Page 94 of Crystal Luna
She thrust the third glass and the pitcher into Asher’s chest. “You can sit outside.”
He nodded, trying to hide the pain behind his eyes.
Mia happily chatted along while she led the twins to the porch. Once the door shut behind them, Velora turned to Evelyne. “I’m sorry.”
“Y-you don’t have to,” Evelyne stammered. “You’re luna now.”
“Evelyne, nothing has to change—I’m still the same person.”
“I know, but—”
“It’s alright. It’ll distract me.”
Evelyne briefly hesitated, but then began to explain what she’d planned for the evening. Velora helped where she could, but it didn’t distract her as much as she’d hoped. Once the table was set and the food was in the oven, Velora walked outside to see Wayne and Heath sitting with the twins, Mia and Curtis keeping them both occupied.
Though things seemed calm on the surface, Velora could feel the tension in the air. Naturally, she wanted to take the seat next to Heath. But with Asher’s jealousy simmering close to the surface, she froze in the doorway.
“Do you need some help?” Isaiah asked, with a gentle tone.
“No, just waiting on the food to cook now.”
“Well, let me check on Evelyne and her nerves,” Wayne teased as he got to his feet.
Heath leaned down to his kids. “How about you two go grab the dessert out of our fridge?”
“Yes, Father.”
Both of them bolted, trying to beat each other to the front door.
Velora simply stared at Heath, crossing her arms and leaning against the door jamb. She knew exactly why he’d sent the kids away: he wanted something. Whatever it was, she wasn’t going to like it.
He relaxed into his chair again and looked up at her, his eyes ice cold. “I’ll release you from the bond tomorrow evening with the pack present.”
“Because you’re hoping I won’t make a scene?”
“Because it’s tradition.”
“Of course it is,” she snarled, rolling her eyes.
“We will re-bond to you while you’re still here,” Asher further explained.
Slowly—very slowly—she turned her head to where he sat. “How delightful. I’m sure I’ll feel at home and comfortable right away.”
“Velora, don’t,” Heath warned.
She whipped back around to her alpha. “Don’t what? Pick a fight? Weren’t you the one who taught me to fight in the first place? You were the one who spent hours upon hours helping me heal. You moulded me into the woman I am today. You made sure I fucking knew how to fight for myself, to raise my voice. You taught me to stand on my own, to choose who I have around me.”
Heath shot to his feet, knocking his chair to the ground. “You don’t think I fucking know that?” he hissed quietly, keeping his voice low. “You think I’m doing this because I want to? These are the last two I’d want to send you with. But I know they won’t hurt you now. They won’t harm you, they can’t because the bond makes them worship the ground you walk on. You are their luna. Their world spins around you now, like the moon around the earth. And you want to know how I know that? Because I’ve fucking felt that. I know what it feels like.”
He sighed and righted his chair, taking his seat once more and scrubbing his hand over his face.
“Velora, if I could change this I would. She has chosen you for them. She knew you could and would grow during your journey. All I can do now is trust that She knows what She’s doing. I trust you that you can handle this with the strength of a true warrior.”
I hate you. She had to think the words because she couldn’t bring herself to say them—they weren’t true. Yes, she hated what he was forcing on her, but she didn’t hate him.
Unable to face Heath or the twins, she turned on her heel and stormed inside.
She found Wayne in the kitchen with Evelyne while Rayline still sat on the counter.