Page 140 of Crystal Luna

“Thank you,” she whispered before walking ahead and leaving them speechless behind her.

“I-I…” Asher stammered, lost for words as Vel disappeared from sight.

“She kissed us,” Isaiah gasped, fingers brushing his skin as if he could still feel her lips there.

“I think I’m dreaming.”

“I can slap you if you want to wake up, but I kind of want to stay here.”

“Fuck no!”

“I feel like I might faint.”

That made Asher burst into laughter. Not much threw Isaiah off, but one kiss on the cheek had rendered him catatonic. Isaiah punching his shoulder didn’t help defuse the situation.

“Stop laughing, this isn’t funny!”

“It is! Just look at us. Big bad alphas made speechless by a single kiss.”

“This stays between us.”

“I’m not gonna tell.”

The whole way back home, Asher childishly grinned from ear to ear while Isaiah tried to compose his feelings and return to being the badass he was.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Velora

Upon returning from the hike, Velora changed into something comfortable and immediately fell asleep. She was exhausted—mentally and physically. Her head hurt from crying. She hadn’t let herself mourn her parents a lot but on the rare instances she had, it had been tough to be so far away with the Howlers.

She woke up hours later with her stomach growling, so she ventured out for something to eat. Not even halfway down the stairs, she heard Ely’s laugh echo through the house. She’d tried to avoid him, but with him being beta she knew it would only last so long. Not ready to face him yet, she pondered over how hungry she really was. But her stomach answered for her with a loud rumble.

As quietly as she could, she tiptoed down the stairs. Unfortunately, the twins were in the dining room she’d have to pass through and Ely was in the kitchen pouring himself a glass of whisky. Yet again, she froze like a deer in headlights. Memories flooded her at the smell of the whisky, the feeling of his hands all over her.

“You’re up, Luna! We made you a plate—should I warm it up for you?”

He didn’t remember. He was too fucking drunk that night to remember what he did.

It infuriated Velora.

Why was she still paying for other peoples’ sins? Why was she the only one suffering?

“Everything okay?” he asked, concern clouding that tipsy smile.

“Put that down.” Her voice wasn’t as stern as she’d wanted it to be, the shadow of her former self lingering in the room.

Ely’s eyes flickered to the twins, who were as confused as ever. “What? I—”

“Put. It. Down.”

“I—”

“Shut up and do as you’re told.”

“What the fuck have I done to you?” he barked, clearly forgetting who he was talking to.

“Must be nice to forget,” she snarled, rage being the driving force that pushed her legs to move until she stood in front of him. She wasn’t the same woman he’d taken advantage of so many years ago. Oh, no—he could only hope.