Reborn Luna (Hope and Keith) novel Chapter 45

26.Blood and Magic–1

Hope

I can see the confusion flashing across his face. I know he thought that this was the moment you would reconcile, that I would give him the chance that he was hoping for. I thought I would too. But I can’t.

“What’s wrong?” He asks not daring to breach the space between.

“I shouldn’t have let you think this was a mistake. It was all just….”

Panic flares and his eyes and his likings round black pupils flash.

“No. No, tell me what’s wrong. What just happened back there?”

I inhale. My purpose firmly back in place. “I think it’s time that we close the door. Formally.”

My voice falters. I nearly laugh at the sheer and possibility of it all.

This was a video I was ready to have pups with. Now his face only serves as a reminder of the nightmare!

lived through.

He flinches, like I’ve stabbed him. My mouth goes dry. I brace for the end.

He’s so close the ones of his skin brushes against mine. He stares at me shocked, lost and for a moment I feel as though every decision I’m about to make is the wrong one.

I need to finish it, to end this pointless game cat and mouse. Every warning light in me is flashing.

I lift my hand. My fingertips hovering near his chest expectation, longing. My body is screaming yes, my mind pleading no.

And my wolf remains silent inside me.

He takes my hand and presses it against him. His eyes catch mine. “Don’t do this.”

My breath hitches. “This is a mistake. It better to cut it out before it hurts us both later.”

“And what makes you so sure it will,” he shouts. “Stop running, Hope.”

“I’m not!” I shout back. “I’m doing what I should have done in the beginning. Keith, Alpha of the Lotus pack, I Hope Brown of the Blue Rock pack-”

His mouth crashes into mine, cutting off my words and my train of thought.

My pulse bangs inside my skull. I can taste salt on his skin. The moment stretches–torn between safety and surrender

His kiss fierce, claiming. A punishment for what I was about to do.

I squeeze my eyes shut. My body betrays me, melting into it. Memories swirl–laughter, late–night talks, aching closeness.

26 Bloss and the t

I push back trying to give into the fear. But the action is lost in the sudden rush of pleasure.

He breaks the kiss but doesn’t move away. He cups my face. “I see you, Hope,” he murmurs. “Not the safe version you think you need to be. I won’t force you but when you’re ready, I will be here.”

I tremble. My heart’s a bird trying to escape.

I look at him. At his earnest face, the warmth in his eyes.

if I step back, I lose this spark. If I stay… I risk falling back into what hurt me before.

He takes a step back, his gaze roaming over my face as if he’s trying to memorize my features.

“Until morning,” he says, stepping around me and walking out of my room without a backward glance.

***

“I wanted to speak with you about what happened yesterday,” Papa says.

I was summoned to his study right after breakfast.

I nods once already knowing what this is about. Normally, I only see him as my father, but today… today I see why he’s Alpha. His steadiness fills the room.

Before I can continue, there’s a soft knock at the door. It opens, and Keith strides in. My heart fizzes, remembering the kiss from last night and how I almost rejected him.

He keeps his gaze on Papa, not even moving his eyes in my direction.

“Keith, thank you for joining us today,” Papa says.

Keith lifts a hand. “Not at all. This matter deserves our fullest attention, and I wanted to make sure you were provided all the facts.”

He stands in front of Papa, focused, remote. I feel like a shadow.

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