Chapter 3: The Joke of Fate

Matthew's POV

I kept my arm wrapped tightly around Juno's waist, her red hair cascading down her back like a waterfall of fire. Seven years of marriage, and my heart still raced when I looked at her. She was everything to me.

"You're doing it again," she whispered, her eyes meeting mine.

"Doing what?" I asked, playing innocent though I knew damn well what she meant.

"Looking at me like I'm the only person in the room."

I pulled her closer, breathing deep the familiar scent of cream and roses. "Because to me, you are. You always will be."

She laughed, the sound hitting me right in the chest where it belonged. God, I loved her. She was my life, my Luna, my salvation. I'd made promises to her I would rather die than break. Before our wedding, when we'd discussed the possibility of meeting our fated mates, those rare connections that wolves sometimes experienced, we'd both sworn a blood oath. We would reject any such connection if it ever happened. Our choice was each other.

That's when it hit me.

A scent so potent it cut through everything else. Vanilla and caramel, sweet and delicious. My wolf stirred instantly, Zephyx pushing against my consciousness with a ferocity I hadn't felt in years.

The deep love I'd felt for Juno suddenly vanished. I fought against it, but our memories felt distant, as if belonging to someone else.

I turned toward the scent. A young woman stood across the room, golden-brown hair falling in waves around her delicate face. Her lake-blue eyes locked with mine.

My fated mate.

Her voice slipped into my mind. Finally, I've found you.

Joel appeared by my side, greeting me and Juno. It was from him that I learned the name of that woman. Isabelle. And Zephyx howled with joy inside me. Every instinct pulled me toward her.

Meet me on the balcony, her voice whispered in my mind.

I should have refused. But my feet were already moving.

Isabelle stood at the railing. I felt trapped. My human side screamed to turn back, but Zephyx refused.

She smells like ours, he growled. She IS ours.

"Alpha Matthew," Isabelle greeted me, her voice as honey. "I've waited so long to meet you."

I should have been cold. Instead, I smiled warmly. "Isabelle."

She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me. The contact sent electricity through my veins.

"You're my fated mate," I heard myself say.

"Yes," she breathed. "I knew it the moment I saw you."

She told me about herself—her education abroad, her father's position as Alpha of the Emberwood Pack. Maybe she would make an exceptional Luna. But Juno was my Luna. We were bonded. We had promised.

"I can't," I forced out. "I'm married. I have a Luna."

Isabelle's eyes filled with tears. "Please," she whispered, pressing against my chest. "Don't reject me. You know what happens to rejected mates."

Rejection meant weakness for me, but for her, exile. No pack would accept her.

Suddenly we were kissing. Zephyx took control, my hands pulling her closer.

At the last moment, I wrenched away. Isabelle stood before me, tears streaming down her face.

"Please," she begged. "I'll be whatever you need. Even if I can't be your Luna, I'll be anything. Just don't send me away. You need me. I need you."

Fate was cruel to all three of us. Cruel to Isabelle, binding her to a married man. Cruel to Juno, giving her seven years with me only to snatch it away. And cruel to me, forcing me to become the villain in my own love story.

I turned and walked away, leaving her alone on the balcony.

When I returned to our table, Juno was gone. The seat beside mine was empty.

"Where's Juno?" I asked the nearest guest.

"She left about ten minutes ago," they replied with a shrug. "Didn't say where she was going."

My stomach dropped. Had she seen us on the balcony? Either way, I needed to find her. I made hasty goodbyes and headed for the door, Isabelle's scent still clinging to my clothes.

"Juno?" I called out as I entered our home. Only silence answered me.

I searched every room, finding nothing but emptiness. When I tried to reach her through our mental link, there was no response.

Shit. This was worse than I thought. If she had suspected something before, feeling me with Isabelle would have confirmed it.

I sank onto the couch, hating myself for my weakness. Even now, with guilt consuming me, I couldn't deny the pull toward Isabelle. Her scent and touch haunted me.

My father would insist I accept Isabelle immediately. Her Alpha genes would strengthen our line. Rejecting her would weaken me, make me unfit to rule. But every moment with her would hurt Juno, who deserved none of this pain.

Why now? As one of the strongest Alphas in Forestvale, I couldn't risk losing power. My entire pack depended on my strength. But I loved Juno. Hurting her violated everything I believed in.

I poured a drink and waited in darkness.

Hours passed. I worried about Juno's safety.

The front door finally opened. Juno walked in, her skin covered in dirt and dried leaves, eyes red and swollen. She must have shifted into Seraphine and run until physical exhaustion matched her emotional pain.

"Juno," I wanted to comfort her.

"Don't," she said. "How could you? After everything you promised me. You said I was enough. You SWORE I was enough!"

She was right. I had made those promises, believing them at the time. But I'd never expected to be tested. The chances of finding a fated mate were so rare that I'd made promises I never thought I'd have to keep.

I remained silent. What game was fate playing with us?

Later, I entered our bedroom to find Juno lying awake. I wasn't surprised she couldn't sleep. She was likely terrified of losing the man she loved.

My options were limited. If I rejected Isabelle, I'd weaken myself and doom her to isolation. No pack would accept a rejected mate.

But I couldn't leave Juno homeless or wandering.

If the pack discovered Isabelle they'd pressure me to claim her as Luna. The bond with a fated mate would strengthen me and the entire pack.

I lay cautiously on the edge of the bed, trying to speak up, but Juno's emotions were still running high. We couldn't have a calm conversation, so I had to give up and let her rest. Even though I could hardly fall asleep.

Sleep never came.

Morning light had barely filtered through the curtains when Joel's voice entered my mind.

Matthew, is it true? Is Isabelle really your fated mate?

I sat up, startled. How did he know?

Joel, please keep this quiet. I need time.

His response chilled me. It's too late. Everyone saw you two on the balcony. It's all anyone talked about. The pack is excited—they're already seeing her as your new Luna.

Tears sprang to my eyes. I had no control anymore.

Desperate, I contacted Alpha Quinn, who had faced a similar situation.

"Congratulations," he said. "This is a blessing, Matthew."

"It doesn't feel like one," I replied.

"The sooner you officially accept her, the better for Juno," Quinn advised. "The pain is worst when the bond is acknowledged but not formalized. Once you complete the ritual, Juno won't feel the constant ache."

I thanked him but had decided differently. I would ignore the bond with Isabelle. I would strengthen my mental shields and reject fate's connection.

It was a race against time. I needed a solution before the pack's pressure became unbearable. But could anyone truly defy fate when a fated mate's pull was this strong?