Page 27 of His Fated Luna

I faltered. She looked so pale, so fragile lying there. Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I walked closer.

“Hey,” I said softly.

Her eyes popped open, glittering emeralds staring back at me.

“Hey,” she croaked, grimacing in pain.

I swallowed hard, remembering the terror that gripped me when I clawed through that tent to reach her and Tanya. I’d been terrified for my sister’s life and for Rose’s too.

“Why’d you do it, Rose?” I blurted out. “You could have sent any other werewolf in to help. Why did you risk your life?”

“To…to have nothing…you don’t know what…feels like,” she struggled to say, her throat spasming. “I was alone…now…my…pack.”

I inhaled sharply. She meant every word. She had gone from having no one to everyone. I couldn’t pretend to understand that feeling. But I could understand that she would have done the same for any wolf in our pack.

I reached out a hand to touch her but stopped myself.

“Thank you, Rose,” I said quietly, pulling up a chair beside her bed. “Thank you for being part of our pack and for…for saving my little sister. I couldn’t have gotten Mom and Tanya both out safely if you hadn’t rushed in. I just wish you hadn’t been the one to risk your life. You haven’t turned yet. You’re still weak.”

I wouldn’t yell at her. Wouldn’t forbid her from trying something like that again. I wouldn’t tell her that this wasn’t one of her storybooks where the hero always made it out alive. But I would show gratitude.

Gratitude for almost dying. The thought made me bitter.

“Stronger than…you…think,” she murmured, her piercing green eyes making my chest tighten.

I inclined my head, unwilling to argue when she was still recovering. But every part of me wanted to rage at her, to tell her never to pull a stunt like that again.

“I’m sure you are, Rose,” I said finally, forcing a strained smile.

“Awful…liar,” she whispered before closing her eyes.

A small puff of laughter escaped my lips.

She really was something else. I sat there, watching her with her eyes closed, and a fierce possessiveness flared inside me. I wanted to protect her, to keep her safe. More than anything, I wanted to lock her away until she stopped trying to be a hero. Taken aback by the instinct, I leaned back in my chair, reminding myself this was the twenty-first century. I wasn’t some primitive wolf from the dark ages.

Soon, a nurse came in and shooed me away so she could rest. I left reluctantly.

Outside, I saw Hilda resting her head on Ezra’s shoulder, her eyes closed. Again, my eyes narrowed. How long has this been going on? And why did I even care?

Because Rose would care when she found out.

The thought made me scowl. And why did I care if she cared?

Because she’s your mate,that annoying voice in my head whispered again.

Growling to myself, I walked towards Tony who stood chatting up the receptionist. Leave it to Tony to flirt with anything that had a pussy. After a censorious look from me, he joined me to walk towards the car.

As we drove home, Tony finally spoke.

“They practically raised a child together. This was bound to happen.” He had picked up on my irritation regarding Ezra and Hilda. “They were bound to fall for each other.”

“They shouldn’t hide it,” I muttered.

“They’re still adjusting. Hilda was confused for a while. It’s her late sister’s husband. There’s gotta be a law against that somewhere,” Tony joked. “She felt guilty. Thought she was betraying her sister.”

“Not if the sister’s dead,” I said flatly. “They shouldn’t hide it from Rose.”

“It’s not our place to decide what they should do,” Tony pointed out.