Chapter Two: “She Is Not Property”

Meeva's pov

That was it, the confirmation that the moon goddess had indeed strung a bond between us. Jared froze, his eyes flickering between us in disbelief. He stood up, came to me, took the tray from my hand and flung it across the living room.

"You don't look like you have been treated well, love."

My heart raced, or was it my nerves?

His big palms encased mine, rubbing soothing lines on my bruised fingers. Goosebumps flooded my skin pores, it felt electric, fresh.... something I hadn't felt from Jared in a long time, or truly, ever.

"I..... I'm married."

I don't know why I said that, it was true, I mean.... I was still married to Jared, so ... I... my wolf kept howling, as if she was going to claw out of my skin and leap unto him, as if she had finally found her true missing piece.

Jared stood to his feet.

"This is legit bull crap, my wife, my Luna cannot be your mate, possibly."

Alpha Kael's head arched in laughter, he pulled me closer, but still putting a safe distance between us.

"Your wife, your Luna? Didn't you just call her worthless?"

Jared paused; the words stuck in his mouth.

"Look at her finger, there is a ring, we've been married ever since she was eighteen. You can't -"

"I can't what?" Kael barked, he stood in front of me, shielding me from seeing his eyes turn dark. But I still saw it, in fact I smelt the pheromones in the air. It was so prominent that I felt like turning around and showing him my belly.

Omega instincts to submission.

"I may have tampered with your channels but you cannot take my wife."

"If the moon goddess paired her to me today then it means that you are no longer seen fit to be her husband. She is mine now."

The words rang in the air like a thunderclap. ‘She is mine now’.

Kael’s voice hadn’t been loud, but it carried a weight of mountains, resolute, and final. My knees trembled, not from fear, but from the turmoil raging inside me.

Jared staggered back a step as if he had been punched in the gut.

"You can't just claim her like she is.... property!"

Kael’s broad shoulders squared. "She is not property. She is my mate and you will not mention 'her' like you're talking about a burnt banana peel."

My breath hitched.

No one had ever defended me like that.

Not once.

Kael glanced over his shoulder at me, his expression softer now, protective. "But it’s her choice. Not mine. Not yours."

Choice?

I stared at Kael. His aura pulsed with strength and heat, but also.... genuine want.

Then I looked at Jared.

The man who spat tea on me.

The man who raised his voice to drown out mine.

The man who told me I was manipulative. Who never asked what I needed.

“You’re going to regret this,” Jared snapped, stepping toward me. “Don’t forget who took you in. Who made you Luna? Who gave you a home!”

My wolf snarled inside me, furious.

I had begged for his love.

I had worked endlessly for his attention.

And still, I was never enough.

I lifted my chin, maybe it was high time to dissolve this marriage with Jared. I didn't think I would ever have the strength to, but the moon goddess giving me a second chance mate was the biggest hint that it was time to dissolve this union.

I turned to Jared, taking in his features.

"I have given you six years of my life."

"And what did I give you in return?" He snapped, "Lego bricks?"

His voice dripped with sarcasm, with mockery.

Kael took a step forward, fury brewing beneath his calm exterior. "You gave her wounds she hides under sleeves. You gave her silence instead of safety. And now you think your false sense of dominance will cover the damage?"

I reached for Kael, pulled by an unseen thread, the bond was calling, yanking at me, and I wanted to answer. I needed to answer. But just as my fingertips grazed the hem of his jacket.

Jared’s hand closed around my wrist. Painfully tight.

"She’s not going anywhere with you." He turned to me, "you are not going anywhere with him."

Kael's expression darkened. "Let her go."

Jared's grip didn’t falter. "She is my wife, Kael. You walk out of this house with her, and you’ll have declared war on this pack."

Kael tilted his head, "Then prepare your borders. I will show you what war truly is"

My breath caught in my throat. I had never seen Jared pale before, but in that moment, I saw the tremble in his shoulders. He wasn't ready, not for Kael, not for a war with the Brawnstorm Pack.

Still, pride wouldn't let him back down.

"I am ready to destroy your famed pack, let's see just how true the rumors are."

Kael didn’t flinch. He only stepped closer. My wolf nearly melted when his warm breath tickled my neck as he leaned in.

"I’ll be back," he whispered, his lips brushing just above my pulse point. “And I swear, I won't be leaving without you.”

He pressed a kiss to the soft place between my shoulder and neck. Then he turned and gave Jared one last look, his fist was folded as if he was fighting for control within himself. Then, he walked out.

The door slammed behind him.

Jared's grip on my wrist tightened again. I winced.

"You think this is over?" he asked, his voice hollow. "You think you can just let some northern brute walk in here and deter my place as your husband?"

He dragged me up the stairs. I tried to twist my hand free. "Let go of me!"

“I made you!” he barked. “I picked you from the dirt and gave you a title, a higher place in my pack, a home!"

He kicked the door to our bedroom open and shoved me inside. Before I could reach it, he slammed it shut and turned the lock.

I ran to the door, beating my palms against it. "Jared, open this door!"

There was total silence, I heard the angry thud of his footsteps retreating in the distance. He had locked me up, and it kept me wondering.

Would Kael really come for me?