Karen’s Pov
I’ve been following Aurora and Ryan for some time now. I’ve seen the way he looks at her, the way his eyes soften when she’s around. The chemistry between them is undeniable. It’s the kind of connection he never had with me.
It hurts, more than I care to admit.
I followed them on their trip. I wanted to see for myself what was so special about her, what made her stand out. I introduced myself to her, pretending to be friendly. I wanted to understand her, to find her flaws.
She was beautiful. Truly beautiful. But that doesn’t give her the right to take what’s mine.
Ryan belongs to me.
I know he isn’t my true mate, but we’re bound together already. That should mean something.
I needed to set boundaries, to show her that she couldn’t take him from me. So I went to her new place, the one Ryan got for her.
When I kissed him in front of her, I was scared. Scared because he didn’t kiss me back. He didn’t even hold me the way he used to. It broke something inside me.
I’ve fallen for him, deeply. But he’s fallen for someone else.
A human.
He dragged me away from her, his grip firm and unrelenting. I could feel his frustration. Not with me, but with himself. He didn’t want to hurt her feelings, and that’s why he pulled me out of her sight.
But what about me?
When we got downstairs, he instructed Jaime to stay behind, to protect and drive Aurora wherever she needed to go. His care for her was obvious, and it stung.
He never cared for me like that. He cared, yes, but not in the same way. I’ve seen how he looks at her.
“Drive to my penthouse,” he told me, his voice cold and distant.
The tone of it sent a chill through me. He had never spoken to me like that before. I realized then that I’d gone too far.
“Let’s go back to Shadowhaven,” I said softly, almost pleading.
“To the penthouse,” he repeated, his voice flat and final.
I swallowed hard, nodding as I got into the car. The silence between us was unbearable as I drove.
When we arrived, he got out of the car without a glance in my direction. My chest tightened as I hurried to follow him.
He unlocked the door to his penthouse, his movements sharp and deliberate. The tension was thick in the air, and I could feel his anger radiating off him.
He wasn’t angry that I kissed him. I knew that much. He was angry because I did it in front of Aurora. Because I mocked her.
I followed him into the living room, my heart pounding in my chest.
He didn’t sit down. Instead, he turned to face me, his expression cold and unreadable.
“Karen,” he said, his voice calm but firm.
That calmness hurt more than if he’d yelled.
“Yes?” I replied softly, my hands trembling.
“Why did you do that?” he asked, his eyes piercing through me.
“Why did I do what?” I shot back, even though I knew exactly what he meant.
He ran his hands through his hair, his frustration spilling out in every movement. His jaw tightened, and I could tell he was trying to keep himself calm.
“You shouldn’t have done that, Karen,” he finally said, his voice low but firm.
I stayed silent, watching him as he struggled with his words.
“You shouldn’t have come here. What do you think she’s thinking right now?” he continued, his tone sharper now.
I blinked in disbelief. His concern was for her? Not me?
“You don’t have any right to say that,” I shot back, my voice trembling but growing stronger with each word. “I’m your Luna.”
He froze, his eyes locking onto mine. I pressed on.
“You care about her feelings, but you don’t care about mine,” I added, my voice breaking slightly. I hated how small I felt, how weak.
He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming, and gently took my hands in his. His warmth seeped into my cold fingers, but it didn’t soothe the ache in my chest.
“Karen,” he said softly, his voice almost tender. “You know I care about you.”
I stared at him, my heart racing. His sincerity felt like a blade cutting through me.
“But,” he continued, his words deliberate, each one hitting like a blow, “you’ve known this wasn’t working. I’m not emotionally attached to you. I can’t be with you.”
I had heard those words before, countless times. Yet, they still felt like a fresh wound. My throat tightened, and despite my best effort, a tear slipped down my cheek.
“We can work towards it,” I whispered, desperation clinging to every word. “We’ve been trying for years, Ryan. We can make it work.”
He shook his head slowly, his expression heavy with regret.
“We’ve been trying for years, Karen. And it hasn’t worked. I think…” He hesitated, as though what he was about to say was too big, too heavy to admit. “I think I’ve found the one. My lost mate.”
The air seemed to leave the room. My lost mate. My heart cracked wide open at the words, spilling pain and anger everywhere.
“Your lost mate is a human?” My voice rose, sharp and incredulous. “That’s ridiculous, Ryan. You can’t be with a human. It’s forbidden.”
His expression hardened, the softness from moments before gone.
“I’m the Alpha,” he said coldly, his voice laced with authority. “No one questions my choice.”
I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my palms. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“I won’t allow this, Ryan. A silly human can’t take you away from me. It’s degrading.” My voice was louder now, anger spilling out uncontrollably.
His gaze darkened, his tone sharp. “Watch it, Karen. Watch your tone.”
But I couldn’t stop. Not now.
“This isn’t the time to back down. I won’t let her take you from me, Ryan. I’ve given too much for you. My mate, Asher, died because of you. And now you want to leave me? Leave me to live this cursed life alone? I won’t allow it!”
His face tightened at my words, but I didn’t care.
“It wasn’t my fault he died, Karen. He died in a fight, a fight he chose to be in. I survived. That’s not a crime.”
I let out a bitter laugh, my voice laced with venom. “A fight between you and Rhys, your twin. If you hadn’t involved Asher, he’d still be alive. I’d still have him. And I wouldn’t be here begging you for love!”
Ryan closed his eyes for a moment, as though trying to block out my words, my pain. But when he opened them, there was no room for argument.
“I don’t have anything else to say to you, Karen. I’m in love with someone else.”
The word love hit me like a physical blow. It echoed in my head, heavy and unbearable.
My vision blurred, my chest tightening with rage and despair. I wasn’t going to let him win.
“I will never let you go,” I said, my voice trembling with anger and determination. “Even if it means removing Aurora from the picture.”
His jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing at my words, but I didn’t care anymore.
“You are mine, Ryan. Mine.”
Watch your back, Aurora.