Rebirth of the Broken Luna A Second Chance at Luna's Heart novel Chapter 45

Chapter 45

SOPHIA

7

The ride to the hospital was filled with a blur of Xenois’s apologetic murmurs and my own fury that I barely managed to contain.

My left hand was hurting me with each heartbeat, my burned hand screaming in protest whenever the car hit a minor bump on the

road. But the physical pain was nothing compared to the rage burning in my chest.

That bitch had actually burned me, what audacity. She’d grabbed my hand and pressed it against that stove like I was nothing more than a disobedient child in need of punishment. The humiliation was almost worse than the pain.

“I’m so sorry, Sophia,” Xenois said for what felt like the hundredth time, his knuckles white as he gripped the steering wheel. “I don’t know what’s gotten into Lumina lately. She’s been… different. Paranoid. But I never thought she’d actually hurt someone.”

I bit back the urge to tell him that his precious wife had been “different” long before today, that she was someone who was desperate enough to do anything as long as it meant she had him in her clutches. That she was a psychotic, jealous woman who couldn’t stand the thought of another female in her husband’s life. Instead, I let tears flow from my eyes, playing the role of the wounded victim.

“I was just trying to apologize,” I whispered, cradling my injured hand against my chest. “I thought maybe we could be friends, for the children’s sake. But she looked at me with such hatred…”

“This is all my fault,” Xenois said, his voice thick with guilt and shame as he refused to look at me, rather staring in front of the

wheel as he continued speaking.

“I should have seen the signs, I should have gotten her help before it came to this.”

Perfect. He was already starting to question his loyalty to her, already beginning to see her as the unstable, dangerous woman I’d

been painting her as.

The burn on my hand had been worth it just to see that doubt that was beginning to seep into his eyes.

In the backseat, Riley sat in complete silence, staring out the window with that blank expression he wore when he was trying to make himself invisible and to avoid being asked questions.

He’d been so close to completing his task when that woman had interfered. So close to making contact with Ollie, to begin the process that would bind the boy to us permanently.

But Lumina had ruined everything with her dramatic little display. She’d actually burned me, marked me like I was some common criminal. The audacity of it made my blood boil.

The emergency room was busy, filled with people who were in for minor and major emergencies alike, ranging from stubbed toe to broken bones. Xenois helped me check in, his hand was placed at my back as he explained what had happened to the nurse.

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Chapter 45

“Cooking accident,” he said, the lie coming out of his tongue easily. “Hot stove.”

The nurse looked skeptical – probably because actual cooking accidents didn’t usually result in such perfect palm prints – but she

didn’t question it, recognizing the Mayor of the city.

She just handed me a clipboard and told us to wait.

84

“I should call Lumina,” Xenois said once we were seated in the waiting area, waiting for it to get to my turn “Let her know we’re here,

that you’re getting proper medical attention.”

“No.” The word came out sharper than I’d intended, and I had to soften my expression quickly. “Please, Xenois. I just… I need some

time to process what happened. I’m not ready to talk to her yet.”

He nodded, understanding, present in his eyes. “Of course. I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking.”

Riley climbed into the chair next to Xenois, his small body curling up against the alpha’s side like he belonged there. It was perfect, really the way Xenois’s arm automatically went around my son’s shoulders, the protective instinct that kicked in whenever he was near

–

the boy. Little did he know about Riley’s real origins. Perhaps some day he might. When Ollie was out of the picture. But for now. I was

happy to see him being a father figure to him.

“Are you okay, buddy?” Xenois asked softly.

Riley nodded, but I could see the tension in his small frame.

He was disappointed, probably confused about why his mission had been interrupted. The device on his hand was still active, still ready to complete its purpose, but now we’d have to wait for another opportunity.

“Sophia Kingston?” A nurse called from the doorway.

“That’s me,” I said, standing carefully.

“I’ll wait here with Riley,” Xenois said. “Unless you need me to come with you?”

“No, that’s fine. Riley, you stay with Xenois, okay? Mama will be right back.”

My son nodded, and I could see the relief in his eyes at not having to come with me, Good. Let him bond with his new father figure

while I dealt with this inconvenience.

The doctor was a middle-aged woman with kind eyes and gentle hands. She examined my burn carefully, cleaning it and applying a topical anesthetic that finally dulled the worst of the pain.

“This is a nasty burn,” she said, wrapping my hand in clean gauze. “How did you say this happened?”

“Cooking accident,” I repeated the lie smoothly. “I was making lunch and accidentally grabbed a hot pan handle.”

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“Hmm.” She didn’t look convinced. “The pattern is a bit unusual for that type of accident. It looks more like contact with a flat puts a stove burner, maybe?”

I felt a flash of panic, but kept my expression neutral. “I might have touched the burner when i was reaching for something, it all

happened so fast.”

“Of course.” She finished wrapping my hand and handed me a prescription for pain medication. Keep this clean and dry. Come back if you notice any signs of infection increased redness, swelling, discharge, that sort of thing”

–

“Thank you, doctor.”

When I returned to the waiting room, I found Riley asleep against Xenois’s shoulder. The alpha was stroking my son’s dark hair with such tenderness that it made my heart ache with satisfaction. This was exactly what I’d been working toward – Yencis falling in love with Riley, seeing him as the son he’d always wanted.

“How is it?” Xenois asked quietly, not wanting to wake Riley.

“It’ll be fine. Just need to keep it bandaged for a week or so.” I looked down at my sleeping son. He’s exhausted. This whole sit has been very stressful for him.”

“I can imagine. He’s such a sweet kid, Sophia. You’ve done a wonderful job raising him.”

“It hasn’t been easy, being a single mother. But he’s worth every sacrifice.”

Xenois’s eyes softened. “You don’t have to be alone anymore, you know. I meant what I said about wanting to help, about wanting to be part of your lives.”

Perfect. He was practically offering himself up on a silver platter.

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