The Heartbroken Luna's Choice Banish Love novel Chapter 20

**Where Soft Light Shines Darkness Fades From Tired Hearts**

**Chapter 20**

**Trista’s POV**

I stepped into the towering high-rise nestled in the heart of downtown, the weight of takeout in one hand and a vial of wolf fever suppressant in the other. The familiar scent of freshly laid carpet filled the elevator, mingling with the cool air from the AC, a stark contrast to the rain-soaked world outside. Each drop that fell against the glass seemed to echo the turmoil within me.

As the elevator doors slid open, I was greeted by the sight of Samantha. She stood there, clad in a delicate nightgown with thin straps that barely shielded her from the chill of the night. The wooden floor beneath her bare ankles seemed to amplify the cold, and I felt a pang of concern for her wellbeing.

“How long have you been feeling this way?” I asked, placing the takeout on the counter with a soft thud and retrieving a thermometer from my bag.

She coughed twice, pressing her fingers against her chest as if to calm the discomfort. “Since this afternoon. It got a lot worse after dark,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Let’s take your temperature first,” I insisted, handing her the thermometer. I began to unwrap the takeout, allowing the warmth to seep into the room, pushing back against the dampness that clung to the air. My heart sank as I realized she still had a fever.

After a moment, I set the thermometer aside and draped a light blanket over her shoulders, ensuring it covered her collarbone and shoulder blades.

“I’m so sorry for calling you at this hour,” she murmured, her voice laced with uncertainty. “Should I… should I explain things to your mate?”

“There’s no need for that,” I replied, arranging the containers of food with care. “She’s already asleep at this hour.”

Samantha nodded, but I noticed a flicker of something in her expression, a hint of disappointment perhaps. She tugged at the corner of the blanket, her vulnerability laid bare. “My mother took my son. It’s pouring outside. It wouldn’t be safe for you to drive back now. Why don’t you stay here tonight?”

I hesitated, locking eyes with her.

She quickly added, “I just worry you’ll exhaust yourself commuting back and forth. You need your rest.”

“Samantha, please don’t ask me to stay overnight again,” I said firmly, nudging the medication and a glass of water toward her.

Her smile faltered, and I could see the hurt in her eyes. “What’s wrong? You stayed with me all night at the clinic last time. Nothing happened.”

“The healing center is a public space,” I reminded her, my tone steady but low. “There are shifter healers and law enforcement officers present. This is your home, and a she-wolf inviting a mated male to spend the night here… it’s not appropriate for your own wolf—and it’s disrespectful to my Luna.”

I took a moment to gather my thoughts. “More importantly, I won’t let anyone misinterpret my intentions.”

For a brief moment, she looked up at me, her expression shifting as the corners of her mouth turned up before they slowly fell again. “Am I really that much of a stranger to you now?”

“We have boundaries,” I replied, pulling the blanket up another inch to ensure she was warm. “I am not your Alpha, nor am I your family.”

A faint sweetness, a subtle heat, wafted from her neck, filling the air with an intoxicating scent.

My wolf stirred within me, a quiet whimper echoing in my bones, but I quickly suppressed it.

Stepping back to maintain a safe distance, I instructed her, “Drink the medicine. Check your temperature again in thirty minutes. If it’s still high, I’ll take you to the emergency ward at the nearest Shifter clinic.”

She nodded, her knuckles turning white as she gripped the cup tightly.

Silence enveloped the room, broken only by the rhythmic sound of rain against the glass.

I sighed, my heart aching for her. I knew how difficult it was for her to rebuild her life in this city.

Confusion crossed her face. “Is that… because you’re worried she might mind?”

“You need to follow this,” I said, meeting her gaze. “She is the daughter of the Silverlight Alpha. Her lineage and aura are far too powerful for you to handle. You are an omega. You’ll only get hurt in that kind of conflict.”

She hummed in acknowledgment, and only then did I step away, leaving her in the quiet of her apartment.

The hallway lights illuminated my path as I made my way to the elevator. Outside, the rain transformed the glass into a dark, glossy canvas.

An hour later, I found myself in a private bar in downtown LA, a sanctuary exclusively for shifters.

As the door swung open, Fred sauntered in and collapsed onto the sofa, tipping his head back in exasperation. “Trouble in the pack?” he asked, concern etched on his features.

I swirled the liquor in my glass, my voice heavy with the weight of my thoughts. “I can’t communicate with Trista right now.”

“Samantha’s return is aimed directly at you,” he warned, narrowing his eyes. “If you keep this up, Trista will drag you to the Stone Circle and demand an explanation from The Elder Council.”

“It won’t come to that,” I replied, setting my glass down with a decisive clink.

He studied me closely, skepticism evident in his expression. “How can you be so sure?”

“Because she loves me,” I stated firmly. “Deeply and for a long time. Financially, the money I paid for the Silverlight Pack isn’t a short-term debt she can easily settle. Order-wise, we swore our oath before the Moon Goddess. I haven’t crossed any physical boundaries. Clan-wise, she is an Alpha’s daughter. She understands the importance of maintaining appearances for the pack. She may argue, but she won’t truly terminate the contract.”

Fred let out a cold laugh. “Word travels fast. I heard she already asked you for a rejection.”