When the Hidden Luna Rises novel Chapter 31

**Chained by Fate**
**Eliza Rowan**
**Chapter 7**

Ryan’s gaze was intense, his eyes narrowing slightly as they locked onto Tessa. In that moment, she felt as though time had frozen; a fleeting shadow of sorrow flickered across her features, betraying the turmoil within her heart.

With a heavy sigh, she turned her head away, forcing herself to nod in response to his unspoken question. The weight of her emotions pressed down on her chest, making it difficult to breathe.

The following morning dawned with an unsettling quiet, and Tessa found herself accompanying Ryan to the hospital. The sterile scent of antiseptic filled the air as they entered, a reminder of the uncertainty that lay ahead.

As soon as she arrived, her phone buzzed with a message from the cruise company, jolting her from her thoughts:
“Your custom cruise will arrive in two days. Please make preparations to board.”

Her heart skipped a beat, and her eyes widened momentarily at the news. The excitement of the upcoming trip clashed violently with the reality of her present situation.

“Babe, we should leave now!” Ryan exclaimed, his enthusiasm palpable, a stark contrast to her inner turmoil.

“Okay,” she replied softly, tucking her phone away as if hiding her feelings from him.

When she turned back to Ryan, she noticed him holding up a bag filled with supplies he had meticulously prepared. He waved it in front of her like a child presenting a drawing to a parent, seeking validation and approval.

Tessa couldn’t find the words to respond, instead offering a faint, bitter smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Babe, I heard there are a lot of blood tests scheduled for today. I know you don’t handle pain well, but don’t worry. I’ll be right there with you, every step of the way,” Ryan reassured her, pulling her into a firm embrace. His voice trembled slightly, revealing a depth of anxiety that surpassed her own.

Tessa held onto the list of tests tightly, her mind racing as she waited her turn in line. Each second felt like an eternity, and she could sense Ryan’s worried gaze upon her.

As the nurse prepared to draw the first vial of blood, Ryan’s frown deepened, his concern evident. “Does it hurt? Please don’t be scared; I’m right here,” he said, his voice a mix of tenderness and urgency.

In the past, his words would have wrapped around her heart like a warm blanket, igniting a spark of comfort within her. But now, they felt hollow, echoing in the vast emptiness she felt inside.

Tessa nodded quietly, her expression devoid of emotion. The sting of the needle was nothing compared to the profound ache of betrayal that gnawed at her soul.

Returning home alone, she picked up her phone, bracing herself for yet another wave of torment. Scrolling through her feed, she stumbled upon Chloe’s latest Instagram post—an extravagant display of flowers arranged artfully at a high-end restaurant, captioned:
“Today, the ones I love are all here with me.”

A realization washed over her like a cold wave: her entire family had been weaving a web of secrets around her.

Her hands trembled as tears threatened to spill, but she quickly blinked them away. Deep down, she had always known. They were only concerned with their own desires, leaving her in the shadows of their lives.

The thought of continuing to live in this suffocating darkness was unbearable.

So, she whispered a silent wish for them all—a lifetime of happiness, free from her presence.

That night, Ryan didn’t return home. Instead, he sent her a message that felt like a dagger to her heart:
“Babe, I have to attend a pack meeting tonight. Don’t wait up for me.”

Even on the eve of their mating ceremony, he was still entangled with Chloe. The irony of it all struck her sharply, and in that moment, keeping Ryan close felt disturbingly in line with Chloe’s typical behavior.

This was exactly the kind of thing she would do.