When the Hidden Luna Rises novel Chapter 38

**Chained by Fate**
**Eliza Rowan**
**Chapter 14**

The moment Chloe’s voice pierced through the silence, Ryan’s demeanor shifted dramatically. A shadow fell over his features, darkening them as if a storm cloud had suddenly materialized above him.

“What do you want?” he snapped, his tone frigid and unwelcoming, as if he was poised to sever the connection with a mere flick of his finger.

“I’m here. Tessa isn’t home, so I can’t come?” Chloe’s voice was tentative, yet there was an underlying urgency that made Ryan’s stomach twist.

He was all too aware of the fallout she had experienced with the Bloodmoon Pack. The whispers and rumors had reached him long before this moment, and he understood her intentions all too well—she was seeking refuge, a sanctuary in his home.

A flicker of empathy should have ignited within him, but instead, a surprising sense of relief washed over him when he recalled the news of her banishment. He had once held a glimmer of hope that she would find her footing within the pack, even if it meant stepping over Tessa, the one who was meant to be by his side. Yet, his heart had always belonged to Tessa, a truth that hung heavy between them like an unspoken bond.

“I don’t want this. This is Tessa’s home as much as it is mine. Please, just leave,” he said, his voice firm, each word laced with finality.

Chloe’s eyes widened in disbelief, her expression shifting from shock to hurt. She had never faced rejection from Ryan before; he had always been her steadfast ally, the one who would drop everything to lend her a listening ear or offer a comforting shoulder.

“What are you saying? Didn’t you love me more than anything?” she implored, her voice trembling with desperation.

The weight of her words struck Ryan like a blow, twisting his insides. He squeezed his eyes shut, fighting against the rising tide of frustration that threatened to consume him.

“I don’t love you. I’ve always loved your sister. Tessa is my mate!” he declared, his voice rising, the truth spilling out with a raw intensity.

Chloe’s disbelief morphed into anger. If he truly cherished Tessa, how could he have spent so many stolen moments with her, laughing and sharing secrets in the shadows?

“Stop lying to yourself! You’ve forgotten the nights you chose to be with me, abandoning her! Your heart is with me!” she shouted, her voice rising like a crescendo, each accusation a dagger aimed at his conscience.

“Don’t think just because Tessa is gone now that you love her! You don’t!” The desperation in her voice clawed at him, each word a reminder of the choices he had made, choices that now haunted him.

Ryan felt his patience fray, his wolf stirring within him, growling low and threatening.

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