Chapter 52

Chapter 52
 Anika:
  This was the last thing I expected tonight.
  After I got to the hospital and discovered the liquid Miranda used on Leah’s wound was actually harmful—something that could’ve made it worse—I knew I had to tell Matteo.
  He got enraged. Swore he never liked her. Said all he wanted to do tonight was confront her and throw her out of the pack, Damon’s mate or not. And I agreed. 
 I could’ve waited until morning, but I couldn’t leave Leah alone, so I brought her with me.
  But nothing could’ve prepared us for this.
  Miranda, wrapped in nothing but a flimsy cloth, draped all over Damon’s back.
  I glance at Leah, and my chest tightens. Her face is crumbling, eyes glistening as she fights to keep the tears from spilling.
  And the worst part? I can’t wrap my head around the fact that Damon actually accepted Miranda as his mate.
  “Damon?” Matteo’s voice cuts through the tension.
  Damon’s face is flushed. He doesn’t say a word. Just freezes.
 Then suddenly, in a snap—like he’s jolted back to reality—he shoves Miranda off him. She stumbles backward, barely catching herself.
  “What the hell is wrong with you?” He growls, his voice rough with anger. Then his eyes shift to us—no, to Leah. His whole expression softens. “She’s lying, alright? She tricked me into coming here with some fake emergency.”
  Matteo lets out a weary sigh. “And?”
  “And nothing happened between us!”Damon snaps, frustration lacing his tone. “I told her I was going to reject her, but she begged me to wait until morning.”
  Leah’s voice wavers. “You’re… you’re rejecting your fated mate?”
  “Yes,” Damon says firmly, eyes locked on her. “Because she’s not the one I love. I won’t accept a bond when my heart already belongs to someone else.” The sincerity in his voice makes it obvious who he’s talking about, and my cheeks warm despite myself.
 “Then do it now.” Matteo says, taking a step forward. “Reject her. Because in one hour, she’s getting punished and thrown out of this pack.”
  Damon blinks,. “W-why?”
  “Well, Anika discovered the liquid Miranda used to clean Leah’s wound wasn’t meant for healing…it’s toxic.”
  Damon immediately whips his head toward the doorway. “Miranda? Tell me you didn’t.”
 “Of course I did.” Miranda only smirks. “Can you even blame me? You’ve been fawning over some half-dead girl instead of paying attention to me. Besides—” her voice turns sharp, “—she was rude to me. So, I just thought I’d teach her a little lesson while she was unconscious. She deserves it.”
  A guttural growl rips from Damon’s chest. “You’re… you’re out of your damn mind!”
  Before she can spit back, Matteo signals the guards. They storm in, grabbing Miranda by the arms. She thrashes and curses as they drag her from the packhouse. By the time the door slams shut, the mate bond between her and Damon is gone. He rejected her, and she spat the words back without hesitation.
  Silence falls. 
 Then Damon drops to one knee beside Leah, his arms wrapping around her trembling frame. His voice breaks as he pulls her close. “I should’ve said this sooner… I love you, Leah. More than I’ll ever be able to put into words.”
  Color floods Leah’s cheeks, and she lets out a shaky laugh. “I love you too, Damon. I really thought you were… going to accept her.”
  “Of course not!” Damon pulls Leah into another heartwarming hug.
 After a few seconds, he finally lifts his gaze to me. “Thank you, Luna. So much. She’ll… she’ll be able to walk again, right?”
  “Definitely.” I offer him a reassuring smile. “I cleaned out every trace of the harmful liquid and gave her the proper treatment. She’ll be back on her feet in no time.”
  Relief washes over his face before turning back to Leah. 
 I watch them with admiration.
 Then, in a heartbeat, Matteo’s arm slides around my waist, pulling me snug against him.
  “Well,” he says, “now that my Luna has saved the day yet again, I think it’s time we both got some rest.”
  “Oh, trust me, I’m just as exhausted,” I reply with a soft laugh. “I could probably sleep straight through the next twenty-four hours.”
  “God, I could kiss you right now for that” He chuckles, pressing a quick tickle to my side as he leads me toward the room. I squeal and swat at him, but his grin only widens.