Bound by faith: the rise of a rejected mate

meone was Lucas. He was the one who understood more about my parents than anyone else, and he had always supported me. He was reclining against a tree on the forest's edge when I discovered him,

top him. A beat skipped in my heart. "Raven? However... Why would he desire authority?" Damon's eyes grew gloomy. "Because he is aware of your threat." Melissa, your power is real and not simply an act. He's scared because you're stronger than you think. You could alter everything if you could access that power. Someone like you might combine the two packs. I looked at him, not sure what to think. Do you believe I could stop him?" Damon gave a nod. "I'm sure you're capable. To reach your greatest potential, though, you must train. I can assist you. I wavered, averting my eyes. Damon, why would you want to assist me?" A tiny smile crossed his lips. "Because I think highly of you. Additionally, I don't want Raven to demolish everything we've accomplished. Melissa, we need to band together. Me and you both. My mind was racing. Damon was now volunteering his assistance, Dennis was starting to distance himself from me, and Raven was planning something. Could I put my trust in him? Before I could respond, Damon said, "Consider it. Dennis won't be able to stop Raven from moving forward if we don't take action quickly. I inhaled deeply. Okay, Damon. With you, I will train. However, I'm looking for clarification. I'll find out if you're concealing anything from me as well. Damon gave a serious glance as he nodded. "Acquire." Dennis, meanwhile, was distracted by something else as he sat in his office and stared at the documents in front of him. Despite his best efforts to concentrate on the mounting conflict with the Moonvalley Pack, his mind kept returning to me, Melissa. Why was he unable to put me out of his mind? He had turned me down and shoved me aside. It was meant to be finished. However, he couldn't control something that surged inside of him every time he saw me. Frustrated, he tightened his fists. He owed his pack an obligation. He was unable to let his emotions get in the way. Still, though... He felt the tug of the mate bond and saw my face each time he closed his eyes. To ignore the ideas, he shook his head. The future of the pack was at risk, and Raven was becoming more and more ambitious. He had no time to get sidetracked. Dennis, though, understood deep down that it wasn't that easy. He was changing because of something about me, and the relationship, and he was unsure of how to stop it. I met Damon the following evening at the edge of the training fields, out of the pack's scrutinizing gaze. As the sun sank below the trees, t