The Rejected Luna's Rise

Damian 

After I made sure Lily was calm and asleep, I stepped out of the room as quietly as possible. 

It's been a hectic week for me, dealing with Lily and her pup and also dealing with Ariana's troubles.

I felt like there was something different about her, she seems more stiff now and not like the mate I knew who wanted to run into my arms all the time.

She might just still be angry about me missing the anniversary dinner she'd prepared, after all she was nothing but a spoiled Luna.

I'd make it up to her when I got home, maybe she was being cranky because we haven't had sex of recently, after all she couldn't stay without me. I thought to myself and smirked.

I just stepped out of the ward and immediately I caught a whiff of her scent. She was here... Ariana was here but why??

Oh, she must have come to see her mother. I forgot for a brief moment that her mom was still yet to be discharged by the healer. 

I was about to proceed walking my eyes caught sight of the bracelet on the floor. 

How come it was here? I bent down to pick the bracelet and my jaw tightened. This belonged to Ariana. It was the gift I just gave to her at the dinner. Why was it here?

I decided to go look for her, maybe she was still around and was now in her mother's ward.

I barged in forgetting to knock and they all turned around to look at me with a stunned expression on their face.

"Ohh Alpha Damian, pleasure to have you here." Seth Volkstane, Ariana's father stretched his hands out to shake me.

"No need to be so formal Mr Volkstane, we're all family," I said, collecting his hands.

"Where's Ariana?" I asked and for a moment I could see the confusion in their eyes.

"She left about 30 minutes ago stating she was going to find you," Liam said and I immediately tensed. 

She left to look for me about 30 minutes ago. Does that mean she found out about Lily and me?

I hope not because with her temper she was bound to cause problems for Lily and I didn't want anything happening to Lily.

She was hurt badly and was still yet to recover her wolf, she was no match for someone like Ariana. I needed to find her immediately.

"Maybe something came up and she left already." Her mother said and I nodded and left immediately.

Maybe she didn't find out, I could be wrong because with her temperament there was no way Ariana wouldn't cause a scene if she truly found out. Maybe her bracelet ending up there was just a coincidence.

Still, I wasn't settled so I pulled out my phone to call Riley, she was the closest person to Ariana, and if Ariana indeed found out anything it would be because Riley couldn't keep her mouth shut.

"Hello," I said coldly into the phone.

"Hello, brother, why did you call me at this time of the night? Have you finally agreed that I could go abroad to visit my friend in her pack? You know I could......" 

I palmed my face as I listened to her ramble, this was the kind of person Riley was. Always talking without pausing to listen.

"Hello, brother are you there??" She asked once she realized I'd been silent for a while.

"Yes, just waiting for you to finish your nonsense. Did you say anything to Ariana?" I asked.

"Anything like what? I tell her a lot of things." She replied.

"Anything about me or anything that could make her angry at all," I answered. 

She paused for a moment before she responded. "Nothing at all. Is she upset? Did you cause any problems for her? I hope you didn't do anything to make my friend mad." She fired back.

"Did she mention anything to you lately? Anything strange or suspicious?" I inquired.

"No" she responded and I cut the call before she got the chance to keep on rambling.

"Pheeww" I sighed in relief.

That means I was wrong and Ariana's bracelet being here was only a coincidence. 

Thank God, this means my cover with Lily was not blown and we could keep up with our little arrangement.

I still needed to go home to give this to Ariana before she starts looking for it. I knew the bracelet was going to look so good on her so I decided to get one for her when buying one for Lily and true to my words it looked beautiful on her.

I went back to Lily's room to see if she was already awake.

"Hey, I thought you were asleep already," I said rushing to her side.

"I was but I woke up when I couldn't feel you by my side. Where did you go?" She asked.

"To settle some things, you seem okay on your own so I have to go back home tonight," I said.

She looked clearly displeased. "But you promised to stay by my side tonight. What if something happens? You know I don't have my wolf and powers for now... I'm scared." 

"Don't worry, nothing will happen to you, I'd also get someone to stay with you but for now I need to rush back home to take care of something," I said.

"It's your mate isn't it? You've been neglecting her because of my pup and I. I hope she didn't misunderstand anything and won't cause problems for us?" She asked her voice breaking.

"There's no need to cry Lily, she won't cause any problems, and besides she doesn't know about you both okay?" I cooed and she nodded. 

"I'll take my leave now but I'll be back in the morning," I said and left before she could say anything to change my mind.

I rushed back home to find the place in total darkness. That was weird because Ariana loved the lights being on. I was the total opposite though.

I switched on the lights and made my way to the room, since she wasn't waiting for me in the living room she was obviously asleep by now.

I approached the room and heard the sound of running water and soft music, and I smiled to myself.

She couldn't have found anything out if she was here at home taking a bath with music playing.

I quickly removed my clothes and stripped naked so I could join her in the shower.

I quietly entered the bathroom but she was so lost in the music and singing that she didn't notice my presence.

"Hey" I greeted kissing her neck and hugging her from the back and she tensed in my arms immediately.