Moon God Mates

Chapter 15

IRIS’ POV:

“Die, Die!" James yells from the kitchen counter as he shoves a dinosaur nugget into his mouth.

When should I become concerned about a young boy's aggression?

I type the question into the search engine on my phone. After ten minutes of reading about kids growing up to be serial killers, I throw my phone on the couch. I need to stop trying to look up answers to parenting on the internet; all it leaves me with are unanswered questions and anxiety.

I focus on cleaning up the rest of my mom’s mess from the night before. She wasn’t happy when she got home. Last night's conversation went something like, “How dare you not tell me... making me look like a fool.” What was she expecting? That I texted her we were closing early when I didn't want her there in the first place? No thanks. Besides, I was a little distracted.

A smile emerges on my lips at the thought of Mason. Our time together is always perfect, and I cannot get over the way he makes me feel. For the first time in a long time, I feel genuinely cared for. This is different than with James’s father, Luke; I thought we were in love, but now I am not so sure. If the strong pull I feel towards Mason means anything like love, then I don’t think I have ever...

A loud banging on the door pulls me out of my thoughts. I look over at the clock on the stove, checking the time. It’s a little past noon. I am not expecting anyone, and I don't have to be at work for a few hours, so I know it isn’t Ana. Besides, since when does Ana knock and wait? She would walk in. I narrow my eyes in confusion as I walk over to the door.

I creak the door open, looking out, and as soon as his face hits me, I almost fall back on my ass. His black curly hair is still as shiny as ever, just a little longer now, and his blue eyes are piercing. I try to catch my breath, knowing my face has gone pale as if I have seen a ghost.

"Pull yourself together, Iris," I warn myself. I clear my throat, hoping it will help me compose myself. I keep the door half-cracked as I turn to address James. "Honey," my voice cracks, so I clear it again, "finish your food. Mommy will be right outside."

I step out onto the porch, in front of the man I thought I’d never see again. Once I calm myself down enough, I pinch myself on the arm just to be sure I am not dreaming. I get a good look at him. Luke looks the same as he did five years ago; sharp jaw and stunning blue eyes. Only now he looks like he has been through hell and back. His shirt is torn, and he is covered in dirt; he also has red splattered on his hands. Is that blood? I shiver at the sight of him.

“What happened to you?” I finally speak as I reach for his shirt. He grabs my hand in his, bringing it up to his lips, before laying a gentle kiss on my knuckles. I am momentarily stunned and don't have time to react before he pulls my body flush against his for a hug.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers in my hair, “I’ll explain everything, Iris. I’m so sorry I left.” Luke kisses the top of my head, “I’m sorry for hurting you; I just couldn’t...”

I regain my composure and cut him off, pulling out of his embrace, “I was referring to this,” I gesture to his torn-up clothes. “But I guess you can explain leaving too, while you're at it.” I finish and cross my arms over my chest. Who the hell does he think he is? Showing up here after years! He has never even met his son, let alone reached out to us, and he just shows up and what?

Well, what exactly?

“Why are you here, Luke?”

“Iris, please? Can we sit and talk? There is so much I need to tell you, so much I need to make up for. But it is not safe out here,” Luke looks around cautiously, “Please let me come in so we can talk.”

I look around the street, “What the hell do you mean it’s not safe? What did you do, Luke?” I don't see anything out of the ordinary, but the look on Luke's face right now tells me there is danger lurking. Did this guy bring his problems to me!? Seriously?

I am not doing this. I can't afford to risk my and my son's safety for a man I don't even know anymore! As if Luke knows I’m about to protest, he puts his hand on my arm, leaving me with a burning feeling from his contact, “Please let me in,” he says, “Hear me out. If you still want nothing to do with me, I’ll be gone, I promise you. This is the first time in five years that I’ve had a chance to see you; please just hear me out.” I am confused about the way my body reacts to him, it's not a burning need like it is with Mason, but it's still a burning feeling. But, right now I am more concerned by what he just said. What did he mean this was his first chance to see me? Was he being held captive or something?

I cross my arms over my chest because I don't like this, but I don't know if I can live with myself without knowing why….

“Fine,” I say.

“You have five minutes and not a second more!” I don't wait for him to reply before I turn back again and go inside, shutting the door in Luke's face. I have waited for years for an explanation. He can wait a minute for me.

“Hey buddy, are you all done?” I make my way over to James.

“Yuuupppppp,” he sings.

“Alright.” I take his plate from him and set it in the sink. “Why don’t you go in the room and watch some cartoons?” I ask.

Without a response, James jumps off the chair and disappears into the room. This kid loves his TV time, especially when he gets more than the hour a day.

“I’ll be right in the living room, okay? Call me if you need me.” I call to him, “Okay Mommy!” he hollers back.

Once I hear the TV playing, I look back at the front door like it's got venom on the other side of it.

☾☾☾

"Do you want something to drink?" I fidget with my fingers.

"Some water would be great." Luke settles onto the sofa.

I pour a glass, make my way over and hand it to him before sitting awkwardly on a chair in front of him. I forgot how good-looking he is, even though right now he looks exhausted. I watch as he downs the water in one gulp. I get up to refill it; this time he takes smaller drinks but still finishes the glass.

"Should I just bring the gallon?" I try to joke, hoping this will help ease some of the tension in the room. This is just weird; I don't even know the man I thought I once loved. And now that I have met Mason, I'm not sure that was even love in the first place.

"Knowing you, you're probably angry." Luke breaks the silence first, and I give him a 'No s**t, asshole' look. "You have every right to be." Damn right, I do!

"But, Iris," he scoots a bit closer towards me, "There is a lot that you don't know; it's hard for me to explain." His eyes never leave mine. "I left for your safety and the safety of our baby." He finally breaks eye contact and looks towards the room James is in.

I can see just how much this is hurting him. I can't explain why, but I have always known exactly how Luke is feeling; I mean, there was a time when he was my Best Friend. I know it killed him to be away from his child; his eyes give that much away. I also know that Luke wanted nothing more than a family; so then why? Why did he leave?

"Safety from what, Luke? You left, with no explanation at all. Hell, you didn't even stick around to meet James."

"So, you did stick with the name my father chose?" Luke gives me his most sincere smile, but there is something else that I cannot decipher this time. That was our plan, to name James after Luke's grandfather. His dad was so adamant about the name that I never questioned it. Besides, Leon, Luke's father, was the only family Luke had, and Luke did everything to make his dad proud.

"I don't get why you're here. It's been five years; why now? What do you expect to come out of this visit?" Luke scoots to the edge of the sofa, taking my hands into his; that burning comes back once more from his touch.

We lock eyes, and somehow I feel as close to him now as I was to him so long ago.

"Iris, when I left, I didn't have a choice." He sighs before his eyes go hard. "Some bad people came to town and chased me off. I had nowhere to go, and I knew I couldn't drag you along with me with nothing; when you were pregnant." He bows his head before looking back up at me. "I also knew that you would have come, anyway." He sighs with regret. "You would have run away to nothing with me, and I couldn't do that to you. I wouldn't do that to our son."

His blue eyes are calm again. He is right; I would have followed him anywhere, with only the clothes on my back, as long as we were together. But that was then, and this is now.

"I am a Rogue, Iris. You might not understand that now, but you will; just give me time. I got myself together; I got a house just outside of town. It has a little playset in the back for James to play on and a lake on the property that you can swim in." He reaches up to wipe a tear off my cheek, that I had not realized had fallen.

"Iris, there is so much I need to explain, and I will. I will tell you everything you want to know, just not here; we have to go."

"Wh... what?" I pull my hands out of his grasp. "Go? I can't just leave with you."

"We have to. It's not-"

"Not safe here," I finished for him. "You keep saying that, but you're not telling me anything! Why? Why is it not safe here?" I stood and moved away from him, pacing the length of the room.

"Do you care, Luke?" I turned my attention to him. "You're here to protect us, right? Then tell me, why? Tell me why it's not safe!" I plead.

Luke flinches at my tone and I hear the room door opening. Before I can stop him James comes running out of the room and into my arms, making me realize how loud I might have just been.

I see the pause in Luke's eyes as he looks between me and James. I am stuck like a statue when Luke finally approaches us. He bends so he is at eye level with James and holds out his hand to him.

James looks up at me, and I nod my head in approval, though I’m not sure why. His tiny hand folds into Lukes and they shake like strangers meeting for the first time, not at all like father and son.

"Hello, little man. I have waited a very long time to meet you. I am Luke." A tear slides down Lukes face and I never realized the beautiful hue his eyes held before.