His Plump Mate (by Buchanan) novel Chapter 35

**Austin’s POV**

Ceraline had a mate, and yet she chose to reject him? This revelation struck me like a thunderclap. Even more bewildering was her audacity to pursue me, seemingly ungrateful for the Moon Goddess’ blessing. It was painfully clear that Michael harbored genuine feelings for Ceraline, yet she seemed utterly consumed by her lust for power and insatiable greed.

As I observed Michael seated at the table, his nervousness was palpable. It wasn’t every day that an Omega found themselves dining alongside members of the pack hierarchy. Though it wasn’t against the rules for him to be here, I couldn’t help but wonder if other Omegas and non-ranked members felt intimidated by our presence. This thought lingered in my mind, and I made a silent vow to change that dynamic soon. Perhaps after the Luna Ceremony, I would make an effort to connect more with all pack members. I hadn’t realized until this moment how little mingling there was within our ranks.

“Michael,” I began, my voice steady yet reassuring, “there’s truly no need to feel anxious here. We are your ranked members, and our duty is to protect our pack.” I paused, gauging his reaction. “What we’re about to share with you is meant to shield you as well. Please keep that in mind.”

He visibly relaxed a fraction, whispering, “Thank you, Alpha.”

I exchanged a glance with Rebel, signaling her to take the lead. She regarded Michael with a gentle expression, her small smile a beacon of warmth amidst the tension.

“Michael,” she started, her voice tinged with sorrow, “it pains me to have to tell you this. Ceraline has been using you. She took the information you shared about me and used it to plot against me simply because I’m Austin’s mate.”

“What? No. That can’t be right. Ceraline is a good person,” Michael protested, his voice filled with disbelief. I caught Lacy stifling a snort at his words, and Michael turned to her, confusion etched on his face.

“Michael,” Lacy interjected, her tone flat and unwavering, “Ceraline is many things, but a good person is certainly not one of them.”

“Lacy,” Rebel interjected, her voice firm yet compassionate, “this is already difficult enough for Michael.”

Turning back to him, Rebel continued, “Michael, I’ve only been part of this pack for a couple of weeks—almost three, actually. In that time, I’ve had to confront Ceraline on multiple occasions, insisting she stay away from my mate. What landed her in the cells was her treachery against both her Alpha and Luna.” I noticed Michael’s eyes widen in horror, but Rebel pressed on. “When you informed her that my previous Alpha was searching for me, she approached him, offering her assistance in eliminating me so she could seize the position of Luna of Blackstone.”

“No. No, that’s not possible,” Michael stammered, clearly struggling to accept the truth of her words.

I felt compelled to interject, “Michael, I understand this is hard to digest, but it is indeed true. We all witnessed Ceraline’s confession. She has been attempting to seduce me for quite some time. I’ve never had any interest in her, but she persisted relentlessly. When I brought my mate here on our first night, Ceraline made it abundantly clear that she believed she was meant to be Luna, not my mate, which was utterly absurd given that there was never any relationship between us.”

“That can’t be. It just can’t,” Michael murmured, his voice breaking, revealing the depth of his distress.

“I was there, Michael. Your Alpha wouldn’t lie to you,” Renz chimed in, his tone steady and supportive.

I could see tears beginning to fill Michael’s eyes, and my heart ached for him. I couldn’t fathom the anguish he was experiencing, yet I knew I had to help him understand that Ceraline had merely been using him.

He lowered his gaze, a single tear escaping down his cheek. It was a heart-wrenching sight, even for an Alpha. He looked up at me, his expression a mixture of pain and desperation. “Alpha, it’s not that I don’t believe you, but I need to see Ceraline. I need to hear this from her. It’s the only way I can truly move on. Will you grant me an audience with her?”

The heavy dungeon doors creaked open, and I heard the unmistakable sound of approaching footsteps. My heart raced when I realized it was Austin! This was my chance to turn on the charm and persuade him to set me free. It wouldn’t be easy, but I was prepared to swallow my pride if it meant escaping this place.

“Austin! I’m so sorry for the trouble I’ve caused. I see now that it was a grave mistake. I promise to make amends and improve. Please, forgive me!” I pleaded, desperation lacing my words. I loathed begging, but I had no other option.

“You attempted to betray my mate to Alpha Cullen, Ceraline. You did that of your own volition. Now you claim it was a mistake. What was your true intention?” Austin replied, his voice cold and accusatory.

He clearly wanted his pound of flesh, and I was prepared to give it to him. “Austin, I was blinded by my love for you. My feelings for you overwhelmed me, and jealousy clouded my judgment. I shouldn’t have collaborated with Alpha Cullen to plot against Rebel. I see that now,” I said, striving to sound remorseful.

“Austin, when you first met my mate, you told her you were destined to be Luna. What made you think that would ever be the case?” he pressed, his gaze unwavering.

I lowered my eyes, feigning shame. “Austin, I love you. Everything I did was to ensure we could be together. You promised to take care of me before my father passed away. The only way to fulfill that promise was to become your Luna,” I said, trying to sound innocent and naive.

“I’ve told you repeatedly that there would never be anything between us. You twisted my promise to your father into something it was never meant to be.” His voice was firm, yet I could sense a flicker of uncertainty. “I also know you found your mate and rejected him. He would have cared for you. Why did you turn him away?” he asked, his eyes piercing into mine.

I could feel the walls closing in around me as I struggled to maintain my facade.