Don't Poke the Luna (Xena and Ryder) novel Chapter 249

Chapter 249

Xena’s POV

Looking at it, I traced the letters with my finger. “No, it should stay ore. I’m not a Harris anymore.” I set it down and noticed the double doors. They were open enough to see it was a closet, and I was sure the bathroom was under the stairs.

Saying those words brought a strange mix of relief and loss. The Haris name represented my past, and now as Ryder’s mate, I had a new identity, a new belonging. But abandoning the past didn’t mean forgetting it these memories were still part of me.

Logan opened the door leading to the stairs. Only Penelope and Ryder followed me up. I noticed Leonard and Viola sitting on the couch, as if wanting to give us space. The L–shaped staircase led to a living area with a sofa and several rocking chairs, along with pink and blue baby toys. Matching play mats were arranged along the walls, complete with matching teething toys and rattles. The only difference was that one set was blue and one was pink. Huge windows overlooked the backyard and forest..

Pink and blue… This meant Mom knew she was carrying twins, one boy and one girl. She had prepared specific colors for each of us. Looking at these toys that had never been used, my heart felt heavy with mixed emotions.

The hardwood floors continued up here but were covered by a large colorful rug. The rug had patterns of rainbows, numbers, and various toddler items. It seemed our mother had designed this as our playroom. Her excitement had led her to buy things we didn’t need yet. It was like looking at a life we could have had.

If things hadn’t happened the way they did, Logan and I would have grown up here, playing and learning in this loving environment. We would have had normal childhoods, with parents‘ companionship and family warmth. Instead of seeing what should have been our home for the first time as adults. Anger and sadness surged simultaneously, but I tried to suppress these emotions–throwing a tantrum wouldn’t change the past.

“There are more bedrooms downstairs,” Logan said, walking out of the room into the hallway. We followed him to the first bedroom. The room was painted in soft pink, with a dark wood crib against the far wall. A changing table and dresser occupied opposite walls, with different flower stickers decorating the walls. The crib set was in pink–purple floral patterns, with a matching blanket draped over it. Like the rest of the house, a large rug covered the center, continuing the floral theme Mom had obviously chosen for me.

“Those boxes contain clothes and blankets she picked out for you. I packed them up, and you can take them if you want. You don’t have to, but if you want to use them for your own children, you can take them. I left this blanket here just because that’s how she had it arranged, but obviously, all the bedding and the crib are yours. Everything in this room is yours,” Penelope said softly.

Looking at those carefully prepared baby items, my chest felt constricted. Mother had once prepared these with such anticipation… She must have imagined what kind of mother I would become, what kind of grandchildren I would give her. Now these things lay quietly in boxes, as if waiting for a future that would never come. I wanted to be angry, to smash all these things, but at the same time I wanted to hold them tight, because this was the last love Mother had left for me.

“Let’s take everything. We can put it in storage, and when we have children, you can decide what you want?” Ryder moved to my side, placing his hand on my lower back.

“Okay.” I was grateful he stepped up to answer for me. I wasn’t sure what to think, what to say, or even what to feel.

“My room is basically the same, just blue,” Logan said, walking toward another room. I followed him, but instead of floral patterns, this had wolves or animal themes. A large wolf sticker was placed behind the wooden toy chest. His room was mainly blue, gray, and black, but the furniture was the same.

“There’s a bathroom across the hall, and the guest room is at the end. That’s the room I’ve been staying in,” Penelope said.

When I heard Logan’s stomach growling, I realized how late it had gotten. Penelope looked at him and smiled, and he put around her. “Are you going to Florida to see what that key reveals?” Logan asked.

arm

“Yes, once things are settled here.”

1/2

Chapter 249

Hopefully sooner rather than later. Logan walked out of his old boom toward the hallway. I followed him but stopped one last time in my room.

“Do you want me to take these ownstairs? Ryder asked.

Yes, please. Ryder and Logan both took a box and went downstairs. There was nothing on the dresser–I guessed Penelope had put everything in the boxes. I picked up the blanket and followed them downstairs.

“Leonard, go get the other box,” Logan commanded as he walked out the front door.

“Would you like to stay for dinner? Penelope asked as Leonard got from the couch to go upstairs.

“Oh… um…” I wasn’t sure if I wanted to leave. My heart was in fierce internal conflict. Staying meant facing more emotional impact. After some consideration, I gave her a smile. “Thank you, but I think just want to go home and watch a movie.”

Penelope gave me an understanding look. “I understand. The door is always open for you. You don’t need an invitation to come over. I plan to live here permanently instead of at the pack house. Your mother wanted to raise you both here, so I decided to raise our children the same way. I hope any children Logan and I have can have the childhood your mother wanted to give you.

Her words surrounded me like a warm embrace, and I felt a warmth flow through my heart. “Thank you.” That was all I could

manage to say.

The men came back. “Galen is still trying to figure this out. You can stay for dinner, or stay as long as you want, or I can call you when he figures something out,” Logan said, standing inside the doorway.