Chapter 18

Ella woke up feeling more refreshed than she had in days. She had finally put her thoughts together the night before, deciding that clarity was what she needed most. Wrapping a towel around her chest, she flipped her hair into a bun, exposing the smooth skin of her neck. Her fingers grazed the unmarked area, and she sighed softly.

“An unmarked Luna,” she whispered to herself, tracing the spot where a mark should be.

“Well, Derek was right about one thing,” she muttered to herself. “If Moore and I were truly mates… he wouldn’t have resisted marking me.”

She shook her head, dismissing the thought as she moved toward the bathroom. The hot water poured over her, soothing her tense muscles, but it couldn’t wash away the lingering thoughts of her complicated bond with Moore-and Derek.

But that wasn’t their relationship. It had never been about intimacy or passion, just a mutual understanding. Moore had offered her protection within his pack, a place where she could heal from the wounds of rejection. In return, she had given him her loyalty and respect, though her heart remained closed off from the deeper affections he might have wanted.

After her shower, Ella stood in front of the mirror, studying her reflection.

Moore had given her the freedom to rebuild her life after the pain of being rejected-twice-by her mates.

“Moore’s been so good to me,” she said aloud to her reflection, her voice soft with appreciation. “He’s never asked for more than I could give. He respects me… doesn’t pressure me. He promised to protect me, and he’s done just that.”

But even as she spoke the words, her mind drifted back to Derek. No matter how much she tried to deny it, her heart beat differently when he was around. There was something about him-something she couldn’t shake.

“Of course, it’s the mate bond,” she sighed, her fingers tightening on the edge of the towel. “But I can’t let it dictate my life anymore.”

Her fingers clenched the edge of the sink as she fought to keep her emotions in check.

“My life has been peaceful here in the north. Derek is threatening that peace. I just need to treat his pack and then… maybe he’ll accept my rejection. Then we’ll both be free from this unbearable pull.

Ella straightened, determination hardening her features. She wouldn’t let Derek disrupt the life she had built for herself. If he truly loved his Luna, he wouldn’t be pursuing her like this. The bond was clouding his judgment, just like it was clouding hers.

“Stay focused, Ella,” she whispered to herself, her voice firmer now. “You can’t let him in again.”

Ella snapped out of her thoughts and shook her head. There was no point in dwelling on Derek. She had made up her mind to focus on what mattered-her duty to Moore’s pack and her own peace of mind.

As she moved to get dressed, her phone rang. She glanced at the screen and let out an exasperated sigh. “Derek,” she muttered, rolling her eyes. She let the call go to voicemail, heading back to her dressing table.

She continued to gather her things, but the phone rang again, this time more insistent.

Ella picked up the phone as she glared at the screen and shook her head, ignoring the call altogether. She couldn’t deal with him right now. She needed space-time to figure out how to handle the storm that was Derek Kingston.

She dropped the phone back on the table, ignoring the incessant buzzing, and continued getting ready. “Not today,” she whispered to herself as the phone continued to buzz. “I can’t deal with you today.”