Chapter 4

She spun around, her dress sweeping the garden, and turned to face the Lycan prince. She sensed the power and authority emanating from his strong body, and for a brief moment, she was lost in a swirl of desire, want, and need. His black long hair and tuxedo shone in the moonlight as he stood beside a tree. As she stared at him, she couldn't help but feel heat rush to her face. Goosebumps crept up on her skin and she felt completely naked although she was fully clothed. His eyes were fixed on hers and she blinked rapidly. She was trembling like she had seen a ghost. "Ye—Yes, I am the future Luna." She stammered quietly. He began walking toward her without saying anything. Although her heart was now hammering in her chest, she remained unmoving in her position. Something about his deep gaze and the shadows on his face pulled her to him. But she also suddenly became aware of how far she had strayed from the pack house and how alone she was. The hall where the guests gathered in the warm, glowing pack house was full of noise, with a chamber string orchestra and hundreds of laughing, happy guests. Why did he leave? Did he follow her? Why? He came to a complete stop in front of her, his body inches away from hers. Chloe's nostrils were filled with his scent and her wolf stirred in a way she had never done before. He had to be nearly twice her weight because he was so muscular and broad-shouldered. His height was so great that the top of her head barely touched his shoulder. His blue eyes glowed at her as he spoke. "Are you by yourself out here, little one?" The garden was filled with his rumbling voice. A chill crept across her arms and she shivered slightly. Little one? The way he spoke caused her body to quiver. His bass voice rang in her ear repeatedly. She nodded her head before she could even think. "I wanted to get some air. Why are you here? Aren't you enjoying the ceremony?" His lips curved upward, gentle and sensual. She stared at his pink thin lips before shyly looking away. Then she was drawn to his deep blue eyes which seemed to be focused on her. "But you aren't in the hall as well. You're on your own." He said. "Weren't you enjoying the ceremony?" he asked softly. "I was," she lied. "I will be returning soon." His smile suddenly twisted into a frown. "That's the second lie you have told me within a minute in this garden. I don't like liars." She gulped and took a step back. She had only answered two of his questions. How could he tell she was lying? "I'm not lying," she said, raising her chin up. "I should get back to the hall now." But he took a step closer and closed up the distance between them. "Third lie." He uttered, leaning closer to her. "Why are you afraid to speak the truth?" Even as her lips were trembling, she said. "I don't know what you're talking about." He lifted his finger and brushed her chin. Chloe tried to pretend she didn't feel the tension and the tingling sensation of his touch. She tried to act like she didn't feel the way her wolf reacted to him. How was he doing that? "I strongly believe the future Luna of any strong pack would be mated and marked already." He said, a cold smile appearing on his lips. "Don't you think so?" Chloe's mouth suddenly felt dry and her throat burned. She knew it was not a coincidence. The prince already knew that Liam had not marked or mated her. But she couldn't let her guard down. What if he was only teasing her to know the truth? She could still hold on to the lie and pretense. "I hardly think any future Luna of a pack would be left unmarked. An Alpha who truly desires his mate would claim her immediately." She replied dryly. Her words stabbed her heart as she let them out. She was not either the future Luna nor was she marked by her mate. She was just the unwanted Omega who would remain alone for years. "And yet," He said, pushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. "He is yet to claim or mark you. Why? Doesn't he desire you?" His words roared in her ears and she staggered back. He confirmed her greatest fear. He knew she was unmarked and so did the seer. She would be kicked out of the pack and she would have nowhere to go. Hot tears burned her eyes but she fought them back. She could still pretend, couldn't she? "I don't know what you're—" "Shhhhhhh," He said, silencing her with a finger to his lips. "There's no need to lie to me or be scared, Chloe." The way her name rolled out of his mouth was exotic. She gulped as he slowly cupped her face and leaned closer to her, their lips inches apart. "I'm Aiden," he said with a curved smile on his face. Then his smile slowly faded as he took a deep breath. "I smell him all over you." Chloe's eyes widened slightly. Why did he sound like he was almost angry about her having Liam's scent all over her? "I should go," she said, trying to pull away but he grabbed her waist and pulled her back to him. "You hate the ceremony, why do you want to go back there?" He asked. "Stay with me. It's suffocating inside." 'Stay with me,' his words resounded in her ears. She was not used to being the center of any man's attention, let alone, a man as breathtaking as Aiden. "I have to get back. My mate is—" "He is not your mate!" Aiden bit back, cutting her off. "And you know that. Why would you pretend to be his mate when he has no intentions to mark you?" Hot tears pricked her eyes. "The seer," she whispered. "Does she know we are not mated? Would she bring it up at the ceremony?" Aiden cocked his eyebrows. "She does," he said. "Wait, is that why you are pretending to be with him? The seer would do no such—well, except I ask her to." She gasped. "Why would you do that? Please, don't ruin tonight. I will be kicked out of the pack if anything goes wrong." Chloe could see the obvious anger on his face. "What kind of man would reject a woman like you?" He breathed. Chloe chuckled painfully. "If you're trying to make me feel better, it's not working." "I'm not trying to make you feel better." He replied. "He doesn't deserve you and now, I'm going to take you away from him." Her eyes widened with shock. "What? What do you mean?" She asked, almost inaudibly. "From the moment I walked into the hall and saw you, I knew I had found what I have been looking for all these years." "Me?" "Yes, you," He said, stroking her hair. "I have waited for years to find you and now that I have, I will never let you go." "I don't understand," she replied, her chest rising and falling. "Chloe, you are my Erasthai." He said and her jaw dropped. "You are mine. You are everything I have waited for." Chloe's mouth was wide with shock. Did she hear him right? Was she fated to him? Had the moon goddess given her another chance?