Reborn Luna (Hope and Keith) novel Chapter 42

24.Your Alpha nature–2

We all sit there, quiet for a beat. No one speaks It’s the question that’s on all of our minds. I’m this moment, I feel a kinship forming.

Ben shifts, clears his throat. “I told her to give you a chance. To see if you could form a bond naturally. Without the fated mate pull deciding everything for her.”

I blink. “You told her that?”

He nods.

I sit back in my chair. “I thought you didn’t like me.”

Ben shrugs. “I didn’t. Still don’t know if I do. But I’m Hope’s friend. I want what’s best for her. And if the

Goddess created you for her, then I would be remiss not to persuade her to at least see what you guys

could be like together.”

I stare at him, trying to reconcile the image I had of Ben with this new version. Reluctantly, I feel something close to gratitude settle in my chest. He’s been a true friend to Hope.

Tessa strums her finger along the table, eyes narrowing. “So… now that we’re done with our little heart–to–heart, what are you really doing here, Keith? Were you following us?”

I meet her gaze with a shrug. Might as well be honest now. They will know soon enough anyway.

“Hope was targeted at a bar,” I say. “By rogue shifters. They drugged her.”

Tessa’s lips part. Ben freezes.

“I found her in time. She was already resisting them. I helped her fight them off. After we secured the threat, we found out those bastards were sent by Tyler.”

Tessa slams her hand on the table and pushes her chair back, standing. Her dominance pulses around her like a whip. Ben puts a hand on her arm to calm her, but her whole body’s vibrating with fury.

I knew I liked her.

“That son of a- We have to get back to pack territory now.”

She takes a step toward the door, then stops. Turns back, pinning me with her stare. “Wait… then why are you still here?”

My throat tightens. “Hope ran.”

“Ran from what? Weren’t you with her?” Ben asks.

“The aphrodisiac was messing with her judgment. She was too close to me, and said she couldn’t think straight. She went looking for a black market healer because she didn’t think we would make it back to the pack in time.”

424 You Alp

Tegon’s cyes flash with understanding. “Edward.

tshoot her a look. “Do you know where to find him?”

“It’s been a while, but people don’t move around in the black market much. His office should be in the same place.”

Ben’s already pulling out his phone. “I’ll call Hunter and get an update from the pack. I’ll also put out a word to confine Tyler in case he gets any bright ideas.”

Tessa’s pacing now. “This is worse than I thought. I always thought Leah and Tyler were just stuck–up, rank–hungry scavengers, but now he is threatening real harm. What would he even target Hope? It’s not like

that will get him anywhere.”

“We need to find Hope,” I say. “Now.”

“No. We go home.”

“What? I ask incredulously.

She looks at me, studying. “If I know my sister, she’s probably on her way home by now. Edward is a good male, and Hope is a lot tougher than you think she is.”

My wolf and Lycan merge and thrust to the border of my mind. They snarl at Tessa’s suggestion.

“I’m not going to leave without knowing for sure that she’s safe, not who she’s vulnerable to,” I say,

standing.

“I’m not telling you to leave her, I’m telling you to trust her,” Tessa affirms. “Do you want Hope to accept you as her mate?

#

“Of course I do,” I say without hesitation.

“The you have to show her you’ll be different, that you won’t treat her like some prize to be locked away That you respect her. A true partnership. She’s always wanted, So I’m going to ask you, can you put aside your pride for her?”

I pause. Something about her statement feels bigger than her words. A part of me I can’t name responds to it as if it is reaching towards the possibility of us.

“Yes,” I growl, fighting the need to track Hope.

Tessa is right. She isn’t my pack mate, she’s my mate and I have to show her what it would be like to be with me if I want her to start to look at our bond differently.

Ben stands. “Let’s move then.”

We leave the tavern, slipping through the narrow streets behind it. The city smells like wet asphalt and smoke. Tessa takes the lead, winding through alleys like she’s walked them a hundred times.

Their car is parked right outside the black market.

* 24 You Alphe Thai

Heft my car a few miles down,” I say.

“We’ll drive you to it. Then we’ll all head back to Blue Rock,” Ben says.

Every cell in my body screams at me to jump out of this car, and fuck me, her but Tessa’s words keep me ony seat.

Because this time, I’m not giving her anywhere to run. And I’m not going to force myself to accept our bond. But so will show her I’m here for her, whether she wants me to be or not.

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