Reborn Luna (Hope and Keith) novel Chapter 37

22.Rogues–2

I study him: young, hardened, frightened. My instincts flare–protect, help, hold.

I can’t leave him out there all alone.

The clinic becomes quieter–just the deep breath Leon exhales and the low snip of the scissors as Edward works.

I glance at the door, at Edward bent over Leon, and I place both hands on my knees, steadying myself for what comes next.

There’s no way we’ll avoid the rouge’s and there’s no way I’ll let them hurt Leon,

***

I’m resting against the faded linoleum of the reception desk. Leon’s breathing steadies in the examination room. Edward gave him an antibiotic and pain management tonic about fifteen minutes ago and it’s finally starting to take effect.

Soon I’ll have to go home and

BANG. BANG. BANG.

The clinic door rattles, breaking my train of thought.

A male voice, rough as gravel, booms through the wood.

“We know he’s in there! Open up! We don’t want to have to break the door down!”

I freeze. Edward stiffens beside me, eyes darting to the room where Leon is lying.

I stand and walk to the door, but Edward grips my bicep, stopping me.

“Don’t. Let me-”

“Absolutely not. You need to be with Leon.” I whisper.

“And you’re still healing.”

“You don’t have pack protection like I do. Trust me. I know what I’m doing.”

I can see him arguing with me. My muscles tighten, but there’s that familiar ache–a reminder I’m not at

full strength yet. Not even close. But Leon, my heart flips. I tighten my grip on the counter.

Edward moves to stand in front of me. “Hope, please. You’re-”

“I’m not letting anyone hurt him or you,” I cut in quietly, sweet venom in my tone.

Edward’s hands rise in surrender. “Fine,” he says softly. “Handle it. But if I think it’s going to go aideways…”

“Then you can do what you need to do,” I agree.

My pulse hammers beneath my ribs as I step forward.

My voice, low and unwavering. “I’m opening the door.”

I twist the doorknob. Edward pads to the edge of the exam room, but stays back, ready to defend or intervene at a moment’s notice.

The door swings open.

Four figures hunch in the dusk light–dirty, scraggly clothes hanging off lean frames. There’s a wildness in their eyes and a twitch in their limbs that lets me know they are no longer comfortable in their human skin.

Sneers plastered on their faces. Two behind, two stepping forward, their posture filled with malice and something else, something wild.

“Where’s the boy?” the first rasps. His voice trembles ever so slightly–fear? Excitement?

I plant my feet, tilting my chin up in defiance.

“He’s no longer your concern,” I say, voice cold. “Now, back off.”

His nostrils flare, eyes darkening.

One of the males behind him snarls.

“Don’t be stupid. You don’t want us to get nasty.”

Another, a shiftier guy near the back, steps forward, shoulders squared. “Hand him over. Or we’ll rip him from your lifeless body.”

I glance at Edward. He’s ready to move–body coiled like a spring.

Having him this close reinforces the steel in my spine. He may be strong, but his value lies in his healing.

He’s not a fighter.

I blink at them. Breathe steadily.

“I won’t do that.” My voice rises. Not loud. Not yet. Calm But it’s solid–ironclad.

They laugh–low, mocking–but two of them step forward.

“Guess it’s the hard way then,” one of thern mutters.

They think they can steamroll me. Two against one female.

I square my stance and hold out my hands. “I don’t think I’ve introduced myself yet.”

“I don’t give a fuck who you are,” one of them spits.

“You should, rouge,” I smirk.

And then…I do something I never thought I would. I dig deep.

r

I lift my chin, heart thrumming in my chest. “My name is Hope, second daughter of Alpha Clinton of the

Reques

Blue rock pack,” their eyes widen and as much as I hate it I press on,” fated mate of Alpha Keith of the Lotus pack.”

I give them a moment to digest my words, then continue.

I know the reputation my pack holds as third largest on the content, that mingled with the power and legend surrounding Keith’s Lycan are enough to make any sane shifter stop in their tracks.

And it looks like it’s working.

“I have to say, they’re going to be very disappointed to learn you’ve threatened me,” I say, voice velvet wrapped around iron,” they’ll also find it interesting that you chose to target someone under my protection. Under my pack’s protection,” I add.

“Impossible,” one states, “that mutt is a loner. He has no protection,”

Mutt?

I step forward. Close. Too close. They tense–two of them hesitate. Sweat beads on their foreheads.

“He does now, and if you try to take him from me, you will regret what comes next,” I whisper. “Because

Leon is now claimed by the Blue Rock pack. Any threat to him–and you’ll find out exactly how protective

we can be.”

One of them shifts, steps back. Another licks his lips, expression garbled between fear and fury. The male in the front eyes darted to the opening in the door and then me.

He’s struggling to decide.

I almost think he won’t.

Then, they back down.

Like that. The sneers fade. They shoot each other in panicked looks, then slowly walk backwards until the distance is too great to be attacked from behind them they turn and leave.

After a few minutes, I slam the door shut behind me.

The lock clicks home.

Silence blankets the clinic hall.

It fucking worked.

My wolf snorts. Of course it did. Our mate is powerful.

The pride in her voice makes me weary, but I lock the feeling away. Now isn’t the time.

I turn, and Edward’s serious face greets me–jaw slack, arms hanging like branches. His eyes shine with admiration, relief, something deeper. Maybe pride.

Finally, he breaks the quiet. “So, you’re taking the boy?”

Dar Bushang

I swallow, realizing I made my decision of what to do with him. Once I said it outloud I knew it was true.

Leon belongs to Blue Rock. I’ll make my father accept him if I have to.

My chest swells. I protected. I claimed. I acknowledged our bond.

Took ownership.

And it all felt right. It felt like I was supposed to.

“Yes,” I say. “I am.”

He steps forward and brushes a stray hair off my cheek. “You are giving him a blessing.”

I glance down at Leon’s sleeping form. His dark hair hangs over his eyes, brushing thick, dark lashes. His tan skin pinkens slightly on his cheeks.

He looks so young, so lost, so alone.

Not anymore.

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