A Luna Scorned

Chapter 13

“Hey guys. Sit down. I made a roast for dinner. It should be done any minute now.” My mom was trying her hardest to seem normal.

“Thank you Luna Winters. You didn’t need to make us dinner.” Riley tried to break the tension. My mom looked at me, her eyes filled with questions and worry.

“Luna Winters, is there anything that I can help you with?” Liam asked as he pulled out my chair for me to sit. Luke sat across from me, his eyes searching me for answers.

“No, Alpha Flint. Thank you for offering. But I have everything set. Ty, would you mind cutting up the roast for me? Please.” My mom set down a bowl of roasted potatoes and a bowl of carrots on the table.

“Please, call me Liam.” He smiled at my mother, and I could sense her relax slightly. The air was so thick with everyone wondering if I was okay and what was going on. We had come in the room hand in hand and everyone was shocked and dying to know what was going on.

“So um…” Immediately everyone stopped what they were doing and all eyes were on me. Liam sat down next to me, his hand on my thigh. Riley smiled, and I knew he knew what I was about to say. “Liam and I had a little talk. I know you’re all dying to know what’s going on. I want dinner to be nice and relaxed. So, I’m going to get it all out now. Liam has assured me that he does want me as a mate. It still hurts me to know that I will be hurting someone else while Liam and I pursue each other. But I am dedicated to Liam to help her in any way that I can. I have decided to return back with Liam. We are going to try to make this work. I know you guys have some doubts, but I’m asking you to please trust that I am making the best decision for myself that I can. I don’t want anyone to have any anger or resentment towards Liam, now or in the future should things not work out between us. Now please, can everyone loosen up so that we can enjoy dinner?”

“Well well, aren’t you quite the diplomat.” Riley joked. “You will make an amazing Luna.”

“She sure will!” Luke said

“Well, she was trained by the best. My father winked at me as he smiled at my mother.”

“I’m hardly the best.” My mother blushed. The air was already beginning to thin out and tensions were releasing. I could tell that Luke was still a little frustrated, but he was trying hard to put aside his anger and reservations, and I was proud of him for doing so.

The rest of dinner was spent in jokes and laughter. Everyone was getting along and I couldn’t help but think that this was how life was supposed to be. Luke excused himself from the table and I saw this as my opportunity to speak with him one on one.

“Luke!” I followed him out into the hallway. He turned and wrapped me in a big hug.

“Is this really what you want, sis?” he whispered in my ear.

“Yes.” I said as I pulled out of his arms. “I really do.”

“What exactly happened?” He led me over to the stairs and we sat down. “Mom kind of explained a little, and Liam and Riley a little more when they arrived. But I want to hear it from you.”

“Did you know Liam had a girlfriend?”

“I heard about it before you guys left. I mean, the showdown on the stairs was a big clue.” He chuckled.

“Well, I saw them from my bedroom window, right before that showdown. I didn’t want to be a homewrecker. I didn’t want to come between a man and his girl. I begged Liam to reject me, well...you saw. He didn’t.” Luke laughed a little, then rubbed my back as I continued. “It was the same when I left. He was doting over Rachel the whole time. Treating me as a mistress, and her as his Luna. She was even sitting in the Luna chair beside him during meals, and he didn’t try to make her move. He promised to kick her out of the pack house, but didn’t, it was all lies.”

“I’m gonna kill him.” Luke clenched his fists and stood up. I grabbed his shirt and tugged him back down.

“Chill out.” I laughed. “Anyway, I met Reily’s family. They are great people. His brother, Cole, and sister, Ari, took me out and showed me around the pack. We went shopping and Ari helped me buy a bunch of new clothes. She got me all dolled up with makeup and everything. She said she was going to help me make Liam wish I was his and not Rachel.”

“You wore makeup?”

“And a dress!”

“And a dress? Man, I’m bummed I missed that. I would have paid to see you in a dress!” He nudged my ribs playfully.

“I know you would have. I looked amazing. I’m going to have her teach me a thing or two about getting all dolled up.”

“You always look amazing.”

“Thanks, but really...I looked amazing. All eyes were on me at dinner. It felt wonderful. But that is where things really got nasty. Liam got jealous that everyone was staring at me. Rachel went to sit next to him and he stopped her. We had had a confrontation earlier in the day. I chewed him out for treating me like a mistress. It was in front of the whole pack. He was angry and he should have been. I defied an Alpha. I told him he wasn’t my alpha or mate and I didn’t have to obey him.”

“Oh man!” Luke giggled. “You were asking for trouble.”

“I really wasn’t. I just got upset and emotional and it all came out in that moment. Anyway, he was already mad at me and started to take it out on Rachel. I felt bad for her so I got up and told him to let her sit there, as it was her chair. He said it was my chair and that that would be the last time she would be allowed to sit there. At first I was happy, but then I saw her start to cry and I realized that I was hurting her. I just waltzed in there and took her man and was taking her Luna spot. I left dinner and Liam followed me. He got angry with me, and at that moment, I was done with it all. I just wanted to be gone. I didn’t want anyone to hurt because of me. So I left.”

“I’m sorry this is so difficult for you. I hate that finding your mate wasn’t as enjoyable as it should have been.”

“Yeah, I am too. But look, I need you to promise me something.”

“Anything Ky.”

“If I should ever leave Liam’s pack again, I need you to promise me that you won't blame Liam. You won't get angry and you won't retaliate against him or the pack.”

“I can’t promise that.”

“Luke, I need you to. If I leave again, it is because he and Rachel chose each other. I can’t blame him for choosing her. They’ve been together for eleven years.”

“Woah.” He whistled.

“Yeah. That’s what makes this so hard. They have been together a lifetime almost. It’s hard for them to let go and forget how their lives have been for so long. I can’t blame him, or be angry at him for choosing her. I’m asking you to feel the same way.” After a long pause, Luke finally sighed.

“I will promise you that I will not retaliate, or harm Liam or the pack. But I cannot promise that I won’t like the guy.”

“I’m not asking you to like him. Just don’t blame him. If I leave, it’s because I chose too. We all know Liam would keep Rachel and I both, if I would agree to it. But I won’t live like that and he knows it.”

“Deal.” We embraced on the stairs for a little while before I finally excused myself.

“I should probably get back to them.”

“Yep, dad is probably giving him the whole, ‘what are your intentions with my daughter routine.” I laughed.

“Everything okay?” Liam asked me as I sat down.

“Yeah. Just some sibling love.” He rubbed my back and I couldn’t help but feel like this was where I belonged. Liam was showing me a side that I had really only seen him show Rachel. It was nice to finally be on the receiving end of his love instead of the anger.

“Luna Winters, this has been the most delicious chocolate pie I have ever had the pleasure of eating. Thank you so much for this wonderful meal, but we should really be leaving now.”

“You’re more than welcome. It’s pretty late and you guys have a long drive ahead of you. Why don’t you just stay the night?” My mother got up to clear dishes. Liam quickly hopped up and grabbed a few dishes. He shot a glance at Reily who quickly followed suit.

“It’s only a couple of hours.”

“I insist, you both are more than welcome to the spare rooms.” My father chimed in.

“Please Liam? Just the night. We can leave first thing in the morning, but please give me one last night here.” I begged. Liam smiled and kissed my forehead.

“If that’s what you want, that’s what we’ll do. Reily, you’re okay with staying the night?”

“If breakfast is anything like dinner was, I'm more than fine with it.”

“Well, that’s settled then. Luke, would you please show the boys to their rooms?” Luke had just walked back in the room and immediately turned heel and motioned for Liam and Reily to follow him. Maybe things would work out after all.