Chapter 19: Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Full Moon’s Weight

Enzo’s

I hurled the glass fiercely at the wall, the loud crash instantly echoing in my office as it shattered into countless sharp pieces. My hands shook violently, my chest felt tight with pure rage and something else I desperately didn’t want to admit or name.

Tomorrow was the night of the full moon; only one day was left now, and if I didn’t manage to bond with Noah, he would be overwhelmed by agonizing pain—a ripping, unbearable torment caused by the mate bond. I couldn’t possibly allow that to happen to him, but the very thought of permanently tying myself to a human, of all things in the world, made my blood instantly boil with fury.

I sank heavily onto the luxurious couch, yelling muffled words into my hands, my voice raw and choked with frustration. “Why did it have to be him?” I muttered painfully, my head pounding relentlessly. “Why a damn human mate?”

Moses, my inner wolf, growled angrily in my mind, his voice sharp and incredibly impatient. “You’re intentionally fighting the bond,” he said sharply. “You desperately want him. Stop pretending to yourself that you don’t. If you absolutely can’t bring yourself to claim him, then just let me do it right now.”

“Shut your mouth,” I snapped back, immediately standing and pacing toward the large window. I pulled out a cigarette, lighting it with severely shaking hands, the smoke harshly burning my throat as I stared out into the vast darkness outside. “Do you really think it’s that easy to solve? He’s human, Moses. He’s inherently weak. The pack would instantly tear both of us apart if they knew.”

Moses growled even louder and more insistently, violently pushing hard against my mental control. “He’s our true mate,” he said, refusing to back down. “You feel the strong connection every single time you see him near you. Stop cowardly running away from the bond.”

I didn’t answer my wolf, just took another deep drag from the cigarette, the smoke curling up thickly around me. A sudden, sharp knock at the office door pulled me out of my spiraling thoughts. I turned, and Ren stood there, his scarred face as cold and unreadable as ever. “Alpha,” he said, his voice calm and steady. “The rogues successfully attacked again just now.”

I moved slowly back to the couch, sitting down heavily, my cigarette still burning low in my fingers. “What exactly happened this time?” I asked, my voice rough with exhaustion. “What do those annoying bastards want from me now?”

Ren stepped closer to me, his eyes sharp and alert. “Eric sent a defiant message,” he said, referring to the rogue leader. “He says he absolutely won’t back down now. He claims he will have your head and successfully take over the werewolves, no matter what extreme measures it finally takes.”

I smirked dismissively, leaning back deeply into the couch. “Eric?” I said, laughing bitterly and without humor. “He really thinks he stands a chance against me? I easily beat him once already, Ren. I’ll do it again quickly. He is nothing more than a desperate fool.”

Ren nodded slightly, but his face stayed completely serious and worried. “He’s desperate now,” he said simply. “The rogues have been after your title for years, ever since they finally realized they can’t find any weakness in you. They’re now throwing everything they have at us.”

I stood up abruptly, pacing across the room again, my cigarette burning down to the filter. “Let them try their best,” I said, my voice instantly hard and challenging. “They want my head on a pike? They’ll have to kill me first to get it. And I don’t die easily like they do.”

Ren watched me closely, his arms still crossed over his chest. “You’re clearly distracted,” he said, his voice low and concerned. “Because of Noah. The full moon is tomorrow, Enzo. You truly can’t keep avoiding this necessary step. You absolutely need to bond with him, or he will suffer excruciating pain.”

I glared fiercely at him, my jaw clenched tight in anger. “You think I don’t know the consequences?” I snapped back. “You think I actually want him to hurt like that? But he’s human, Ren. How in the hell is the pack going to accept an Alpha with a weak human mate?”

Ren didn’t flinch at my anger. “They will accept it without question if you force them to,” he said confidently. “You’re the Alpha. You set the rules for everyone. You’ve been fighting this mate bond constantly, but it’s truly not going to disappear on its own. You feel it growing, don’t you? Every single time you’re near him?”

I stopped pacing, my hands clenching into tight fists. “Don’t,” I said sternly, my voice low and warning. “Don’t act like you genuinely know what is happening inside my head.”

“I know enough to see the obvious,” Ren said, stepping closer. “I see exactly how you look at him. You willingly kissed him, Enzo. You’re not just simply protecting him out of obligation. You’re undeniably falling for him. Human or not, the feelings are real.”

I growled in frustration, violently tossing my cigarette butt into the nearby ashtray. “Enough talk about this,” I said, ending the discussion. “Send an immediate message to the elders and the council leaders. Tomorrow, at the full moon gathering, everyone needs to be there in attendance. I’ve got something important and crucial to announce to the pack.”

Ren nodded, his face becoming blank and professional again. “I have the message,” he said. “Anything else you require from me?”

“No,” I said flatly, turning back to stare out the window. “Go now.”

He left the office, the door clicking shut quietly behind him, and I stood there, my chest heavy and tight with dread. Moses was still growling deep inside, constantly pushing me to go to Noah right now, to claim him without further delay. I ignored the wolf, walking slowly out of the office, my heavy boots thudding softly on the wooden floor. I didn’t exactly know why I suddenly ended up standing right outside Noah’s room, but I gently pushed the door open, moving as quietly as I possibly could.

He was sound asleep, his face looking soft and innocent, his breathing slow and even. I sat quietly on the edge of his bed, my hand slowly moving to his face, gently brushing his soft hair away from his forehead. “Why can’t I just hate you completely?” I whispered barely audible, my voice cracking with emotion. “Why do you constantly do this to me and my life?”

My hand gently slid down his arm, his skin warm beneath my fingers, and my chest burned, hot and tight with desire. “Every single time I see you,” I whispered to the sleeping boy, “I desperately want you. Right here, right now, with me. Why does it absolutely have to be you, Noah?”

I leaned closer to him, my lips almost touching his, when his soft voice suddenly stopped me, filled with shock. “What exactly are you doing right now?”

I froze instantly, our eyes locking in the darkness. His eyes were wide with fear, but there was something else mixed in there, something I couldn’t quite read. I didn’t stop to think, I just spoke the question that was burning in my mind. “Do you currently hate me?” I asked him, my voice rough and strained.

Noah blinked several times, clearly confused by the sudden question. “What?” he said, his voice shaky and uncertain. “I… I honestly don’t know how to feel. Why are you even asking me that question?”

I didn’t answer him, just watched him intently, my heart pounding loudly. He sat up slowly, immediately pulling his body away from me, his hands shaking slightly. “Enzo, what is actually going on with all this?” he asked desperately. “Why do you keep constantly doing this strange stuff? One minute you’re aggressively yelling at me, the very next minute you’re… like this with me. What in the world do you truly want from me?”

I stood up quickly, my hands tightly clenching into fists. “Stop asking questions now,” I said, my voice sharp and final. “You don’t get permission to ask me questions.”

“But I absolutely deserve to know the truth!” he said back, his voice much louder now. “I am not just some thing you simply own, Enzo! I am a real person! Why can’t you just tell me honestly what is happening to my life?”

I stepped quickly toward the door, my chest tight and aching. “You’ll know the full truth soon enough,” I said ominously, stopping briefly to look back at him one last time. “And one day in the future, you’ll forgive me for the bad things I’m finally going to have to do.”

He stared at me, his face turning pale and bloodless. “What does that terrifying statement mean?” he asked, his voice breaking slightly in fear. “Enzo, what exactly are you going to do to me?”

I didn’t answer his final question. I walked away immediately, the door closing quietly behind me, my heart heavy

with the crushing weight of tomorrow’s inevitable consequences.