Claiming the Rejected Luna

Chapter 3:

Damon's POV

I’ve always had a knack for keeping my distance. Playing it cool, never getting too close to anyone. It’s been my survival instinct in this pack, the only way to keep my head on straight. It wasn’t hard—until her. Until Aria Russo.

I knew the second she came into our pack that things would never be the same. She wasn’t just some lost kid the Alpha and Luna decided to take in; she was different. I felt it before she even turned eighteen, before any of this “fated mate” nonsense came into play. She was never like a sister to me, despite what everyone else might think. Hell, even when she was a kid, she had this pull, this gravitational force that made it impossible for me to look at her and see anything other than more.

I kept my distance. Played the role. Sometimes I was the guardian, the watchful eye in the shadows making sure no harm came to her. Other times I was the annoying brother, teasing her when things got too serious or when she looked like she was on the verge of losing herself. Whatever she needed me to be, I was. Just as long as she was safe and happy.

And for a long time, I told myself that was enough.

Then she turned eighteen. Then the mate bond snapped into place, and for the first time in five years, I felt like I could breathe again. Like maybe, just maybe, she’d look at me the way I looked at her. But fate’s a b***h, and she didn’t see me. No, Aria had locked eyes with Drake first. The second she met his gaze, it was over. The bond solidified, and she was his.

My best friend. My Beta.

The bastard who didn’t deserve her.

For months, I tried to bury the feeling that something wasn’t right. That I should’ve been the one by her side, not Drake. But the mate bond is ironclad, isn’t it? There’s no breaking it. Or so I thought.

But last night, when I saw the way Drake rejected her—so cold, so careless—it confirmed everything I had ever known. Something was wrong. Something had always been wrong. The Moon Goddess didn’t make mistakes, but this? This was twisted.

I had felt that bond long before Drake did. I’d always known she was meant for me. But because she’d seen him first, because she locked eyes with him before me, she was bonded to him. I cursed the timing of it all. If things had been different, if she’d seen me before she saw Drake, this would’ve never happened.

Drake was a fool.

And not just because of his rejection. The way he’d discarded her, the way he’d broken her heart so easily, left me seething. I wanted to tear him apart when I overheard him talking about how Aria wasn’t strong enough. Aria. Not strong enough? That was a joke. The girl had more fire in her than half the pack combined. I’d seen her fight, watched her push herself harder than anyone else. If anyone radiated strength and power, it was Aria.

But Drake? He didn’t see it. No, he’d fallen for Zelda—some vapid she-wolf who had always tried her luck with me in the past. Goddess knew I could’ve taken her if I wanted to, but I never did. Sure, she was attractive, but she wasn’t Aria. No one was. And the fact that Drake had traded Aria for someone like her? It only made my blood boil more. It wasn’t just betrayal; it was a crime.

When Drake rejected Aria, I could hardly stand to be in the same room. Watching her crumble like that, seeing the pain he caused—it was a miracle I didn’t rip him apart right then and there. But there was a part of me that held back. Because now, now that Drake had been such an i***t, I might have a chance.

I wasn’t naïve, though. The pack wouldn’t see it that way. They’d see Aria as my sister—adopted or not. And while I didn’t give a damn about what people thought, I knew how these things worked. A leader who breaks pack traditions doesn’t keep his pack for long. I’d have to tread carefully. The pack had to see Aria the way I did: not as my sister, but as the rightful mate of the Alpha.

And last night, when I kissed her, I felt it. Every nerve, every muscle in my body hummed with electricity, with a bond that had been waiting—no, aching—for years to be completed. I’ve had my fair share of one-night stands, but nothing, nothing could compare to that kiss. It wasn’t just physical; it was like the universe had finally aligned, like I was whole for the first time in my life.

How Drake could reject that bond? I’ll never understand. Sure, he said she wasn’t strong enough, but that was bullshit. Drake knew it, and I knew it. Aria’s strength came from within. Her aura oozed alpha power, even if she wasn’t born into the family. Raised by my parents, trained by our pack, Aria was more than capable. And I suspected deep down, Drake knew that. Maybe that’s what scared him.

I wonder if the rest of the pack saw it the same way as Drake did. Did they see her as weak, or did they see what I saw? A wolf with power and fire waiting to be unleashed.

My thoughts were interrupted by a sudden mindlink from Drake. Where are you, Alpha? His tone was impatient, bordering on annoyed.

I sighed, rolling my eyes. I’ll be there soon, I replied, standing in front of the mirror as I scrubbed off the sand that clung to my skin. I was covered in it after chasing Aria down to fix the mess Drake had made. I needed a damn shower.

I had to chase down Aria to deal with your disaster. Now I’m covered in sand, I added, irritation creeping into my voice. What I didn’t mention was that I needed to wash off Aria’s scent—her intoxicating scent that still clung to me, making it harder to focus on anything else.

There was a pause on the other end, and I could feel Drake’s tension. After a beat, he said quietly, I’ll be waiting in the kitchen.

I cut the link and stepped into the shower, letting the water wash away the lingering frustration. But no matter how hard I tried to shake it off, I couldn’t stop thinking about Aria. About that kiss. About how it felt like the most natural thing in the world, even though it shouldn’t have been. My wolf was restless, pacing in my mind, wanting to be with her, to protect her.

I dressed quickly, pulling on a fresh black shirt and jeans, trying to compose myself before heading to the kitchen. When I walked in, the first thing I noticed was Zelda. She was draped over Drake like a cheap necklace, her hands trailing over his chest, her lips too close to his ear. Drake looked annoyed, which was funny considering he chose her. His face suddenly lit up, just a flicker, but I caught it. I would, since I’d known him my whole life. I turned to see what had caused it.

Aria.

She walked into the room, her wet hair falling messily around her shoulders, ripped jeans and a white t-shirt clinging to her frame. Her natural beauty hit me like a punch to the gut. Even like this—raw, vulnerable, still healing—she was stunning. Her eyes briefly met mine, and I saw her heart drop when she looked at Drake and Zelda. I saw the flicker of pain, the hurt that she tried to hide behind a blank expression. But it was there. Clear as day.

Zelda, of course, turned up the heat. She pressed herself closer to Drake, her laughter louder, her touch more obvious, all clearly designed to make Aria uncomfortable. My wolf growled in my head, wanting to rip her off of him.

“Can you tone it down a little? I’ve just eaten,” I drawled sarcastically, raising an eyebrow at Zelda.

Zelda cleared her throat and sat up straighter, her eyes narrowing at me for a brief moment. “Yes, Alpha,” she said with a sugary-sweet voice that made me want to gag.

I turned my attention to Aria, trying to keep it cool, though my wolf was practically clawing at my insides to pull her close. “You should help Luna with the inventory in the medical bay,” I said, my tone probably coming out colder than I intended. I saw the flicker of hurt flash in her eyes before she nodded and turned to leave.

I cursed under my breath, knowing I’d probably pushed her away with that. But I couldn’t afford to show weakness, not now. Not when Drake was already sniffing around, trying to figure out what was going on.

Drake gestured for me to lead the way, but before I could move, he added, “I’ll be bringing Zelda along for the interrogation. She needs to learn, considering she’ll be the Beta’s mate.”

I didn’t respond. My wolf snarled in the back of my mind, wanting to tear him apart for hurting our mate. But I bit down the urge and kept walking, not trusting myself to speak.

We made our way to the interrogation room, the tension thick in the air. My mind kept drifting back to Aria, and the weight of the secret we now shared. But I couldn’t focus on that right now. I had a job to do.

The rogue we’d captured was a middle-aged man, his face bruised and bloody from the rough handling of our enforcers. He was tied to a chair, his eyes wild, darting between us as we entered the room.

Drake stepped forward first, his posture stiff. “Tell us what you know,” he ordered, his voice laced with authority. But the rogue didn’t flinch. He just grinned, a crazed smile spreading across his face.

“The one with many mates,” the rogue rasped, his voice gravelly. “She is required for the ritual. The original vampire seeks her.”

My blood ran cold. Original vampire?

“What ritual?” I demanded, stepping closer, my voice sharp.

The rogue’s eyes gleamed with madness. “Immortality. The one who brings her to him... will be rewarded with immortality.”

Before I could press further, the rogue bit down hard—too hard—and the sickening crunch of teeth echoed in the room. Blood spilled from his mouth, and he slumped forward in the chair, dead before we could get anything else out of him.

Drake cursed, but my mind was already spinning. Aria. A ritual. Many mates?

This was far from over. And somehow, Aria was at the center of it all.