Chapter 4

Clary’s heart doubled its pace and her mouth was dry. Her insides burned with passion and as much as she tried to pull away from the alpha, it seemed close to impossible. Her body yearned to be touched by him. 

“You…you need to stop,” She managed to say. She avoided looking into his eyes. She felt like if she did that, she would lose all self-control and give in to whatever was happening.

“Do you want me to stop?” He chuckled seductively. He tried to push the feelings aside but he could not ignore that her heart was beating for the omega. He wanted her, not just sexually, but in every way possible. He wanted to spend the last of his days with her by his side. 

Clary swallowed and breathed out a shaky sigh as she took one step away from the powerful werewolf. His power alone was a huge turn-on for her. “Need I remind you that you’re married? And you’re the alpha, you can not be doing this.” 

He scoffed and then started to pace the room slowly. Then he suddenly came to a stop. “You know what you need to stop doing? You need to stop reminding me that I’m married!” He raised his voice and locked eyes with Clary. 

She watched him as she played with her fingers nervously. “Um, I’m sorry, I did not mean to offend you, sir. But I was just pointing out the truth. Whatever the Moon goddess is doing between you and I must be a mistake or something.” She shrugged. “Because it’s definitely not right.” 

He laughed deeply and ran his hair through his hair. “So you feel it, huh? The mate bond, you feel it.” He walked towards her. “You and I are destined and our fates have been sealed by the Moon goddess. The goddess does not make mistakes, Clary.” He chuckled without humor. 

Clary made a small throaty sound and turned her attention to the window, staring at the beauty of the lake. “You have to reject me, alpha Ace.” 

“Just call me Ace.” He stood by her side but instead of admiring the lake, he admired the person who stood next to him. “And no, I’m not going to reject you.” 

“Please…I have had a second-rate and awful life full of unnecessary drama and pain. I came here to the festival for a second chance; for a chance to find a mate and be happy,” She opened up to the alpha. 

“And you found one. You found your mate, you found me.” He let out a small happy laugh.

She scoffed and finally looked at him. “No, I think I have found more drama and pain. So let’s get this over with. Reject me so I can feel like crap, but at least I would be able to go out there and find my true mate before the festival is over.” 

A sting of pain crossed Ace’s heart and he rocked his jaw as he continued to look at Clary. “I am not going to reject you, Clary Astoria. And I am most certainly not going to let you have a second-rate life of pain and drama again.” 

His words made her heart giddy but it just made it harder to break away from him. 

She clicked her tongue and ran her hand over her arm before asking, “Then what are you even going to do? Break up with your wife that you have been married to for years? And all for what? Because you think that I’m the one for you?” 

“No, no. I’m not going to do that either. That won’t go well. Not for me, you, or the pack.” He shook his head. “What I’m going to do is take you as my second Luna,” He said in a nervous tone.

Clary snorted out a laugh. “Are you even hearing yourself? Second Luna? No werewolf in the history of this pack has taken a second Luna, Ace. You need to stop this.” She began to walk away but he stopped her by grabbing her arm gently.

“Wait, wait. I can make it work. I swear to you, I can make it work.” He let go of her hand when she had her full attention again. He sniffled dryly and then spoke, “I can be the first Alpha to do that. I don’t mind making history, Clary. But I am not going to reject you.” 

A sound suddenly caught both of their attention and they looked toward the huge door. 

“Where is he, JJ? He was supposed to be up on the stage ten minutes ago!” The voice could be heard clearly. And Clary and Ace knew precisely who it was. It was the Luna, and she sounded annoyed. 

“Oh, great,” Clary said as worry laced her voice. This was not good. 

“Relax, JJ got this under control. Just stay calm, okay?” He flashed her a smile but the worry swirling in his eyes was evident. 

“He would be right up, Selena. He got caught up with something and lost track of time. But I promise you, I would get him on the stage in five minutes,” JJ replied calmly. 

“Caught up with what? He knows that we planned this to every little detail. I can’t have him messing it up like he messes up everything else,” Luna Selena huffed. “Tell me where he is, I would get him myself.” 

“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that, Selena.” 

“Oh,” She laughed the word out. “He’s in there, isn’t he?” 

“Selena, you need to get back to the festival. I would have Ace out there with you in five minutes. Please.” 

“No, I want to see who’s in the ballroom. Open up the door, JJ.” She banged on the door. 

“Selena, please! Now is not the time,” JJ begged her. 

“Get out my damn way,” Selena said in a hard tone and soon the door opened, revealing her standing at the entrance. Her eyes landed on an extremely nervous Clary and her husband. 

“Hi.” Ace waved to his wife as he walked towards her. 

Clary’s body was shaking and she just wanted to disappear. It was clear what it looked like. It looked like she and the alpha were hooking up. And that was not the first impression she wanted to make on Selena. 

Selena ran her hand through her lustrous hair and chuckled without humor. “Seriously? Seriously, Ace? You’re in here with a girl?!” She raised her voice. “I was out there working to make the festival perfect and impressive while you were in here trying to get in a girl’s pants. Unbelievable.” She scoffed. 

“Honey, you don’t understand.” Ace was right beside her, and when he tried to touch her, she flinched away. “Would you just let me explain?” 

“Did you screw her?” 

“Selena, don't ask me that.” 

“Answer my question, Ace. Did you sleep with her in our ballroom?”  

“No! I did not!” He scoffed. “Now, would you let me explain, please?” He ran his hand over his face in a quick motion and then cleared his throat when he was sure that his wife was ready to listen. 

“Go on, tell me what the hell’s going on.” 

“Clary, come here, please.” He gestured for Clary to come over and she tentatively did so. “This is Clary Astoria, she’s an omega that I met in the crowd when I was greeting everyone. I think she’s my mate,” He ripped the bandaid off.

Selena blinked rapidly for a few seconds as she tried to process what her husband had just said. She let out a small chuckle and then asked, “Wait, did I hear you right? Because I think I heard you say that this omega that you just met in the crowd was your mate.” 

“Can I, um, can I leave?” Clary joined the conversation tentatively. “I don’t think I should be here.” She tried to walk past Selena and Ace but JJ gestured for her to remain where she was. 

“Yes, Selena, she’s my mate. I can literally feel the mate bond with her.” Ace smiled as he explained.

“Mate bond,” Selena mumbled distastefully under her breath as she folded her arms on her chest. “Ace, you are a twenty-five-year-old man. You’re not a teenager anymore. You don’t get to play these stupid games anymore,” She spat the words in his face. 

“Just hear me out, Selena. Hear me out, please,” He begged her. 

“No, no, no. I’m done, Ace.” She breathed out a sigh. “So you better get the trash that you’re calling your mate out of my house before I cause a damn scene.” Her eyes were cold and hard. 

“I’m leaving,” Clary said as she tried to hold back tears. She walked towards the door but JJ won’t let her past him. “Get out of my way.” 

“No,” He replied. 

“Get out of my way!” Her voice broke and the tears she was holding fell from her eyes. 

“No, she’s not leaving. She’s my mate.” Ace walked away from his wife and walked towards Clary. He tried to hold her hand but she flinched away from him. 

“Oh, really, huh?” Selena chuckled darkly. “Then you better reject her, chief. Because if you don’t, I swear to you that the whole pack is going to suffer for your mistake.”