Rosie's eyes widened in disbelief, her lips parting as if she wanted to say something anything. But no words came.

Those lips I enjoyed kissing.Those lips I'd wanted on mine forever.

Ryk howled in my head, his fury nearly unbearable. It felt like I had just ripped myself in half, like a vital part of me had been torn away.

But I didn't let it show.

Rosie flinched as if physically struck.

Ashton took a step forward, but instead of anger, his expression was unreadable. For a second, something flickered in his eyes. Was it relief?

"What the hell are you talking about?" His voice was sharp, but not furious.

I didn't answer. Instead, I turned to my mother, Luna Sarah, who was watching me with as if she had known this moment was coming.

I swallowed hard and forced myself to say the words that would make this final.

"She's too young," I said bluntly. "She's not strong enough to be Luna."

Lies.

Every word tasted bitter on my tongue, but I couldn't stop now.

Rosie's face didn't hide the flashing pain.

Ashton let out a slow breath beside her. Relieved.

He placed a steadying hand on Rosie's shoulder, like he knew she needed comfort. "Hey," he murmured gently to her, like he was reassuring her.

She barely registered it. Her gaze was locked onto mine, eyes filled with something raw and broken.

Ashton's fingers tightened slightly on her shoulder. He wasn't angry. If anything, it seemed like he had expected this. Like he wanted this.

I made my decision.

"This conversation is over," I said.

I turned and walked away, each step heavier than the last.

Because I knew.

I knew I had just made the biggest mistake of my life.

***

I barely made it outside before my legs gave out.

I leaned against the nearest tree, my hands gripping the rough bark as if it could ground me. My breathing was ragged, shallow, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake the pain curling around my chest.

Ryk was livid.

"How could you do that?" He snarled.

I clenched my jaw, shutting my eyes.

"We had no choice," I bit back.

"No choice?" He scoffed. "You chose this, Dominic. You rejected our mate. You threw her away like she meant nothing!"

"She's Ashton's." The words tasted wrong, but I forced myself to believe them.

"She was ours first!" Ryk roared. "And you destroyed her!"

I winced. 

Rosie's face flashed in my mind, her wide, hurt eyes, the way her entire body had trembled after my words.

I had crushed her.

I had wanted to break the bond quickly to make it clean, but there was nothing clean about what I had done.

It had been brutal.

And I had felt every second of it.

I had a few flashbacks. I didn't want to.

Ryk was pacing now, clawing at my insides, desperate to turn back, to undo the damage.

But we couldn't.

Because I wasn't just Dominic. I was the Alpha of this pack, Red Moon Pack.

And my pack came first.

Rosie was strong, but she wasn't ready for the war that was coming.

I had rejected her to protect her.

To protect us all.

At least, that's what I kept telling myself.

But deep down, I knew the truth.

I hadn't done this for the pack.

I had done

it for Ashton.

For the brother, I had already failed too many times.

Rosie would hate me now. She would never forgive me.

And maybe... maybe that was for the best.