Bound By Fate: The Rejected Luna

Chapter 2

Cassandra's Point of View

The mall buzzes with life, a sea of people weaving through stores and kiosks, their chatter blending with the upbeat music playing overhead. It’s been five years since I left everything behind, five years since I severed every tie to my old life. The past feels like a distant memory now, blurred and softened by time.

I adjust my sunglasses, glancing around at the crowd gathering near the bookstore. A banner hangs above the entrance, bold letters announcing: Book Signing Event: Cassandra Steel, Bestselling Author.

Sometimes it feels surreal, standing here with a pen in hand, signing copies of books that have reached people far beyond the borders of any pack. Writing saved me, gave me a purpose when I felt like I had nothing left. It became my refuge, my lifeline.

The line stretches around the corner, eager faces clutching copies of my latest novel. I offer a polite smile to each fan, exchanging a few words of gratitude as they pass their books to me. Their excitement is contagious, but my mind drifts, as it often does, to the choices that led me here.

Five years ago, Adrian made his decision. A week after I walked out of the Blackwood pack, I heard he had found someone else—a woman who, according to whispers, was destined to be his true mate. I didn’t stay to hear the details. I didn’t need to. Cutting ties with the pack wasn’t just about leaving Adrian; it was about starting over, completely.

My phone buzzes on the table beside me, snapping me out of my thoughts. I glance at the screen. The caller ID reads: Lila.

I answer quickly, my heart instantly lighter at the sound of her voice. “Mommy?”

“Yes, baby?” I say, warmth flooding my chest.

“Are you almost done? I’m hungry!” Her voice carries the impatient tone of a five-year-old who doesn’t like waiting.

I laugh softly. “Almost, sweetheart. I’ll be home soon. Did you eat the snack I left for you?”

“I did, but it wasn’t enough. Can we get pizza later?”

“Of course,” I reply. “Just let Mrs. Taylor know I’ll be back shortly, okay?”

“Okay! Love you, Mommy.”

“Love you too, Lila.”

The call ends, and I stare at the phone for a moment, the smile lingering on my lips. Lila is my everything—the bright, unshakable light that emerged from the darkest chapter of my life. Adrian doesn’t know about her. He made it clear he wanted nothing to do with me, and by extension, nothing to do with the child he never even knew existed.

A fan clears their throat gently, pulling me back to the present. I quickly refocus, offering them an apologetic smile as I sign their book. “Thank you for coming,” I say, handing it back.

As the line slowly dwindles, I glance at the time. Soon, I’ll be back home with Lila, far from the noise and chaos of the mall. This life isn’t what I imagined years ago, but it’s mine—crafted from strength I didn’t know I had. And for now, that’s enough.

After two hours, I’m just gathering my things, the stack of signed books neatly arranged on the table, when my phone buzzes again. Thinking it might be Lila, I quickly answer without checking the screen.

“Hello?”

“Miss Cassandra?” Mrs. Taylor’s voice is trembling, thick with panic. My stomach drops instantly.

“Yes, what’s wrong?” I ask, my grip tightening on the phone.

“It’s Lila—she’s missing!” Mrs. Taylor’s words hit like a sledgehammer, and the room tilts for a moment.

“What do you mean, missing?” My voice rises, sharp and frantic.

“We were at the playground,” she sobs. “I only looked away for a second, Miss Cassandra. Just a second! When I turned back, she was gone. I’ve looked everywhere, but I can’t find her!”

My heart is pounding so hard I can barely hear her over the blood rushing in my ears. “Stay there. Keep looking. I’m coming right now.”

I grab my bag and shove my belongings inside hastily, my hands trembling. The mall’s cheerful chaos blurs around me as I weave through the crowd, my thoughts solely on Lila. The fear gripping my chest is unlike anything I’ve ever felt. My daughter is out there, somewhere, and I have to find her.

When I pull up to my house, Mrs. Taylor is already outside, her face streaked with tears, her hands trembling. “I’m so sorry, Miss Cassandra,” she says between sobs, her voice cracking. “I—she was right there—I only looked away for a second—”

“I understand,” I cut her off, my voice tight with urgency. There’s no time to dwell on apologies or explanations. “Go inside. I’ll find her.”

I don’t wait for a response. I take off running toward the playground, the place where Lila was last seen. The familiar sound of children playing is absent, replaced by an eerie silence. I search every corner, call out her name, but there’s no sign of her. My chest tightens as I go from house to house, knocking frantically on doors and describing her to anyone who answers. Every reply is the same—a shake of the head, a look of pity.

I’m standing at the edge of the street, my hope slipping through my fingers like sand, when a scent hits me. It’s faint at first, carried on the breeze, but it’s unmistakable. Familiar. Too familiar.

My wolf stirs restlessly, the scent igniting something primal within me. My breath catches as recognition washes over me. It can’t be. It’s impossible.

But it’s him. Adrian.

I follow the scent, my legs moving on autopilot, my heart pounding so hard it feels like it might break free from my chest. As I round a corner, I see a man standing near the far edge of the park. He’s tall, his broad shoulders filling out a tailored black tuxedo that clings to his athletic frame. His hair is neatly styled, a dark contrast to the white shirt beneath his jacket, and his stance is casual yet commanding, as though the world itself bends to his will.

In his arms is Lila, laughing and giggling, her tiny hands clutching at his tie. The sight stops me in my tracks. My heart clenches as relief and shock collide within me.

Adrian hasn’t seen me yet. From where I stand, I take in the sharp lines of his jaw, the way his hands—so large, so steady—support my daughter as though she belongs there. For a moment, I can’t move. The world tilts, and I’m left wondering how everything has come full circle.