Chasing His Scentless Mate

Chapter 392 Tangled Emotions

Ava’s POV

I couldn’t make him any promises. I couldn’t accept his proposal.

I bit my lip and said, "Kenneth, I truly appreciate everything you’ve done for me, but I can’t marry you."

I added, "And you can’t marry me just out of a sense of duty. I believe two people should marry for love."

Kenneth gave a bitter smile. "How do you know it’s just duty?"

With that, Kenneth turned away, his shoulders tense. A heavy silence fell between us.

His response shocked and unsettled me. I knew my refusal was firm, but I had no other choice.

I went on, "I know what happened will make things awkward between us. To avoid making you uncomfortable, I’ll leave your pack."

I had been so happy here with the pack members, and the thought of leaving saddened me. But I had to be rational.

Kenneth finally spoke, his voice was carefully controlled. "I apologize for my reaction. It was inappropriate."

The sudden change in his manner took me by surprise. "Kenneth?"

He turned back to me, his face now a calm mask of understanding. "You’re right. We both had too much to drink last night. It was a mistake, and we should move on."

His words should have made me feel better, but guilt still ate at me. "Thank you for understanding."

"Of course," he said. "You’ve been through a lot. The last thing I want is to make you uncomfortable." He walked toward the door. "I’ll give you some privacy to get dressed."

As he reached for the door handle, he paused. "But Ava? I hope you’ll reconsider leaving. The pack needs you. I need you, even if just as my assistant."

The genuine plea in his voice tugged at my heart. Despite the awkwardness between us, Kenneth had given me a home when I had nowhere else to go.

"Okay," I agreed. "I’ll stay. But just as your assistant, nothing more."

A small smile touched the corner of his lips. "For now," he said softly, then slipped out the door before I could respond.

After a long, hot shower that did nothing to clear my head, I got dressed and went to the kitchen. The pack house was full of activity, with members getting ready for the day.

Several of them greeted me warmly as I passed, but there was something knowing in their smiles.

"Did you sleep well, Ava?" Sarah asked, barely hiding a grin.

"Fine," I replied shortly, reaching for a coffee mug.

"You look tired," she went on, handing me the coffee pot. "Long night?"

I stared at her. "What exactly are you trying to say?"

Her eyes widened innocently. "Nothing! It’s just, after the festival, everyone saw Alpha Kenneth carrying you back to your room. You seemed... close."

Heat rushed to my face. "It wasn’t what it looked like. I wasn’t feeling well."

"Of course," Sarah nodded, but her eyes shone with amusement. "By the way, I reorganized the Alpha’s schedule as you asked. I thought you might appreciate some help with your Luna duties."

I almost choked on my coffee. "My what?"

"Your Luna duties," she repeated. "Planning pack events, organizing community outreach, meeting with the elders..." She tilted her head. "Isn’t that why you’ve been doing all those things?"

"I’ve been doing those things because Kenneth asked for my help as his assistant," I stated firmly.

Sarah looked genuinely confused. "But those are traditionally the Luna’s responsibilities. Everyone assumed you were training for the role."

My stomach twisted. Had Kenneth been preparing me to be his Luna all along? Had I been too naive to see it?

"Well, everyone assumed wrong," I said, more sharply than I meant to.

Before Sarah could reply, the sound of little feet announced Ellie’s arrival. Her face lit up when she saw me.

"Ava!" she cried, running over to hug my legs. "Is it true? Are you going to be our new Luna?"

I froze, looking down at her hopeful face. "Who told you that?"

"Everyone’s talking about it," she said excitedly. "Mommy said Alpha Kenneth finally found his mate, and you’re going to stay with us forever!"

I felt like the floor was falling away. "Ellie, sweetie, that’s not—"

"But you have to be our Luna," she insisted, her little face suddenly serious. "You already do all the Luna things. You help us with homework and you make Alpha Kenneth smile. Before you came, he never smiled."

My heart ached at her innocent words. "Ellie, being a Luna is complicated. It’s not just about helping or making someone smile."

"But don’t you love Alpha Kenneth?" she asked bluntly.

"I care about him very much," I said carefully. "But not in the way a Luna should love her Alpha."

Ellie’s face fell. "Oh. Is it because you don’t know how to be a Luna? My mom says she’s helping you learn."

I shot a look at Sarah, who avoided my gaze.

"It’s not about knowing how," I explained gently. "It’s about feelings. To be someone’s Luna, you have to love them with your whole heart."

"And you don’t love Alpha Kenneth?" Ellie pressed.

"Not in that way, no," I admitted softly.

The little girl thought about this, her brow furrowed. "That’s sad," she finally said. "Alpha Kenneth looks at you the way my daddy looks at my mommy."

Her innocent words left me speechless.

Just then, Beta Owen walked over to me. "Ava, I just got a mind-link from the border patrol. Alpha Joseph is at the entrance. He says he wants to see you."