Page 21 of His Fated Luna

“Great job, Dylan,” I praised. “You guys are so smart!”

Aiden scoffed. “Rose is too busy learning how to be the next luna. She can’t be bothered to really learn anything that has to do with math.”

I felt my face heat up.

“Now, Aiden, I’ll have you know Rose is up for a scholarship!” Josie interrupted sharply. “Don’t you go belittling her. She’s got more substance and knowledge than that Lexia of yours. She couldn’t—”

“Lexia is going to become a lawyer,” Aiden pointed out, taking a sip of water. “She’s studying for the LSAT. Now that’s a professional smart woman. She wants to be independent and focus on her career.”

I took a slow breath, keeping my hands folded in my lap. “Just because a woman chooses to focus on her home instead of a career doesn’t make her any less,” I said quietly but firmly. “Every woman contributes in her own way, whether through her family or her profession. And not that it matters, but Idowant a career, Alpha. I’m trying to get into med school and am training to be a physician's assistant for our pack. My academic advisor says I have a fair chance of becoming a doctor too if I keep my grades up. Dr. Danvers could retire, and I’d take over as the pack doctor. But even if I didn’t want that, it wouldn’t make me or anyone else lesser than Lexia.”

For a moment, silence filled the room. Then Tony clapped, followed by Dylan and Kyle. Even Bradley, oblivious to the conversation, clapped with a mouthful of garlic bread. Tanya beamed at me, as if I had just revealed the secrets of the universe.

“Thank you, Rose, for putting that point across,” Josie said warmly. “It means a lot to me that my daughter was able to hear such an inspiring speech.”

I smiled at her just as Lorraine walked in, carrying a steaming pot of spaghetti. The rest of dinner passed with Aiden brooding in silence while everyone else exchanged stories.

I could see resentment building in his stormy eyes. But why should I feel guilty about enjoying time with his family? So I steadily did my best to ignore him, exchanging jokes with the Sinclair siblings. Let him glower.

The conversation slowly shifted to the circus which was coming to town.

“What do you think, Aiden?” Kyle queried, turning to his older brother who had been alternating between glaring at me and his plate of pasta.

“Think about what?” Aiden asked, tearing his gaze from me and looking at Kyle.

Had he really not been paying attention to the entire conversation?

“About us going to the circus! It’s coming next month, and we could all go together as a family!” Kyle pleaded.

Aiden’s gaze flickered to Tanya, Kyle, and Dylan, who was pretending to be uninterested but failing miserably. Even Brad had paused mid-spaghetti slurp, his eyes hopeful.

Leaning back in his chair, Aiden finally spoke. “I don’t mind. We could go. It’ll be a nicefamilyaffair.”

He deliberately locked eyes with me, emphasizingfamily—a pointed reminder that I wasn’t part of it. I looked down at my lap. Josie seemed like she wanted to say something but held back.

“It’ll be a good opportunity for you to bond with Lexia—”

A collective groan rang out.

“Oh, come on, guys!” Aiden exclaimed.

“She’s not a bad person,” Tony spoke up.

Aiden gave him a grateful look.

“She’s just…reserved,” Tony continued. “Lexia is an only child, so she isn’t used to all the chaos.”

“ButRoseis also an only child, and she fits right in!” Tanya huffed.

Not for the first time, I realized children were more perceptive than adults.

“Tanya,” I said softly. “No two people are alike, sweetie. Just because someone is different doesn’t make them bad.”

Josie smiled. “Thank you for such insightful advice, Rose.”

After dinner, as I walked outside, I heard a soft rustling behind me. Turning, I saw a massive silvery-gray wolf standing in the driveway. My breath hitched.

Aiden.