My Marked Luna (Apphia and Nicholas) novel Chapter 38

Nicholas

“You promised me, Nicholas,” she says softly. I growl; why can’t she comply and tell me the name of her pack?

“I can’t keep it. I must make them pay as an alpha Prince and your m…” I didn’t finish my sentence. My lycan wants me to tell her I’m her second chance mate, but I can’t do that. It’s better if she feels the bond to believe it. She needs time to heal and trust to accept her new life. She’s here, safe and close to me, where she truly belongs.

Apphia isn’t going to give us the name of her pack. She says she’s okay now and doesn’t want anything to do with them, but I just can’t let it go.

‘Punish them,‘ the evil voice echoes in my head. It doesn’t belong to my lycan. The voice that spoke was hollow and otherworldly. I feel a cold sweat run down my temple. My anger suddenly rises as unbidden thoughts of dead bodies flash in my head, rogues and enemies I’ve killed over the years. The darkness around me grows. However, it disappears, and the chanting voices are quiet as a warm hand touches mine; it belongs to my Apphia.

“Are you alright? You tuned out,” she says. My gaze goes around the room. They are worried. I didn’t realize I had blacked out with anger momentarily.

I glance at Apphia and cover her small, soft hand with mine, “I’m fine, Apphia,”

‘We shouldn’t force her to tell us the name of her pack yet. The Luna needs to know that she has free will here to trust us,‘ Drake says through the open–mind link. He has a soft spot for her, so I placed him as her bodyguard, and he was more than happy to be her protector. Usually, Lunas and Gamma have an indescribable bond. Gammas mainly serve the Lunas, while betas‘ loyalty only belongs to the alphas.

‘I agree with him. Poor girl is trying hard to keep it together, but is failing. Just telling us this is a big step, ‘Lily says.

‘Brother, what do you think happened that night when her mother died?‘

‘I might have a theory,‘ I murmur, reflecting on what I learned about her.

Apphia’s pov

They are mad after learning the truth about my harsh life in my former pack. However, I’m relieved to hear they didn’t push it further. Instead, Lily suggested we all go to the game room to relax for a few hours. The boys complain they have work, but Lily’s puppy eyes and my pout are irresistible.

So, here we are in the recreation room. It is enormous and has various games, including a pool table in the center. There is also a karaoke machine, video games, a basketball machine, and many others. Everything in here looks fun. Drake is responsible for showing me around the room while the others settle. Nicholas and Blade start to play video games while Lily is on the basketball machine, shooting baskets as it records the points.

“This is our personal arcade. You can find all sorts of games,” he says, beaming. I marvel at this

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recreation room. Ivory Moon had one, but it was never this grand. And I wasn’t allowed in.

I’m captivated by a machine box in the corner. It features black bars and is equipped with two speakers

attached to the screen.

“That’s called a dance machine. It’s fun,” Drake says. “Want to try?”

“I don’t know how to play,” I answer.

“Oh, you dance, and it records your point on the screen. All you have to do is step on the foot pad’s arrow and move to the song’s beat that will play through the speakers. It has a beginner mode,” he says. I frown, inspecting it as he continues to explain the game to me.

“Now that I’ve explained best, would you want to dance with me, my lady?” Drake asks with a slight bow of his neck and extends his hand. I smile and curtsey, accepting his request. We assume our positions, and he glances at me, Tarrogant.

“Don’t get too disappointed when you lose. I’m just that good,” Drake cracks his neck and rubs his hands together.

“Okay,”

I step on the footpads as the music starts to play, and it’s honestly not the hardest. I focus on the pads and screen and move my legs as instructed. I’m blushing as I move, but having too much fun to care. Drake was right; he is good at this. In no time, the game is over, and he wins. He celebrates, but I want to go when I catch my breath.