The Luna Queen's Rebirth (Ellie and Dominic) novel Chapter 14

Chapter 14 
The accusation hit the restaurant like a bomb. Gasps echoed around us, followed by a wave of horrified murmurs. 
“Suppressant drugs?” 
“That’s so manipulative!” 
The Omega let out a nil of understanding, her sobs becoming even more heartbroken. “That’s why our bond has been getting weaker! I thought I was going crazy, but you’ve been drugging yourself to avoid me!” 
Ryan’s face flushed red with shame and anger, but he couldn’t seem to find words to defend himself. His mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. The silence stretched on, damning him more effectively than any confession could have. 
I stared at him, pieces clicking into place with sickening clarity. 
His eagerness to partner with me for the ceremony, especially after learning about my supposed falling out with Dominic. The Omega was one year older than Ryan. Ryan mentioned he had been doing part–time work for last year’s mating ceremony and that should be the first time the girl realized they were fated mates. 
Ryan was desperate to find someone to cover for that missing connection. He’d been using me. Using me as a cover to avoid his real mate and climb the social ladder. 
The realization hit me like a physical blow. I’d thought Ryan was different, that he genuinely cared about me as a person rather than as a stepping stone. But he’d just been looking for a way to avoid his fated mate and secure a better position in the pack hierarchy. 
All those conversations about healing, about helping people – had any of it been real? Or was it all just part of his act? 
Amid the chaos and staring faces, I made my decision. The humiliation was burning through me, but I wouldn’t let myself be dragged down with Ryan’s deception. 
I stood up abruptly, my chair scraping loudly against the floor. 
“I have nothing to do with this,” I announced clearly, my voice carrying across the silent restaurant. “I barely know Ryan. We’re not partners for anything.” 
Ryan’s head snapped toward me, his eyes wide with desperation and panic. “Ellie, please, let me explain-” 
“There’s nothing to explain,” I said coldly, grabbing my purse from the table. “You used suppressants to hide your mate bond, and you were planning to use me to avoid your responsibilities. I want nothing to do with any of this.” 
The Omega was still crying, but now she was looking at Ryan with a mixture of hurt and anger. “How could you do this to me?” 
Ryan stood up quickly, his face burning with humiliation. He couldn’t find any words that wouldn’t make things worse. 
“I… I have to go,” he muttered, throwing some money on the table and heading for the exit. 
The Omega followed behind him, still crying and demanding answers. 
The restaurant buzzed with excited chatter. I stood there for a moment, feeling oddly hollow. 
Then Marcus strolled over to my table, a satisfied grin on his face. 
“Well, that was entertaining,” he said. “Ellie, you really owe Dominic for this one. Who would’ve thought Ryan, the seemingly perfect Healer, was hiding a scheme like that?” 
The words hit me like a slap. I stared at Marcus, then slowly turned to look at Dominic. 
He was still sitting at his table, but there was something in his expression – a smugness, a satisfaction – that made everything crystal clear. 
This had all been orchestrated by Dominic. 
He’d had Ryan investigated, found out about the suppressants and the hidden mate, and then arranged for this public humiliation. The timing was too perfect, the Omega’s dramatic entrance too convenient. 
I walked up to his table, ignoring the whispers following my every move. 
Everyone around started getting excited, sensing more drama. 
“This is the moment Ellie falls head–over–heels for Dominic again,” someone said with anticipation. 
“He totally saved her from that loser.” 
Dominic stood up slowly, that insufferable smug look spreading across his face. He was clearly expecting gratitude, maybe even an apology for doubting him. 
But instead of gratitude, I felt nothing but cold fury. 
“What exactly was the point of all this?” I asked, my voice cutting through the excited chatter. 
One answer came to my mind, so unbelievable that it almost amused me. 
But I decided to voice it, to thank Dominic for the drama and embarrassment he had just given me. 
“Are you jealous or something?”