Malakai POV

I drove home with a smile on my face, thinking about last night. The memories kept replaying in my mind, filling me with happiness.

There’s nothing better than knowing the woman you love is also your fated mate. Since I first met Camilla as a kid, I had wished for this moment. And the goddess made it happen. What more could a man ask for? Camilla was mine now, and soon, I would make sure everyone knew she was my Luna.

I felt a tingling on my lips and instinctively touched them. That kiss we shared last night—it was amazing.

I know what you’re thinking. You probably assume something happened between us. But no, it didn’t. Whatever did happen wasn’t even my fault—it was Camilla’s.

I took her home like I promised. By the time we arrived, she had fallen asleep in my arms. I carried her upstairs to her room, relieved that no one saw us. It was past midnight, so everyone was already asleep, which meant I wouldn’t have to explain anything.

I laid her on the bed, and she didn’t stir—she was a deep sleeper. As I turned to leave, I noticed her lips in the moonlight—plump, soft, and tempting. I tried to ignore them, but I couldn’t. So I kissed her. Just once.

And I was right. Her lips were perfect, sweet, and I lingered longer than I intended. But she was my mate, so I didn’t feel guilty.

I pulled away, but before I could straighten up, her hand slid up my neck, holding onto me as she let out a soft moan.

I froze. Was she awake? Did she catch me stealing a kiss? But her eyes were closed, and she wasn’t moving. She was still deep asleep.

I chuckled. Even in her sleep, she was irresistible.

I tried to move away, but she clung to me. I didn’t want to wake her, so I let her hold onto me. I knew that if I woke her, she’d struggle to fall asleep again. So instead, I lay down beside her.

The moment my back hit the bed, she instinctively moved closer, resting her upper body on mine, as if she was used to sleeping that way. I sighed in amusement and continued driving, my pack’s gates coming into view.

But then, my smile faded as something else crossed my mind—her behavior.

She had changed so suddenly. One moment, we were fine, planning her birthday, and the next, she wanted nothing to do with me. And no one could explain why.

If I were selfish, I’d just tell everyone she was my mate and claim her. But that would only push her further away. I didn’t understand what was wrong, but I had no choice but to go along with it.

At least announcing that she was my girlfriend gave me some access to her. It was a small step, but I needed to figure out why she was acting this way.

I entered my room and shut the door. I needed to prepare for all the questions my family would ask.

My room was the biggest in the cave.

Not a literal cave, of course, but that’s what we called our space—a symbol of authority.

My house was actually a mansion. Our pack was the largest, covering a vast territory. It was the perfect place to raise a family. If only Camilla would let me back into her life.

A knock sounded at my door. I already knew who it was. When the door opened, Lazarus and Idris stepped in—my Beta and Gamma.

“I thought you weren’t coming back until tomorrow,” Idris said, shutting the door. He was twenty-two, a year older than me, while Lazarus and I were the same age.

“She doesn’t want to see me,” I admitted, rubbing my temple. “I planned to spend the whole day with her, but she threw me out. Why would my mate reject me like that?”

“Camilla?” Lazarus frowned. “Why would she do that?”

Everyone knew how close we had been since childhood. It wasn’t surprising that I wanted to be with her.

I sighed, resting my chin on my palm. “Why are women so confusing? Are they always like this?”

Lazarus nodded. “Yep. You’ll never fully understand them.”

“What happened exactly?” Idris asked.

I leaned back in my chair. “I don’t know. She just changed. One minute, we were fine, and the next, she’s avoiding me.”

“Did you do something wrong?”

“No! That’s what makes it worse—I have no idea what I did.”

“Did you get her a gift? Flowers?”

“Yes, but I didn’t even see her reaction. I left the gifts in her room. She doesn’t want me, Idris.”

“That’s strange,” Idris muttered. He was always a man of few words.

“Yeah. I’ve done everything right, but she’s pushing me away.”

“You need to find out why. Camilla wouldn’t act this way without a reason.”

“You’re right. Maybe that’s why she doesn’t want anyone to know we’re fated mates.”

Lazarus’ eyes widened with excitement. “Wait, you two are fated mates? That’s amazing!”

“Yes, but—”

“Congratulations, Alpha! We should start preparing to welcome our Luna!”

I sighed. “Can you hear me out first?”

“Sorry, bad habit,” Lazarus grinned, though he didn’t seem all that sorry.

“I’d love for the Luna ceremony to happen, but Camilla won’t want that.”

“Oh,” Idris said, nodding. “She’s probably scared. She just turned eighteen, and suddenly, she’s expected to take on Luna’s responsibilities. She might not be ready.”

“I get that,” Lazarus agreed.

I exhaled heavily. “She wants a rejection.”

Silence filled the room.

I had promised to keep it a secret, but I couldn’t hide it from my Beta and Gamma. They were my closest friends, and I trusted them with my life. We shared everything—personal or official. No secrets between us.

“You really messed up,” Idris finally said.

“Yeah, this is bad,” Lazarus added, shaking his head dramatically.

I rolled my eyes. “The real question is—what did I do? If I knew, I could fix it.”

“Then ask her,” Idris suggested.

“What do you think I’ve been trying to do? I’ve followed her around all day, but she won’t talk to me. And do you know what she called me?”

“What?” they asked in unison.

“A monster.”

Lazarus’ jaw dropped. “Why would she say that?”

I shrugged. “I have no clue. But at least she agreed to be my girlfriend. That gives me time to figure out what’s really going on.”

Idris frowned. “Wait, didn’t you just say she wanted a rejection?”

“Yes. But she also agreed to date me. That’s why I asked if all females are confusing—because mine is driving me insane.”