Rise Of A Shattered Luna (Natalie) by Kave Derry novel Chapter 188

Chapter 188 The ‘Slip‘

Natalie’s POV

Nyx paced restlessly in the back of my mind, her silver fur bristling.

‘Mine, she whispered, her voice a mix of warning and pride ‘When will I get to meet Raze?

A low chuckle rumbled from Baron’s throat, the sound distracting me from Nyx.

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He leaned in, his damp breath brushing the sensitive curve behind my ear, sending a traitorous shiver down my spine.

“Keep staring like that,” he murmured, his voice making Nyx purr, “and that cold shower will have been for nothing.”

“Baron!”

I could heat rushing to my cheeks as I shoved him away from me and bolted out of the room.

I didn’t stop until I reached the hallway, my heart hammering a frantic rhythm against my ribs.

Nyx gave a sharp, mocking yip of laughter. ‘Running won’t save you from him.’

I ignored her, smoothing my hair and forcing my breathing to level out.

By the time I reached the living room, I had calmed down my racing heart.

The two children were already there, the moment they saw me, their faces lit up.

Susie and Sean hurried to crowd around me, each vying for my undivided attention.

They were currently in a heated debate about which kindergarten they wanted to attend.

I sat on the sofa, pulling them close, and listened to their chatter.

This was the warmth of family I’d been missing.

Seeing my gentle expression, Susie quickly reached into the pocket of her pinafore and pulled out a smal foil–wrapped chocolate.

“Mommy, have some,” she said, her eyes wide and earnest as she held it out. “Daddy had this specially made so it won’t hurt my teeth. Try it. It’s the bestest one.”

“Mommy, what do you like? I’ll buy it for you,” Sean added, his small face a copy of Baron’s.

He refused to be outdone by his sister’s sweetness.

My heart warmed at the sight of them.

I took the chocolate from Susie then placed a kiss on both of their heads.

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“No need for you to buy me anything, Sean,” I said, ruffling his hair. “After dinner. Mommy and Daddy will take you to the mall, okay? You can pick whatever you want, and Mommy will pay

Susic and Sean froze, their little mouths falling open in identical expressions of surprise

They’d never truly gone to a mall before.

On the island where Baron had kept them hidden and safe, there was no chance for such public outings.

Hearing my words now, the two of them lit up like stars.

“Really, Mommy? We can actually pick for ourselves? Like, anything?” Susie asked, her voice rising in excitement.

“Of course! Anything you want.”

“Then after shopping, can we go to the amusement park?” Susie chimed in, her eyes dancing. “I saw one of TV with big colorful lights and a giant wheel! It looked so fun!”

Sean perked up at the suggestion, though his request was more specific.

“Mommy, I know Daddy usually closes things down, but we want to play with other kids too. Real kids.”

The eagerness in their eyes struck me, I realized then that no matter how secure their lives had been, without the normalcy of the real world, they hadn’t truly been happy.

And in this, both Baron and I had fallen short.

Not that I meant to criticize him; raising two high–spirited wolf–hybrids alone on a secluded island was a monumental task, and he had done it with a fierce devotion.

I simply saw the gaps now, the things they lacked, and I wanted to fill them until they overflowed.

“Alright!” I promised, pulling them into a tight embrace. “Whatever you two want today, Mommy will say yes.”

“Yay! Mommy’s the best!” Susie squealed.

“Mommy, I love you so much!” Sean echoed, burying his face in my side.

One on each side, the children pressed wet, sticky kisses to my cheeks.

From the doorway, I felt a familiar, heavy presence.

I didn’t need to turn around to know Baron was there.

Nyx purred in my chest, sensing his scent.

He watched the three of us, his eyes filled with a rare warmth that he only ever showed within these wal

“Shall we eat first?”

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He stepped into the room at just the right moment.

He was neatly dressed now, his dark suit impeccably tailored, looking every bit the cold Alpha of the Blackridge I met that night.

But my mind was a traitor.

It immediately flashed back to the sight I’d just witnessed in the guest room.

My cheeks heated instantly as I felt a pressure build in my stomach.

I quickly turned my gaze toward the children, afraid that if I looked at him for too long, he’d see the heat on my face and also smell my wetness.

Baron, the infuriating man, pretended not to notice.

“Food! I’m starving!” Susie cheered, and the children skipped happily toward the dining room, their laughter echoing off the high ceilings.

I rose from the sofa to follow them, but my mind was still half–distracted by my own blushing thought

My heel caught on the edge of the rug, and I felt my ankle twist slightly.

“Ah!”

I cried out, the sharp sting making my balance falter.

I instinctively reached out for support as my hand clamped down on something firm and warm.

I let out a sigh of relief, leaning my weight into the support, only to realize that what I’d grabbed did feel like a chair arm or a banister.

It felt like… fabric. And muscle.

I looked up, my breath hitching.

Baron was staring down at me, his face a mask of barely restrained frustration.

His brows were knitted together, and his eyes were glowing now.

Then I glanced down at where my hand was clamped for balance.

My face flamed a red so deep it felt like it might spontaneously combust.

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