*Zara*
The day after the ball, it was ti to head back to Drogomor. I t with Gia before I left Windy Clouds, giving her a bright smile.
“You and Marcus found each other,” I said softly. “How did it feel, Gia, finding your true mate?”
“Oh Zara, it felt wonderful,” she said. “It was like waking up from a dream and seeing the most gorgeous person in mind and body in front of .”
“That intense?”
“Yes, our kiss gave a burst of sheer happiness and passion,” she said with a faraway smile. “I know he’s the one. I can feel it.”
“That’s wonderful, Gia. What are your plans now?”
“Well, I’m going to head back to my pack for now, but we’ll keep in touch. Marcus and I already have plans to see each other again soon. This will lead to big changes in my life.”
“I’m here to support you, Gia,” I said softly, leaning over and giving my friend a hug.
***
On the way back to Drogomor, I felt extrely hollow inside. I hadn’t found my mate and had no extra lilies with either.
My wolf was silent, as hopeless as I was, and I felt like curling up and crying for a few hours. I didn’t have the liberty of doing so, though, as I wasn’t ho yet.
When we got back, I t with Issac and Estella.
I said quietly, “I’m feeling extrely hosick and need to return ho.”
The Alpha and Luna exchanged a glance but relented quickly.
Issac comnted, “Your help with Noah truly is valued, Zara. I know it did not go as you expected. But your efforts are greatly appreciated.”
I smiled faintly and dipped my head respectfully. “Thank you, Alpha Issac. I think in the end, Noah will choose the right thing for himself. It will just take a while.”
Issac nodded, then sighed, staring down at the table. “Hopefully, your words on true love will stay with him.”
“I hope so,” I said.
“Do you need anything before you go?” Estella asked. “Are you sure you don’t want to be paid for your work?”
“I am sure,” I said. “You let stay here entirely for free, and it’s been wonderful,” I said sincerely. “I’ve made a whole new discovery, after all, from the adventures here.”
“The Luna Lily,” Estella said in a dreamy voice. “The pack is abuzz with that journey, even now. So say it was a large reason why so mates found each other during the Moon Ball in Windy Clouds.”
I felt a pang in my gut. It had worked for so many, including my beloved best friend Gia, but not for . The brief mont of distraction from my negative feelings faded.
I just nodded. “It very well may be true,” I said with a wink. From there, I stood up and gave a kind farewell.
Just then, I felt a vibration in my pocket from my phone.
‘Are you okay?’ she texted .
She must have noticed the despair in my tone when we were leaving Windy Clouds.
‘Not really. I am going to head ho now. I need so ti to myself to think. We can et up again soti. Have fun with Marcus for ,’ I sent her.
From there, I made my way down the hall, intent on getting to my room so I could finish packing and be ready to head ho as soon as possible.
Before I could get there, though, I turned a corner and almost ran headfirst into Noah. His shocked blazing blue eyes fixed on , and he tilted his head.
“In a rush to get sowhere? Did you check in with Calvin already?”
I shrugged. “I’m heading to my room to pack. I haven’t spoken with Calvin yet because I’m heading ho,” I said.
Noah blinked, a deep frown forming on his face. For so reason, I felt like my wolf disliked this idea as well... or maybe it was the concept of leaving Noah.
My wolf and I had both been focused on finding our mate, so why she suddenly was downtrodden about leaving the Alpha Heir, I didn’t know. As always, it was best to ignore her for now.
Only that one ti had my wolf led to sothing wonderful, after all—the night of the full moon in the clearing.
At the ti, I knew all was right. It was a feeling I really needed to capture again. My mate had to be out there sowhere.
My mind was snapped out of my thoughts when Noah casually said, “Well, can I co with you?”
I wondered why he wanted to co with . That made no sense.
“Excuse ?” I said, bewildered. “But why? You need to stay here. You have the wedding to deal with... or better, a wedding to call off so you can find your true mate. Joining won’t help with that.”
“Well, the trip can give so ti to clear my head,” he said. “Plus, after everything I put you through, I would like to see that you get ho safely. It’s the least I can do.”
Annoyingly, my wolf was tugging at to accept, but I shook my head and remained firm. “No, that’s okay.”
“Why don’t you want to co?” he asked. “Will your mate be there?”
My stomach clenched at the ntion of my mate. At this point, I wondered if he knew the truth, or at least suspected sothing. I didn’t know, but either way, I wasn’t going to confess it here. It was best just to wish him well and say goodbye.
“I should get my things together,” I replied.
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“What question?” I asked.
“Will your mate be there to look after you, Zara?”
I couldn’t stop my lip from quivering. After a pause, I said, “No. Is that the answer you wanted?”
Noah blinked several tis, then growled, “Not necessarily. Why?”
“I don’t know, okay? He wasn’t there at the ball, but we’ll get together at so point. It’s complicated, Noah,” I said, clenching my jaw.
I wanted to break eye contact and stare at the floor, but I resisted the urge to do so, glaring him down and daring him to challenge this.
“How is it complicated?” he asked.
“Why do I need to explain that? I just don’t know.”
“People typically know what ‘complicated’ ans when they say it. That sounds like an excuse.”
“Well, this ti I don’t,” I huffed, my tone growing more agitated.
But rather than pry, he dipped his head. “Touchy subject. Fine. I get it.”
I knew I should tell him this was none of his business every ti it ca up, but I decided against it. When it ca down to it, Noah was coming from a place where he wanted to help .
“In any case,” he said, his tone softening, “I will co along. Look, Zara, consider it a selfish ask on my part. I really need to get away from Drogomor for a while.”
“You do?” I asked, bewildered.
He nodded. “Yes. Not only that, but ti away from this pack will help learn about my responsibilities and be exposed to new perspectives about how other packs operate. I won’t shove my way in if you don’t want to.”
“Huh. You won’t?” I asked, raising a brow.
He was all about the push and the shove until I snapped back at him, and even then, he could still be stubborn.
“I won’t,” he then added in an annoyed tone.
“So, if I say no, you’ll leave alone?” I asked.
Noah nodded firmly, then sighed. “I won’t be happy about it, but yes. It will be your ho, after all. I would really appreciate it if you let join you.”
“Will the wedding be prepared in ti?” I asked. “Or are you delaying it?”
“Oh,” he said casually. “Delaying, no... canceling, yes.” He smirked at my bemused expression.
I felt my wolf grow extrely excited at this news.
“You an you’re calling off the wedding? What caused this decision?” I asked, unable to help but smile and feel a surge of relief rush through . Maybe everything I did here really wouldn’t be in vain, I thought.
“Our talks, Zara,” he said, “and your faith, your desire for my happiness, and Serena’s too. We won’t be happy together... as much as I hate to admit it, because I’m sure it will go to your head,” he added in a joking tone.
I couldn’t help but give a soft giggle, my eyes flashing defiantly as I stared him down. He winked at , raising an eyebrow seductively, which caused to roll my eyes.
“Go on,” I said, basking in the fact that he was admitting I was right.
“You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?” he laughed.
I caught a radiant smile from him that lightened my mood even further.
“I am. You should complint more often.”
He rolled his eyes and didn’t lose his smirk.
After I nodded, he continued. “You were right, about everything. Zara, you’re an incredibly gorgeous woman to , but more importantly, you’re passionate and intelligent.”
“See, that’s not so hard, is it?”
“I’m about to say that it is.” His tone was adorably teasing.
“No, no. Go on. Keep talking, I won’t interrupt again.”
“You sure?” he asked.
“No promises.”
Noah chuckled. “Look. I know I didn’t take you seriously before. Could you forgive for that and let accompany you?”
“Hmmm,” I said. “I’ll think about it.” I smirked as he scoffed.
“Well, you don’t have much ti to think about it if you’re leaving right away.”
“Nope, I don’t need much ti,” I said. “Noah Drogomor, Alpha Heir, I will allow you to accompany so that you can get more experience with other packs and learn new perspectives.”
“And to make sure you won’t get yourself into trouble again,” he muttered.
“Hey now, don’t push your luck, or I’ll ask you to repeat how right I am again as a requirent to co with , sothing that clearly pained you.”
Noah laughed, then let out a groan. The smile he wore t his eyes, and for the first ti since the letdown of the Moon Ball, I felt elated.
Suddenly, a furious voice ca from around the corner. “You’re calling off the wedding?!” ca the shriek of a familiar power-hungry woman.
Serena turned the corner, storming up to Noah and clenching her fists. Noah was unmoved and stood his ground as he always did.
“Yes,” he said flatly. “I am.”
Then, his tone turned a bit softer. “Serena. You’re not happy with either. This was never going to work out. We both thought fated mates were a fairy tale. It turns out that the only fairy tale is your obsession with being the perfect Luna.”
“I only wanted to do what was best for the pack!” Serena cried. “You can’t be serious, Noah!”
“I am,” Noah said, his stare unwavering from hers. “The wedding is off, Serena. It’s sothing you will need to accept and move on.”
“I won’t accept it and move on! Noah... I... after everything... I thought we agreed... you promised !” she shrieked.
Noah narrowed his eyes and stepped up closer to her, intimidating, not backing down given that she was now red in the face and relentless.
“You will accept it,” he said, his voice in a low growl. “You will move on. You have no choice, Serena.”
Serena lifted her hand as if she was going to hit him, and I saw Noah’s blazing blue eyes flash in a wild fashion, as if he were about to shift.
Intimidated, Serena lowered her hand and took a step back, sliding her blazing gaze to .
“This isn’t over,” she snarled.
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