Rebirth of the Broken Luna A Second Chance at Luna's Heart novel Chapter 318

Chapter 318

ମୁଳ୍କ 92

When Thorne and Rivers finally separated-a full minute later, by my count-Thorne looked slightly dazed and Rivers looked

insufferably smug. They exchanged what I assumed were promises to write and visit, though I deliberately tuned out the actual words. Some things were too sickeningly sweet for my before-coffee brain to handle.

“You should be happy for them,” Lumina murmured as Thorne made his way toward our car. “Thorne deserves to find someone.

“I am happy for them,” I said honestly. “I’m just also disturbed by the speed at which Zade’s territory turns people into lovesick fools.

We need to leave before it happens to us.”

“We’re already mated,” Lumina pointed out.

“Exactly. We’re in the danger zone.”

She shook her head but didn’t argue further. We’d said our actual goodbyes the night before-the serious ones, where we’d thanked Zade and Lyn for their hospitality, where we’d acknowledged that despite the circumstances, this time had been necessary. This morning’s

banter was just the comfortable epilogue.

We glared at each other for a moment before both breaking into reluctant grins. This was familiar territory now, the kind of trash talk that came from mutual respect rather than actual hostility.

“I’m going to miss this,” Lyn admitted, looking between us. “The banter, the chaos, having other people around who understand what

we’ve been through.”

“We’ll visit,” I promised, meaning it. “Once things settle in Silver Creek, once we’ve figured out what we’re doing with Riley and Lake and the whole mess. We’ll come back and disturb your peace.”

“I’m holding you to that,” Lyn said, pulling me into a brief hug. It was awkward-we weren’t particularly physically affectionate people

–but sincere.

Lynn hugged Lumina, the two of them exchanging words too quiet for me to hear. Whatever they said made Lumina smile that soft, genuine smile she reserved for people she actually trusted, and I felt grateful that my mate had found a friend in all this.

“Alright, I called out, checking my watch. “We need to get moving if we want to make Silver Creek before dark.”

The reality of that statement settled over all of us like a weight. Going back meant facing the pack, meant explaining where we’d been and why, meant navigating the political fallout of an alpha and luna being absent for two months. It meant integrating Riley and Lake into a pack that wouldn’t understand them, might fear them, would definitely have opinions about their presence.

I was dreading it with every fiber of my being.

But I was also ready. Ready to stop hiding in Zade’s territory, ready to face whatever consequences awaited us, ready to start figuring out what our family looked like now that everything had changed.

1/3

12:55 Thu, Jan 2900

Chapter 318

Lumina squeezed my hand, reading my thoughts in that way she had.

“Together,” she murmured. “Whatever’s waiting for us, we face it together.”

“Together,” I agreed, feeling some of my anxiety ease.

92

We made our final- I swear this was definitely the final goodbyes-Thorne promising Rivers he’d clear his schedule and visit soon, me threatening to actually call Zade if things got too overwhelming, Lynn extracting a promise from Lumina to stay in touch. Then we were climbing into the SUV, the engine rumbling to life, and pulling away from the mansion that had been our refuge.

The kids were in the back seat, all three of them crowded around Ollie’s tablet watching something that involved a lot of explosions and dramatic music. I adjusted the rearview mirror to see them better, and what I saw made my chest tight with complicated emotions.

Ollie was in the middle-actually in the middle, not shoved to the side or ignored. He was providing running commentary on

whatever they were watching, his voice animated and excited in a way I hadn’t heard in weeks.

“See, this is where the main character realizes his mentor was actually the villain all along,” Ollie was explaining, gesturing at the screen. “It’s such a good twist because they set it up in the first episode but you don’t notice until-”

“That’s such bullshit,” Lake interrupted, but there was no heat in it. “There’s no way the hero wouldn’t notice. The signs were too

obvious.”

“That’s the point!” Ollie insisted. “The hero didn’t want to see it because he loved his mentor. Sometimes people don’t see betrayal

coming because they trust too much.”

The silence that followed that statement was loaded. I saw Riley shift slightly, his jaw tightening, and knew he was thinking about Sophia. About Andy. About all the ways the adults in his life had betrayed his trust.

But then Lake leaned forward, peering at the screen more closely. “Okay, I see what you mean. The framing in this scene-the way the mentor’s always in shadow when he’s talking to the hero. That’s pretty clever foreshadowing.”

“Right?” Ollie practically bounced with excitement at having his analysis validated. “And look at this part-”

I tuned out the rest of their discussion, focusing on the road but feeling cautiously optimistic. Ollie was engaging with both of them, and they were actually responding. Lake seemed genuinely interested in my son’s enthusiastic explanations, asking questions and offering observations. Riley was quieter, but he was present, listening and occasionally adding his own commentary.

“It’s good to see them like this,” Lumina murmured, echoing my thoughts. “Ollie’s been so lonely.”

“I know,” I said quietly. “I failed him. Got so focused on Riley’s trauma that I forgot Ollie was hurting too.”

“We both failed him,” Lumina corrected gently. “But we’re going to do better. Starting now.”

212

12:55 Thu, Jan 29 M..

…

Reborn From Regret A Second Chance at Luna’s Heart