chapter 5

Chapter Five

Kieran’s POV

I had waited years for her.

I never wanted to force her into this—I wanted her to come to me willingly. But after so long, after searching endlessly for my mate, she was finally within reach.

And now, here she was, standing so close that I could hear the soft hitch in her breath.

I watched as she pulled away from me, straightening her dress, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. "Sorry," she muttered, avoiding my gaze.

I didn’t move. I just stood there, staring at her, memorizing every detail. Her scent, her presence—it was unlike anything I had ever known. My wolf stirred within me, restless, recognizing her as ours. She was perfect just like I have pictured her.

Then, after a long silence, she finally spoke.

"Do you really want to marry me?" Her voice was steady, but there was something else hidden beneath it. "I just lost my children, you know. I was married before. And I don't think you would want to be with someone like me."

I already knew.

I had known everything about her long before we met. I had watched from a distance, gathering information, growing more and more furious at what had happened to her. The fact that I couldn’t do anything back then still filled me with rage.

She had suffered.

And I hadn't been there to stop it.

I clenched my fists at my sides, forcing the anger down. It wasn’t time for that. Right now, she was in front of me, asking if her past made her unworthy of me. If I was going to accept her this way.

She didn’t know.

She had no idea that she was mine. That no matter what had happened before, no matter what pain she carried, it didn’t change the fact that she belonged with me.

"I don’t care," I said finally, my voice low but firm. "I will come for you tomorrow to pick you up so get ready."

Her lips parted slightly in surprise, but I didn’t stay to see her reaction.

I turned and walked out, leaving her standing there, confused.

I knew she had questions. I knew she was trying to figure out who I was and why I wanted this.

But she would understand soon enough.

I got into my car, and the driver pulled away from the mansion. My mind was still on her, replaying the moment our eyes met, the way her body reacted when she touched me, even if she didn’t realize it yet.

I had to tell her.

At some point, I would have to explain everything—that she was my mate, that she wasn’t just some arranged bride, but the one chosen for me by fate.

That I wasn’t just any man.

I was an Alpha.

And she was meant to be my Luna.

My phone buzzed, pulling me from my thoughts.

I answered without looking at the caller ID. "What?"

"Alpha," my Beta, Lucas, spoke on the other end. "We have a problem."

My jaw tightened. "Talk."

"It’s Demon," Lucas said. "He’s moving against you. Word is, he’s formed alliances with those who want to see you fall. Do you want me to take action or do you have something in mind?"

I exhaled slowly, leaning back against the seat.

Demon. My rival. The one who had been waiting for an opportunity to strike against me.

"Let him come," I said, amusement lacing my voice. "I’ll handle him myself."

Lucas hesitated. "Alpha, they’re planning something big. You might need to—"

"I said I’ll handle it."

I hung up.

Demon didn’t scare me.

He could try to take me down, but he would fail.

Right now, there was only one thing that mattered.

And that was her.

My true Luna to be.

I didn’t know how I was going to tell Ava the truth yet.

But I did know one thing.

No matter what happened—she was mine.

…

Ava’s POV

I watched as Kieran walked out of the house, his presence lingering even after he was gone.

My chest felt tight.

I pressed my hands over my heart, trying to steady myself, but the strange sensation didn’t go away.

What was this?

Why did I feel like I had just stepped into something I couldn’t escape?

I sat down on the couch, my mind spinning with questions. Was I going insane? I had just met this man, and yet, his presence alone made me feel… something. Something I didn’t understand.

His voice, his gaze, the way he carried himself—it unsettled me in ways I couldn't explain.

I exhaled shakily.

This wasn’t right.

This is insane.

I wasn’t supposed to feel anything after what happened. I had sworn to never let a man affect me again. Not after Richard. Not after everything I had lost.

And yet…

Just then, my father stepped into the room.

I turned to face him as he studied me with a knowing expression.

"Have you two spoken?" he asked. “ Hope you didn't disgrace me.”

I frowned. "If you mean did we exchange words, then yes. But if you mean did we actually talk? No."

My father raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "And why is that?"

I hesitated, then sighed. "I don’t know if I can be with a man like that," I admitted, my voice quieter than before. "There’s something about him that… scares me."

To my surprise, my father let out a laugh.

"Scares you?" he repeated, shaking his head. "Ava, you’re speaking nonsense." He walked toward me, his expression turning serious. "The decision has already been made. You need to accept it."

I clenched my jaw.

"Why him?" I asked. "Out of everyone, why did you choose him?"

My father’s expression darkened slightly, but he didn’t answer. Instead, he simply turned and walked away, leaving me with nothing but my own swirling thoughts.

I watched him go, my stomach twisting in confusion and hurt.

I had spent years being forced into decisions that weren’t my own, and now, it was happening all over again.

But something about this time felt different.

Something told me that Kieran Jason was more than just a man my father had chosen for me.

And that terrified me.