Rebirth of the Broken Luna A Second Chance at Luna's Heart novel Chapter 42

Chapter 42

LUMINA

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The doorbell rang at exactly two o’clock, and I felt my stomach twist with nausea that I was barely able to keep from throwing up on

the floor. Despite the fact that I was aware and resigned that they were coming, and the fact that I had fortified Ollie to the best of my

capabilities under this circumstances, I still wasn’t ready for them to meet each other.

If only taking my child and running away from the pack was easy, but due to how we got married to each other, Silvia and Samuel had included it in the contract and also the bond that I can’t leave the city alone or with anyone unless I have an explicit permission from my

mate Xenois. Which meant I was stuck in this city and I was a sitting duck.

Through the living room window, I could see Sophia standing on our front porch with Riley beside her, both of them looking like they belonged here.

Xenois was already moving toward the door, his face lighting up with a smile that made my heart ache. Despite everything that happened. That was still my one and only mate. When did he stop looking at me that way? Did he ever look at me that way before?

“That must be them,” he said, glancing back at me with an expression that was part warning, part plea, I could hear the silent word.

Do not make a scene. “Remember what we discussed.”

I nodded stiffly, positioning myself where I could see everything but hopefully stay out of the immediate line of fire, I had no intention of getting close to Sophia any more than I wanted to, and Riley was also someone I was going to stay clear of, before I get pulled into another situation where I am being seen as a monster..

Ollie appeared at the top of the stairs, he was clearly drawn by the sound of the doorbell but clearly reluctant to come down and see who it was. He glanced at me with fear in his eyes as I tried to give him a watery smile, trying to show that I was going to be there for

him no matter what.

Xenois opened the door, and Sophia’s face immediately brightened into that radiant smile I’d come to despise.

“Xenois! Thank you so much for having us over.” She stepped into our foyer like she belonged there, her hand resting possessively on Riley’s shoulder. “Riley’s been so excited about this playdate, haven’t you, sweetheart?”

The little boy nodded, but I could see the tension in his small frame. He looked like he’d rather be anywhere else in the world, which only made my heart ache for him more. Whatever Sophia was putting him through, it wasn’t fair to drag an innocent child into it.

“Ollie!” Xenois called up the stairs. “Come down and meet your new friend!”

My son descended the stairs slowly, one hand tralling along the banister. When he reached the bottom, the resemblance between the two boys was even more striking than I’d remembered. They could have been brothers – the same dark hair, the same bone structure, even similar expressions of wariness.

‘Ollie, this is Riley,” Xenois said, his voice warm with enthusiasm. “And Riley, this is my son Ollie.”

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Chapter 42

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The two boys stared at each other for a long moment, neither speaking. Riley seemed to be waiting for something, his right hand

twitching at his side like he wanted to move it but was holding himself back.

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“Well, don’t just stand there, Sophia said with a laugh that sounded forced even to my ears. “Why don’t you boys shake hands and

introduce yourselves properly?”

Riley immediately extended his right hand toward Ollie, his movement so quick and automatic that it was clearly something he’d been

coached to do.

But Ollie took a step backward, pressing closer to the staircase.

“I don’t want to,” he said quietly.

Sophia’s smile faltered for just a fraction of a second, and I caught a glimpse of something dark and angry in her eyes before she

covered it up again.

“Oh, that’s okay,” she said, her voice still light but with an edge to it now. “Some children are just shy at first. I’m sure they’ll warm

up to each other once they start playing.”

“Why don’t I show you boys the backyard?” Xenois suggested, clearly trying to move things along. “We’ve got a swing set and a sandbox, plus plenty of room to run around.”

“That sounds wonderful,” Sophia said. Then she turned to me with that fake smile still plastered on her face. “Lumina, I was hoping we could have a chance to talk privately while the boys play. I’d really like to apologize for yesterday.”

Every instinct I had was screaming at me to refuse, to stay close to Ollie and make sure nothing happened to him. But I could feel Xenois watching me, waiting to see if I would make good on my promise to be civil.

“Of course,” I said, the words tasting like poison in my mouth.

Xenois led the boys toward the back door, and I watched through the kitchen window as they emerged into the backyard. Ollie was keeping his distance from Riley, but at least he wasn’t hiding behind his father anymore.

“They really do look remarkably alike, don’t they?” Sophia said, coming to stand beside me at the window.

“Yes, they do.”

“It’s almost like they were meant to be brothers.”

The way she said it made my skin crawl, but I forced myself to keep watching the boys instead of looking at her. Xenois was showing them the swing set, and Riley was nodding enthusiastically at whatever he was saying.

‘I’ll just go prepare some snacks for them,” I said, desperate to have something to do with my hands.

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“That’s very thoughtful of you.” Sophia followed me to the kitchen counter, positioning herself so that she was between me and the

back door. “I really do want to apologize for yesterday, you know.”

I pulled ingredients for sandwiches from the refrigerator, trying to ignore her presence. “There’s no need.*

“Oh, but there is. I can see how much you love your son, and I understand why you might feel threatened by Riley and me coming

into your lives.”

I set the bread down on the counter with more force than necessary. “I don’t feel threatened.”

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