Pursuing My Rejected Luna by Cara Anderson novel Chapter 266

Ch. 36

Noah

My head is pounding and it has nothing to do with RMS. This headache is the direct result of being unable to wrap my brain around what’s going on with the woman living under my roof disguised as my ex–mate. Because, try as I might, I can’t figure out what her angle is.

Liam is a good kid. And that’s despite his mother’s influence. If I’d known he was struggling with some of the kids here, I would have helped him without Cassandra asking. But she did ask.

That’s what I can’t reconcile. Because that had to be uncomfortable as fuck for her and the woman I know would never do anything, even for her own son, if it meant her own discomfort. Is it possible she’s actually becoming the mother Liam deserves?

“Talk to me,” Cole’s voice at my office door startles the shit out of me.

He pushes off the door jamb, invites himself in, and closes the door behind him. He stands with his back to it for a moment before he crosses the room and sits down.

“About?” I raise an eyebrow in question.

He gives me the look. The I know you know what I’m asking. Don’t make me say it first look. I’m definitely going to make him say it first.

“Don’t do that,” he huffs. “Not with me.”

I still don’t respond. To be fair, I’m still trying to shake off the train of thought he interrupted to focus on what the hell he could possibly be talking about.

I’m tired. I’ve been tired for months and now I have the mystery that is Cassandra Winters on my hands. Playing guessing games with Cole is more than I have the patience for right now.

I run my hands over my face, my five o’clock shadow scraping at my palms. “I’m busy, Cole. Speak or get out of my office so I can get back to it.” I breathe out in a sigh.

“Yeah, you looked really busy, asshole. I stood in your doorway for a full five minutes and you didn’t even notice I was there. But I’ve noticed something.” He spits cryptically. “I’ve noticed the pattern.”

“What pattern?” My exasperated growl rumbles through the room, echoing off the walls.

“The days she’s in this building versus the days she’s in the eastern sector. The headaches. The-” He pauses. “The way you look on the bad days versus the days she’s close.” He holds my gaze. “I’ve been watching you for two months. I should have asked sooner.”

“No,” I drop my head in my hands on a groan. “I wasn’t ready to talk about it. Still might not be if I’m honest.”

He waits, arms crossed in the universal sign for I have all day and I accept defeat. My story trickles out drop by drop. Not because I’m rationing it–just because that’s how this works with Cole. I say a thing. He asks a million questions about that thing before letting me move on. The story eeks out at a snail’s pace.

“I have RMS,” I finally admit to the only other human being besides Dr. Lukas to know my secret. “And before you ask, yes, I’m sure. Sera has run all the tests. The markers confirm it.”

+15 Bonus

His eyes blow wide but he remains quiet. I press on before he can give me the third degree.

“The headaches, the fatigue, the reason I’m fucking freezing all the time,” I list the symptoms and he nods in acknowledgement, “thank yoù fucking universe and Cassandra ‘the ke Queen‘ Winters.”

The treatment?” he roughs out, fighting and failing to hide his emotions.

“Just managing the symptoms as much as possible. Reunion with the fated mate and completion of the bond is the only confirmed cure. Unless I mark her, which is less likely than a snowstorm in hell, I have two years, optimistically. Probably less.” I don’t even try to disguise the scowl on my face that idea produces.” There’s one documented case of a chosen mate bond arresting the progression. Sixty years ago.”

“One case,” he repeats to himself, his dubious tone betraying just how unlikely he finds that option.

“One documented case,” I correct. “There could be others we don’t know about.”

“How long has she been affecting the symptoms?” he asks with a knowing expression.

“Since she arrived.” I admit, since apparently, it’s been obvious.

He nods slowly. “I noticed. I just didn’t know what I was noticing. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why you loathe her presence so much but seemed to feel so much better with her around.”

“Now you know.”

“You should have told me months ago.” I can tell he’s pissed but trying to rein it in.

“I know. I just… that would’ve made it too real I guess.

“What do you need?”

“I need you to not make this a crisis,” I say. “It’s manageable. I’m managing it.”

“Noah-”

“I know,” I snap back. “I know it isn’t fair.”

“Well when you figure out what you’re figuring out–tell me first. Before you do anything. I should know what’s happening in my own pack.”

“Yes,” I give him that. “You should have known sooner.”

“I should have.”

A tense silence falls between us, both of us at a loss for words. Thankfully, Pack business interrupts our stand–off–a council member with a time–sensitive question that requires my direct attention. Cole falls

into step with me.

We’re passing the junction to the administrative wing when Cassandra comes the other direction with a stack of folders. She nods to Cole but doesn’t look at me.

I watch her pass. Cole watches me watch her as she turns the corner and disappears.

“She’s different than she was,” Cole mentions.

“So you’ve said.” I rumble in displeasure.

“I’m saying it again.” He keeps walking. “You’re watching her differently than you watch someone you don’t trust.”

“I don’t trust her,” I bite out angrily.

“I get that,” he says. “But that’s not what I said.”

I don’t respond. Because I know exactly what he said.

I just don’t like it.