Luna Forsaken (Arya and James) novel Chapter 92

92 The Mark I Hid, The Father I Found 2

Arya’s POV

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Maxwell stopped pacing and turned back to me.

His expression was fierce, but not aimed at me.

“Arya,” he said, voice lower now, controlled but still furious, “you should have shown me this the

moment you arrived.”

I swallowed hard.

“I didn’t want to cause you trouble,” I said quickly.

Maxwell’s eyes narrowed.

My chest tightened.

“I didn’t want to be a burden,” I added, voice sharper now because fear always made me defensive. “I

didn’t want to bring war to your house. Nixon, he told me what happens when someone tries to help a branded rogue. He said no one would associate. He said, ”

Maxwell cut me off with a sharp motion of his hand.

“No,” he said.

Just one word.

Heavy.

Final

¡ froze.

Maxwell stepped closer, stopping at the end of the table, gaze locked on me.

“You think you’re going to repay kindness by hiding the truth?” he asked, voice firm. “You think you’re going to protect me by letting me walk blind into your reality?”

My jaw clenched.

“I was trying, “I began.

Maxwell leaned forward slightly, voice hard.

“I have adopted you as my daughter,” he said. “Your trouble is now my trouble.”

< 92 The Mark 1 Hid, The Father I Found 2

My breath caught.

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Maxwell continued, cutting through my fear like it was nothing.

“Besides,” he added, “no Alpha would dare mess with me.”

His tone left no room for argument.

He straightened and paced again, but it wasn’t restless now, it was contained rage.

He looked like a man replaying something in his head, something he’d warned about, something he’d

predicted.

Then he turned sharply.

“I told Marcel,” he said, voice low and vicious, “that he could do this to both of you because you didn’t

have parents.”

My stomach clenched.

Maxwell’s eyes burned with old anger.

“He thought you were easy prey,” Maxwell said. “An orphan. No backing. No clan. No father to stand behind you.”

My throat tightened.

Maxwell’s voice sharpened again.

“And James,” he said, “was bullied.”

The words landed heavy.

Not excusing James.

Not forgiving him.

Just stating the ugly truth.

“Since James didn’t have backing.” Maxwell continued, “Marcel took advantage of it. He cornered him.

He pulled strings He used fear. He used ambition ”

Maxwell’s jaw clenched.

“But that ends now,” he said

He stopped pacing and looked at me directly.

<92 The Mark I Hid, The Father | Found 2

“You have backing now,” he said, voice firm.

My chest tightened.

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Maxwell’s expression didn’t soften much, but his words did something else, they anchored

“I am your father,” he said. “And I will protect you.”

My lips parted, but no sound came out.

Maxwell continued, voice carrying authority that felt like a shield being lifted.

“No one dares call you a rogue in my pack,” he declared. “No one.”

My eyes stung again.

Maxwell’s gaze flicked to my collar, then back to my eyes.

“And you have nothing to be ashamed of,” he added. “That mark is not your shame.”

He stepped closer, tone firm.

“Besides,” he said, “you should see it as freedom.”

I blinked.

Maxwell’s voice remained steady.

“Freedom to start a new life elsewhere,” he said. “Freedom from a man who was too weak to fight for

you.”

My jaw tightened.

Freedom.

The word felt wrong in my mouth because my freedom came at the cost of my baby.

My freedom came through blood and humiliation.

My freedom came through pain.

I stared at Maxwell.

“And my baby?” I asked, voice low.

Maxwell stilled.

I swallowed hard.

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<92 The Mark I Hid, The Father I Found 2

“I won’t rest,” I said. “Not until I find justice for my unborn baby that they beat out of me ”

The room went colder.

Maxwell’s eyes sharpened instantly.

For a moment, he looked like he was seeing the extent of it again, like he’d known I was hurt, but hearing the blunt truth of beat out of me hit him in a way that turned his rage darker.

“They did that much?” he asked, voice rough.

“Yes,” I said.

Maxwell’s hands clenched at his sides.

Then he took a breath, one deep, controlled breath.

And when he spoke again, his voice was calmer, but heavier.

“The path of revenge leads to destruction,” he warned.

My lips curled slightly.

My tears stopped.

Not because I was healed.

Because anger dried them.

“My heart won’t rest,” I repeated. “Until those who killed my baby pay for what they did.”

Maxwell’s gaze held mine.

I expected him to argue harder.

To command me.

To forbid it.

Instead, he nodded slowly.

“I understand your pain,” he said.

His voice wasn’t soft, but it carried something steadier than anger.

“But I hope,” he continued, “that even though you seek revenge, eventually you will learn to forgive

yourself and move on.”

< 92 The Mark I Hid, The Father I Found 2

I blinked.

Maxwell leaned forward slightly, voice firm.

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“There is more to life than getting even,” he said. “As long as you are out of that pack, you are safe.”

Safe.

The word again.