When the Hidden Luna Rises novel Chapter 28

**Chained by Fate**
**Eliza Rowan**
**Chapter 4**

Ryan picked up his phone, his heart racing slightly as he cast a quick glance at Tessa, ensuring she was deep in slumber before he pressed the record button for a voice message. The soft glow of the screen illuminated his face, and he couldn’t help but let a smile slip as he spoke.

“But I just got back, babe. How about tomorrow?” His voice was warm, laced with affection, yet it felt like a thin veil over the truth.

On the other end, Chloe wasted no time, her tone direct and insistent. “Ryan, don’t you miss me? I miss you so much. I just want to see you.”

Her words hung in the air, heavy with longing, and Ryan felt a pang of guilt.

“By the way, did the wedding dress I wore today look good?” Chloe’s voice was playful, teasing, and Ryan could picture her twirling in front of a mirror, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

“Of course it looked great,” he replied without hesitation, the words slipping out easily, yet they felt like a betrayal.

Chloe pressed on, her curiosity piqued. “Who do you think looks better in that dress, Tessa or me?”

Ryan hesitated, his gaze drifting back to Tessa, who lay peacefully asleep, her expression serene. He felt a knot tighten in his stomach as he considered his answer.

“No one looks better than you,” he finally said, the words cutting through the air like a blade, piercing Tessa’s heart without mercy.

Once upon a time, Ryan had proclaimed Tessa to be the most beautiful and kind-hearted woman he had ever encountered. Just a short while ago, he had stood before the entire pack, announcing with pride that Tessa would be their future Luna. The envious glances cast her way had filled her with hope, leading her to believe she would bask in happiness forever.

Yet now, the bitter truth dawned upon her. Ryan’s declaration had merely been a ploy to extricate her from the Bloodmoon pack, paving the way for Chloe to ascend as the one true Luna. Chloe would seize not only the affection of the pack but also the approval of their parents, wielding power over Tessa from within the very heart of the pack.

Chloe, seemingly satisfied with Ryan’s answer, softened her tone, a sweet syrup that dripped from her lips. “Then, are you coming over to stay with me tonight?”

“I’m still waiting for you today…” Her voice was inviting, and Ryan felt the familiar pull of temptation that was hard to resist.

“Tessa is asleep now. Wait for me,” he replied, a hint of urgency creeping into his voice.

He stood up, gathering his clothes with a sense of determination. Before stepping out, he quickly typed a message to Tessa, a thinly veiled attempt to cover his tracks.

“Babe, there’s a sudden matter with the pack. I need to head back. Stay home and wait for me.”

Tessa had lost count of the nights Ryan had spun tales of “pack business.” Each time he claimed to be attending to urgent matters, she couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that he was slipping away to meet Chloe.

As she watched him leave, a bitter taste filled her mouth, and she felt the tears welling up, threatening to spill over. Lying on her side in bed, she let the hot tears flow, soaking her pillow as her heart ached.

“Today is the day we discuss the mating ceremony with the Slivermoon pack. You both must attend.”

It wasn’t a discussion; it was an order, a decree that left no room for dissent.

Despite her reluctance, Tessa knew she had to play her role in this elaborate charade.

The venue was set in a picturesque park, and the restaurant chosen was none other than Chloe’s favorite. Although the meeting was ostensibly about Tessa and Ryan’s upcoming mating ceremony, Chloe sat beside Ryan, adorned in a pristine white dress that seemed to glow.

Rig and Olivia, seated nearby, treated Chloe with an obvious favoritism, allowing her to choose her seat freely, as if she were the queen of the day.

In stark contrast, Tessa, the adopted daughter of the pack, felt the chill of their indifference. Rig and Olivia were far more eager for Ryan’s Luna to be Chloe—the biological daughter of the Alpha from the neighboring pack—rather than Tessa, the orphaned girl with no blood ties.

Though they maintained a veneer of politeness, their coldness toward Tessa was palpable, like an icy wind that cut through her resolve.

In the past, when Tessa had fallen for Ryan, convinced he was her fated mate, she had endured their lack of affection and respect, believing that love would eventually blossom.

But now, the bitter truth settled heavily in her heart. She could no longer tolerate this life, nor did she wish to spend another day trapped in it, longing for a love that was never truly hers.