The Alpha's Silent Bride: Seventh Time's The Charm novel Chapter 108

Chapter 108: 108: Run

~ CELESTE ~

My first reaction when I feel the bond connection between my wolf and our mate is pure excitement. Eliza purrs endlessly in my head, her joy spilling into mine as we’ve waited years for this moment. My heart pounds wildly against my ribs as my eyes sweep across the ceremony grounds, searching the crowd for the man the Moon Goddess has chosen for us.

Then my gaze lands on him, and every ounce of excitement drains from my body. Standing across the ceremony grounds is Nikolai, our Beta, and the last man I would have ever imagined as my mate.

No. Hell no, I whisper inwardly, my heart sinking. Eliza’s happy purring falters as she immediately senses the disappointment flooding through me, but she doesn’t reject the bond. Instead, she nudges me gently, as if trying to convince me to give him a chance.

He can’t be my mate. I’ve spent years imagining what my fated mate would be like, dreaming of the kind of man I’d spend the rest of my life with, and nothing about that dream resembles Nikolai. He’s a shameless flirt—a man who never seems capable of keeping his eyes, or his hands, to himself whenever a woman walks by.

Everyone in the pack knows his reputation. He’s slept with more women than I can count, especially during heat seasons, and I honestly can’t remember the last time I heard his name without it being attached to another girl. Whether the rumors are exaggerated or not doesn’t even matter anymore because his reputation speaks louder than anything else.

How am I supposed to trust a man like that with my heart? How am I supposed to believe that the same man who has shared his bed with countless women is suddenly meant to spend forever with me? The thought alone makes my stomach twist into painful knots.

Before Nikolai can even begin walking toward me, instinct takes over. I spin on my heel and run, ignoring the confused gasps echoing around the ceremony grounds as my feet carry me as far away as they can.

My heart races wildly in my chest as I push through the crowd, desperate to put as much distance between us as possible. Somewhere behind me, I hear Nikolai calling my name, but I can’t bring myself to stop because if I do, I’ll have to face a reality I’m nowhere near ready to accept.

Right now, I don’t want answers. I don’t want explanations. I just want to breathe, to think, and to be anywhere but standing in front of the man the Moon Goddess has chosen for me.

I race toward the darkest corner I can find, my chest heaving as panic fuels every step. I barely make it a few more feet before a broad figure steps in front of me, completely blocking my path.

"Hey," he says between breaths, clearly having chased after me.

I immediately turn to flee in the opposite direction, but I don’t even get the chance to take a single step.

An arm wraps firmly around my waist, and before I know it, my back is pressed against the wall. I gasp as he catches both of my wrists and pins them gently above my head with one hand, leaving me no room to escape.

Fucking hell. I hate how weak I seem in comparison to him. He’s so fucking strong.

I try to steady my breathing, but it’s impossible with him standing this close. His cologne fills my senses, making it hard to think straight, while the warmth radiating from his body only makes things worse. Inside my head, Eliza lets out another restless purr, drawn to the undeniable pull of our mate, and my traitorous stomach flutters in a way that should honestly be illegal.

"Did I do something wrong?" he asks softly, his voice rough from running yet surprisingly gentle.

For the briefest moment, I almost melt into it.

Then reality crashes back into me. I think about the countless women he’s been with, the stories I’ve heard whispered around the pack, and every fantasy I’ve ever had about meeting my fated mate shatters all over again.

Really? Did he do something wrong? I let out a bitter laugh. I’m not doing this. I’ll reject him, then I’ll walk away. It’s the only way this ends.

"Let me go," I snap, glaring at him as I struggle against his hold.

Nikolai raises a brow, completely unfazed by my attitude. "I’d love to, sweetheart, but considering your first instinct after finding out I’m your mate was to sprint away from me, I don’t exactly trust you not to disappear again."

"I said let me go."

"And I heard you the first time." His lips twitch into an infuriating smirk. "Doesn’t mean I’m going to listen."

I glare harder, wishing my eyes could somehow burn a hole straight through his skull. The Moon Goddess has to be playing some kind of sick joke because there is no universe where this arrogant, frustrating man is supposed to be mine.

"Did I do something wrong?" he asks again, and this time there’s genuine confusion behind his teasing.

A bitter laugh escapes me. "You want to know what you did wrong?" I ask. "You existed."

His brows shoot up. "Ouch," he says, placing a hand dramatically over his chest. "That’s a little harsh, don’t you think? At least insult my haircut first."

"I’m serious."

"So am I."

Silence settles between us for a moment before I take a slow breath.

"I’m rejecting you."

The words leave my mouth with more confidence than I actually feel, but once they’re out there, there’s no taking them back.

His teasing expression disappears, his eyes narrowing to mine, "...What?"

"I’m rejecting this bond."

He studies my face for several long seconds, as though waiting for me to laugh and tell him I’m joking. I

"Why?" he finally asks, his voice is a lot more quiet than before.

I shake my head, nodding disapprovingly, there’s no way, I’m going to tell him the reason.

"I’m not explaining myself."

"I think you owe me at least that much."

"I don’t owe you anything."

A muscle in his naw tick as he uses his other free hand to take his hands through his hair.

"You barely know me, yet you’ve already decided to reject me?" he asks, disbelief evident in his voice. "I think I deserve to know why if you’re going to break the bond the Moon Goddess created between us."

"I know enough."

"No," he replies, taking a small step closer. "What you might know about me are rumors."

"I know your reputation."

He lets out a long sigh and rubs the back of his neck before giving me a tired smile. "So that’s what this is about."

"I’ve lived in this pack long enough to know exactly who you are, Nikolai."

"And who am I?"

"You’re the Beta who flirts with anything wearing a skirt. Every heat season your name gets linked to another woman, and everyone acts like it’s normal. Half the unmated females in this pack have either slept with you or wanted to."

A crooked grin slowly returns to his face. "I’m starting to think you’ve been paying a lot more attention to me than I realized."

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