Bound By Moonlight to My Mates (by Sofange Daye) novel Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Ronan POV

Her scent is carried on the breeze before I see her. Thorne struggles in my mind, demanding that I find her. His snarls echo in my head, and his anger presses against my chest, begging to be set free.

‘Ours,‘ he snarls. ‘You may have rejected her, but she is still ours. Can’t you feel the bond between us?‘

I grind my teeth together, forcing him back. I’ve told him a hundred times that I did the right thing. For all we knew, she was the daughter of a disgraced Delta. She was not worthy to be anyone’s Luna, especially not one of the Blackthorn Pack. Even now, with the knowledge that she might be an ancient one, she may still not be worthy.

But when that thing steps into the clearing with her in his arms, all the lies I told myself shatter into pieces at my feet.

Charlotte’s pale body is trembling and streaked with blood. Even in the arms of a demon, she is beautiful. Power swarms around her, and I can’t tell where his stops, and hers begin. I fear the worst. He has claimed her.

After a hunter’s attack, she should look broken. Instead, she looks untouchable. Beauty and power that no man should ever attempt to claim.

Yet here she is in the arms of another man. Not just any other man, a demon.

My jaw locks, and heat surges through me as he clings to her to his chest. They breathe in unison as if they are already one.

Thorne’s howl threatens to rip from my throat, but I swallow it, standing in the shadows. Watching and wanting. Regret filling every cell of my body. Rejecting her should have severed the bond, but it didn’t.

Every time she gazes up at him, it burns through me like fire. Each breath I take cuts deeper than silver.

‘Go to her, Thorne demands. ‘She is ours. Fix this.

I stay rooted to the earth, my nails digging into my palms until blood drips to the ground. I don’t deserve her forgiveness, but that doesn’t stop me from longing for her touch.

She curls into the demon, and he kisses the top of her head. She is so comfortable with him that my vision turns red.

“He can’t have her,” I mutter under my

breath.

Gathering courage, I step forward, and the demon snarls.

“Alpha Ronan. How convenient that you show up just after the hunters try to take my Cricket.”

A growl bursts from my lips, and Charlotte pales.

“Do not speak to me, demon.”

His lips curl, revealing sharp canines. The black orbs he calls eyes flash red, and I am certain I will have to fight him for her.

Another snarl burns my throat when the scent of a rogue fills my nostrils. He stands beside the demon, shoulder to shoulder.

“I didn’t know the Southpaw Pack allowed rogues on their territory.”

He tilts his chin up, not caring that I insulted him. “I have an agreement with Alpha Luca.”

“You are none of my concern,” I wave him off dismissively. “I am here for Charlotte.”

The rogue and the demon aren’t the only one who growls. The little Beta joins their ranks. “You can’t have her.”

I scoff loudly. “I think she can speak for herself. Why do you care anyway?”

“She is my mate,” they respond in unison.

The earth shakes beneath me, or maybe it is just my knees failing to hold me up. I lean against a tree until my world stops spinning. How could they all claim that she is their mate?

“She is mine!” I roar. “Charlotte was mine first. The bond is not broken.”

I step forward. “Charlotte,” I beg her to look at me, but she keeps her eyes on the demon.

My jealousy burns like rage when I see the faint glow of the mate bonds tethering them to Charlotte. Each one is a different color, and the pain of seeing them is worse than the pain I felt trying to reject her.

“Charlotte,” I beg her again.

She finally looks at me, and the tears that glitter in her eyes make me step forward again. “Jake,” she looks the Beta. “Can I have your shirt?”

“Anything for you, Lotte.”

He tugs off his shirt and then pulls it over her head. The demon lowers her to the ground and stands behind her like bodyguards, arms crossed over their chests.

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