Chasing His Kickass Luna Back novel Chapter 389

Abby

“Shall we?” Karl asks, nodding his head toward the sidewalk.

I nod, and follow him away from the shop, away from the little shoes that warm my heart and break it at the same time. Our feet continue to carry us along the bustling streets of the holiday market, the scent of hot apple cider still wafting through the air.

The sight of those adorable little shoes in the shop window and the sad implications behind them still lingers in the back of my head, but I try to focus instead on the festive atmosphere and the taste of the hot apple cider on my tongue.

Karl must sense my quiet contemplation because he nudges me gently with his elbow as we walk. “Hey, you seem lost in thought. Something on your mind?”

I offer a small smile, appreciating his concern but not wanting to share my true thoughts: thoughts that maybe, just maybe, I do wish we could have had a baby together, even to this day. “I’m fine,” I say, holding up my cup of hot apple cider. “Just enjoying the walk.”

Karl’s gaze softens, and I can tell that he knows I’m lying. But he doesn’t press the issue any further, and we continue walking in silence.

I return his gaze, and we continue walking until we stumble upon a charming Christmas shop. Its large display window is filled with an array of sparkling ornaments and twinkling lights. I smile a bit beneath my mask as we pass by, looking at all of the little kids running around excitedly.

Karl’s eyes light up with excitement too, and he tugs gently at my arm. “Abby, come on. Let’s go inside.”

As we step inside, the soft sound of holiday music fills the air. There must be a candle burning nearby, because everything smells like peppermint and cinnamon.

“This place is new,” Karl says as we walk around and look at all of the ornaments.

I nod. “I’ve noticed that there are a lot of new shops around here. The town seems to be bustling more than usual.”

In response, Karl lets out a slight chuckle and runs his hand through his hair. “Yeah,” he admits, “that’s true. I was finally able to allocate some funding to tourism in this town. It’s been really helpful.”

We continue browsing, looking at all of the decorations and trinkets. At one point, someone stops Karl—an older man and woman—and the man shakes his hand. I’m standing a little ways away, so I can’t hear what’s said, but the man seems to be applauding Karl.

It definitely seems that, despite Karl’s approval ratings supposedly taking a dip, people still like him. As they should; he’s a good Alpha, albeit a little misguided sometimes.

As we round a corner, we stumble upon a scene that brings a smile to both of our faces. A small area has been set up with a cozy armchair, a backdrop of a snowy winter wonderland, and, of course, Santa Claus himself.

A line of excited children and their parents snakes around, waiting for their turn to sit on Santa’s lap and share their Christmas wishes. Karl chuckles as he watches the adorable spectacle. “Look at those kids. They’re so excited to meet Santa.”

I follow his gaze, a chuckle escaping my lips. “Well… most of them,” I say, pointing to a little boy who’s currently bawling his eyes out on Santa’s lap while his mother tries to take a picture.

Suddenly, Karl gets a mischievous glint in his eye, and he turns to me with a sly grin. “Abby, how about we join in on the fun? Let’s take a picture with Santa.”

I blink in surprise, not expecting his suggestion. “Are you serious?” I ask with a laugh. “This is for kids!”