Chapter 11 – THE LUNA'S REFUSAL

“You are not leaving Blackridge, Malia.”

I stared at her.

“What?”

The Blackridge Luna did not take back her words.

“But you said the meeting would decide,” I said.

“It has been decided.”

My heart dropped.

The elders who had been ready to let me leave were now silent.

“Why?” I asked. “You were the one who listened when I told you I wanted out.”

“I did listen.”

“Then why are you doing this?”

Her expression softened for only a second.

“Because this is bigger than what you want.”

I shook my head.

“No. It isn’t. This is my life.”

The Alpha leaned forward. “Luna, explain yourself.”

She turned toward him. “Malia cannot leave.”

“Why not?” one elder asked.

“Because Blackridge has waited too long for this union. Deucalion is finally mated. The pack has already accepted her as its Luna. If she leaves we don't know how long it would take to see a Luna as Malia who's capable of carrying the blood of Blackridge in it”

“Accepted?” I laughed bitterly. “Some of them still call me the replacement.”

“That will pass.”

“And if it doesn’t?”

“It will.”

Her voice was firm.

I felt anger rising inside me.

“You are asking me to stay because of what people will say? And because I might be able to carry the blood of a Blackridge?”

“Not only that,” she replied. “This pack needs stability. Deucalion’s bloodline needs an heir. We cannot tear apart a marriage that has already been announced, witnessed, and sealed.”

“Sealed?” I touched the mark on my neck. “This bond isn’t even complete.”

“That does not change the situation.”

“It changes everything.”

One elder spoke carefully.

“Perhaps the Luna is right about the consequences. Ending the marriage immediately could create more problems between Blackridge and her family.”

I turned toward him.

“So I am supposed to remain unhappy because everyone is afraid of rumors?”

“No one said that.”

“But that is exactly what you mean.”

My father’s voice suddenly entered the conversation. “Malia, you should accept the decision.”

I looked at him.

Of course.

He had sacrificed me once. Now he wanted me to stay quiet so the deal he made could remain safe.

“You don’t get to tell me what to accept.”

His face tightened. “You are making this more difficult than it needs to be.”

“I didn’t make any of this.”

The room became quiet again. Then I heard a chair move.

I turned.

Deucalion stood. Everyone looked at him.

His face was calm, but his eyes were hard.

The Alpha looked at him. “Deucalion?”

He looked at me. “Malia is staying.”

My heart stopped. “What?”

His voice did not change. “She will remain my mate.”

I stood from my chair. “But you didn’t want this.”

He said nothing.

“You were the first person in this room who agreed that I should leave.”

“I changed my mind.”

“Why?”

His jaw tightened. “Because I will not walk around Blackridge with rumors following me.”

I frowned. “What rumors?”

“That I finally took a mate and could not keep her for a few days.”

His words hit me harder than they should have.

“So this is about your reputation?”

“It is about my name.”

“And your family’s name?”

“Yes.”

I shook my head. “You cannot be serious.”

“I am.”

“But you never wanted me.”

“I know.”

“You barely look at me.”

His expression remained unreadable. “That does not change my decision.”

I stepped closer. “Then why now?”

He said nothing. “Why are you suddenly interested in keeping me as your mate when your wolf did not even choose me?”

That finally made something flicker in his eyes.

Pain.

Anger. I could not tell which.

“The bond is incomplete,” I continued. “You said it yourself that it hurts you. You said there was nothing to say about it.”

He looked away for a moment.

Then back at me. “My decision has nothing to do with what you think the bond should be.”

“Then what does it have to do with?”

He did not answer. I looked toward the Luna.

She remained standing.

“You see?” I said. “Even he doesn’t want to give me a reason.”

The Luna’s expression hardened.

“He has given his answer.”

“No. He has given me a sentence.”

Deucalion’s eyes narrowed. “Malia.”

I ignored the warning in his voice. “I was brought here against my will. I was marked against my will. I was married against my will. And now, when I finally ask to leave, everyone decides I must stay.” My voice shook. “Why does nobody care what I want?”

No one answered.

The silence was worse than an argument. I looked at Deucalion again. For one foolish second, I hoped he would say something different.

Maybe he would admit he was afraid. Maybe he would tell me there was another reason.

Maybe he would say he wanted me to stay for something more than his pride.

He didn’t. He simply walked toward the door.

I turned after him. “Deucalion.”

He stopped.

I waited.

He looked back at me. His face was cold. Then he gave me one final sentence. “You are to remain in this house.”

He opened the door. I stood frozen as he walked out. The door closed behind him.

I slowly looked around the room. The elders were silent.

My parents would not meet my eyes. The Alpha remained seated and the Luna was still standing.

The decision was final. My marriage was continuing. I had come into that room believing I would finally get my freedom.

Instead, I had walked out with none. I was still the unwanted Luna of Blackridge.

Only now, there was no way out.

I touched the incomplete mark on my neck. It burned beneath my fingers.

For the first time, I understood something clearly.

I was not leaving Blackridge.

I was trapped.