Mated by Midnight (Moonlight Mates #3)

Chapter 7

7

E lijah stood in the shadow of the tall pines. His sharp eyes tracked Celine as she and Rylan exchanged words. His fingers clenched and unclenched as the crisp air bit at his skin. A fire simmered, crackling just beneath the surface of his outwardly calm demeanor.

The Ironwood pack’s territory was vast. The scent of the massive trees and damp earth filled his nose. But nothing masked the scent of her—Celine. The delicate blend of wildflowers and citrus that teased his senses with each step she took.

His pulse quickened. His heart thudded against his ribcage with each step she took into his lands. But his feet remained rooted.

Why wasn’t he running to her?

His wolf stirred restlessly within him. A low growl vibrated through his chest. She’s yours. She belongs to you , the beast said.

Elijah kept his breathing steady. His eyes never left her form as she came to stand before Rylan. He couldn’t hear their words, not from where he stood half hidden by the Ironwood trees. But he didn’t need to.

He’d seen enough rejections in his life to recognize one when it was happening. The way Rylan’s gaze held hers—apologetic but unyielding—told Elijah everything he needed to know. The Ironwood Alpha was making it clear that whatever had been planned between them would not go forward.

The clawed tips of Elijah's fingers dug into his palms as he fought the urge to move. His wolf paced in his belly. Its growl vibrated low in his chest. Go to her , it urged.

His wolf didn’t understand why he was still standing there. Why he was rooted to the spot, out of sight where she couldn't see him. Why he was watching from a distance when she was right there, needing comfort. Needing him.

Celine stood tall, her back straight, her shoulders squared. But Elijah saw the strain in the way she held herself. He saw the tension that coiled through her limbs as if she were barely holding it together. Her expression was stoic, her face a mask of control, but he knew better. He knew how deep her emotions ran, how bright her smile could be, how her laugh lit up the space around her.

He hadn't known this woman for twenty-four hours. Had only spent an hour with her. But he knew her. Her expressive eyes, normally so full of life, were empty now—hollow. The sight of it made the valves in his chest twist painfully.

Elijah wanted to go to her, to pull her into his arms and wipe that emptiness from her face. He wanted to run his hands over the softness of her skin. He wanted to feel the warmth of her against him. To press his forehead against hers and remind her that she was not alone. That she was his .

He bit down hard on the inside of his cheek, the sharp taste of blood mixing with the cold air, grounding him. It wasn’t enough to calm the fury building in his chest. Why was Rylan still talking, still standing there like this wasn’t breaking her?

Elijah’s wolf pushed harder against his control, prowling, snarling, demanding that he go to her. The bond was right there, thrumming beneath his skin, pulling him toward her with every breath, every beat of his heart. But Elijah hesitated.

Not because he didn’t want to—he did, more than anything—but because part of him knew this wasn’t the time. Not yet.

And then, just like that, the conversation ended.

Rylan stepped away from Celine. And she let him go. There had been no begging, no anger, just the resolute parting of two people who had no reason to be together.

Elijah’s wolf bristled at the thought of anyone else marrying Celine. Rylan had made his choice—Liza. And Elijah, well, Celine was his.

Her figure disappeared around the bend, and Elijah’s feet finally moved, though hesitantly. His pulse quickened with every step she took away from him, and his wolf howled in frustration. The fire simmering beneath his skin was becoming unbearable, every fiber of his being urging him to act faster.

But something was still holding him back. Fear, maybe? Fear of what she would say, of what she might not say. Fear of whether she would let him in or shut him out completely. Well, he was about to face that fear head-on.

Elijah’s decision solidified. He wasn’t going to let her walk away like this. He wasn’t going to run from what was already his.

"Elijah." Rylan's voice broke through the forest, quiet, low, and authoritative as always.

Elijah stopped, though his limbs strained against his Alpha's command.

The sun filtered through the branches overhead, casting dappled shadows across Rylan’s face. The Alpha’s expression was unreadable, but his words were steady as he continued. "I have a job for you. I want you to work with the Sequoia pack as the communications point in the new development."

"The Sequoia pack? The deal is still on?"

Elijah’s mind raced, a red haze of anger flashing in his vision as the possibility hit him like a punch to the gut. Rylan wasn’t done with Celine. After everything, he was still going to honor that stupid agreement between the packs and ignore his bond with Liza?

"You’re marrying her?" Elijah bit out, his voice low, dangerous. The fury in his chest was unbearable. His wolf snarled inside him, begging for release, to tear down anyone who stood between him and Celine. Including his Alpha, his friend.

"No," Rylan said calmly. "Celine will be working with Liza and Maize on the new development."

It took a moment for the haze of fury to dissipate. When it did, the Alpha’s words made sense. Celine had said she was an artist. Of course, he would still want her involved in the new development.

But the jealousy, the possessiveness still surged through Elijah. He closed his eyes for a second, forcing himself to control his wolf. His entire body still hummed with the need to act, to claim what was his. His Alpha was clearly oblivious as he went on.

"You’re good with tech, Elijah. You know how to navigate systems most of the pack doesn’t even understand. The new development project is massive, and it needs someone who can keep communications flowing smoothly between the Sequoias and the Ironwoods, as well as the other communities across the nation and world.”

Elijah nodded slowly, though his mind wasn’t fully on the words. Celine's scent, her presence, lingered in the air no matter how far apart they were. The bond had made sure of that.

“It’s a promotion, more responsibility, and more visibility. The elders think you’re too... carefree. They don’t see you as someone who’s ready to settle down, to take on more responsibility. But I’m willing to go to bat for you. I’ll convince them. You just need to show them you’re serious. That you’re ready.”

Elijah's fingers twitched at his sides, itching to do something—anything—to dispel the tension building inside him. The offer was more than just a job. It was a path forward, a chance to prove himself, to finally break free of the image the elders had of him. The thought of being taken seriously for once, of finally being trusted with real responsibility, stirred something deep inside him.

But that wasn’t all. The bond. Celine. She was a part of this now, wasn’t she?

If he accepted the position, he would be working with her. Every day. She would be right there, within reach. The bond would only get stronger, pulling them closer. He could already feel the steady thrum of it beneath his skin, like a constant pulse reminding him that she was his.

Maybe accepting the bond wouldn’t be such a bad idea after all. Maybe it was time to stop running from it. He definitely wanted to catch his mate up in his arms again, have her under him, maybe even on top of him.