Rebirth of the Broken Luna A Second Chance at Luna's Heart novel Chapter 344

Chapter 344

LUMINA

For now, though, we had this. This fragile, precious connection we’d managed to rebuild, at least partially.

“We should shower,” Xenois said eventually, though he made no move to actually get up.

“Probably,” I agreed. “We definitely smell like sex. The boys will notice.”

91

That got him moving. We reluctantly separated, and I felt the immediate loss of his warmth. But as we stumbled together into the

ensuite bathroom, as Xenois turned on the shower and pulled me in with him, I felt something settle in my chest. Something that might

have been hope.

The shower was quick but thorough. We washed away the evidence of our morning activities, though I caught Xenois looking with

satisfaction at the hickeys he’d left scattered across my neck and chest. They’d be visible even in my work clothes-a fact that would

definitely raise eyebrows at the pack house, but I found I didn’t particularly care.

Let people talk. Let them see that their alpha and luna were working through their issues, were choosing each other despite

everything that had tried to tear them apart.

We dried off and dressed quickly-me in professional slacks and a blouse that covered most of the marks, Xenois in his usual alpha attire. By the time the alarm started shrilling at exactly seven o’clock, we were both presentable and ready to face the day.

“I’ll get Ollie,” Xenois said, heading for the door.

“I’ll get Lake,” I replied. “We’ll come back for Riley together.”

The boys’ shared bedroom was still dark when I entered, curtains drawn against the morning light. We’d moved them all into Ollie’s room after Riley and Lake had arrived-it had seemed safer to keep them together, and Ollie had been thrilled to have roommates. The space had originally been designed for one child, but we’d managed to fit three king-size beds along with wardrobes, toy storage, and a study area. It was a bit cramped but functional.

Ollie had been raised as an only child-spoiled, really, getting the best of everything because we’d thought Riley was lost to us forever. Now he was learning to share, learning that being part of a family meant compromise and consideration for others. It was good

for him, I thought. Good for all of them.

I made my way to Lake’s bed, where the small boy was curled under his blankets, completely dead to the world. I gently shook his

shoulder.

“Lake, honey, time to wake up.”

He mumbled something incoherent, burrowing deeper into the covers. I smiled and shook him again, a little more insistently.

1/3

13:01 Thu, Jan 29 M

Chapter 344

:

“Come on, sweetheart. You have school today. Remember? You’re starting in Ollie’s class.”

A

91

That got a response. Lake’s eyes blinked open-unfocused and confused but awake. “Wha’s happening?” he mumbled, his voice thick

with sleep.

“Time to get ready for school,” I repeated gently. “I’m going to help you get ready, okay?”

He nodded groggily, and I carefully pulled back his blankets. He was wearing pajamas we’d bought for him-soft flannel covered in

little stars. I’d let him pick them out himself, and the fact that he’d chosen something so childishly whimsical had warmed my heart.

I scooped him up-he was small enough that I could still carry him easily-and he immediately went limp against my shoulder, clearly

not fully awake yet. I carried him to the bathroom where Xenois already had Ollie propped against the sink, helping him brush his teeth.

The bathtub was already filled with warm water and bubbles-Xenois must have prepared it while I was waking Lake. I carefully

removed Lake’s pajamas, then lowered him into the tub next to Ollie. Both boys sat there blinking owlishly, still half-asleep.

“I’ll get Riley,” I said to Xenois, heading back to the bedroom.

Riley was the hardest to wake-he always was. His precognitive abilities apparently didn’t extend to knowing when his alarm would go

off. I had to shake him three times before his eyes finally opened, regarding me with that unnervingly blank expression.

“School day,” I said simply.

“Acknowledged,” Riley replied, sitting up with military precision that was both impressive and heartbreaking in a five-year-old.

By the time I got Riley to the bathroom, Xenois had both Ollie and Lake soaped up and was working on washing their hair. The bathroom was filled with steam and the scent of strawberry-banana kids’ shampoo. Ollie was complaining about soap in his eyes despite

the fact that we’d specifically bought tear-free shampoo.

I undressed Riley and added him to the tub, making it officially crowded. Three small boys, three different levels of wakefulness, all

needing to be scrubbed clean and ready for school.

The next thirty minutes were controlled chaos. Xenois and I worked as a team-him handling the actual bathing while I got towels ready and laid out their school uniforms. The pack school had a uniform policy: navy blue pants, white button-up shirts, and navy sweaters with the pack emblem embroidered on the chest. We’d ordered extras for Riley and Lake when they’d taken their assessment

tests last week.

Lake had done surprisingly well on those tests-well enough to be placed in the same class as Ollie despite not having any formal education for most of his life. Riley had tested even higher, but we’d decided to keep them together for now. They needed the stability of

familiar faces more than they needed academic challenge.

Ollie, of course, was used to the morning routine. He’d been doing this since he started preschool at age three. But Riley and Lake were still adjusting, still learning that they had autonomy over their own bodies and choices. It showed in small ways-Lake’s hesitation when I asked if he wanted help buttoning his shirt, Riley’s confusion when I told him he could choose which socks to wear.

2/3

13:01 Thu, Jan 29 M…

Chapter 344

“You can dress yourselves,” I assured them as we carried them out of the bathroom, towels wrapped around their small bodies. “I’m

just here to help if you need it.”

91

Riley immediately took control of his own dressing, his movements efficient and practiced. He’d been dressing himself since he was tiny, apparently-Andy hadn’t coddled any of her subjects. Lake was less confident but still insisted on trying, fumbling with buttons until

I gently intervened.

“Here,” I said softly, “let me show you a trick for the buttons.”

I demonstrated slowly, making sure he could see the motion, then let him try the next one himself. He got it on the third attempt,

and his face lit up with accomplishment.

Ollie dressed himself with practiced ease, though he insisted on wearing mismatched socks-one with dinosaurs, one with spaceships -because apparently that was his “lucky combination” for reading presentations.

Comments

LIKE

Write Comments

SHARE

13:01 Thu, Jan 29 M…

Reborn From Regret A Second Chance at Luna’s Heart