A Luna Scorned

Chapter 20

“I thought you said you didn’t know how to fight?”

“I don’t.” I slipped my clothes back on. We had run two laps around the pack ground with our wolves before ending for the morning.

“Seems to me Nat definitely knows what she is doing.”

“I only said I didn't know how to fight. I never said Nat didn’t.”

“I guess I'll be more specific next time.” Liam laughed. “Hey, are you hungry?”

“Starving! That was a lot of exercise before breakfast.” I huffed. I was still pretty out of breath from the workout.

“Can I take you out for breakfast?”

“Um…” I caught Rachel out of the corner of my eye. The look on her face said that she was plotting my murder.

“Don’t worry about Rachel. I’ll take care of her later. I’m not going to let what happened earlier slide. So, breakfast?”

“Sure. But can I get a shower first?”

“Yep. We wouldn’t want you stinking up the restaurant.” He elbowed me in my ribs. I scoffed and slapped his shoulder with my shirt. I hurried and ran towards the house. Liam, chasing after me. He was much faster than I was and was able to grab me just before I reached the steps. He swung me around and pulled me into his body, tickling my sides. I laughed and fell to the ground.

“STOP!” I cried. Tears streamed down my face as I laughed.

“I’m sorry, I’m not hurting you, am I?” He stopped and knelt down next to me in the grass.

“No.” I laughed and sat up. He pulled me into his lap as he sat on the ground. I caught my breath in his arms. Liam gently brushed the pieces of hair that had fallen free of my bun, out of my face. My stomach began to fill with butterflies. I had such a great morning. Liam was actually a very sweet man. I hoped this wouldn’t end. I looked up at his face. His jaw was so defined and strong, his eyes sweet and soft. The perfect mix of tough and kind. Liam leaned down, his face closing the gap between us. I closed my eyes as our lips met. I had sworn that I was going to make him work for me, but this morning was just so perfect. I would be lying if I said I didn’t want to kiss him. Our lips tangled with each other as his hands flipped me around. I sat straddling his lap, his hands on my behind. His tongue parted my lips as the kiss went deeper. He gently squeezed my butt as I slid my body tighter against his. I could feel him getting turned on underneath me. I pulled myself out of the kiss.

“I'm sorry.” He stood up, picking me up with him.

“Don’t be.” I assured him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pecked his cheek. “I’m going to go get cleaned up. You still want to take me for breakfast?”

“Yes ma’am.” He escorted me up the stairs and to my bedroom door. “I’ll meet you back here in a half hour? Is that enough time?”

“Yes.” I laughed. He kissed my cheek and left for his room.

Forty five minutes had passed. I was cleaned up and ready to go, just fiddling with my makeup, waiting for Liam. I was definitely going to have to have Ari show me a thing or two. I had picked up a couple of things from her, but I still had a lot to learn. I sighed and got up from my vanity.

“I think he bailed again, Nat.”

“No. Just wait a minute”. She begged. I paced in my room until I couldn’t stand it any longer. I was going to see if he was still in his room. I stepped out into the hallway just as Rachel was coming out of Liam’s room. She stormed past me, slamming her shoulder into my chest as she went by. I could see her eyes were red and puffy.

“He was with her again, Nat.”

“No, I don’t think he was Ky. Believe me.” Nat begged.

“She just came out of his room. How much more proof do you need? I’m going to grab something to eat. I’m not waiting for him.” I started down the hall, rubbing my chest. Rachel sure had a bony shoulder.

“Kyrie! Wait”. Liam rushed up behind me.

“I’m going to get some breakfast.” I huffed.

“You saw her, didn’t you?”

“Yep.” He grabbed my arm and pulled me around to face him.

“Kyrie, it’s not what you think.”

“I didn’t think it was anything.”

“Yes, you did. I can tell you’re upset. You have to believe me. It wasn’t what you’re thinking it was.” I folded my arms across my chest and stared at him. “I was in the shower and she had gotten into my room. She tried to shower with me, but I told her to leave. She tried to fool around, but I got angry with her. I got angry about what happened at training today, and I told her we’re over. It’s the truth Kyrie.” His eyes were pleading with me.

“I only smell her scent faintly Ky. I think he’s telling the truth. I don’t think he was with her like that. She was crying when she left his room. I think we should believe him.” I sighed and threw my head back, glaring at the ceiling. She was upset when she left his room. I don’t think she would be that upset if they had slept together.

“Okay. I’m sorry.” I finally said, dropping my arms at my sides.

“Why are you sorry? I know what it looked like. I don’t blame you for thinking that way. I’m sorry I am late. Are you ready to go? You’re still hungry, right?” He questioned.

“Yes, let me grab my bag.”

“You can grab your bag, but I’m buying.” A wave of relief washed over his face.

We slid into a booth at the diner I had eaten alone at a few days ago.

"I love this place. It's a little, um, vintage. But the food is great." Liam shared.

"Yeah. I ate here the day you stood me up." Liam put his head in his hands.

"I'm sorry about that. I never meant to bail on you."

"It's fine." I browsed the menu.

"No, Kyrie, it's not. I have been a royal jerk. Rachel just has this way of stopping me. But I'm getting better at holding my ground. I know what I want now. I want you. Now that I know, it's easier for me to reject her advances. Colt wants you, and Nat. I have been wrestling with him since our first time together. No, since we first saw you, rather. Colt was never in love with Shay."

"Who's Shay?" I interrupted.

"Rachel's wolf."

"So, what made you decide on me?"

"It's like I said yesterday. I caught a glimpse of what my life would be like with you. You reminded me of everything I have given up. What my life was like before I dropped everything for Rachel. I want that. I want you. Colt is head over heels for Nat."

"But that's only because of the mate bond".

"No. It's not."

"You know it's not, Ky. I want Colt. I love Colt. He was paired for me, just like Liam was paired for you. Your human emotions make things too complicated sometimes." Nat interjected.

"Maybe it's the mate bond that makes things too complicated, Nat. Look at all the trouble that it has caused us."

"Or is it the human emotions? I can keep this up all day, Ky. You can't prove yourself right, and I can't prove myself right, but neither of us can prove the other wrong. It's a battle that would never end. But what we do know is that there is a bond. One wolf, one person, has been hand selected for us. To make us stronger, to compliment us, to complete us. You cannot deny it isn't true. I know you feel it. I feel it." Dang wolf. She was right. I couldn't argue with her.

"Everything okay?" Liam pulled me away from Nat.

"Well hi honey. How are you today?" The waitress from last time greeted me.

"I'm well, thank you. How have you been?"

"Good hon. What can I get you two?" Liam looked at me and gestured for me to order first.

"I'll have two chocolate chip pancakes, a ham and cheese omelet with bell pepper and tomato, a side of bacon and a hot chocolate, please." I smiled at her.

"And for you?" She looked at Liam.

"That sounds good. I'll have the same, but instead of the hot chocolate, I'll have a large orange juice and a coffee."

"Alright. I'll have it right out." She smiled and waltzed away with our menus.

"I like her." I said.

"Yeah. She's pretty cool".

"Here is your hot chocolate Honey, and for you, an orange juice and a coffee." She set a small cup of cream and some sugar packets on the table by Liam.

"I meant what I said, Kyrie. I want you. I will work hard to earn your trust, and hopefully your love. We are meant for each other. I believe that whole heartedly. You are bringing me back to who I used to be before Rachel. I can enjoy the things I used to enjoy before. You know why? Because we are made for each other. We like the same things. We are the same, Kyrie. I will spend the rest of my life trying to prove to you that I choose you. I can never apologize enough for what I put you through." He poured three sugar packets in his coffee and filled the cup to the brim with cream. The liquid went from a dark black, so a very light, milk chocolate color.

"I never understood why people drink something they have to add so many other things too to make it taste good." My mind wandered off topic.

"It tastes good now." Liam chuckled and carefully sipped at his overflowing mug. He looked at me earnestly.

"You are sure I am the one you want?"

"I am."

"Believe him." Natalie interjected.

"You promise me you are completely done with Rachel?"

"I do. But I cannot promise that she still won't try to cozy up with me. That is not an excuse. So don't think I am trying to get away with something. I cannot control her actions. Before she left my room this morning she said that she will make me hers. I have no doubt that she will do everything she can to make that happen. But I promise you, it won't. Not on my end, at least." He sounded truthful. Not that truth really had a sound. But I felt a warmth at his words. A peaceful feeling. Like I believed that I could trust him. That what he was saying was the truth. I sipped my hot chocolate and stared into the cup.

"Kyrie, I want you to be careful. I don't know what Rachel is capable of, but I know she can be nasty. She isn't used to not getting what she wants."

"Yeah, Sandie said the same thing."

"Well, Sandie would know best. She has been Rachel's best friend for years. I'm going to have Riley watch out for you when I can't. I don't think she would harm you, but I don't want to take any chances. I don't want to scare you at all. So please don't be scared. I just want to be sure."

"Okay." I submitted. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"What exactly did Riley say to you? I mean...you were all about Rachel until he came to you. What happened?"

"I had been trying to break free of Rachel since the day at the lake. But she wouldn't let me out of her sight. I know that sounds like a lame excuse, but it's the truth. I fall back into our routine when she's around. That's been my normal for eleven years. It was what was comfortable. Riley came to me and said I was going to lose you. That you already had one foot out the door and that I was being a fool. He was angrier than I've ever seen him before. I asked him what had happened, but he said he wasn't at liberty to say. All he would say was that I was being an i***t. I finally demanded that he tell me. Alpha's orders, ya know. He told me about your conversation. How you had accepted that I chose Rachel, that it was easier for you to see her and I together and that you were just waiting here until I marked her or rejected you. It was like a slap in the face. I hadn't chosen Rachel. I know it looked that way, but I really hadn't. I was conflicted. On one hand, I had my girlfriend of eleven years. I love her, but I'm not in love with her. If that makes sense. I've known her for so long, I do really care about her."

"But you've slept with her?" I interrupted.

"Yes, I have." His cheeks began to turn red. "But just because I slept with her doesn't mean I loved her. That sounds bad. We were a couple, and did things couples do. But we had an agreement that it was just until we found our true mates. We agreed to never fall in love with each other. I never intended her to be Luna. She just sort of stepped into the role. She was good at it, so I never stopped her. We were heading towards chosen mates. But I just couldn't bring myself to mark her. I wanted to find my destined mate. That's why we've been together for so long and not marked. She tried to mark me a few times, but I always stopped her. Riley made me wake up. The thought of losing you hurt me and Colt. Knowing that you had accepted Rachel and I together sent Colt into a rage. He was furious with me. He thought I screwed up beyond repair. I thought I screwed up beyond repair. I realized then, what I really wanted, and that is you."

"Not just because of the bond?"

"No. Not just because of the bond. You are everything I've always wanted in a mate. I just lost sight of what I wanted and settled for what I had. I don't want to settle."

"Neither do I."

"Here you go." The waitress laid our plates on the table and disappeared into the kitchen as she always did.

"Geez Kyrie." Liam laughed as he looked at our spread. "Are you really going to eat all of that?"

"Just watch me." I snickered as I dug into my breakfast.

An: Sorry this chapter is so late guys. I've been traveling for the holidays and couldn't find the time to get this to you all until now! Happy Holidays!