Page 78 of His Fated Luna

I hadn’t realized it, but, at some point, Aiden’s wolf had jumped up onto the couch next to me, resting his head onmy knee as I draped my arm over his wolf form. My hand unconsciously clutched his silvery gray fur over his neck, trying to process this new information. Aiden seemed to be nuzzling my knee, giving me comfort his human form could not.

Dad turned to eye us, viewing the unconscious push and pull dynamic I was suddenly very keenly aware of. I was seeking comfort that Aiden was giving.

Bobbin’s hands reached out, ripping open my shirt, buttons clattering to the ground. His pudgy hands gripped my breasts painfully.

“You can’t run away forever, sugar.”

His voice belied a threat yet to be fulfilled. His eyes were crazed with bloodlust.

I screamed, trying to fight him off, but he was pinning me effectively to the bed.

“When Boss gets here, he’ll want his turn, too.” Bobbin chuckled gleefully.

“NO!” I screamed, trying to fight him. “Get away! NO!”

Somewhere in the foggy recesses of my mind, I heard a voice calling out to me.

“Rose…Rose!”

And my eyes blinked open into the dead of night, Aiden’s hands on my shoulders, his intoxicating smell helping to regulate my emotions. Safe... I was safe. His brown eyes stared back down at me anxiously, and it was then that I realized I wasn’t in the shack anymore. As if to confirm it, I looked around the room blankly in the dark. Aiden reached to turn on the lampon my bedside, and as the room flooded with light, the monsters receded.

I felt foolish. It had just been a nightmare.

“You…were screaming. I thought…” He expelled a breath. “Goddess, I thought somehow someone broke into your room. After what the police told us last night…” He trailed off, looking at me.

Worry was etched into each line of his face.

I was still shaking, unhinged by the dream.

“I think reliving my ordeal brought back…my fear,” I said the last two words in embarrassment.

“It’s all right,” Aiden said gently.

His eyes held more emotion in them than they had this entire week. He wasn’t cold or aloof right now. He was warm, and he was worried about me.

“I was so afraid,” I confessed. “I thought they…it was awful.”

I expelled a breath.

“You were brave,” Aiden said sternly. “It’s OK to be scared, Rose, but I promise you… I’m going to make sure no one can get you again. Trust me.”

It was a plea that left his lips, traveling straight to my heart.

“I do,” I replied honestly, looking into the warm molten whirlpool of his eyes. His gaze suddenly darkened, flitting to the neckline of my silk tank top, taking in the matching silk shorts exposing my thighs. I blushed, feeling self-conscious. It probably wasn’t the best of times to realize Aiden wasn’t wearing a shirt. My eyes trailed his form, fingers itching to run over his taut muscles.

“Are you wearing socks?” I burst out.

“So?” Aiden retorted, cheeks turning pink.

I started laughing uncontrollably.

“Do you wear socks while you sleep?” I snickered.

“My feet get cold.”

His words were defensive, like he’d had this conversation before.

I couldn’t stop laughing.