Marked by the Alpha Team (Luna Merrick) novel Chapter 163

09:03 Thu, Jul 16

Chapter 163

and Knox more clearly than anyone else.

Unlike Orion, he wasn’t the type to immediately question people about what he suspected. Instead, he quietly observed storing every little detail away until he could make sense of it later. The more he replayed the last few moments in his head, the more convinced he became that something had happened between the two of them. It wasn’t enough for him to jump to conclusions, but the possibility alone stirred feelings he hadn’t expected.

Jealousy sat heavily in his chest, mixing with disappointment. As far as he had always known, Knox had repeatedly insisted that he wanted nothing to do with the mate bond beyond helping Luna when necessary. If that had changed/Jace couldn’t understand why Knox hadn’t said anything to him.

Eventually, Jace decided remaining in the room any longer wasn’t going to help anyone, especially himself. The longer he staved, the more obvious his emotions were likely to become, and he had no intention of making Luna deal with that while she was still recovering. Taking one slow breath, he finally broke the silence. “Well,” he said calmly while looking directly at Luna, “now that you’re awake and looking much better, I think I’ll head out and let you get some proper rest.”

His tone remained steady and polite, giving away nothing of the emotions hidden underneath. “There’s no rush for you to leave the hospital. Stay here as long as you need. Your health comes first.”

After saying that, he gave her a small nod and turned toward the door, fully intending to leave before his thoughts got the better of him.

“Jace.”

Her voice stopped him before he managed to take more than two steps.

He turned back almost immediately, surprised to find Luna looking directly at him. There was something unusually serious about her expression now, and it made him pause. “Yes?” he responded quietly.

Luna hesitated for only a second before speaking again. “I’d like to talk to you,” she said honestly. “Alone… if that’s okay.”

The request caught Jace completely off guard. For a brief moment, he genuinely wondered if he had misheard her. Out of everyone standing inside the room, she wanted to speak with him privately. Countless possibilities flashed through his mind almost instantly. Did she want to ask him about what had happened when she collapsed? Did she remember something unusual? Or… had she somehow sensed the jealousy he had been trying so hard to hide?

Whatever the reason was, he certainly hadn’t expected it. Ironically, the very reason he had tried to leave so quickly was because it was taking every bit of self–control he had not to ask Knox whether something had happened between him and Luna. He knew it wasn’t his place to demand answers, but that didn’t stop the questions from swirling around inside his head.

The others looked just as surprised as Jace did. Orion’s brows immediately pulled together again while Ryder glanced back and forth between the two of them with open curiosity. Theo remained standing near the doorway, looking almost uncertain whether he should leave or stay, while Knox didn’t react outwardly at all. If anything, he simply nodded once to himself, almost as though he had expected Luna to want privacy sooner or later. Without waiting for anyone else’s opinion, Knox quietly turned around and started walking toward the exit. He wasn’t interested in listening to conversations that weren’t meant for him, and besides, he had already spent enough time inside the room.

The sooner he removed himself from the situation, the less likely it was that anyone would notice how relieved he actually felt that Luna hadn’t exposed what had happened between them.

Unfortunately, Orion, Ryder, and Theo didn’t seem nearly as eager to leave. Orion looked hesitant, clearly torn between respecting Luna’s request and wanting to remain close in case something was wrong. Ryder shifted awkwardly where he stood, scratching lightly at the back of his neck while silently wondering why Luna wanted to speak to Jace in private instead of him. Theo looked down at the floor for a brief moment before glancing back at Luna, a flicker of insecurity crossing his face. After everything that had happened between them recently, he couldn’t help wondering if Luna still hated him enough that she preferred speaking to literally anyone else besides him.

Thankfully, before the awkward silence could stretch any longer, Ivy clapped both of her hands together dramatically

09:03 Thu, Jul 16 00:

Chapter 163

before shooing everyone toward the door with an exaggerated grin.

“Alright, alright,” she sang playfully while waving both arms like she was herding a group of stubborn children. “Private, conversation means private conversation, so out, everyone. Move those long legs faster. Don’t make me start pushing.”

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Her cheerful voice immediately lightened the atmosphere, and even Ryder let out a chuckle despite himself. Orion still, looked reluctant, but after Luna gave him a reassuring smile, he finally sighed and stood up from the bed. One by one, they all began filing out of the room until only Jace remained behind. Ivy waited until the others had stepped into the hallway before flashing Luna an exaggerated wink and quietly pulling the hospital room door shut behind her.

The room suddenly became much quieter.

Jace remained standing where he was for a brief moment before slowly walking back toward the side of Luna’s bed. Neither of them spoke immediately. The silence wasn’t uncomfortable, but it carried a certain intensity, as though both of them were deciding how honest they wanted to be. Luna took a slow breath, studying his calm face carefully. Despite how composed he looked, she had spent enough time around him to notice the tiny signs that he was thinking much harder than he let on.

Finally, she broke the silence. “Can I ask you something?” she said softly.

Jace gave a single nod. “Of course,” he responded calmly.

Luna looked down at her hands for a brief second before lifting her eyes back to meet his. “Are you by any chance… jealous?” she asked quietly.

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