Denied by Destiny: Trapped in the Shadows of the Mate Bond

I had created a shit storm, one I knew I couldn't walk away from.

"Revenge? Why because you're the one shacking up with my own mate. Maybe now you know how it feels...

Voices are just getting louder than the one before, everybody was arguing with Than, and he roaring scathingly back at them.

I feel a slight kick again, my hand moving to protect my baby bump. I just wanted to protect my baby...that is all I ever wanted.

"Cleo, you are coming home...now." Dad commands.noveldrama

"No, the contract is binding...if you force my luna or my heir off the grounds, war will descend on you and your packs. The alliance will be forced to accept my ruling...then all of your lands will be mine. Because and let's face it...you aren't going to destroy one of your own are you?"

Bastard, he tricked me. He took a vulnerable pregnant female...offering refuge and had a sick revenge plan behind it all along.

"There's no way out of it?" Mum whispers out, her eyes locking with mine.

"Nope, Cleo is mine now...and the baby..."

"The baby is my flesh and blood..." Hector snarls venomously.

"Than?" A high pitched voice calls from outside the office, Luna Medea...

"I'll be back in a second." He huffs out, I flinch out as his hand touches my upper arm. At first I thought he was going to hurt me but his touch is gentle, soft. I know no matter what he says he will not hurt me, or the baby.

I can see there is no love lost between him and Hector. Than even barges past Hector, purposefully, his shoulder nudging into him but Hector doesn't budge, he remains that unmovable mountain in the harshest of storms.

As soon as Than is out of the door the four of them turn to one another, discussing my fate, discussing my baby's future as if I wasn't even here.

Ares is the only one to move towards me, his hand resting upon my shoulder as a sad smile esapes him. "What did you do?" He cups the side of my face, forcing me to look up at him.

"I wanted a safe haven for my baby, it was this or becoming a rogue Ares...at least here my baby will be an alpha."

"I would have looked after you both."

"I know but I didn't want to put that on you."

"Jace...Jace is the father?"

"Yes." I sigh out.

"Why didn't you go to him."

"Because he has a mate bond to save.."

"No Cleo, they aren't mates."

I pause, thinking I didn't hear Ares correctly just then.

"Who?"

"Jace and Callie, they aren't mates...they lied."

If he was sharing this revelation to bring me comfort, then it had the opposite effect. If anything it made the familiar sensation of anger start to boil in the out of my stomach.

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"They lied? For what reason?"

"I don't know...but he knows now...if you just.."

IMS

"No... It's too late.” He lied...all this time he lied. Pretended to be with another to push me away. Had I really come across that desperate, had the thought of loving me really been that horrific to him that he need a get out clause.

He needed to fake a relationship rather than tell me he didn't want me. That the one night together really was a mistake.

"Cleo..."

"No Ares, if what you saying is true,

he faked a mate bond... he really doesn't want me, or this." My hands

grip tightly around my benet

might not want this but I do.

She travels the length of the room to me, leaving her mate and my parents to continue to argue amongst themselves. She moves with the grace of a goddess.

"But don't you see, Cleo. You are his fated mate. He was just scared." Kaia's hands hold mine in her own. Her hands warm to my cold ones.

Fated mates...no that can't be.

"No." I gasp out.

"He was trying to protect you."

This was more dire than I had thought. Pain shoots up my body from my lower stomach, I think it is my own baby's heart breaking.

Protect me? Protect me from what. All he has done is pushed me away. He should have rejected me if he didn't want me.