Marked by the Alpha Team (Luna Merrick) novel Chapter 41

Chapter 11

Chapter 41

Third–person POV

By the time Ryder carried Luna out of the bathroom, the tension in her body had finally eased. It wasn’t gone completely, but it was no longer the crazy painful kind that made her cry and cling to him like she was drowning. Her breathing had slowed, her body had relaxed just enough, and the tight grip she had on him had turned into something softer, something that felt more like she was holding on for comfort rather than desperation.

Even so, he didn’t let his guard down. He knew better than that. What had just happened was only a small part of something much bigger, and he could already tell that this was not the end of it.

He stepped back into the bedroom quietly, careful not to make too much noise as he moved toward the bed. Ivy was stil there, standing near the bed with her hands clasped together tightly in front of her. The moment she saw Luna in his arms,

eyes widened slightly, and she took a small step forward, her attention fully fixed on her roommate’s face.

her

“How is she?” Ivy asked quickly, her voice low but filled with worry, like she was afraid of the answer.

Ryder didn’t answer right away. His focus stayed on Luna as he lowered her on the bed as gently as he could, making sure her head rested properly on the pillow before adjusting her body so she was lying comfortably. Only after he was sure she was settled did he speak

“She’s calm now,” he said quietly.

Ivy let out a breath, but the worry on her face didn’t go away. If anything, it stayed there, just sitting in her eyes as she looked down at Luna, taking in the damp strands of hair sticking to her skin, and the way her chest rose and fell slowly.

Ryder straightened up slowly, ready to step back and give them both some space, but the moment he tried to move, Luna’s hand shot out and grabbed onto him.

It happened so fast that he didn’t even get the chance to react. Her fingers wrapped tightly around his damp shirt, gripping the fabric like she was afraid he might disappear if she let go. Even though her eyes stayed closed and her breathing remained steady, her hold on him was strong, stronger than it should have been in her current state.

Ryder froze, glancing down at her hand before looking back at her face.

She didn’t wake up, didn’t move, but she didn’t let go either.

He let out a quiet breath before leaning slightly closer, lowering his voice so he wouldn’t disturb her. “Give me a minute,” he whispered to Ivy.

Ivy frowned slightly, her gaze shifting between Luna’s hand and Ryder’s face. She didn’t understand why Luna was holding onto him like that, not fully, but she could tell it wasn’t something small. The Luna she knew would never cling to Ryder Graves like this, not even in her sleep. It felt strange, almost unreal to see her like this.

Still, she nodded slowly.

“I’ll wait outside,” she said softly, even though her eyes stayed on Luna for a second longer.

Ryder shook his head slightly. “If I can’t leave…” he started, his voice still low and careful, “you can stay in my room for now.”

Ivy blinked at him, clearly caught off guard. “Your room?” she repeated, her brows pulling together in discomfort almost instantly. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

Ryder finally looked at her properly, his expression calm but serious. “The others don’t know she’s here,” he said. “And I don’t know how they’ll react if they find out like this. I don’t want to risk you running into them.”

Ivy hesitated, her lips pressing together as she thought about it. She already knew things were not normal, not with Luna,

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Chapter 41

not with him, and definitely not with the rest of his friends. The idea of accidentally walking into one of them in this House made her stomach twist slightly.

“There’s a sofa in my room.” Ryder added. “You can sleep there. I’ll come to you in the morning when she’s better, and I’l explain everything.”

Ivy shifted her weight slightly, still unsure. She didn’t like the idea of leaving Luna, especially like this, but at the same time, she knew she wouldn’t be able to do much if something happened again, and from the way Ryder was acting, it was clear that something else was happening between him and his friends, and she didn’t wish to find out what.

“How am I supposed to find your room?” she asked after a moment. “I don’t know my way around here. I could end up in the wrong place.”

Ryder gave a small nod, like he had expected that. He quickly started explaining the layout of the house, keeping his voice low as he described the hallway, the stairs, and the turn she would need to take. He spoke clearly and slowly, making sure she understood every part.

“It’s the only door with my name on it,” he added at the end. “You’ll see it.”

Ivy nodded slowly, trying to remember everything he had said, but just as she was about to move, Ryder added one more thing.

“You’ll need to take off your flip–flops,” he said.

She looked down at her feet, then back at him with confusion. “Why?”

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Ryder’s expression didn’t change. “You already know why,” he said simply. “Our hearing is sharper than yours, so you’ll need to be extra quiet, which would be easier if you’re barefoot.”

Ivy swallowed slightly, then nodded. Without saying anything else, she bent down and slipped off her flip–flops, holding them in one hand instead. The cold floor made her shift slightly, but she didn’t complain.

Ryder watched her for a second, like he was about to say she didn’t have to do it right there, but then he stopped himself. Instead, he just gave her a small nod.

“Be careful,” he said.

“I will,” Ivy replied quietly.

She took one last look at Luna, her eyes softening again with worry, then turned and walked toward the door. She moved slowly, carefully, just like he had told her, and when she reached the door, she opened it gently and slipped out, closing it behind her without making a sound.

The room went quiet.

Ryder stayed where he was for a moment, listening, making sure everything remained still. When he was sure Ivy was gone, he let out a slow breath and finally allowed himself to relax just a little.

He looked down at Luna again, and she was still holding onto him,

Her fingers were wrapped tightly in his shirt, her grip not as desperate as before, but still strong enough to keep him from moving away without waking her. Her face looked calmer now, her features soft, her breathing steady. For the first time since everything started, she looked like she was actually resting.

Carefully, Ryder adjusted himself and sat down on the edge of the bed, moving slowly so he wouldn’t disturb her. When he leaned back slightly, Luna shifted with him, her body naturally turning toward him as she pressed lightly against his side.

He stilled for a moment, watching her.

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