Page 191 of His Fated Luna

A faint blush marred her cheeks as her eyes fluttered closed to gather herself. Her brain might not remember me. But her body…it knew me.

I dropped her hand, but not before giving it one final reassuring squeeze. I turned my gaze to Ezra, Hilda, and Dr. Danvers, they were standing next to each other a few paces away from Rose's bed and were looking at us closely.

Ezra met my gaze before he looked to his left, at Dr. Danvers, hesitantly.

“Doctor, maybe it’s best if you let her go home with me today. Being in a place she feels comfortable would be good for her.”

I bit back the impulse to growl in protest. My mate and unborn child belonged under my roof, my protection.

“It’s better for her to go back to the home she’s been living in for the past year. Aiden will take care of her. Have faith in him,” Dr. Danvers said firmly to Ezra. His eyes remained steady on me. “He is her mate. He will make sure she’s comfortable.”

I relaxed. Rose was going home with me. I’d take care of her and the baby. Our baby.

Rose sunk back into her bed.

Later that evening, Rose walked into the house with me trailing behind her.

“Do you want dinner?” I asked warily, Rose’s hospital bag in my hands as I hung up the keys to my car.

“Where’s Josie? And the kids?” Rose asked.

“They’ll stop by soon enough,” I assured her.

“I live here alone?”

A ghost of a smile tugged at my lips.

“We live here alone,” I corrected. “Mom moved out recently.”

Rose started laughing mirthlessly.

“It’s like I fell asleep and woke up in the twilight zone. In what alternate reality would you ever be OK with” —she waved a hand between us— “this?”

I took in a shuddered breath. This was torture.

Rose kept talking in response to my silence.

“You’re not even attracted to me!” Rose spat. I flinched. “I don’t even like you!” she added angrily.

It was like she was taking a jackhammer to my heart, trying to split it down the middle.

“Do you know how much it hurts to have the person who you care about most in the world look at you the way you’re looking at me?” My tone wasn’t angry. No, it was more of a morbid acceptance, almost helpless.

Rose stopped up short.Her facial expression told me that my admission set her mounting ire at this whole situation back a few notches.

“I…I’m sorry. That wasn’t my intent. I just…I’m trying to wrap my head around this.”

“You can ask me…about stuff,” I said the words haltingly. “I can’t tell you too much at once, but Dr. Danvers said it was OK to tell you a little bit every day. Something might end up jogging your memory.”

Rose shook her head. “I’m still convinced I was dropped into some alternate reality and none of this is real.”

I gave a grim smile.

“So I’m that bad, huh?”

“You never liked me. You love Lexia.” Rose’s response was simple and to the point.

“I never loved her, not really,” I admitted, more to myself for the first time ever, meeting Rose’s eyes. “And I’ll have you know, I broke up with Lexia before I got with you,” I said pointedly, walking by her and into the kitchen.