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I stared at him, mouth dry.
Shock hit me hard. I didn’t see that coming.
My hands shook. Linda stepped forward
“What are you doing?”
Kade snarled low, deep in his throat. The sound cut her off. Linda flinched, stepping back fast. His alpha blood rolled out thick, overpowering her beta rank.
She pressed her lips together, eyes down.
Kade looked back at me. “Go on.”
People started gathering. Passersby stopped and I felt every stare like needles on my skin.
I took a breath, chin up. “I feel you’re disrespecting me. I’m a Luna but I’m not your Luna, Kade.”
His scarred eye narrowed. “What?”
I stepped closer, voice steady even though my knees knocked. “You don’t get to order me like I’m your beta. You don’t get to snarl at Linda like she’s nothing, back off.”
Kade’s fists clenched. “You think you can talk to me like that?”
“Yeah,” I said. “I do. Because I’m Luna, not your punching bag.”
The pup kept sobbing on the floor, small body shaking. I knelt slow, ignoring Kade. I reached out gentle, hand on her back. “Hey, sweetie. It’s okay. I’m here.”
She peeked through her fingers. Tears streamed down her cheeks. “Mommy’s gone.” I swallowed hard. “I know. I’m so sorry. But you’re not alone. We’re all here for you.”
She sniffled. “But she won’t come back.”
I pulled her into my lap slow. She curled against me, small hands grabbing my dress. “I lost people too,” I said quiet. “It hurts bad but we hold each other. We cry together and we keep going, that’s what family does.”
Kade snorted. “Words won’t fix this.”
I looked up at him sharp. “They might, more than your snarling ever will.”
The pup’s sobs slowed. She pressed her face to my chest. I rocked her gentle,
humming a little tune I remembered from when I was small. Her breathing evened out as she clung tighter.
Linda watched, eyes wide. “She’s calming.”
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I kept rocking. “See? Touch works. Words work. Being here works.”
Kade’s jaw ticked. “You still didn’t shift.”
“I don’t need to shift to comfort her,” I said. “She feels safe. That’s enough.”
The pup lifted her head, eyes red but calmer. “You’re warm, Luna.”
I smiled small. “Yeah. And you’re safe with me. Promise.”
Passersby murmured softer now. “She did it.” “Pup’s quiet.” “Luna’s good with them.”
Kade stared at me hard. “This isn’t over.”
I held the pup closer. “It is for her.”
He turned on his heel, stalking out. The crowd parted fast.
Linda knelt next to me. “You stood up to him.”
I shrugged.
The pup yawned, head dropping to my shoulder. I kept rocking, whispering soft. “Sleep, baby. I’ve got you.”
*
I walked into Damien’s room, our room now, with my arms full of the last box.
My stuff from the old room was already piled in corners.
Clothes folded on the dresser, books stacked on the nightstand, my favorite blanket thrown over the chair.
The bed was huge, dark sheets, his scent everywhere. I set the box down, heart still racing from the day.
Damien sat on the edge of the bed, elbows on knees, staring at the floor.
Shirt off, jeans low, hair messy from running his hand through it all day.
He looked drained but still like he could snap someone in half if he wanted.
I kicked off my shoes, sat on the opposite side, legs crossed. “Hey.”
He didn’t answer.
I took a breath. “I’m sorry for running. You had to leave the pack overnight because of me during an attack where eople died, I know that. I was stupid and scared and I hate that I made it worse.”
He glanced up, eyes flat. “Yeah. You did.”
I nodded quick, fingers twisting in my lap. “I won’t do it again. I promise. I’ll stay and I’ll do the right thing. Luna stuff. Whatever you need. I won’t make you chase me down like that ever again.”
He grunted, “good.”
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i raked fingers through my hair, pulling at the roots. “Are you okay?”
He looked at me like the question was dumb, “I’m fine.”
