Page 135 of His Fated Luna

“Hey…hey.” Aiden cupped my chin through the window, leaning in to me to stare at my eyes. “If you don’t feel comfortable about me staying, just say so.”

I shook my head, moving my chin out of Aiden's grasp.

“No…no…you should stay. She needs a friend and…After all, you two have…history.”

My voice sounded hollow even to my own ears.

“Are you sure, Rose?” Aiden gave me a hard look.

I nodded, swallowing audibly before driving off.

Aiden's POV

I stared after Rose with a deep sigh. I knew Rose was upset because I didn't share the truth about Lexia's mother. But I couldn't share someone else's secret. That just wasn’t the type of person I was.

Why didn't Rose understand that I wanted to be nowhere else but with her, laughing, and dancing in circles to some mindless happy love song while she looked at me as if I was the most important person in her life? She shouldn't be worried if I was going to stay back briefly with Lexia.

What was I supposed to do? Lexia looked like she was on the verge of a breakdown. I should know. I'd spent the past two years with her. I could tell Lexia's mood just from her eyes. Her mother was dying, I knew that much. What kind of person did that make me not be there for her in such a dire situation? She’d been there for me when my father passed away. It seemed cruel to kick her to the curb when she needed a shoulder to cry on. Besides, I needed to talk to Alistair. This was the opening I had been waiting for.

"Thanks for staying back." Lexia's voice was soft, the wind carrying her voice between us once I had met her out on the back lawn.

Lexia was directing the omegas to clean up now that all the guests had left.

“You really should thank Rose, not me,” I said with my arms crossed as I leaned against a table.

“So you wouldn’t have stayed if she hadn’t given you permission?” Lexia asked scathingly.

“I would have respected her wishes if she didn’t want me hanging back to talk with my ex,” I replied bluntly.

Lexia winced.

“But Aiden, we have so much history together…” Lexia trailed off almost pleadingly. "Are you seriously willing to throw it all away?"

I gave a heavy sigh. “We had a past together but, Lexia , isn’t it time to move on now?”

“You say that because you’ve succumbed to the mate pull,” Lexia replied bitterly.

I really didn’t want to argue about this, so I changed the subject to one of the main reasons I had stayed back.

“Lexia, tell Alistair to back off Rose. She doesn’t feel like he likes her. And if she feels threatened, then that’s not a good sign. Rose is pretty easy going so if she’s having a problem with him, it must be because he really is rude to her. I won’t tolerate anyone disrespecting my luna.”

Lexia looked at me taken aback.

“She may have misconstrued his feelings,” Lexia supplied off-handedly.

“Well, he better start making sure she doesn’t misconstrue them anymore; otherwise, I’ll break off my alliance with your pack,” I threatened.

“I asked you to stay back as an emotional support for me because my mother is sick,” Lexia wept prettily. “And here you are making threats to my pack and father.”

I gave another weary sigh.

“I really am sorry about your mother. You really should bring her to Dr. Danvers tomorrow. He might be able to help with the cancer that’s spreading. We have some antidotes we’ve beenusing for Dylan. Maybe they might work for your mother too?” I suggested.

Lexia wiped her cheeks with the back of her hands before sniffling.

“How is Dylan doing?” she asked, the worry in her voice sincere.

“As good as can be expected given all that’s happened to him,” I replied. “He’s a pretty strong kid. He’ll be fine,” I assured her.