chapter sixteen

Nathaniel POV

Emilia gazed at me nervously, her eyes wide with fear. I wiped my lips with the back of my hand, my face twisted in disgust. "What the hell was that for?" I growled, my anger simmering just below the surface.

Emilia flinched backward, her eyes welling up with tears. "I...I...just..." she stammered.

"Answer me!" I roared, my wolf rising to the surface, repulsed by the idea of kissing someone who wasn't my mate.

Emilia's words tumbled out in a rush. "I love you, Nathaniel. I've always loved you, since we were kids."

I blinked repeatedly, trying to process her confession. "I know you don't love me," I said finally, my voice flat. "That's why I didn't say anything about it."

The tension between us was palpable, Emilia's eyes pleading with me to understand. But my wolf and I were in agreement - we didn't want anything to do with her romantically.

“Emilia, I just..”

“It's okay, I can deal with your rejection, but I must be Luna” Emilia told me before walking out, I sighed as I