Rejected Luna's Comeback

chapter 7

I groaned and gripped my head firmly as a sudden headache nearly made me cry. I sighed as I got up from the bed and saw Chloe curled up at the foot of the bed. It seemed like she hadn't gone back home either. I had cried myself to sleep with Chloe beside me. She hadn't pressured me to talk and I didn't know when I finally drifted off.

I decided to take a bath and went to the bathroom, feeling sore all over. I pondered why I had cried so much — it was worse than when Hunter had rejected me. He always found a way to make me cry, and every time I gave in to him.

I finished my bath and wrapped my wet hair in a white towel before returning to my room. Chloe was just getting up from the bed, stretching and yawning.

"You're awake," she said, and I nodded, sitting down at the dressing table. "How are you feeling now?" she asked.

"Much better. And I'm sorry about last night — that was such a mess. You were having a good time and I snatched that away from you," I said, and she smiled, waving her hand dismissively.

"It's fine. All that matters is that you're okay. I'm not concerned about the rest," she said and I chuckled.

We suddenly heard a knock at the door and both turned to look.

"Come in!" I called, and the door swung open. My mother walked in with a smile on her face.

"You girls left without telling anyone. I was worried, only to come home and find the both of you fast asleep. Were you drunk?" she asked, and we both laughed.

"I'm sorry, Mom. I didn't mean to worry you," I said and she smiled.

"Breakfast is ready. Go wash up, Chloe, and then the both of you come down," my mother said. We nodded and she left, pulling the door closed behind her.

"I should go wash up. I could really use breakfast right now," Chloe said and I chuckled.

"Yes, you should," I agreed, and she disappeared into the bathroom. I quickly dried my hair and pulled on an oversized shirt paired with shorts.

Chloe came out a little while later and I gave her some clothes to wear. Although she was slimmer than me with her model figure, my clothes weren't too big on her. We headed downstairs and found everyone already seated in the dining room.

"What happened yesterday? The two of you just left the party without telling anyone," Gael said suddenly, breaking the silence. All eyes fell on us.

I looked around and laughed awkwardly. "Nothing. I was just tired and wanted to come home. I was feeling sleepy," I lied with a straight face. Gael didn't look convinced, judging by the look he was giving me.

"Are you sure? Alpha Valen was really worried about you — he kept asking after you. Something must have happened with how concerned he was," Gael added.

I looked away, suddenly guilty about how I had treated Valen the night before. I would have to apologize, that was if I ever got to see him again.

"It's nothing, really," I replied. Gael took one last look at me but didn't push further, and I was grateful for that.

I didn't know what I would have said anyway. Not when the person who had driven me out of my manners was none other than Hunter.

"He wants to talk to you when you're feeling better," Gael said, and I let out a quiet breath of relief.

"Do you have his contact? Can I get it?" I asked — only to regret the question the moment it left my mouth.

Apologizing to Valen was the right thing to do, but where would I even start?

*Hey, this is Lola and I'm calling to apologise for treating you badly?*

That would be mortifying.

"Sure," Gael replied and handed me his phone.

"He's a fine young man. Looks responsible too," my mother commented out of nowhere, making me choke on my food.

Had she perhaps misunderstood?

"I think so too. I like him for Lola," Chloe chimed in, and the room fell completely silent.

I wished the ground would split open and swallow me whole.

What were Chloe and my mother doing, openly matchmaking me with Alpha Valen like that? They might not have been embarrassed to say such things out loud, but I certainly was.

After breakfast, we carried the plates to the kitchen and Chloe helped me wash up and put everything back in its place.

"I can't believe you, Chloe," I accused, and knowing exactly what I meant, she only laughed.

"I didn't say anything wrong. Besides, last night was supposed to be about finding you a suitor and from the look of things, you found one," Chloe declared shamelessly, and I could only roll my eyes.

We went back to my room together and I stood there uncertain of what to do. I badly wanted to apologise to Valen but had no idea what I was going to say when I called. Maybe I should just forget about it — but the guilt gnawing at my chest wouldn't let me rest.

"Hey, what's going on with you?" Chloe asked suddenly, and I sighed, sinking onto the bed. I must have zoned out for her to notice.

"It's about Valen. I was a bit rude to him when I was looking for you last night and I don't know what to say when I call him," I confessed, and Chloe narrowed her eyes at me.

"You never told me what actually happened yesterday. You were so... I don't know, what happened?" she asked and I groaned, covering my face.

"I saw Alpha Hunter," I replied, looking everywhere but at her.

"And?" she pressed. I could only sigh, not knowing where to begin.

"Don't tell me you kissed him," Chloe exclaimed, her face painted with disbelief.

"Of course I didn't — but—" I denied outright. I hadn't kissed him, but I had been desperate to. I had been this close to claiming those sinfully tempting lips.

"I think he's toying with me. He knows I'm not fully over him and he's trying to play games," I added, and Chloe sighed, taking my hand.

"That asshole!" she cursed.

"You need to stay away from that man, Lola. He is dangerous for your sanity," she said, and I couldn't agree more. With him hovering around me I would lose my mind sooner rather than later.

"He will never change. Just forget him. Give Valen a chance — he's a good man, and the way he looked out for you last night says a lot. Call him, apologise, and maybe you'll finally get the fairy tale you've always dreamed of," Chloe said, and I laughed softly. A sudden confidence rose in me and I stood up from the bed, grabbing my phone.

"I'll leave you to it. I have a commercial to shoot," Chloe said with a smile.

She picked up her things and walked out of the room. After she left I dialled Valen's number. He picked up on the second ring and my heart skipped, hoping he wouldn't be cold with me.

"Hello," I heard his husky voice.

"It's Lola. I got your contact from my brother," I said, and heard him exhale softly.

Something about his tone made me anxious.

"I asked him to let me know when you were feeling better. How are you doing? I was so worried I barely slept — you were so out of it last night," Valen said, and I sighed. I should have kept my emotions in check, but I had let them get the better of me.

"I'm so sorry for being at my absolute worst. I was just—" I began, only for him to cut me off.

"You don't have to explain yourself, Lola," he said. The way my name sounded from his lips sent goosebumps all the way to my toes.

"I feel horrible for treating you that way when all you did was show concern," I confessed.

"It's okay. As I said, I didn't take it to heart," he assured me, and I felt better immediately.

"Actually, there is something you can do for me if you feel that guilty," he added with a quiet laugh.

"What is it?" I asked — and his next words made me regret asking.

"Go out with me," he said, straightforward and unhesitating.

"Like a date?" I asked, steadying my racing heart. I wasn't naive enough to miss his intentions, so I needed things to be clear.

"I want to take you out, Lola. I want to get to know you better and I want you to know me too. I'm serious about this — I'm not here to play games," Valen said, and my heart skipped at his words.

It wouldn't hurt to try. And who knew — just as Chloe said, maybe this was the beginning of the fairy tale I had always dreamed of.

"Is seven o'clock okay?" I asked.