The Luna Queen - Chapter 18: Chapter 18

_Kayden's POV_
I had spent the entire week preparing for the engagement party. Everything had to be perfect. I had already bought diamond jewelry sets for Selena. They were exquisite necklaces and earrings that sparkled in the light. When she saw them, her eyes had lit up with delight. She tried them on immediately, twirling in front of the mirror and gushing about how beautiful they were.
"Kayden, look at this!" she exclaimed, wearing one of the diamond necklaces, the one with the large, tear-shaped stone in the center. "Isn’t it stunning?"
I glanced at her and nodded. "It suits you. You’re always beautiful, no matter what you wear."
Selena smiled and walked over to me, her hands brushing against my chest. "Thank you," she said softly, and before I could respond, she kissed me passionately on the lips.
I kissed her back, but something felt wrong. My body responded out of habit, but my mind was somewhere else. My heart wasn’t in it. As our lips met, I felt nothing. No spark, no warmth, just a cold emptiness. I pulled away slightly, trying not to let my emotions show. But deep down, it bothered me. I should be happy. I was about to marry Selena, the woman everyone in the pack expected me to be with. Yet, I couldn’t shake the strange feeling that had been creeping up on me for days.
Selena must have noticed the frown on my face because she tilted her head, looking concerned. "Kayden? What’s wrong?"
"Nothing," I muttered while forcing a smile. "I am just tired."
But she wasn’t convinced. She hugged me, resting her head on my chest. "Everything will be fine," she whispered. "I know you’re worried about Leah, but she’s gone. She can’t hurt us anymore."
I didn’t say anything, my hands lightly resting on her back as I stared out the window. My mind was elsewhere, filled with thoughts of Leah.
I should be excited about the upcoming engagement. The entire pack was preparing for it. Decorations were being set up, the food had been ordered, and everyone was talking about the big day. Selena had picked out a gorgeous red dress, and my black suit was already tailored to perfection. By all accounts, everything was going smoothly.
But I couldn’t focus. My wolf, Leo, was restless. I had rejected Leah and severed the mate bond. There should be no reason for Leo to miss her. And yet, I could still feel a faint connection to Leah. It was barely there, but enough to disturb my thoughts, making it impossible to forget her.
Leo growled in my mind. "I can feel her energy. She’s stronger now. Her aura is different."
"That’s impossible," I muttered aloud, pacing my office. "We rejected her. There’s no way you should be feeling her energy."
But Leo was adamant. "She is out there. She is not the same as before. Something has changed."
I clenched my fists. I felt frustrated. If what Leo said was true, then Leah had grown stronger....too strong to ignore. I couldn’t let her return and disrupt the pack. She had been a threat before, and now, if she was more powerful, she could cause even more damage. My gut told me that she was out there, lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
"When I find out where she is hiding, I’ll punish her for running away," I growled to myself, my fists tightening at the thought of Leah defying me. She had always been stubborn, refusing to bow to me, even when she was just an omega. And now, she was a rogue, a danger to my pack and my future.
That afternoon, Selena entered my office again, wearing the red dress. She looked radiant, her eyes glowing with happiness. "Kayden, how does this look on me?" she asked, spinning in front of me.
I looked up, my mind still preoccupied with Leah. "You look beautiful," I said, forcing the words out.
Selena’s face brightened, and she moved closer to me, her fingers trailing down my arm. "I’m so excited for the engagement party," she said.
"Everything is going to be perfect. You and I, together… it’s all I’ve ever wanted."
I smiled, but it didn’t reach my eyes. I kissed her again, trying to focus on the woman in front of me. She was the one I was supposed to love. She was the one who was by my side, supporting me. But as our lips met, I felt nothing. It was like kissing a stranger.
"Why am I thinking about Leah?" I asked myself, frustrated. "This shouldn’t be happening."
Leo stirred in my mind again. "It’s because you’re still connected to her. No matter what you say, our bond with Leah wasn’t completely broken."
I gritted my teeth. "I have to control my wolf," I muttered under my breath. I couldn’t let Leo’s attachment to Leah affect me. I was the Alpha. I had responsibilities to Selena, to the pack and to our future. Leah was a distraction, a mistake I had already moved past.
Selena pulled away. She could sense the tension in my body. "Kayden," she said softly. "What’s wrong? You’ve been distant ever since Leah disappeared. I know you’re worried, but you don’t need to be. She is gone. We can be happy now."
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. "I don’t know what’s wrong," I admitted, my voice low. "I should be happy. I want to be happy with you. But something feels… off."
Selena stepped closer and wrapped her arms around me again. "Everything will be fine," she whispered. "We have each other. The pack is strong. Leah isn’t coming back. You just need to let go."
I closed my eyes, trying to push the thoughts of Leah away. I wanted to let go. I wanted to move on. But the unease gnawed at me, refusing to fade. Something was coming. Something I couldn’t ignore.
As Selena held me, I made a silent vow. I would find Leah. I would put an end to whatever game she was playing. And then, maybe, I could finally move forward with my life.