Page 43 of Forever My Siren Luna (The Hidden Cove #2)

Jack

“I told you not to ask,” my beast hissed at me, worried about the fragile peace I already have between myself and this pack. He did tell me to drop it, but I had to get it out. I had to try one last time, or I would regret it.

At least I thought I would. I feel a different kind of regret now, though I don't know how to interpret it. I don't think I'm ready to. What I'm ready for is a drink. I need to wet my lips desperately now.

I reassured Ela that I was still more than willing to take on the task of going to defeat her uncle.

I want him dead too much to let my wounded ego deter that.

It’s personal for both Ela and myself, just like it is for most of my crew.

All our lives would be different if not for that bastard Wayne.

I would be every bit an alpha on land as I am at sea if it weren’t for him, with my mate by my side, not having to face the constant torture of guilt and shame, and the ache of loss.

Wandering back towards the beach, alone, since Ela left me in that barracks corridor to return to her mate, I was lost in my thoughts and self-pity and didn’t notice the alluring scent approaching until it was right upon me, making me whip around to come face to face with the raven haired beauty that had been tormenting me ever so much for weeks now.

Instead of the sultry gaze I'm getting used to, Beretta’s expression is hard as stone now, like I have never seen before. It sets me back, not expecting her to look so cold.

“Did you do it? Did you get it out of your system?” She asked in a harsh tone.

Oisin growled softly in my head, annoyed at me for making Beretta angry or annoyed at the blatant disrespect she has been showing me endlessly as of late. I can't tell which.

“Did I do what?” I sighed, reaching for the flask in my vest pocket, no longer feeling the shame of drinking from it like I would back at the training grounds or in front of Ela and her mate, since Beretta never cared about my drinking before.

This pack is the only place I have felt shame from wetting my lips.

That damned Alpha Lachlan with his arrogant stare always zeroed in on my movements when I reached for my pocket.

He should understand guilt just as much as I do.

His mate was tortured the same as mine because of his misjudgments. What right does he have to judge me?

As I’m lifting the flask to my lips, Beretta snatched it from my grip, then tossed it at least 20 meters down the beach, the lid still off so all the amber contents begin spilling out of the top when it lands upside down in the sand.

“Hey!” I snarled, the itch in the back of my throat growing more irritating with my thirst and annoyance.

“Don’t hey me, you shit for brains. Answer me, damn it. Did you get your feelings toward the princess dealt with at last? Did you overcome your pathetic attempt to try to steal her?”

“Watch it, lass,” I growled dangerously low, “I let you get away with most disrespect, considering it’s you, but you have been crossing too many lines as of late. I am still your captain.”

She scoffed, shaking her head, looking out at the bay towards my ships. She bit her lip, and the sudden glittering moisture in her fiery eyes made my heart clench. Oisin is whimpering, like seeing her frustrated unshed tears.

“My captain, huh?” She gently shook her head. “I guess that’s all you really ever wanted to be to me. Just my captain. My damn selfish captain.”

Oisin growled, and this time I know his anger is aimed at me for making her this upset.

His affection and interest in Ela has waned over the past weeks, seeing Ela’s undeniable connection to an Alpha that deep down we know is stronger than us. He is a more perfect match for her than me. I can see that now.

Oisin has been paying more close attention to Beretta when she was around, and his focus is totally on her now, his feelings bleeding into mine, making me feel heart wrenching guilt.

In all honesty, it didn’t hurt as badly as I thought it would to be completely refused the way I was by Ela.

It hurt nothing like I hurt right now, seeing Beretta’s pain.

“I…. Beretta, I-”

“Save it, Captain ,” she snapped, looking up like she was refusing to let the tears fall in front of me. “I’m done chasing you. I’m starting to feel a bit pathetic too.”

She turns and walks away, leaving me alone once again, stunned and completely crushed by her words.

Crushed barely begins to describe the feeling I have in my chest, watching her walk away.

Ela leaving me didn’t feel a fraction as bad as this.

“ You’re a fool,” Oisin tells me in a cold voice. “ An utter fool .”

That I am. I feel more so than ever, and the burning itch of thirst is so much greater than before.

The yearning I felt for Ela is incomparable to this ache radiating through me now.

What is that saying? You don’t know what you have until it’s gone?

Surely Beretta isn't gone from me. She told me to do that. She told me to get this out once and for all and face Ela bearing my feelings on my sleeve.

She can't hold it against me for doing what she told me to do.

" She can and I have a feeling she will," Oisin said.

Goddess, I hope he is wrong.

~

Lachlan

I saw him walk away, and then noticed right away that Cedric and Cherum had come back alone. I wanted to search for her right away, but I waited. I trust her. I know she can handle herself.

These past weeks have been bliss, and she has allowed me every opportunity to show that she is mine. She has been so considerate of me. I know I should do the same, no matter how hard it is to hold myself back.

I’m not even training anymore. I can't even pretend. I’m just watching the walkways, searching for any sign of her return. It isn’t long until I see her walking around the armory and into view with a solemn expression on her face.

Killian began to growl, worried she had been hurt in some way.

“I’m fine,” she reassured me as I approached her. Her smile is sweet and sincere.

She reaches up to rest her hand on my face, smoothing the worry lines from my skin. My expression must show how worried I was.

“Did he hurt you?” I have to ask.

She lifted a brow, a telling smirk starting to form on her beautiful lips, easing a lot of the tension inside of me.

“You think I would let him hurt me?” She shook her head with a scoff. “Are you doubting my abilities?”

“Never,” I smile. “I’m just….” I shrug.

“I know,” she sighed, rubbing her thumb on my cheek to soothe me further. “He didn’t hurt me. I just…. I just finished everything for good. I let him know it could only be you. No one else would ever stand a chance.”

My heart leapt at her words. I pull her in, my mouth meeting hers in a frenzied kiss full of relief and so, so much love.

Her returning kiss is just as desperate, and by the time we pull apart, we are both panting for air, foreheads resting on one another's so we can feel the mixture of our exhaled breaths, literally breathing each other in over and over again.

“I want to mark you,” she whispered hoarsely. “I’m ready, Lachlan. I want to mark you….. And I want you to mark me too.”

Killian’s excited howls echoed in my head, but I could do nothing but stare wide-eyed at her, too scared that I imagined her saying it to even move.

Then, her thin brows pulled upward at a wary angle, and I could see the self-doubt forming inside of her head.

“Yes!” I practically yelled before she could think I was doing something stupid like refusing. I could never refuse her anything, especially this.

The doubt leaves her as a shy smile forms on her lips, her cheeks turning a gorgeous shade of pink.

“Yes, Lira. It will always be a yes to you. It’s what I want more than anything.”

~

Elelira

My heart froze for a moment, thinking that Lachlan may not be as ready for this as I was.

The fear I had of him not being ready when I thought I was manifested fully, and I started to have doubts about myself again.

His silent and stunned expression was hard to interpret, but then his animated excitement was all I needed to know I made the right choice in telling him.

At least I hope I did. The fright I felt thinking he was about to reject my proposal triggered negative thoughts to start swirling in my head.

“I love you, Lira. Goddess, I love you more than I could ever express to you. You just made me the happiest man there ever was.” Lachlan's face was evidence enough that his words were true. I know he loves me. I love him too.

“GET A ROOM!” Nilo yelled out jokingly, making me aware again that there were dozens of others watching our intimate exchange all around us. My face got so incredibly hot all of a sudden, and I wanted to bury it in his chest to hide my embarrassment.

Lachlan snarled with annoyance. “Everyone out! Practice is dismissed.”

Snickers and hoots of celebration could be heard, but I do not dare to look up to meet any of their gazes. I have been trying for weeks to maintain the image of a warrior, but feel like a lost, weak-kneed girl at the moment.

Lachlan seemed unbothered. He is too busy beaming at me, the glow on his face something I have never seen before.

He has no doubts about this, though I have run away from him twice and rejected him once already.

I told him of my trauma from the past, and he knows I can be a flight risk and I am a little irrational when I am triggered.

He still has no doubts.

“ Do you?” Val asked me.

“ No. I don’t think I do. I know he loves me. I’m just…. Struck by the reality of this. His silence was disheartening for a moment. There is no going back after we mark one another. There is no undoing it once it is done.”

“Good,” Val snorts , “I don’t want it to be undone. Ever.”

I don’t either. But negative thoughts still bloom in my brain.

“What are you thinking?” Lachlan asked, brushing my hair away from my face.

I shrug, biting my lip.