Reborn Luna (Hope and Keith) novel Chapter 16

12. Ridiculous dinner–1

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12. Ridiculous dinner–1

Hope

Two months ago.

I sit on the edge of my bed after returning from the warrior barracks. I need to be alone for a few hours. There is only so much time before I’m face to face with Keith again and my only goal is putting distance between us.

I growl, flopping back and covering my eyes with the back of my hands. I try to quiet my mind but the memory returns before I can stop it.

“Hope, please,” Keith says.

His voice comes from below so I guess he is kneeling. His hands tremble when he touches mine. “I’ll take care of you. I’ll be your eyes.”

I push his hands off mine. “My eyes? You were supposed to be my everything. My mate. My champion. The other half of my soul. You were the one person who was never supposed to hurt me and you handed me to those monsters!”

Silence stretches between us like a blade.

“I know I failed you,” he whispers, voice thick. “But I’ll make it right. Just give me time.”

“No.”

“No?” He says, incredulously.

“Why should I give you anything when you didn’t give me your trust when it mattered most. You know me. I would never do anything like that yet you…” my words break off in a sob and I clamp

my mouth shut.

I won’t cry in front of him.

He came to my room every day. Brought food. Sat beside me. Read to me. Tried to make me laugh.

Like it makes it better.

Like the mutilation of my eyes is nothing more than an accidental slip.

I don’t want him there. But he never gets the hint. Or he is ignoring it completely in favor of doing

what he wants.

I start to despise the sound of his voice. The weight of his footsteps. His scent.

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It sickens me.

Made the burning rage solidify into a stone with sharp jagged edges.

On the day he leaves the main house to meet with the elders, I finally have my chance.

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The lock clicks behind him as he and his wretched scent goes with him. When I’m sure he’s gone, I stand, hands running along the wall, past the dresser and ten steps forward to the door.

My eyes may be gone but my other senses make up for them. My hearing and smell alert me to obstacles and people.

It took a few months to get used to not relying on my eyes but once I got the hang of it I grew more confident. I counted steps, memorized corners until I knew the house and the land directly behind it.

It was all for this.

To escape. To go back to Blue rock.

I reach the hallway. The scent of rosemary oil and the faint swish of a rag tells me the maids are nearby.

I move slowly, precisely, to mask my steps

Then I hear them.

“…Princess Lilith is already planning the wedding,” one whispers. I knew that voice. Maren. A maid I’d grown close to since the first time I moved to Lotus pack.

“The royal seamstress arrived this morning,” another, Violet, says. “Alpha Keith was measured so I guess it’s true then.”

There is ruefulness in her voice, like the thought displeased her.

“It is. Though it’s supposed to be kept quiet. Before the solstice Alpha Keith will marry Princess

Lilith.”

I stop breathing.

“What about Hope?” Violet asks.

“Keith’s not giving her up,” Maren replies. “She’s his fated mate. Letting her go would drive his wolf mad. This is political. We all know it. Even after the marriage, Hope will still be Luna… just not the one other packs will see at events and occasions.”

“Not the main one?” Violet says, laughing softly. “This is madness.”

“Lilith is royalty. Marrying her will secure his place as second most powerful Alpha. It will secure

12. Ridiculous dinner–1

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our pack. Even if Hope is his true mate, Lilith’s status is what will bring our pack the most benefit.

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12. Ridiculous dinner 2

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12. Ridiculous dinner–2

“Poor Hope,” Violet murmurs. “It is a slight to the Goddess to treat your true marks like this. At least she can take comfort knowing Alpha Keith still loves her.”

Loves me?

I stumble backward. My back hits the wall. My hands trembling.

Love? That isn’t love that allowed me to be prosecuted for a crime I didn’t commit. It isn’t love to keep me locked away while he plans to marry another.

That’s ownership. It is a cage.

I’ve lost everything–my sight, my freedom, my pride–and he still expects me to stay while he marries another woman.

While he marries Lilith.

The vile witch.

All my memories of that night pound at my head.

The royal banquet. Her golden dress. Her fake smile.

The moment she screamed jutting forward in a phantom wind. The tumble down the stairs. Her clutching her head. Blood and silk pooling at her feet.

The chaos that followed.

The accusations.

“Hope did this!”

“She was jealous!”

“She attacked the Princess!”

None of it was true.

But the truth didn’t matter.

The moment they dragged me from the stairwell, the moment Keith let them, I knew I wouldn’t

be believed.

Not over her.

They took my eyes.

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He took my eyes.

That was what Lilith wanted all along and I still can’t figure out why.

But it’s all starting to make sense now.

I curl my fingers, digging my nails into my palms to anchor myself in the present.

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The prick of my nails against the fleshy part of my skin helps to settle some of my nerves.

Even when I open my eyes the past clings like frost.

“Hope,” Tessa says softly, from the other side of my door. “It’s time for dinner.”

“Okay,” I yell as the door opens.

Tessa enters, closing the door behind her with an odd look on her face. I almost do a double take when I see her. Instead of her usual cargo pants and black shirt she wears for training, she is dressed in an elegant satin green clav length dress.

The color warms her pale complexion and compliments her vibrant red hair.

“What’s the occasion?” I say sitting up and giving her my full attention.

“Papa and Karen decided to set a formal dinner to honor Alpha Keith’s visit.”

I scrunch my nose. “I wonder why.”

Tessa snorts, catching my sarcasm.

We both know that while the eligible high ranking males are here Karen’s number one priority will be to show Leah off like a prize pony.

“I bet Karen will be happy with Keith or Jace. All she really wants is for Leah to have some sort of power within a pack and she knows Ben is biting that line.” She waves a hand my way. “Now come on, don’t stall. Put on something nice so we won’t be late.”

I groan exaggeratingly and walk over to my closet. Looking through my dresses I stop on a light blue one.

I hate the fact that I want to wear it. It was the color Keith loved most on me.

With Herculean strength I slip past the dress and settle on a plum knee length dress.

Slipping it on I run my finger through my hair, selltong the dark waves and turn to Tessa.

“I’m ready for the shit show,” I say.

“Goddess, I’m not. It’s going to be a mess.”

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We walk side by side down the long hall toward the dining room.

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Karen went all out. Crystal goblets. Roasted lamb. A table laden with so many sides there’s no way we’d eat it all. Silver candlesticks. It’s ridiculous.

And sitting to the right of the head of the table, grinning like nothing ever happened, is Keith. Papa is at the head and Beta Tucker sits beside Keith with Jace next to him. On Papa’s left is Karen followed by Emma and Leah.

Tylor hasn’t arrived yet.

Late as usual.

I feel Keith’s gaze land on me before I reach the table.

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