CHAPTER 141: Self-Sabotaging

CHAPTER 141: Self-Sabotaging
Alora’s POV

I should have turned away. Should have spared myself the wound. But I stood rooted, body taut with dread.

I felt the dizziness again. This time it was so strong it made me double over and heave. 

My heart sank because the sage was right. 

A thin coil of dread threaded through my chest. I was a hybrid standing on the brink of being Luna. It was a great honor, but I couldn't stop feeling like a fraud, like I didn't deserve it, like I was going to let everyone down.

It wasn't helping my case when I walked up the halls and I got weird stares while some worshiped the ground I walked on. 

The Luna title was not child's play. It was an honor, yes, but also a crown that many whispered I had no right to wear. Their words haunted me as many others thought I was capable. It was a lot of pressure on my shoulders. 

Morgan’s voice brought me out of my reverie.  “The signs are enough.”

“Enough for you, perhaps,” the Sage countered, and my heart stuttered. But the pack is restless. They question her blood, her right to wear the crown. If she falters even once, they will say you ignored the Goddess. They will say you chose wrongly.”

“The same pack that mocked me because I didn't have a mate? I got one, and they are not okay with it? I didn't choose, the moon goddess gave me my mate, and I will be damned if I allow anyone to come between my mate and this mating ceremony.”

“But…”

Morgan's voice cut through him “Enough about my mate. I've had enough of you poking her and prodding. She is enough for me and that's the end of this talk. Go back and inform your elders” his voice was high and full of anger. 

My eyes watered. 

I hurried to turn away and flee when I heard the chair scuffle from inside, but my phone fell down and made a loud clatter. In the process of trying to pick it up, my head hit the door with a loud bang. 

Pain shot through me, a sharp cry ripping from my throat before I could smother it.

The voices inside cut off.

The door flung open.

Morgan stood there, eyes wide, his expression shifting instantly from surprise to alarm. 

“Chula?” He stepped forward, his gaze darting down. “What happened? Where does it hurt?”

“I…I was looking for you…”

The words stumbled out, pain tearing through my head and knee. 

I winced in pain and tried to stand but the pain doubled. 

The sage stood there, shaking his head in pity. 

Tears threaten to spill out of frustration. 

On seeing how I was struggling, Morgan bent and scooped me into his arms.

Then he turned to the sage. “We’re done here, Sage.”

The sage gave a half bow and stepped away while Morgan took me in his arms into the study. 

The sudden lift stole my breath. His chest was solid beneath my cheek, his scent of musk and wood wrapping around me like a shield.

“Don’t move,” he murmured, his voice firm but filled with tenderness. “I’ve got you.”

I clung to his shoulders, my heart beating wildly in my chest. Because though his arms felt like the safest place in the world, I had heard enough to know there was a shadow between us, one he hadn’t meant me to see.

He carried me inside, and lowered me onto the couch, crouching before me, his hand gentle as it lifted my foot to inspect.

“Tell me where it hurts,” he said softly, his thumb brushing just above my ankle. “Is it swollen? Did you cut yourself?”

I shook my head, “It was just a minor accident. Nothing serious.”

His eyes searched mine to be sure I was telling the truth. Then he heaved a sigh.

“What were you doing there anyway”?

I licked my lips. “I woke up, and you weren't there, so I went to search for you… Chloe told me you were in the study and I… I needed to see you…” my words faltered.

He gave a small smile and pushed closer, his eyes boring into mine. “You missed me.” 

I nodded and tears began to cloud my vision.

I didn't understand why I was so emotional, and I hated myself for it. 

Morgan looked confused at first, then he pulled me into a hug. “I'm right here, baby, and I'm not going anywhere.”

I nodded against his shoulders. 

He pulled us apart and stared into my eyes. “Did you wait out there very long?”

I tried to avoid his stare and shook my head. He didn't believe me because the next thing I knew, he tilted my head towards him.

“I don't know how much you heard out there, but Alora, you need to trust me. I love you and I will protect you. Anybody who has a problem with you will have to get through me to hurt you, and that's a promise.”

I nodded as my tears flowed. 

He leaned in and captured my lips with his own. 

I felt my body relaxing under his gentle kisses. 

I sighed as the headache that had started dissipated with each stroke of his lips on mine. 

Then he pulled away. “About you waking up every morning without me. I miss you too, baby, but I have pack duty in the morning, but I promise I will always kiss you whenever I wake up.”

I smiled and buried my face in his chest. 

“Thank you, Alpha," I said in a muffled voice. 

He tilted my head up, his eyes locking with mine. For a heartbeat, the world seemed to narrow to that one connection - his touch, his warmth, his promise.

As our soul-staring contest continued, cold and hot shivers ran down my spine. But beneath it, the sage’s words clung to me like a curse…if I falter even once, they’ll say he chose wrongly. And what terrified me most…was that someday, Morgan might believe them.

What if he believed the Sage? Did he doubt me too?

Because I had heard enough to know that while his arms felt like safety, doubt still lingered in the air between us.

My pain was no longer just in my toe.

It was deeper, threaded into the marrow of my doubts, and the question that burned as his warmth surrounded me:

What if he changed his mind?

Another voice whispered “What if he doesn't? 

What if you're self-sabotaging because you're scared?

Even as his warmth wrapped around me, one truth burned in my chest. I wasn’t afraid of the pack turning against me. 

I was afraid of the day Morgan did.