Page 47 of His Fated Luna

When I finally dared to glance at him, he was staring at me. Not with his usual frustration or indifference, but with something new. Something unreadable.

His lips parted slightly, like he wanted to say something, but no words came.

I knew Aiden’s type—Lexia was bold, confident, unshaken by anything. But I wasn’t her. I was different, more reserved, more unsure. His hands on my waist made me wonder if he was disappointed at the way his fingers melted into my curves.

And for the first time, he probably noticed how woefully inadequate I was when it came to men.

Finally, he cleared his throat and took a small step back.His fingers tightened on my waist. “Thanks. For helping me.”

I nodded. “Of course.”

Finally, his fingers fell away and the mate sparks sizzling to life disappeared. He hesitated before turning toward the door. But as he walked away, I felt as if he was taking a piece of my heart with him. It would be so easy to hate him if he remained the asshole he always had been. But he wasn’t. He was willing to acknowledge when he was wrong. And that reluctant acceptance that his initial assumptions about me had been mistaken were making me fall for this man. I closed my eyes and leaned against the far wall once Aiden was gone.

“Shit,” I muttered under my breath, realizing I was helpless to fight this pull to him.

Chapter 18

"In all the world, there is no heart for me like yours. In all the world, there is no love for you like mine." –Maya Angelou

Rose's POV

I arrived early for my lab class, taking the extra time to go over my end-of-term paper one last time before our professor arrived. My fingers drummed lightly against the edge of my notebook as I reread my analysis. It had to be flawless. The moment Professor Dodson walked through the door, I would turn it in.

A familiar scent hit me, making my heart jolt. Jake.

He slid into the seat beside me. I had been doing so well at avoiding him.

“Hey,” he whispered.

I forced myself to look up, pasting on a smile I hoped seemed cheerful. “Hey.”

“I haven’t seen you in a while,” Jake said, his voice edged with something…hopeful. “I just wanted to make sure we’re good.”

“We’re good.” I kept my tone light, even as I returned my focus to my paper. “Why would you think we weren’t?”

Jake lifted a brow. “Well, when you requested a change of lab partners, I thought you were angry.”

I kept my expression neutral. “No… I didn’t request the change. Professor Dodson thought it was better to pair me with Marissa since she needs extra help.” I went back, looking at my paper and with a steady voice I asked, “Why would you think we weren’t?”

“Uh-huh,” Jake said, his voice laced with disbelief. “That’s not what Professor Dodson told me when he asked if I’d done anything to make you feel uncomfortable.” His gaze was sharp, searching my face.

I let out a dry, humorless laugh, meeting his eyes with a sardonic tilt of my lips. “I can’t control what our professor thinks. I didn’t say anything, and I didn’t accuse you of anything, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

I looked back down at my paper, but I jumped slightly when Jake placed his hand over mine.

“Rose, I didn’t say you did. He was just being cautious. There’ve been cases of harassment on campus before,” he explained. “He told me you suggested partnering with Marissa because she failed her mid-term.” Jake hesitated. “I just…get the feeling you’re upset with me.”

“Why would I?” I asked, pretending to read my paper.

Jake sighed. “Because I’m an idiot.”

That made me glance at him. He was staring at me intently now.

“Rose, just because I didn’t like you then doesn’t mean I don’t…” He swallowed, leaning in slightly, his voice low near my ear. “It doesn’t mean I don’t like younow. But you’re my cousin’s mate. I…I know you’ll end up with him eventually.”

A bitter laugh slipped from my lips before I could stop it. “I doubt it,” I muttered grimly.

I wanted to say more, to set the record straight once and for all, but before I could, our professor entered the room.