One Step

Chapter 4

Levi's POV

The raging storm inside me slowly began to calm, but my heart still wasn't at rest when I saw her again.

She was outside crying. Her friend, Kate, was beside her, trying to comfort her.

I wasn't close enough, yet I could hear every word she said.

> "I told you, Kate… whoever my mate is, I knew I was going to be rejected," she said in a hoarse voice. She must have cried for a long time.

My heart tightened painfully. I didn't know what to do. I just stood there, watching her break.

> "Kate, I can't take this rejection. It hurts so much," she continued, her voice shaking. "He didn't even say a word. I was so worthless to him that he couldn't even reject me properly. He didn't even look at me. I thought you said the mate bond would be too strong for him to resist. The moment I realized he was my mate, I was sad because I knew he would never accept me. Not when he's madly in love with Clara."

Then she said something that tore at me even more.

> "Maybe… if I get stronger, he'll accept me."

Michelle wiped her tears, voice small but fierce. “I’ll train. Every dawn. I’ll learn to fight, to lead. Maybe if I’m Luna material, he’ll look at me once. Just once. I don’t need his love, Kate. I just need him to not be ashamed I’m his.”

Kate sighed deeply.

> "Honestly, I don't know. And how do you plan to get stronger? By training your wolf, or training your body?"

I stood there, frozen. Sad.

To think she wanted to become powerful just for me to acknowledge her…

I knew what I had to do even though it would hurt. I had to shatter that hope before it grew.

I couldn't talk to her. Words wouldn't be enough. My actions had to make her understand.

Through the mind-link, I commanded one of my guards to pull the bell rope the one that announces when the Alpha has found his mate.

The sound echoed loudly through the pack house. I saw the shock on her face. Maybe a part of her still believed I would choose her that I would claim her because she was my fated mate.

But I couldn't.

Soon, every member of the pack gathered inside the grand hall.

I stood at the center, my voice strong and authoritative, echoing through the room.

> "I'm sure you all know why I called everyone here," I began. "I have found my mate."

Murmurs spread through the crowd.

> "As you all know, I've been drawn to Clara since we were teenagers," I continued, my voice steady even though my heart trembled. "The mate bond is strong and I couldn't be happier to have her as my Luna."

I tried to sound convincing, as if I truly believed what I was saying. Maybe if I said it loud enough, I'd start to believe it myself.

> "You should all be proud," I declared. "Your Luna is strong, capable, gentle, and kind."

The crowd erupted in cheers.

They believed me. They were happy.

But not everyone was smiling. My friends Micha and Zaki looked at me with pure disappointment, as if my words had wounded them too.

For one second, I looked at her.

Her hair was damp from tears. There was a smudge of dirt on her cheek from falling when I walked away. My fingers twitched. Magnus whined.

One step. That’s all it would take to wipe that dirt away. To tell her—

_Alpha._ Clara’s voice, sharp in my head. _The pack is waiting._

I looked away.

She had her head bowed.

Was she crying? Thinking?

I didn't know.

But I could feel it the desperation, the pain radiating from her.

And for the first time… I hated myself for being Alpha.

My silence made everyone think I was done speaking. Even my mate began to turn away, ready to leave perhaps too hurt to stay any longer.

But I couldn't let her go.

Not yet.

I wanted her to see one more thing before she walked out of my life.

I took a deep breath, forcing a cold smile onto my face, and spoke again.

"Which is why," I said, my voice echoing through the grand hall, "I will mark your future Luna… here and now."

The room went completely silent.

Gasps filled the air, followed by murmurs of disbelief.

My eyes, however, were locked on her.

Her face froze in shock her eyes wide, her lips trembling. She looked at me as if she didn't recognize the man standing before her.

She didn't expect me to be this cruel.

And maybe… neither did I.

The bond snapped into place — not with Clara. With _her_.

Across the hall, Michelle gasped. Her hand flew to her chest. Our eyes met for half a second.

It was like drowning and breathing for the first time.

_MATE,_ Magnus roared. _GO TO HER._

I took one step.

Clara’s nails dug into my arm. “Alpha?” she whispered. “The pack is watching.”

I stopped.

And chose wrong.

Still, I looked at her and forced a bitter, heartless smile.

If pain was what it took for her to stop hoping… then pain was what I'd give her.

I marked Clara in front of everyone.

Clara’s smile didn’t reach her eyes as the cheers died down. She leaned in, lips brushing my ear so only I could hear.

“I know,” she whispered. “I saw your face when you looked at her. The bond snapped for her, didn’t it?”

Ice slid down my spine.

“Don’t worry, Alpha,” she purred, nails digging into my arm. “Your secret is safe with me… as long as that omega knows her place. But if you ever look at her again? The elders will hear how their Alpha marked the wrong Luna. And we both know how fragile pack stability is with rogues hitting the borders every week.”

Blackmail. Clean. Cold.

Rogues. Every week. The word hit like a stone. The borders weren’t safe. Not yet.

The crowd erupted in cheers, but all I could see was her face my mate.

The devastation in her eyes cut deeper than any blade. She looked shattered, broken beyond words.

And still… I stood there, pretending not to care.

I can’t claim her. Not now. Not with rogues testing the borders every week. Not when one sign of weakness could bring them down on us.

She’s an omega. Gentle. Untrained. If the rogues breach again, and I’m distracted by a mate I can’t protect…

I won’t lose another pack. I won’t.

Hope is a distraction. And distractions get people killed. So I’ll kill her hope before the rogues do.

There was nothing I could do at least, that's what I kept telling myself.

If things were different… if the borders were secure…

But they weren’t.

I couldn't take that risk.

Not after everything.

Micha and I had finally started to uncover the truth behind our parents' deaths. We were close closer than ever to finding the ones responsible. But with how I treated his sister, I doubted Micha would ever forgive me.

The celebration ended. Everyone was happy, except me.

Because even as the cheers faded, my heart wasn't at rest.

I couldn't stop thinking about my mate.

When Clara and I arrived at the pack house, I got a glimpse of a side of her I'd never seen before one that made my chest tighten with unease.

Had I made a mistake?

I sent some maids to take her belongings to the Luna's chambers. From my room, I could hear her voice echoing down the hall.

"Be careful, you weak omega! Do you have any idea how expensive my things are? That box you're holding could buy your whole family!"

"I—I'm sorry, ma'am. I'll be careful," the maid stammered.

Then came a sharp, crisp sound.

A slap.

I didn't need to see it to know what happened.

"It's Luna," Clara snapped coldly. "Not 'ma'am.' Use my title. I'm sure you don't want to lose your job all I have to do is tell the Alpha that you disrespected me, and you'll be gone. Now, move the box properly."

I froze, disbelief washing over me.

Where was the gentle and kind Clara I thought I knew?

The one who never discriminated against the weak?

Seems I'd made a mistake.

I told you so, Magnus's cold voice echoed in my head.

Clara entered my room later, clearly expecting we'd complete the mating bond.

But I couldn't.

I didn't.

"Clara," I said quietly, "I'm a bit tired today. Can we… do this another time?"

She smiled faintly. "Oh, sure. I'm also a bit tired."

But I knew she was disappointed.

Still, I couldn't bring myself to touch her. I tried to convince myself it was just stress that maybe she had a bad day, maybe that's why she lashed out at the omega.

You're lying to yourself, Magnus scoffed, disgusted.

Days passed.

And I still couldn't mate with her.

Clara grew colder, angrier. She took it out on the omegas cruel words, harsh punishments, and endless complaints.

Every time I saw it, guilt stabbed through me again.

I had made a mistake.

And now, it was far too late to fix it.

Because with rogues at the borders, mercy is a liability.

And I’d rather Michelle hate me alive than watch her die because I chose wrong.