Rebirth Of The Rejected Luna Chapter 84: Lies And Regrets 2

**Derek’s POV**

We searched for her for weeks after she left.

At first, I thought she’d come back. That she’d realize running wasn’t the answer and return home, even if it wasn’t to me. But days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, and there was nothing.

And then my father and Ealy Neville found out a few weeks ago because of Selena.

She had been nagging me as of late at how I was not pushing our courtship forward to the people and refusing to announce her officially as my mate but I couldn't bear to.

Eventually, I snapped at her one day telling her she could never be Tiana and she had to stop forcing herself on me. She had been livid and threatened that she was going to tell everyone the truth and I urged her to go ahead, thinking that she wouldn't but she proved me wrong.

Ealy Neville and my father stormed into my chambers, their eyes red with anger.

"When are you going to stop lying about why Tiana left the pack?" My father spat, then slapped me on the face.

"I... I don't know." I stammered, holding my cheek that stung.

"Selena informed me of the truth this morning," Ealy Neville said. "Because she had a conscience and felt guilty."

And that’s when I had to tell them. There was no more hiding, no more excuses. “I… I rejected her.”

Neville’s face twisted with a mix of shock and fury. “You what? So it's true?"

“She was my mate,” I said, forcing the words out, “but I rejected her.”

My father’s reaction was immediate. He turned on me with a glare that could’ve brought a lesser wolf to their knees. “You rejected your mate? And not just any mate, but Tiana? Neville’s daughter? The Beta's daughter?"

“I thought it was for the best,” I said, though the words sounded hollow even to me. “I thought—”

“You didn’t think at all!” my father snapped. “You let your pride make a decision that could ruin everything. Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

Neville didn’t speak for a long moment. When he finally did, his voice was low and dangerous. “My daughter is gone because of you.”

“She ran away,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t mean for her to leave. I just... Rejected her."

“You didn’t mean for her to leave?” Neville’s tone was cold, his eyes burning with anger. “You rejected her, humiliated her, and now you’re surprised she ran? My daughter is out there somewhere, alone and unprotected, and possibly dead because of you.”

My father shook his head, his disappointment cutting deeper than his anger ever could. “You’ve disgraced this pack, Derek. You’ve disrespected Tiana, her family, and the goddess herself by rejecting the mate bond.”

“I made a mistake,” I admitted. "I really didn't mean to. I never knew it was going to end this way."

“A mistake?” Neville spat. “This isn’t a mistake, Derek. You rejected her and still lied about it! And until my daughter is back where she belongs, I won’t forgive you for it.”

"Neither will I," my father spat. “You’re not fit to lead this pack, Derek. Not until you fix this. You will find Tiana, and you will make this right. Do you understand me?”

I nodded, though the weight of his words threatened to crush me. “Yes, Father.”

“Good,” he said, his tone icy. “Because until Tiana is back, and until she accepts you as her mate, you will not be Alpha of this pack.”

The memory burned in my mind. I could not forgive myself, my wolf Ryder could not forgive me as well. He growled restlessly within me, his anger and frustration mirroring my own.

I left the outside of my chambers and decided to take a night walk, feeling a sharp ache in my chest. It was as if Tiana was punishing me because the pain was becoming more disturbing by the minute.

I tried to shake off the feeling, but it followed me. That ache in my chest. That pain from the bond. It was getting worse.

That could only mean that Tiana was still alive somewhere... And that she was in danger? Could it be that she's in danger and that is why I'm feeling this way? Like our bond was tugging at me sharper than ever before?

But why couldn't the bond lead me to her? Why couldn't I track her scent or anything of the sort?

And then suddenly, I felt it.

A presence.

I turned sharply, almost expecting it to be my father or even Selena. But no, it wasn’t them. It was her.

Tiana.

She was standing at the edge of the clearing, watching me with those same eyes I had rejected so long ago. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t move. It felt like the earth had shifted beneath my feet.

Her scent hit me like a storm, sharp and familiar. It was Tiana, and it was real.

She didn’t say anything at first. She just stood there, as if she were unsure of what to do. I wanted to run to her, to apologize, to beg for her forgiveness, but I couldn’t move. It was like I was paralyzed by her standing there. The guilt was tearing at my insides so badly.

“You let me go, Derek,” she said softly. "You broke me and put me in danger.”

I closed my eyes, wondering if it was a dream but when I opened them, she was still there.

“I didn’t want you to leave,” I whispered. “I never wanted you to leave. I... I am sorry. I was proud and... I just... Tiana I want you back. I want you in my life, as my mate and as the future Luna of this pack. Please."

She just stood there, saying nothing to accept or decline my apology. I felt broken beyond measure.

"Tiana please!" I begged, a tear cascading down my cheek.

But when I blinked, she was gone.

I had been hallucinating.