His Moonsilver Mate (Abby and Kade) novel Chapter 5

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1:01 pm

Chapter 5

Foby

I didn’t remember walking home. One moment I was standing in the forest while Kade’s rejection tore through me, and the next I was in my bedroom with the door locked, shaking so hard my teeth clicked together.

I slid down the door and pulled my knees against my chest. Where the bond had been, there was only a hollow place.

Diana, please.

A faint warmth stirred somewhere deep inside me. I’m here.

Her voice sounded nothing like the bright, amused wolf I had met the night before.

I’m sorry.

For what?

I wanted him.

I closed my eyes.

So did I.

A wounded sound moved through her.

Knox wanted us.

That hurt most of all. I had felt him fighting Kade. But Knox hadn’t rejected me. Kade had.

Footsteps came up the stairs.

“Abby?” Liam tried the handle. “Please open the door.”

“I don’t want to talk.”

He was quiet for a moment. Then he exhaled. “Okay.”

He stayed outside for another minute before walking away.

I crawled into bed without changing.

Sleep barely came. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Kade standing beneath the trees. His hands trembling. His eyes full of pain.

And then I heard the words again.

I reject you.

1:02 pm

“Abby?” Liam again. “I made breakfast.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“You need to eat something.

“I’ll eat later.”

He didn’t answer. A few seconds later, I heard a plate being placed outside my door.

His quiet kindness made my eyes burn.

I waited until his footsteps faded before getting out of bed. I forced myself to shower and change, but my reflection still looked awful. My eyes were swollen. My skin looked too pale. My hair refused to cooperate.

I didn’t care.

When I opened the door, the plate was still there. I stepped over it and froze.

Part of me was afraid to go down.

Kade and Sloane were at our house often enough that I barely noticed anymore. Sometimes they stopped by before work because Liam always had coffee ready. Sometimes ‘Kade and Liam went over patrol reports at the kitchen table while Sloane stole whatever breakfast I was making. Sometimes they appeared without warning and stayed until evening.

It had always felt normal.

This morning, the thought of walking downstairs and finding them there together made my stomach turn.

I stood at the top of the stairs and listened.

No Kade. No Sloane. Only Liam moving around the kitchen.

Relief came first. Then, stupidly, hurt.

Of course Kade had stayed away. He had rejected me. Giving me space was probably the kindest thing he could

I hated that even that hurt.

I had barely reached the bottom of the stairs when the front door opened. Chloe came in first. Noah followed.

“Is she awake?” Chloe asked.

Liam glanced up. Then Chloe saw me. Her face changed.

“Oh, Abby.” She crossed the room and wrapped both arms around me.

Noah shut the door behind him, his irritation disappearing just as quickly.

V

1:02 pm

“We’ve been trying to reach you.”

I swallowed. They had probably texted me. I remembered hearing my phone buzz earlier, but I hadn’t looked.

Or maybe that had been the mind-link.

Shit. I must have blocked it somehow. I was still getting used to having another voice inside my head, let alone

several.

“Sorry.”

Chloe pulled back enough to look at me. “What happened?” she whispered.

I shook my head. “Can we go somewhere?”

“Anywhere.”

Liam stepped forward. “You haven’t eaten.”

Chloe looked at him. “We’ll feed her.”

Noah opened the door. “Come on.”

“Abby,” Liam’s voice stopped me.

“I just need some space.”

His expression tightened with everything he wanted to say.

I couldn’t take any of it yet.

I left.

***

We ended up at the diner near the town square, our usual meeting spot.

Chloe ordered tea, toast, and soup before I could protest. Noah sat across from us even though he was supposed

to be at training.

For several minutes, neither of them asked anything. They just waited. That almost made it worse.

Finally Chloe reached across the table and took my hand. “Tell us.”

I stared into my tea. “Kade is my mate.”

Noah went still.

Chloe blinked. “What?”

1:02 pm

“He sensed me after I shifted.”.

Her expression changed slowly. “Oh.”

“And he rejected me

Noah’s jaw hardened. “He did what?”

I nodded.

“Why?”

“He thinks I’m not ready to be Luna.”

Chloe stared at me. “What does that even mean?”

“He thinks the pack needs someone experienced.”

Noah’s expression darkened. “Sloane.”

I looked down. “He didn’t say he was choosing her.”

Chloe gave me a look. “He didn’t have to.”

I wrapped both hands around my cup. “They’re already a couple. Everyone knows it. And Sloane’s been helping him with pack stuff forever.”

“That doesn’t mean you couldn’t learn,” Chloe said.

“Apparently it does.”

Silence settled over the table.

Noah muttered something under his breath that was probably better left unheard.

Chloe pushed the toast toward me. “Eat.”

“I can’t.”

“One bite.”

I glared at her.

“One.”

I managed half. It tasted like cardboard. She seemed satisfied anyway.

Then she said, “Come stay with us.”

I looked up. “What?”

1:02 pm

“For a few days.”

Chloe

“Or longer.”

“I can’t just leave Liam.”

“You’re not leaving Liam. You’re staying ten minutes away until being home doesn’t feel horrible.”

Noah nodded. “You need space.”

I looked through the window.

Liam and I had lived together for eight years. He had built his entire life around taking care of me. Leaving-even temporarily-felt wrong.

But Noah was right.

The thought of waking up tomorrow wondering whether Kade might walk through the door made my stomach

twist.

“I don’t know.”

Chloe gave me a look. “That means yes.”

“It means I’ll think about it.”

“It means we’re packing a bag.”

Despite everything, the corner of my mouth moved.

Noah pushed the soup closer. “Eat first. Rebel later.”

***

Soon, Noah had finally gone to training and Chloe had left to tell her mother I might be staying.

I returned home alone.

My plan was simple: pack enough for a few days, tell Liam, and leave.

The house was quiet when I stepped inside.

Then I saw Sloane in the kitchen. She leaned against the counter with her arms folded. Waiting.

My stomach tightened. “Where’s Liam?”

“At the packhouse.”

I started toward the stairs.

Abby

I kept walking.

“We need to talk.”

“No, we really don’t.”

She stepped into my path, forcing me to stop. Her eyes studied me. “It’s you.”

I frowned. “What?”

“Kade’s mate.”

My stomach dropped.

“Don’t look at me like that. I followed him last night when he left the office. I wanted to know who she was.” Her mouth tightened. “He came straight here.”