Page 19
LUNA
I was feeling a lot of things. I sat in the back seat of Ash’s pickup truck, the ride bumpy as we bounced down the mountain toward town.
Ash had kissed me earlier—easily the best kiss of my life.
But the aftertaste wasn’t just sweetness.
It was a mix of warmth and dread, tangled like wires I didn’t know how to pull apart.
Soon enough, we pulled up to the little place I was renting.
It was more of a cabin than a flat, but I loved it.
The pointed roof and wooden fixtures gave a cozy feel.
Everything was in one room, except for the bathroom, which also served as the laundry.
The guys had clarified that they were taking over the safety part of things.
It was sweet, in a way, that they thought I’d listen.
But as far as my safety was concerned, I trusted them.
When it came to my ability to take care of myself, though?
That was all me. I’d been doing it for a long time.
I stayed in the car, letting them check the place. Everything looked untouched. Both doors were locked—nothing out of place.
“I can’t smell anything outside either. No one’s been hunting her from here. It must’ve been someone who got a lucky break when she changed,” Ash said to Connor, his tone matter-of-fact as they guided me inside.
My phone was on the table next to my bag. There was only a missed call from Maureen and a text from Jessica—a simple check-in and a reminder of how self-contained I was. No one knew I had been missing for days, and that hit me in the feels.
I grabbed a bag and started packing what I wanted—clothes, books, toiletries, my Kindle—while they stood guard, one at each door.
I wasn’t sure how long I’d be gone. Honestly, I didn’t have much in the first place.
That made it easier. But if they expected me to stay with them permanently, I’d have to leave this place behind.
I was keeping my job, though. I wasn’t about to become some stay-at-home partner, not after everything.
“What are you thinking?” Connor asked, watching me.
Caught. My guard slipped, and I looked up, meeting his eyes.
What had he noticed? I was used to keeping my thoughts close to my chest. But they could sense something.
I could feel their eyes on me, watching every move I made.
Like I was some fragile thing about to break.
I hated it—and needed it. And that contradiction made me want to scream.
“Wondering how many pairs of things to bring,” I murmured, avoiding the real question.
“If I had my way, you’d bring it all,” Ash said abruptly, arms crossed, his posture tight with something I couldn’t quite place.
“Well, you haven’t dated in the regular sense.” I let out a small, bitter laugh, shaking my head. “But in my world, you ask someone on a date, go on many dates, and then later ask them to move in. And some time after that, you ask them to marry you.”
Ash stepped closer, the space between us shrinking. “Are you pointing out the lack of asking I’ve done, or are you asking what happens next?”
I held my ground, despite the intimidating way he towered over me. “Ash,” Connor warned, but Ash wasn’t backing down.
“No. You haven’t asked me outright. You’ve told me what I am, what I’m supposed to be.
But you don’t even know me. Who am I? Have I got a boyfriend?
” I sidestepped, my frustration spilling out.
“How do I feel about having a mate —about whatever this is with you two? How do I even begin to feel comfortable with that? What are my needs, my wants?” I stopped, leaning against the table, exhausted from the emotional weight.
“Do you have a boyfriend?” Ash’s voice was barely a growl, fixating on the wrong thing.
“No. But that was the least of what I said.” I tried not to think about the one relationship I’d had. The one that had almost destroyed me. The one where I’d allowed myself to be vulnerable and paid the price. Never again.
“How do you feel about us? About this?” Connor’s voice cut through the tension, his question pulling me back to the present.
“Honestly?” I met his gaze. “Scared out of my mind. I don’t even know how to handle one man.
I’ve been in one relationship, and it wasn’t a long or a good one.
I don’t get the logistics of this. How does any of this work?
And now I’m supposed just to pack up and return to your place and. .. what? Do what you say?”
Connor’s expression softened, a hint of sympathy in his eyes. “We didn’t mean to overwhelm you, Luna. We’re still figuring this out, too.”
Ash sat on the edge of the bed, his posture tense as he looked at me. “Will you stay with us?” His voice was quieter, more vulnerable than I expected.
I met his eyes, trying to sort through my own emotions. “Yes.”
“I keep hearing the ‘for now’ part that you’re not saying,” Ash added, voice raw. “That’s fine. You don’t have to make any long-term decisions right now. But will you give us a chance?”
“Yes.”
“Will you tell us what you want? What do you need?” Connor asked, his voice steady, but I could hear the underlying desperation.
“I’ll try. I’m not used to sharing. I’m used to keeping to myself,” I admitted.
“I see that. We’re not promising a traditional life.
But we can promise you that we’ll try to make this as natural as we can,” Ash said, his tone softer now.
“But it’s weird. All our friends got their mate bonds and accepted them immediately.
For us, it’s... different. We don’t know why.
But we are committed to making this work. For you.”
Connor nodded. “And we want to make sure you always have a choice. Every step of the way.”
I nodded, my exhaustion creeping in. “I need a nap.”
Let’s go home, Luna,” Ash said, standing and grabbing my bag, his voice a mix of tenderness and determination.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
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- Page 5
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- Page 9
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- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19 (Reading here)
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39