Rebirth Of The Rejected Luna Chapter 72: He Would Manipulate Her Into Rejecting Me

**Theo’s POV**

“It seems like you want to say something,” Tiana said.

I shook my head, forcing a small smile. “No, I don’t,” I replied, but it was a lie.

The truth was, I had a lot to say—more than I could ever put into words at that moment.

I found my mate, the one the Moon Goddess herself chose for me, the one I had prayed for but she has not accepted me back.

Tiana was perfect to me, but another problem was that I knew my father would see her differently. He had spent yesterday planning, arranging dates, and introducing me to women he deemed "capable" enough to stand by my side as Luna and those dates were supposed to continue today.

None of them compared to Tiana, but in my father's eyes, she would never be enough.

And then there was the matter of Tiana herself. She hadn’t accepted me yet, and that made me and my wolf become restless. If my father found out about her hesitation, I knew exactly how he’d react. He would try to manipulate her, to scare her into rejecting me. And if that failed, he’d find a way to push her out of my life entirely.

“Are you okay?” Tiana asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I nodded quickly. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just... tired.”

She gave me a small smile, but I could see the concern lingering in her eyes.

After breakfast, we said our goodbyes. Tiana had training scheduled for later in the afternoon instead of her usual morning session, and I had a long day ahead of me as well.

“I’ll see you later,” she said with a warm smile.

“Yeah,” I replied, watching as she walked away.

The rest of the morning passed in a blur. Court sessions were as tiring as ever, filled with disputes over land, resources, and other stuff.

I couldn’t focus, though. My thoughts kept drifting back to Tiana and the impossible situation we were in.

After the sessions ended, I stepped outside to get some air and my father stopped me. "You seem distracted Theo, you're making a bad name for yourself."

"Maybe if I wasn't burned out from all those dates yesterday I wouldn't have been so distracted."

"Get used to managing your schedule well," he simply said and walked away.

"Heard you had a ton of dates yesterday," a voice behind me made me jolt suddenly. It was Fiona.

"Yeah, I did."

"How'd it go?"

"Majority of the women were quite the character," I grinned.

“Something is bothering you,” she said matter-of-factly. “It seems heavy. I can tell just by looking at you and that laugh isn't going to hide anything."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. Fiona had always been perceptive. There was no point in trying to hide it from her.

“I found my second chance mate," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

Her eyes widened slightly, but she quickly composed herself. “That’s... wonderful news, Theo. Isn’t it?”

“It should be,” I said, my voice heavy with frustration. “But it’s complicated.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Complicated how? It's not Tiana like you'd hoped?"

I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. “It’s Tiana.”

Recognition flashed in her eyes, followed by something I couldn’t quite place. “And you’re worried about how your father will react.”

I nodded. “He won’t approve. He’s trying to find the perfect Luna for the pack. Tiana… She's everything I want, but she doesn’t fit his idea of what a Luna should be. And she hasn’t accepted me yet. If he finds out about that…”

“He might try to interfere,” Fiona finished for me.

“Exactly,” I said. “I don’t know how to handle this, Fiona. I want to protect her from my father's influence on who should be my mate, but I also want to be honest about who she is to me.”

Fiona placed a hand on my shoulder. “You’re walking a fine line, Theo. But if Tiana truly is your mate, then no one, not even your father can come between you. You just have to be patient with him and get him to understand."

"I just want her to accept me so I can tell my father," I said with a sigh.

"Don't think too much about it, she will."

“Thank you,” I said quietly.

She nodded, giving me a reassuring smile. “Anytime.”

"So where are you headed?" I asked her.

"I'll be training Tiana today as well. Peter says he has to be with Amara after court. She's getting really heavy with the pregnancy. It's taking a toll on her."

"Right," I mumbled. "I should see her."

"You should. Well, goodbye and good luck with whatever dates you have today."

"Right?" I mumbled.

By mid-morning, I found myself seated in the dining room again, waiting for another woman my father had arranged for me to meet. It was becoming tiresome, this endless parade of potential brides who were presented like prized horses at an auction.

“Theodore, it's Clarissa," she greeted, as though we were long-time friends, "How kind of you to make time for me.”

"Please, have a seat,” I said, trying to hide the irritation in my voice.

“You must forgive my tardiness,” she began, fanning herself dramatically. “The roads were frightfully dusty, and one simply cannot arrive looking disheveled.”

“The journey can be taxing. I trust your carriage was comfortable?”

“Oh, adequate,” she said dismissively, her gaze sweeping the room. “But enough about that. I have heard so much about you, Theodore. They say you are strong, noble, and... Looking for Luna."

I forced a polite smile, already tired of the conversation. “You flatter me, Lady Clarissa.”

“Tell me, my lord, do you often entertain suitors? I imagine many women must vie for your attention.”

“Not as often as you might think,” I replied in a cold voice.

The tea tray arrived, carried by a servant who poured us each a cup before retreating silently. Clarissa barely glanced at the steaming cup before speaking. “I must confess, my lord, I am quite particular about tea. Only the finest imported leaves will do. Local blends simply lack refinement.” She lifted the cup to her lips, sipping delicately. “Oh, this is... tolerable, I suppose.”