Luna Forsaken (Arya and James) novel Chapter 78

78 A Ride Through Ruin 3

Arya’s POV

Milley stared at me like I’d just turned into a myth.

Her hands tightened on the wheel.

Her voice came out in a shaky whisper.

“Was that… Alpha Maxwell?”

I didn’t answer immediately.

Because I was still trying to steady the violent relief in my chest.

Then I said, “Yes.”

Milley’s eyes widened even more.

“Oh my,” she began, then swallowed hard. “How do you know him?”

I kept my face turned toward the window.

The alcohol sat warm in my belly, but it couldn’t drown the ache.

“I fought in a battle alongside him,” I said.

Milley blinked rapidly.

“A battle?” she repeated, like she couldn’t compute it.

I didn’t elaborate,

I didn’t need to.

Milley’s voice rose, excited and panicked at once.

“You’re… you’re not just,” she stammered. “You’re important.”

I let out a short, bitter laugh.

“Important?” I repeated softly.

Milley glanced at me quickly, then back at the road, flustered.

12:40

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“I mean,” she rushed. “If the Alpha is issuing an order for you personally, you have to be

important. I’ve never, he doesn’t do that for ordinary people.”

I didn’t answer.

Milley’s excitement grew anyway, spilling out like she couldn’t help it.

“This is, this is insane,” she breathed. “I picked you up on the highway. I just, I thought you needed help.”

“You did,” I said.

Milley shook her head, eyes bright, voice full of disbelief.

“It’s an honour,” she said

ickly. “It’s an honour to drive you. Truly. I, my mate will never

believe this.”

Despite myself, a laugh escaped

Not a happy laugh.

Not a healed one.

Just a small crack in the tightness.

Milley smiled, relieved to hear it.

Then she frowned again, noticing something.

“You’re… you’re still hurting,” she said softly.

I didn’t reply.

Because if I spoke, the laughter would turn into sobs again.

Because my heart was breaking all over again, even while my mouth tried to act like it wasn’t.

Milley drove carefully, but her hands were shaking a bit now, like the knowledge of who she had in her passenger seat had made the road feel suddenly more dangerous.

She swallowed, then asked gently, “You said you left Nightwind… did they… did they hurt you?”

My jaw tightened.

12:40

I stared straight ahead.

“Yes,” I said.

One word.

Enough.

Milley’s face tightened with sympathy.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

I took another swallow of the booze.

The burn steadied me.

Not because it soothed.

Because it reminded me I was still alive.

Milley tried to lighten her tone again, but her voice still carried awe.

“I’ve heard of Nightwind,” she said quietly. “They say it’s new. But strong. They say the

Alpha is ambitious.”

I stared out at the darkness beyond the window.

Ambitious.

That was one word for it.

Milley continued, unaware of the minefield she was stepping into.

“People also said there was a Luna,” she added. “A fierce one. A warrior. I heard she

helped build the pack. That she fought like she had nothing to lose.”

My fingers tightened around the bottle.

Milley glanced at me, then quickly looked away again, sensing the shift.

“I’m sorry,” she said again. “I’m talking too much.”

“No,” I said quietly. “It’s fine.”

Milley’s eyes flicked to my neck again.

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