The Alpha's Discarded Mate

a's

red, staring at the photo unti

soothing circles on my back. "Luna, maybe you should

as perched on the edge like I might bolt at any se

n Ridge Pack." Celeste's voice was gentle, but each word hi

own stomach protecti

five

four months pregn

was struggling to conceive, while I was taking t

eleste moved close

ld there poss

She's Alpha Thorne's daughter. This... this

ooked the same-the same training grounds where Marcus and I used to spar together, the sam

I repeated numbly. "What

s quiet fo

that make m

I think maybe you were a placeholder. U

im, helping him build this pack into something stronger. Three years of enduring his mother

. "We felt the bond. On my eight

d w

ing at me with an expression I'd never seen before-sad, yes,

You were there that night, remember? At my bi

up slowly. "I remember a lot

y spine. "Celeste,

rank that night? Before you

old enough to find my mate. I'd been so nervous, so hopeful. "I... the ceremonial wine

small and sad. "It w

you talk

thought you knew." She moved toward me, and I found myself backing

stopped

ispered. "Those are just

t feel when the bond formed? Was it the overwhelming rush of recognition everyone t

diary that night. Not the lightning strike other mat

ifi

oice shook because deep

If Marcus was truly your mate, why has he been able to form a con

y legs gave out. "Why? Why

ront of me, taking my cold hands in hers.

rmer head healer who'd tr

ur mate, so heartbroken watching all your friends pair off. And Marc

nds away. "Not for me! I've waste

y," Celeste protes

aking the numbness. "But he's been lying to me our entire relations

un

T O

room rattled. My wolf was pushing forward, wanting to shift, wanting to

"Luna, please. Let me help you.

n. "You helped create this mess! You've known for three

protect

? From being able to

y stomach dropped. I wasn't ready for this confrontation. I needed t

e lock, I realized that time

ed out. "Whose car

leste, who was

o before I do somethi

d her purse and headed for the back doo

maybe... maybe this is your

me alone to face the man

d never really