Chapter 18 Unmarked Luna
Ella woke up feeling more refreshed than she had in days. Last night had been a turning point. She’d managed to gather her thoughts, sorting through the turbulent emotions she’d kept buried for too long. Now, she had one goal: clarity. She’d let her heart get tangled up with too many feelings that had only led to confusion. Now, she needed a clean slate.
Wrapping a towel around herself, she moved closer to the mirror and absent-mindedly twisted her hair into a loose bun, exposing the smooth skin of her neck. Her fingers grazed the unmarked spot, her eyes tracing the delicate line of her collarbone.
"An unmarked Luna," she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible, tracing the spot where a mark should be.
"Well, Derek was right about one thing," she muttered to herself. "If Moore and I were truly mates... he wouldn't have hesitated to mark me.” The truth was undeniable. If she and Moore had shared a true bond, he would’ve claimed her as his. There would be no ambiguity, no space for doubt or restraint.
She shook her head, dismissing the thought as she moved toward the bathroom trying to wash away her doubt and the faint ache in her chest. The hot water poured over her, soothing her tense muscles. The warmth enveloped her, grounding her, but it couldn’t wash away the lingering thoughts of her complicated relationship with Moore—and Derek's lingering presence.
She turned off the shower and got out of the bathroom. She headed for her dressing table,as she picks up the hair dryer and started drying her hair. Her mind drifted, replaying memories of Moore.. It had never been about intimacy or passion, just a mutual understanding.
Moore had offered her protection and a sense of belonging within his pack, allowing her the space where she could heal from the wounds of rejection. In return, she had given him her loyalty and respect, though her heart remained closed off from the deeper affections he might have wanted.
After drying her hair, Ella stood in front of the mirror, studying her reflection.
Moore had given her the freedom to rebuild her life after the pain of being rejected—twice—by her mates.
"Moore’s been so good to me," she said aloud to her reflection, her voice soft with appreciation. "He’s never asked for more than I could give. He respects me… doesn’t pressure me. He promised to protect me, and he’s done just that.”
But even as she spoke the words, no matter how much she appreciated Moore’s kindness, her heart seemed to beat differently when her mind drifted back to Derek. No matter how much she tried to deny it, the memory of him stirred something she couldn’t deny—a pull that lingered like a song you couldn’t forget. There was something about him—something she couldn’t shake.
"Of course, it's the mate bond," she sighed, her fingers tightening on the edge of the towel as if it could shield her from her own vulnerability.. "But I can’t let it dictate my life anymore.”
It was a vow she’d made to herself, and she intended to keep it. Her fingers clenched the edge of the sink as she fought to keep her emotions in check.
"My life has been peaceful here in the north. A life free from the intensity and uncertainty that came with the mate bond and Derek's presence is threatening that peace. I just need to treat his pack and then… maybe he’ll accept my rejection. Then we’ll both be free from this unbearable pull.
Ella straightened, drawing in a deep breath, determination hardening her features. She wouldn’t let Derek disrupt the life she had built for herself. If he truly loved his Luna, he would understand her need for distance. Surely he would see that the mate bond was clouding his judgment, just like it was clouding hers.
"Stay focused, Ella," she whispered to herself, her voice firmer now. "You can’t let him in again.”
Ella snapped out of her thoughts and shook her head. There was no point in dwelling on Derek. She had made up her mind to focus on what mattered—her duty to Moore’s pack and her own peace of mind.
As she moved to get dressed, her phone rang. She glanced at the screen and let out an exasperated sigh.
"Derek," she muttered, rolling her eyes. She debated picking up, but after a moment of hesitation, she let the call go to voicemail, heading back to her dressing table.
She continued to gather her things, but the phone rang again, this time more insistent.
Ella picked up the phone as she glared at the screen, irritation clear in her eyes, she shook her head, ignoring the call altogether. She couldn’t deal with him right now. She needed space—time to figure out how to handle the storm that was Derek Kingston.
She dropped the phone back on the table, ignoring the incessant buzzing, and continued getting ready.
"Not today," she whispered to herself as the phone continued to buzz. "I can't deal with you today.”
As the phone finally fell silent, she let out a sigh of relief. She knew she’d have to face Derek sooner or later. Their paths were intertwined in ways she couldn’t easily escape. But today, she needed time—time to steel herself, to find the resolve she’d built so carefully.
She walked over to the window, looking out over the dense forest that stretched into the distance. The northern lands had become her sanctuary, a place where she could breathe freely, far from the turmoil of her past.
Her fingers tightened around the edge of the window frame, her gaze hardening. “This is my life,” she whispered firmly. “I won’t let anyone take it from me.” Not Derek. Not the Moon goddess and definitely not this stupid Mate bond.