The Eclipsed Life of Luna Mischa (by Jennifer Francis) novel Chapter 53

CH 53

For the following month, Anthony insisted on them having dinner in the private dining room with her or with her and their units. And two days a week, he walked into her office and brought her lunch himself, set it up on the coffee table in her office and then smiled at her. He was, it appeared, going all out to win her back.

Though she’d reminded him that doing all of this and then not still doing it, when Christy got out of the cells would just show her he didn’t mean it. To which Anthony had stated” Alternating nights for dinner between you and her, I’m not concerned you’ll see anything different. This would be normal, you and I having a meal, or us and our units having a meal.”

He’d also called for a pack run every Sunday night, which was more than the usual once a month, but he did it so that Shade could spend time with Laud, because it put her wolf right next to his once a week. Her beast was just as indifferent to his beast as she was to Anthony himself. There was no mating after pack run between their wolves.

They were seen together a lot during those four weeks, and she saw he was posting about them being together on the pack’s social media page as well, about the lunches and dinners they were having, whether it be just him and her or with their units as well.

He tagged one “A meal with my lovely Luna Mischa.” And there were photos of the meals they’d eaten, then sitting in the dining room together at a romantic set table. He was having someone take photos of them when they were together.

He was smiling in all of them, there was even one of him kissing her temple, and she thought they were all strategic, to show the pack they were getting along, and things were normal between them. But then she wondered if she only thought that because she didn’t believe he could keep it up, that it was all an act, or if it was because she wouldn’t let her guard down

around him; her own Mate.

She sighed to herself some nights in her suite because she could see the old Anthony in him, the one from before Christy had come along, and she liked that person, but now, she knew, she was afraid to put her trust in him once more. If she gave in, and allowed herself to open her heart to him again, was she just lining herself up to have to suffer that heartbreak all over

again?

22 years, she realized, was harder to let go of than she thought it was. She’d thought she was indifferent to him and though she could be when face to face with him, when she was alone in her suite, at times she wanted to let her guard down and believe he’d changed for the better, that he’d learned from what had happened.

Taken in all she’d told him over the past two months, and she wanted to believe everything

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could be worked out, but there was always that bit of doubt within her, because right now there was no Christy in his orbit.

She also saw annoyance in him more than once over the following week. It was the final week Christy was to be in the cell. He’d tried to be more affectionate with her, and she’d resisted it. He’d gotten quite annoyed because she wouldn’t let him kiss her, or go into her suite, be intimate with her as that week had progressed on.

It was something he was very unhappy about, and told her he wanted, and before Christy came out of the cells so she could see that afterwards, there was no difference in the bedroom either. She’d still declined him.

He’d not liked it, and being separated from both his Mates, and at odds with one completely, it was, she could see, starting to not only show physically, but affecting his mood. The more she refused him over that week, the more tired he started to look, and he was definitely grumpy by the fourth day of that week.

He had ranted right to her face about that they were Mates, and what was the point of being Mates if she wasn’t going to spend quality time with him? Wouldn’t even allow him to sleep next to her even when he’d promised he wouldn’t try anything on her, just wanted to sleep in her bed with her and hold her all night.

She’d raised an eyebrow at him because, with all the advances he’d made towards her, she didn’t believe that; she’d likely wake up his hand or mouth in places they shouldn’t be, considering how their bond was.

He simply didn’t like being told no, or that his needs were being ignored by her, his Mate, who should want to be with him. Her words to his anger had been, “Now you know how it feels, reject at will and solve the problem you have with me.”

He’d glared right at her, and then just roared in what she’d thought was utter frustration and stalked away from her down the hall. Several of the Elders had appeared moments later, and she’d waved them off. Despite his anger and frustration, he’d never laid a hand on her, and she didn’t actually think he would even now. She wasn’t afraid of him.

“It’s fine, he’s unhappy he still has to sleep alone.” She stated simply.

“Not many Mates like doing that, especially when they’re at odds,” had come from Simone with a knowing nod.

“Agreed, but now he knows how I felt all this time, with him sleeping with Christy every night and never with me in my bed. It’s also starting to affect his mood.”

“Grumpy.” May had murmured. “We’ve noticed.”

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Mischa had nodded herself and waved them away with a few words of she wasn’t concerned he’d harm her physically, and they’d gone, seemed happy to hear that from her.

Now, today he was standing in her office looking at her, and she noted he looked more than tired, as though he’d not slept a wink all night. Though she imagined he’d be fine come tomorrow, Christy would be released from the cells this evening, and she knew that although Christy was going to be angry and pissed off, she would go and climb right into Anthony’s bed, and they’d have sex and he and his wolf would be all sated and happy come morning.

Likely to forget all about it and spend all day tomorrow in that bedroom with Christy. It’s why she’d held off on reconnecting with him. Pure self–preservation is all it was. He could really want to reconnect with her and Laud, but both she and her wolf were concerned it would only be short–lived and that was the problem for them.

If he continued to try after today, after Christy was released, she’d actually start accepting it as he really did want to. Give him something to work with and maybe things could go back to how they had once been. She was actually hoping for that deep down inside, but doubt always crept in.

“What can I do for you?” she asked simply after a full minute of him just looking at her.

“I’m going into the city. I have a meeting with an investor. I just wanted to ask you if there is anything I can bring you back?” he asked.

“I don’t really need anything.” She shook her head. “But you are aware Christy will be released this evening?” she asked in return. She thought he’d want to be in the pack for that, thought he’d be prowling around impatiently waiting on it.

“Yes,” he answered simply. “You and the elders will have to do that. I and the boys are attending that charity auction. I invited you to a month ago, which you declined.”

“Mm, I did,” she acknowledged. “I would like to have gone, but with Christy normally seen on your arm out in public, I don’t think it’s wise. Not good for your reputation, and like Christy, I don’t wish to be labeled your mistress or have you labeled as a cheater.

“I also don’t wish for you to tell them you and Christy have broken up, and we’re back together. That is also not good for your human image. So just leave that one alone,” she stated calmly. It was actually for the best if they just left it, and he didn’t switch between the two of them.

“It’s not very fair to you though, is it, Mischa?” he sighed.

“Mm, but nothing can really be done about it now, Anthony. You made that choice to see us as being seen as separated in the human world, so it’s not at all appropriate for me to be on your arm out there,” she countered.

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“I was wrong to do that, I now see,” he murmured. “There is a Gala coming up in six weeks, I’d like you to attend that,” he stated and held out an invitation.

“Same problem, so no,” she shook her head. “Best to keep your human reputation clean and

intact.”

“Just hear me out, I’ll not take Christy to it, she can stay here inside the pack, you can attend the Gala, arrive separately from me, and we can… just bump into each other so to speak. There is no harm in that, and I’ll even arrange for us to sit at the same table but not next to

each other,” he offered.

She could see he was thinking about ways for them to still be out there doing things together, but his reputation was important. “Giving the appearance, we are what exactly?” she asked. ” People will talk.”

“Hmm, that we are still friends, that we still get along, and so we can be seen in public together, having lunch or a meal together for, say, old times sake. I guess that’s how it would appear to them,” Anthony told her.

“It must be difficult,” she mused. “Having two Mates.” She stated words he often stated to

her.

“It can be.” He nodded. “But I will be doing a better job of being mated to both of you… the

Gala?” he asked.

Mischa took the invite from him and looked at it. “I’ll think about it properly, weigh the pros and cons.” She told him honestly.

“Thank you, that is all I ask. I’d better go, or I’ll be late for my meetings,” he stated.

“Good luck with the investor,” she commented as he walked from the office. They could do with more investors, just one more reason for him not to be seen as a man that couldn’t keep himself to just one woman. People generally only invested in companies that not only had strong business backgrounds but had CEOs that were seen to have good morals and long–lasting family relationships; it showed they could be loyal and knew how to commit to things.

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