Reborn Luna (Hope and Keith) novel Chapter 44

Fuck, I don’t know what need. I don’t know what to do anymore. Can I try this again? Try us again?

Do I even want to?

He steps forward fast, anger flaring. “Hope.” He grabs a handful of my shirt, makes me look at him. “You are my mate-”

Heat floods me. I jerk free. My voice drops to a snarl. “I’m nothing to you.”

I might be confused but I won’t allow him to tell me what I will and won’t accept.

Shock flashes through his face, then hardens into hurt before it locks away all emotion.

His voice is mechanical, resolute.“What I meant to say is that I know you’re under no obligation to accept

me, and I won’t force you, but the least you could do is acknowledge that it’s there. After that, I will accept

whatever you’re willing to give until you decide you can give more.”

My chest hammers. My muscles tense, my fight response is in full gear, but I lock my knees. “I’m not stupid, Keith. You say all these pretty words about waiting like that’s my issue when you have no idea what I’m thinking, what I’m feeling,” I turn away.”

“You’re right.” It is not his voice that makes me turn, it’s the embarrassment in his voice, the shame in it. “I haven’t once asked you how you feel, or what you’re thinking and I’m sorry for that.”

The Keith I knew would have never apologized so quickly, he would have made excuses and come up with justifications for his actions until I saw his way.

This is a second chance.

It is possible my choices are affecting the outcome even now? That maybe there is more grey to my situation than I’ve been giving it.

I think back on my conversation with Emma, when she told me that I was here to see what I couldn’t

Γ before.

Is it possible I somehow contributed to my end by staying silent? By not fighting, by letting things slip past

1. me.

“Hope…” his voice is hesitant. “If you want, I’m ready to listen.”

This is too much.

Today.

Tomorrow.

Everything.

I shake my head like I’ll fall down. “Don’t. Just don’t.” I turn fully, fierce. “This mate bond… I can’t give you

an answer right now. I don’t know when I can. I just need to think, Keith.”

Silence stretches. He sucks in a breath. “Why do you hate the thought of being with me so much? I’m I that dispicable? That unlikable”

“Don’t… don’t say that.” My voice trembles. I round on him. “I don’t hate you, I-” I love you.

I take a shaky step back.

He grabs my arm, gentle now. His voice cracks. “What–then what is it?”

My lips press together. I look at the wall clock. 12:03. I glance at him. My breath shudders.

“Talk to me,” he murmurs in a low rumble.

My exhale is a sob caught in broken glass. My knees finally give apd Keith leads ine to my bed.

I sit down and lean forward against my knees and stare at the rug. Shadows from the blinds stripe across

the carpet.

I meet his eyes. My voice softens. “I didn’t know you felt it. Not that strongly.” I twist my fingers in my lap. ” Part of me hoped that distance would make it less noticeable.” Something knowing crosses his face. As much as I hate him I don’t want to hurt him but I’m caught between the truth and the lie I need to tell to change the future. “I didn’t know how to just… return it. How to want this.”

He lifts my hand, presses it to his cheek. “Does that–hurt?”

“Huh?” I whisper.

“That you can’t return it?”

My breath catches. I swallow. My throat clenches. I study him in the low lamplight. I want to tell him I’ve tried, but I can’t lie. “It hurts you. I don’t know what I feel. I’m sorry.”

He nods once, hard. “Maybe I was wrong.”

Something splinters in me. “What do you mean?”

“I thought the bond would make you feel. Clearly. Instantly. That it would draw you close.” He rests his forehead against my palm. “But… maybe I was foolish.”

Tears leak down my cheeks. I raise my other hand to cup his jaw. My thumb brushes down, over the stubble. “I never wanted this to hurt you.”

“Then stop punishing me. Stop pushing me away. I’m not asking you to accept me, I’m asking for a chance to prove to you that I’m a male worthy of you.” His voice is low. “Just… tell me what you need me to do.”

He holds me for a long moment. The air tastes of regret. The clock ticks.

Finally when I don’t respond, he says, “What if… we give it time?”

My breath shakes. I pull away to look at him. “Time?”

He nods. “Yeah. Time. I’m printing. It has only just started and we get to know each other, maybe it will grow. He stands and holds out his hand. “Can we start again?”

My eyes sting, with what can’t tell. Grief at what might have been. Hope for what still can be, even if different.

But could it be better?

My wolf howls a low song full of harrow and longing.

I take his hand.

He slowly pulls me up. We stand in the lamplight. The soft hazy glow bathing his face in tones of gold.

Flashes of the past bombard my mind. The marriage to Lilith, the judgement hall, his face went he poured

the vile in my eyes, blinding me.

My body tenses and I snatch my hand away.

“I don’t think we can.”

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