Denied by Destiny: Trapped in the Shadows of the Mate Bond

"I don't think Cleo expected to come either Mother." Alpha Than bends down to pick up the blanket, before placing it back over my shoulders.

"I just wasn't expecting a visitor so early. I am Luna Medea.." She places a very well manicured hand out to me, I notice expensive rings staked up on her wedding finger. "Cleo.." I take it, shaking her hand.

"A pleasure. We are actually related.."

"Yes Alpha Than had told me.."

"Than, we don't use titles in this household." She smiles out at me, showing her teeth that were perfectly aligned....not one showing any hint of red lipstick which was on her lips.noveldrama

This woman was a professional Luna, and I was feeling inadequate standing before her.

"What can we do for you?" She gestures for me to sit back down, where she now joins me at the table.

"Well, I was just passing by. Than and I met recently..." I stop myself from going further.

Do I mention his offering, has he even told her. Does she even know that I am pregnant.

She still classed herself as the luna, which means she still was hands on with parts of running the pack.

But how much exactly I wasn't quite sure just yet.

"Are you not well?" The back of her hand moves to my forehead where she checks my temperature.

"Cleo has been sleeping in her car all night, so I've offered her a place to stay for a few days." Alpha Than responds on my behalf.

"We would love to have you Cleo."

"I don't want to step on any toes."

"You aren't at all, we have another guest. It seems we are being very hospitable of late.." She smiles out, but I don't miss the way her eyes dart to her son.

There seemed to be a power struggle between the two of them which may also explain the contrast in style to the house.

The old and the new way of doing things.

Alpha Than showed me to a guest room where female clothing was already placed upon the bed. Apparently the beta's mate helps around the house and he had already mind-linked her to find some clothes. He encourages me to be at home, to explore the house and to treat it as mine.

He leaves me to myself for the rest of the morning, I take advantage of the ensuite with a warm shower... the coldness of the morning long gone. Once dressed in a pair of leggings and a plain white T-shirt I head back downstairs just before lunch to see if I could help with any preparation.

I wasn't a freeloader and if I was to stay, even only the day here, I would earn my spot a their dinner table.

Especially when they had been so kind as to come to my aid.

I leave my phone upstairs, I knew if I turned it on I would be bombarded again with messages and voicemails; I just wasn't ready to face it just yet.

I head into the kitchen to find it empty, lunch seemingly already made and placed covered on the kitchen work top.

So much for being able to help.

I move back into the hallway where I move back to the display cabinets, taking the time to look at each object on display.

After a few minutes I start to feel

awkward know Alpha Than said to

feel at home, but I was still a stranger in another family's home and felt as if I was snooping.

I become curious by a door along the hallway... that must be the alpha office. Surely I would locate Alpha Than in there completing his alpha duties.

I move towards it, knocking on the ajar door, pushing on it when I do not hear a reply.

I enter further into the office, moving to the desk. Yes, this was definitely Alpha Than's office, and just his private space.

Only one desk informs me that his

mother doesn't use this space for her luna duties, also... the office was modernly designed. I have a feeling Luna Medea liked her own office and

it was decorated accordingly to her style.

Where was everybody...

Without access to the pack link here, I was suddenly feeling more alone than being back at home.

Perhaps this was a mistake after all.

My eyes move across the alpha desk as I prepare to leave the office.

Nothing seems out of the ordinary except for one photo frame.

My eyes flash towards it, a sudden glimpse of a face that I recognise has me moving closer to the desk and around it.

My hand reaches out before I can stop myself, picking up the silver photo frame to inspect it further.

I don't believe it.

Luna Kaia's young face smiles back at me. She is next to an also young Alpha Than. How was this even possible... She was so young, she must be fifteen, sixteen in this photograph. She looks carefree, she looks in love.

But she looks different; her hair a

darker shade of brown...her eyes a

differe

shade to her green

ones. then I realise....this isn't Luna

Kaia, this was her sister.

Her twin sister...the two of them identical unless you really know them...this was Beta Alora.