Chapter 14
Roana sits silently in a car beside Cassian, feeling a heavy, suffocating weight of loneliness and entrapment. Clad only in pajamas and separated from familiar comforts like her phone and Candy, she wrestles with a deep emotional turmoil. Her heart aches with a painful mix of hatred toward Alexander and a lingering, unfulfilled love for him—a love that was never truly reciprocated. Despite this, she clings to the memory of her first taste of love and the yearning to be chosen and cherished, feelings that have long eluded her.
Cassian breaks the silence with a firm declaration that he will not betray his word, though his tone is cold and distant. He insists he will not cage her or stand in the way of her freedom, hinting at a painful decision to maintain distance for survival. Roana senses his respect beneath the harshness but feels hollow and drained, caught between her own shattered hopes and the reality of her situation. She resolves to protect her own heart, choosing herself after years of feeling unloved and expendable.
As they approach the Lycan King’s territory, Roana is struck by the vibrant, harmonious blend of nature and civilization—a stark contrast to her own fractured emotions. Cassian’s grip on the steering wheel tightens as the bond between them pulses strongly, unsettling her. When they arrive at a grand mansion, Cassian’s guards and servants react with surprise upon seeing Roana, a woman in pajamas, stepping out with the King.
Cassian drapes his jacket over Roana’s shoulders and reveals he knows Candy, promising to bring her to Roana. The tension escalates when Cassian takes Roana’s hand, causing a stir among the onlookers. When Roana pulls away, Cassian firmly embraces her and publicly announces her as his mate and the future Luna of the pack, commanding everyone to treat her with the respect due to him. This sudden, bold declaration shocks everyone, especially when a servant questions the fate of Lady Veronica. Cassian dismisses the question and urges Roana to change, leaving her stunned but facing a new, challenging chapter as the pack’s future Luna.
Chapter 14
Roana,
The car ride was enveloped in a heavy silence, the kind that presses down on your chest and feels like the eerie stillness before a snowstorm unleashes its fury. The only sounds were the gentle hum of the engine and the occasional crunch of tires rolling over the wet pavement. I sat there, clad in pajamas, stripped of every familiar comfort—my phone left behind at home, Candy forgotten in another place. Without her, it felt as though a fragment of my heart had been ripped away and abandoned somewhere far behind me.
I rested my hand on my lap, attempting to anchor myself in the moment, but the weight in my chest only intensified. A suffocating sense of being trapped gnawed at me, like a child confined, yearning desperately to taste the freedom life promised but refused to grant.
Taking a slow, deep breath, I gazed out the window as the world outside blurred past in muted shades. The forest closed in on us, tall trees whispering secrets as we sped through their midst, but their presence offered no comfort. Instead, they felt like towering walls—endless, impenetrable barriers I could never hope to climb. Once again, the harsh truth settled over me: I was ensnared, caught in a cage of my own making and circumstance.
“I won’t go back on my word,” Cassian’s voice cut sharply through my spiraling thoughts.
His tone was low and resolute, edged with a hardness that made the air between us feel even heavier. I turned to meet his gaze, and found his dark, commanding eyes fixed on me. They didn’t simply look; they pierced through me, as if he could see every secret I was desperately trying to keep hidden. And in that moment, I knew—he read my mind.
“I won’t cage you, nor be a barrier to your freedom,” he said, his voice colder than usual, each word clipped and forced, like a man wrestling with an unwilling truth. It sounded like he had made a painful decision—that keeping his distance was the only way to survive being near me. Perhaps he understood that my spirit longed for freedom and that he could never hold it captive. Or maybe, beneath it all, he respected me.
I dropped my eyes, a tightness constricting my throat. Of course. I had managed to anger His Majesty.
“It’s fine,” I murmured, trying to steady my trembling voice. “Life has its own way of imprisoning the soul.” I slumped against the armrest, drained and hollow, as if even sitting upright demanded too much energy.
I no longer knew how to make sense of anything. My heart was tangled in a chaotic web of emotions—raw hatred toward Alexander, sharp and painful, yet tangled with a deeper, more persistent ache I couldn’t shake. The most piercing sting was a quiet disappointment: the bitter realization that I had never truly been loved. Every whispered word in the dead of night, every moment of reassurance, every stolen second with Alexander where I believed I was cherished—had all been nothing but lies.
But I loved him. That truth refused to be denied. My feelings for Alexander were pure and honest, perhaps even foolish. He was my first taste of love—the fragile light in a world I feared would remain shrouded in darkness forever.
I recalled those quiet afternoons in my study, watching animated stories unfold on the screen. Tales where children stumbled into innocent love, where girls blushed at their first crush, where heroines were treasured and protected. I had once thought it silly, but deep inside, I craved that kind of affection—to be loved without condition, to be chosen.
Yet the years passed, and no one came. I grew older, and while others savored the sweetness of young love, I learned the bitterness of being overlooked.
Then Alexander entered my life. The man I was to marry, bound to me by duty and fate. Still, I gave him everything—my heart, my trust, my loyalty. Everything.
And now, here I sat beside my mate—five long years together—and all I felt was emptiness.
The man fate had tied me to—
Whom I hadn’t seen in twenty days—
At the end of it all, no matter how much I gave, I had never been truly loved. That thought echoed relentlessly inside me, a cruel truth I couldn’t escape. Maybe it was destiny. Maybe love was never meant for me.
I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, the car’s interior filled with the scent of wildflowers and fresh wood.
Cassian’s scent was raw and overpowering, wrapping around me like a physical presence. It was a bitter irony: here I was, mourning the end of a love that had never truly belonged to me, sitting next to the mate who was supposed to hold me, cherish me, and build the future the Goddess had destined for us. Yet even to him, I was just another face—temporary, expendable, a mere side character in his story.
So be it. If love had never chosen me, then I would choose myself. For once, I would be the guardian of my own heart. I would refuse to let anyone wound me again.
The car slowed as we approached a towering entrance gate. Beyond it stretched the vast territory of the Lycan King.
Curiosity flickered despite the heaviness in my chest as I turned to look out the window. His land was unlike anything I had ever seen—not like my own pack’s home, nor like Alexander’s domain. It was alive, vibrant, and breathtaking.
The city sprawled wide but never swallowed nature whole. Trees lined the streets, their branches mingling with the architecture. Buildings rose tall but never smothered the greenery. Parks bloomed with flowers in every imaginable shade. Little pups darted through the air, their laughter light and carefree. Watching them, a strange ache stirred inside me—how wonderful it must be to live like that, to know from the very start that you are loved.
Cassian’s hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white, veins prominent with every turn.
The bond between us pulsed again—relentless, alive. It gnawed at me, unsettling my heart’s rhythm. I pressed it down, determined not to succumb.
“We’re here,” Cassian said flatly as he parked before a sprawling mansion that was both fortress and palace.
Five guards immediately approached, bowing low. “Your Majesty!” Their eyes flicked to me, burning with curiosity. They lingered on the strange woman stepping out of the King’s car in nothing but pajamas.
Cassian’s presence loomed over me as he closed the gap, silently draping his suit jacket across my shoulders. The fabric was heavy, scented with him, and it made me feel even smaller. His chest was close to my face, his shadow enveloping me, but I lowered my head, refusing to let the silence crush my spirit.
“I’ll order my people to bring Candy here,” he said suddenly.
I froze, my eyes snapping to his face. “How do you know her p>
A smirk curved his lips. “How do you think I found you without investigating?” Then, with swift authority, his hand slid down to grip my wrist firmly. “Let’s go p>
The guards exchanged uneasy glances, servants stood frozen like statues, as if struck by lightning. Cassian—the King who had lived as a bachelor for years—was walking hand in hand with a woman at his side.
My skin prickled under their intense gazes. Slowly, I pulled my hand away. His eyes narrowed, sharp and cutting like blades.
“Sorry, Your Majesty,” I said softly, steadying my voice. “You don’t have to hold my hand p>
The atmosphere shifted. His gaze darkened, deep and intense, as though I had crossed an unseen boundary. Before I could take a step back, his arm swept around my waist, pulling me firmly into his embrace. His grip was tight, as if resenting my defiance.
I gasped, breath caught, the world spinning for a moment.
Servants froze, guards stiffened, every eye locked on us. Their stares were filled with a mix of curiosity and confusion.
“Who is she?” whispered voices floated around us.
My face burned red as the whispers continued.
“Your Majesty… what are you doing?” My voice trembled despite my efforts to sound steady.
His reply was a sharp question. “What do you mean, what am I doing p>
He leaned closer, his breath brushing against my skin, sending a shiver down my spine. Before I could even blink, he pressed a tender yet commanding kiss to my forehead.
“Meet my mate—the future Luna of this pack. From this moment on, you will treat her as you treat me. Her words are law within this household p>
What?
His declaration shattered the air like thunder. The ground beneath me seemed to shift. The servants bowed their heads, the guards stiffened, but their eyes blazed with astonishment.
I stood frozen, stunned. I had expected a quiet conversation, not a public announcement like this.
Then one servant’s whispered question pulled me back, “If she is to be the Luna, then what about Lady Veronica p>
I couldn’t even process the words before the great Lycan King himself cut in, “Let’s go. You need to change, my Luna!” His grin deepened, full of promise and challenge.
The chapter closes on a poignant note of vulnerability and revelation, where Roana confronts the bitter truth of unrequited love and the painful emptiness left in its wake. Her emotional turmoil is laid bare, revealing a heart torn between past affections and the uncertain future that looms beside Cassian. Despite the weight of disappointment, Roana’s resolve to protect her own heart shines through, signaling a subtle but powerful shift from surrender to self-empowerment.
At the same time, Cassian’s unexpected public declaration of Roana as his mate and the future Luna marks a turning point in their relationship, blending tension with a fragile hope. This moment, charged with both authority and tenderness, suggests a new chapter where roles and expectations will be tested and redefined. Amidst the whispers and stares, the promise of transformation lingers—both for Roana’s identity and the path they must navigate together.
The next chapter promises a deepening of the tense and complex relationship between Roana and Cassian, as the weight of his public declaration reverberates through the grand halls of the Lycan King’s domain. The unexpected announcement of Roana as the future Luna will undoubtedly stir unrest among the pack, especially with Lady Veronica’s presence looming in the background. The emotional undercurrents between Roana and Cassian, charged with a mixture of defiance, vulnerability, and reluctant tenderness, suggest that their bond will be tested in new and unpredictable ways.
As Roana steps into this unfamiliar world, stripped of her previous comforts and thrust into a role that demands strength and resilience, readers can anticipate a journey filled with internal conflict and external challenges. The dynamics of power, loyalty, and love will intertwine, forcing Roana to confront not only the expectations placed upon her but also the lingering shadows of her past with Alexander. The coming chapter will explore how she navigates this delicate balance—between asserting her independence and embracing the destiny Cassian has laid before her—while the pack watches, waiting to see if she will rise or falter.
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.