Page 98 of His Fated Luna

She sighed.

“Let’s go catch the last song?” Jake offered, polite but forced. His eyes flicked to mine, asking for permission like I was some kind of gatekeeper.

“I’ll take good care of her,” he added, looking to me.

I wanted to punch him.

Rose's POV

My heart clenched with guilt. I was doing to Jake what Aiden had been doing to me—keeping him close because I needed him, even though I didn’t feel the same way. So I found myself being extra nice to Jake, like it was my way of making up for the imbalance, for not returning his feelings but still wanting him in my life.

Aiden waved us off with an easy shrug, then added, “Keep your hands off my girl,” as Jake and I turned to leave.

I couldn’t help the stupid grin on my face. It felt good hearing him sound so possessive. The truth was, I liked that protective edge in his voice. Jake gave a stiff nod and walked with me, a little unsteady from the drinks, as we made our way toward the stage, trying to get to the front.

That’s when I saw him.

A balding, heavyset man stood near the front of the crowd. For one terrifying moment, it felt like Ray. The same man from my kidnapping. My stomach dropped. I blinked—and he was gone. Had he really been there? Was he looking straight at me?

Panic seized me, sharp and cold. My breath came in short, painful gasps. I couldn’t move.

“Are you OK?” Jake asked, his voice cutting through the haze as he noticed my face drain of color.

The crowd was closing in. I couldn’t breathe.

“I… I need air,” I choked out, my earlier buzz obliterated by a rush of sheer, paralyzing fear.

Jake pulled me off to the side, and the second I was out of the crush of bodies, my legs gave out. I dropped to the ground and wrapped my arms around myself, trying to breathe, to calm down. Aiden was here somewhere… he wouldn’t let anything happen to me.

Just thinking of him—Aiden—helped. My breath began to steady. The tears spilled freely now, silent and hot. It had to havebeen a hallucination. But what did that say about me? Was I really so unstable that I was seeing my kidnappers in crowds?

Jake dropped down beside me, gently pulling me into his chest. His arm went around my shoulders, grounding me.

“Rose,” he murmured, patting my cheek softly, “I don’t know what scared you, but it’s OK. Do you want me to take you back to Aiden?”

I shook my head. Aiden had been having such a good time—I didn’t want to ruin it by dumping my panic attack on him. My fear was ebbing, but traces still lingered like smoke in my chest. I’d be fine. It had to be the alcohol messing with my head.

Then everything happened at once.

Jake was yanked away from me and slammed with a punch to the face. I screamed, horrified.

“I fucking told you to keep your hands off my girl!” Aiden roared.

My fear vanished in an instant, replaced by fury.

“What the hell?” I rushed to Jake’s side, glaring up at Aiden. “He was comforting me!”

Jake held his jaw, clearly in pain. I turned on Aiden, shaking with anger. “I can’t believe you just hit him!”

“He had his paws all over you!” he growled.

I stomped my boot against the ground, practically trembling with rage. This was so unfair. Jake had been nothing but kind.

“Just because you’re an alpha doesn’t mean everyone has to bow to your will,” I hissed under my breath, keeping my voice low enough that no humans could overhear. “There was no need to punch him!” I finished, louder this time.

I placed a gentle hand on Jake’s arm. I saw the way Aiden clenched his fists, how close he was to tearing me away from Jake. Too fucking bad. He couldn’t just hit people because he was angry!

“Let me see,” I said softly. When Jake moved his hand, blood trickled from his lip, and I winced. This was bad.