The Luna Queen's Rebirth (Ellie and Dominic) novel Chapter 13

Chapter 13 
Ellie’s POV 
I tried to focus on my conversation with Ryan, but I could feel Dominic’s intense stare from across the restaurant like a physical weight. The elegant atmosphere of the restaurant suddenly felt stifling. 
Marcus, never one to keep his mouth shut, called out loudly: “Are you two on a date? What, does Ellie think Ryan’s better than Dominic now?” 
The questions drew curious looks from nearby diners. Several couples at surrounding tables turned to stare at us. I felt my cheeks warm, but I wasn’t about to let Marcus embarrass me in front of everyone. 
“I think Ryan’s great,” I shot back coldly, making sure my voice carried just as clearly. “Much better company than some people.” 
A few diners chuckled at my response, which only seemed to fuel Marcus’s entertainment. 
Ryan looked visibly uncomfortable with the attention. His shoulders had tensed, and he kept glancing nervously toward Dominic’s table. I could see his jaw working as he tried to stay calm. 
“Maybe we should go somewhere else,” he suggested quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. 
“No,” I said firmly, cutting into my salmon with more force than necessary. “We have every right to be here. I’m not going to let them chase us away.” 
I had originally planned to ask Ryan more about Healer training, about the programs he’d mentioned. But with Dominic’s group watching our every move, Ryan seemed too on edge for a serious conversation. 
Every few minutes, I noticed him glancing toward their table, his responses becoming shorter and more distracted. 
“We can talk about your future plans another time,” I said gently, reaching across to touch his hand. “When we have some privacy.” 
Ryan nodded gratefully, and we tried to refocus on our meal. Gradually the conversation became more natural as we discussed lighter topics – his favorite books, my thoughts on the recent pack politics, shared memories from our classes. 
For a brief moment, I actually forgot about Dominic’s presence entirely. Ryan was telling me about a funny incident during his healer training when he’d accidentally given a patient green–tinted skin for a week. 
I was just about to bring up the mating ceremony, to formally ask if he’d like to be my partner, when suddenly the restaurant’s peaceful atmosphere was shattered. 
An Omega wolf burst through the front doors, her face streaked with tears and her clothes disheveled. Her hair was messy, like she’d been running, and her breathing was ragged. She looked around wildly until her eyes locked onto our table. 
“Ryan!” she sobbed, rushing straight toward us with desperate urgency. 
The entire restaurant seemed to freeze. Conversations stopped mid–sentence. Silverware clinked against plates as people turned to stare. 
Before either of us could react, she threw her arms around Ryan’s neck, nearly knocking him out of his chair and sending his water glass tumbling. 
“You’re my fated mate!” she cried, loud enough for the entire restaurant to hear. “I knew it! I could feel the bond! Why have you been avoiding me?” 
Ryan’s face went completely white. He looked like he’d seen a ghost, all the color draining from his features. 
“I… what? No, you must be mistaken,” he stammered, trying to gently push her away while looking around frantically at all the staring faces. “I don’t know who you are.” 
But the Omega clung to him desperately, her fingers digging into his shirt. “Please don’t deny it! I know you can feel it too! The pull, the connection!” 
“You’re confused,” Ryan said, his voice getting higher with panic. “You’ve mistaken me for someone else. This is impossible.” 
The entire restaurant had gone quiet, everyone staring at the dramatic scene unfolding before them. I could see phones being pulled out to record the chaos, whispers spreading from table to table. 
From across the room, I heard Dominic’s Gamma, Jake, let out a harsh laugh that cut through the tension. 
“Mistaken a fated mate?” he scoffed loudly, clearly relishing the opportunity to be the center of attention.” Really? Come on, Ryan. We all know what’s really going on here.” 
Ryan’s face somehow managed to go even paler, if that was possible. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” 
Jake stood up from his table, clearly enjoying being the center of attention. He walked closer to us, his voice carrying across the silent restaurant. “More like Ryan didn’t want his mate to be some lowly Omega, so he’s been secretly using suppressant drugs to weaken the bond. Figured he could use the mating ceremony to snag himself a ranked she–wolf instead.”