Running from the Mate Bond Book 4: Lilly
Author
Eleanor Moon
Reads
19.8K
Chapters
40
“We should stop,” he murmured against my ear, his words more directed at himself than at me.
“Jason…” My voice broke, confused and aching. “Please…”
In the wreckage Ember left behind when she fled her Luna ceremony, Lilly, Carter, and Sam are left to hold their pack together. Lilly puts on a brave face, stepping up as the Beta her pack needs—but inside, she’s unraveling.
Her fated mate, Jason, didn’t reject her with words. He simply vanished after one perfect night, leaving her hollow and humiliated. Now Jason storms back into her life—broken, hunted, and desperate to make things right.
But forgiveness doesn’t come easily when trust has been shattered.
As danger closes in and the truth behind Jason’s disappearance begins to unravel, Lilly must decide: Can she forgive the mate who abandoned her when she needed him most? Or was their bond a 'mismatch' from the beginning?
Chapter 1: Mate
LILLY
THE DAY OF EMBER’S LUNA CEREMONY
“What the hell are you wearing?” Carter boomed, his voice gruff.
I could tell he was seriously mad this time. I tugged at the hem of my short, low-cut bourbon dress, the one Ember and Sam had insisted I pick out. Honestly, I couldn’t believe I had let them talk me into buying this dress.
I rolled my eyes at myself. Why had I ever thought I could pull off something this daring?
Sure, Sam could wear a dress like this, and Carter wouldn’t say a word, but she could pull off anything with that sassy wit and effortless supermodel confidence of hers.
Fuck, I knew he was right. Ugh, I hated that he was right. But I wasn’t about to let my big brother bully me into changing.
I could wear whatever the hell I wanted to Ember’s Luna Ceremony. Besides, it wasn’t like I had time to change now. “For God’s sake, Carter,” I snapped, “we’re running late. This is not the time to argue.”
Carter turned dramatically toward my dad, tossing his arms in the air.
Dad let out a low chuckle and pulled me into an embrace. “You look stunning, honey,” he said, planting a soft kiss on my forehead.
“Thank you, Dad,” I murmured.
Carter and my dad might have looked alike. Honestly, Dad was just the older, more refined version of my brother. But personality-wise, they couldn’t have been more different. The famous Beta Lucas: always calm, kind, and understanding.
And although Carter had officially taken over the role of beta now, I sometimes seriously wondered if there wasn’t just a mix-up in our bloodline. He was chaotic, loud, and half the time he didn’t even seem to have a plan.
“Mom! Talk to your daughter, please! I’m not letting her leave the house like this!” Carter yelled, ready to explode.
I rolled my eyes again.
My mother walked in, scanning me from head to toe.
“Oh, sweetheart, you look stunning,” she said, her voice soft and proud.
Carter scoffed loudly. “Are you guys serious? We can almost see her ass, Mom. Tell her to change!”
My mother smacked his arm playfully. “Don’t be ridiculous, Carter. And mind your own damn business. Why don’t you focus on your own mate? Where is Sam?”
Carter glared at me one last time before turning on his heel. “Fine. I’ll go find her. You guys do whatever you want with this teenage blonde of yours.”
He muttered something under his breath, stomping out like the drama king he was.
I took one last look in the mirror.
My golden short curls were pinned into a graceful bun, loose strands framing my face in a soft, elegant way. My freckles dotted my nose. My big green eyes twinkled with anticipation, and my lips, glossed in a blushed pink, were parted in a breathless kind of excitement.
I couldn’t shake the feeling that tonight was the night I would finally meet my mate.
And damn it, I couldn’t wait any longer. I had been looking for two years now. I was only twenty, but still, I wanted what everyone around me had.
My parents and their loving marriage. Ember and Logan, finally tying the knot after everything. Even Carter was mated now. And although he and Sam bickered like it was their second language, anyone with eyes could see how much they loved each other.
I sighed, the kind that bubbled up from somewhere deep inside. Tonight might be the night, and I couldn’t wait.
We headed out, my father, my mother, and I, making our way to the pack house as quickly as we could. We couldn’t be late, not on an important day like this.
I didn’t even know why I was still staying in my old room at my parents’ house. I should have been in the new pack house like everyone else. Especially considering the fact that I did more of the work than Carter.
And he had his own private beta quarters.
Still, I was proud of my job, of the new pack house we had built.
I’d been involved ever since I finished high school. I’d dreamed of going to college, but my parents had been too scared to let me out into the human world, too afraid I would get detached like Ember.
So, they insisted I take online courses, study remotely. And, well, I stayed.
I was so grateful when Logan offered me the position as his personal assistant. Although let’s be real, it was just a pretty title for being his actual beta. Carter hadn’t handled much of the planning or organization.
However, everything was changing now.
Carter was lucky to have Sam as his mate, a true-born beta from the famous Crescent Moon Pack. She had been picking up a lot of his slack lately, and I had to admit they balanced each other out perfectly.
Which kind of left me in this awkward limbo.
Like, what now?
Logan had told me more than once he didn’t want to lose me from the pack. But the truth was, I didn’t see a clear future for myself here anymore…
And I wanted to find my mate. For some reason, it felt like I was running out of time.
I sighed, shaking off the thought. I wasn’t giving up hope yet.
Tonight’s ceremony would be huge. Packs from all over were coming to celebrate the merger. This wasn’t just any union; it was the biggest merger in werewolf history. Ember and Logan were about to become the alpha and luna of one of the largest wolf packs in the world.
I smiled at the idea. It suited them. Although, something had felt off with Ember. I had sensed it all week. Maybe it was just nerves.
God, I hoped she shook it off before the ceremony. We wouldn’t want our luna running off on us.
When we walked into the pack house, I was immediately greeted by Sam, phone pressed to her ear, gesturing for pack members to carry something to the garden, and somehow still managing to compliment me at the same time.
I glanced up at her, honestly a little in awe. She was as badass as a beta could get. A queen of multitasking, and I was truly happy to have her as my sister-in-law.
She ended the call and flashed me a wide smile. “Damn, girl. I’m so glad we went with that dress.”
I blushed slightly, thinking back to Carter’s little meltdown.
“I guess,” I mumbled.
“You guess? Babe, you’re sweet enough to eat,” she teased with a wink. “Now don’t kid me—can you check the last prep in the garden before we head to the entrance to welcome the guests?”
I groaned. “You need me to be there?”
“Yes, of course I need you to be there. You’re a bridesmaid, remember?” she pointed out, already turning on her heel.
“Have you seen Carter?” she tossed over her shoulder.
I rolled my eyes. “He was looking for you.”
“Really?” She shook her head, heading up the stairs. “Well, I’ll be in Ember’s room. If you see him, tell him not to bother me until after the ceremony.” She winked, disappearing into the hallway.
I grinned. God, they were so nauseating but cute in their own way.
I stepped into the garden to check on the final arrangements. Everything looked perfectly organized: lights, flowers, custom seating, the scent of roses woven into the air. It looked like something out of a wedding magazine spread.
I paused, soaking it all in, proud of my pack, of what we had managed to showcase, to celebrate. It was more than just a merger. It was a statement. A festival of unity and strength.
At the center of the garden, Aunt Ella, Logan’s mother, my mother’s cousin, gave out instructions with calm confidence, a soft trace of joy in her expression. Even on the verge of stepping down, she radiated a quiet, unshakable authority that made it impossible to see her as anything but our luna.
“Lilly! Just the person I was looking for,” she said, pulling me into a brief hug. “Have you seen the ceremonial blade? I thought I brought it out earlier. I hope it didn’t get lost.”
I gave her a reassuring smile. “It’s in my office, Luna. I made sure it was tucked away safely. I’ll grab it before the ceremony—unless you need it now?”
“Yes, please.” She nodded quickly. “I’d rather have it placed up front so we’re not scrambling later.”
“I’ll go get it,” I said, giving her a reassuring smile.
“Thank you, sweetie. I’ll go find your parents and Connor, so we can welcome the first guest.”
She was beaming, but I also caught the nervousness in her voice. A little anxiety was to be expected at a wedding, especially one of this scale, but I was sure everything would go smoothly.
I stepped inside, still half-turned to glance toward the garden, and crashed straight into a wall of muscle.
Solid.
Unyielding.
Throwing me completely off balance.
I let out a sharp breath, stretching instinctively to brace myself for the fall—
But it didn’t come.
Two strong arms wrapped around me, steadying me mid-stumble.
“Gotcha.”
The word was low. Rough. And it sent a ripple down my spine. My breath caught in my throat. I looked up. And my entire world tilted instantly.
He was tall. Sharp jawline, sun-kissed skin, lips that looked like sin, and the most piercing steel-gray eyes I had ever seen, locked on me like I was the only thing left in the world.
Mate.
The word didn’t come from my lips. It pounded through my veins, pulsed in my chest.
His eyes widened almost imperceptibly.
He felt it too.
My head spun, and for just a moment, it seemed like my heart had forgotten how to beat. “Hi,” I whispered, breathless.
His lips twitched into the ghost of a smirk. “Hello, beautiful.”
He pulled me closer against him, his thumb brushing along the bare skin of my back.
A shiver rushed through me, my entire body on high alert, flushed, electrified under his touch.
I had waited so long for this moment… dreamed about it. But nothing could have prepared me for the instant wildfire that ignited inside me as the mate bond snapped tight.
Before I could say anything, before I could even gather my thoughts, I heard Luna Ella’s voice cutting through the garden like a bell.
“Lilly! The blade!”
I blinked, still dizzy from the impact of crashing into him, still wrapped in the electric buzz of his touch.
My legs felt unsteady, like my whole body had forgotten how to function.
My mind was spinning.
God, he was so handsome…
Shit, I couldn’t do this.
Not right now.
Not when guests were pouring in and the most important day in our pack’s history was unfolding outside.
Not when the ceremony was about to start.
I swallowed hard and forced myself to focus.
Ceremony first.
Mate later.
I looked up at him with a breathless smile.
His eyes were still locked on my face, like he couldn’t quite believe I was real either.
“I’m sorry,” I mumbled, stepping back from the warmth of his arms even though my wolf whined at the loss.
“I have to run and get the ceremonial blade.”
His brows lifted slightly in surprise. “Ceremonial blade?”
I bit back a grin. “I’ll explain later,” I promised, giving him a playful wink.
I spun around and headed for the stairs, my heart racing with every step. I could still feel the imprint of his hands on my skin. Still feel the way his voice had curled around me like smoke.
Oh my god.
My mate was here.
This was really happening.
I almost tripped over the top step, my head spinning.
My wolf was howling in my chest, already craving his touch again. His scent still clung to me, warm, earthy, intoxicating.
Focus, Lilly! I scolded myself.
He was here for the ceremony. Which meant I would see him again. Talk to him. Touch him.
My cheeks flushed at the thought, a mix of nerves and giddy happiness blooming in my chest.
This was it.
After all this time.
My heart swelled so hard it was almost painful. I hadn’t even asked his name…
But I would.
Tonight was the beginning of everything.
And God, I was so ready.
