Rise Of A Shattered Luna (Natalie) by Kave Derry novel Chapter 14

Chapter 14 Cairn

Jensen’s POV

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“What are you doing here?” Natalie said without looking up. “Shouldn’t you be at the hospital with your beloved Sharon?”

I stood in the doorway of the villa, suddenly aware of how quiet it was. Natalie didn’t turn around and didn’t even pause her work.

I stopped just inside the villa. The door still open behind me with the air inside felt colder than it should have. She didn’t even pause as her pen moved steadily across the parchment as though I hadn’t spoken, as though I hadn’t walked in bleeding.

The scent of antiseptic clung to my clothes, sharp and metallic. Blood loss had left me lightheaded, my arm wrapped and stiff beneath the bandage.

It should not still hurt.

Any Alpha wound that shallow should have closed hours ago.

I hated this version of her.

I took a step forward, the movement tugged at my arm.

My wolf shifted behind my ribs, alert but distant

‘Heal it, I pushed.

Cairn didn’t respond.

I swallowed the irritation that followed, wolves didn’t refuse without reason, and mine had been restless since the hospital.

Natalie continued writing.

Usually, she noticed everything.

“Are you ignoring me now?” I asked.

She finally looked up then, slowly. Her eyes passed over my face, my posture, the faint tremor in my arm, and dismissed all of it.

“I asked you a question,” I said, trying not to sound hurt. “You know why I’m here.”

“Do I?” she said coldly.

TH

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Chapter 14 Cairn

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I glanced at the desk, sheets of parchment lay spread beneath the lamp as symbols layered over one another. An eagle took shape at the center, wings extended, lines exact.

It looked magnificent.

“Natalie,” I said quietly, stepping closer. “You designed these for me?”

Her pen paused.

Slowly, she lifted her head and looked at me, the usual warmth in her eyes was replaced with

anger.

“For you?” she repeated. “Is that what you think?

I reached for the parchment, intent overriding caution. The moment my fingers neared the edge, she pulled it back.

“Don’t.”

Pain flared through my arm from the sudden movement, I tried to muffle the hiss but couldn’t.

“You’re overreacting.” I said. “You know how this works, the pack needs a face. Sharon needs legitimacy as the Luna of the pack. I don’t know why you’re suddenly acting selfish.”

“I’m what?” Her laugh cut short. “Selfish for not letting another woman take the credit for my hard work.”

“Do it for the legacy,” I said, irritation bleeding through. “Do it for the pack you claimed you loved.”

She stood abruptly, chair scraping against the floor. She gathered the sketches quickly as she put them all in her satchel.

“I’ve been working for the pack for years and suddenly she’s worthy of my work?” Natalie said, “If she wants the glory then let her bleed over the parchment herself.”

She turned away and walked out of her room as the lock clicked instantly.

I stared at the door, my pulse ticking in my ears. Even injured, even bleeding slower than I should have been, I was still Alpha.

Yet I stood there, dismissed.

My wolf growled low, “She deserves better.” He said and suddenly went quiet.

“Make me something to eat,” I called after her, leaning my shoulder against the door. The

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Chapter 14 Cairn

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movement sent another throb through my arm. I haven’t eaten since the hospital. You know what I need when I’m injured.”

Silence

“Natalie?” I called out but got no response, annoyance flared through me. After everything I had given her, the protection, the home, the status, she was really going to let me stand here and be ignored?

My phone rang.

Sharon.

I answered instantly, my tone shifting.

She was crying again, clearly shaken over something.

“I’ll be there,” I said without bothering to hear what she had to say..

I looked once more at the door, but Natalie didn’t come out.

I left.

The hospital lights were too bright when I returned. Sharon latched onto me the moment I stepped into her room, fingers clutching my shirt like she might fall apart without it.

I held her because it was expected.

Because it was easier than thinking.

“He’s gone,” I told her. “You’re safe”

She nodded against my chest, trembling.

My arm burned where the wound still refused to close.

Later, after she slept, I sat alone and pulled a scrap of paper from my pocket. I drew the eagle from memory; the lines came out uneven, her signature clearly not perfect but similar to hers.

My wolf watched in silence.

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