The Luna Queen's Rebirth (Ellie and Dominic) novel Chapter 212

Chapter 212

Ellie’s POV

I wasn’t entirely sure why I decided to stop at the bookstore that day. Maybe it was because I felt like killing more time before returning home, where I would inevitably face Dominic despite tny best efforts to avoid him.

Maybe it was also because of the giant yellow “50% OFF” sign in the window.

Either way, I found myself pulling into the parking lot, then heading inside to browse the shelves. The inside of the store was quiet and smelled like an artificial paper scent from some candle, not that I was complaining. The girl behind the counter, about my age, looked up from the book she was reading, popped her gum, then looked away without saying anything.

I made my way over to the table first, where some new books were on display. A couple caught my eye, so I grabbed them and tucked them under my arm. Then, I made my way to the history section.

I had just finished reading that old book on Lycans today, so it was fresh in my mind, hence why my eye gravitated toward anything that could be related to that subject.

Unsurprisingly, I spotted a few books on the topic. I pulled one off the shelf and studied the back cover.

Just then, I felt a presence beside me. I looked up, expecting it to be the girl from the counter, but froze when I saw my mother’s face.

I dropped the book to my side.

“Mom.”

“Ellie.” She looked at me, then at the books in my arms, then at my face again. “I didn’t expect to run into you.”

I moved toward her without hesitating. “Mom, I wanted to say that I’m sorry for what happened the other day. For what I said.” She opened her mouth, but I quickly added, “I don’t think you’re stupid. I was just…”

“Angry,” she said softly.

I looked at my feet, feeling my face turn warm with shame, and nodded.

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My mother said nothing for a long moment. I glanced up at her through my lashes, expecting her to chew my ear out for the things I had said. I certainly deserved it, even if I still meant what I said about Vivian. My mind would never change on that.

To my surprise, though, my mother was smiling faintly. Without a word, she stepped forward and embraced me.

I stiffened for a moment, surprised, but then sank into her arms and hugged her back. She smelled like vanilla and shampoo, and I let myself breathe her in, savoring this feeling.

It was still hard to fathom sometimes that my mother was still here. Losing her in my past life had been harder than my own death, in some ways. And to think that I had almost lost her in this one…

I made a silent vow to never speak that way to her again. The kind of vow a child always makes, but

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probably won’t follow forever, because family is hard and people say things they don’t mean. But I knew I would try my best.

When we pulled back, my mother looked at the book on Lycans again, and nodded to it. “Doing a little light reading?” she asked.

“Oh. Yeah.” I laughed thickly and held it up. “I was reading a hook on the Lycans at the library. Did you know they probably had opal eyes? Like mine?”

My mother stiffened. Her face went pale, like I’d said something wrong.

“Mom?” I tilted my head. “Did I say something wrong?”

She quickly shook her head, smiling once more. “No, not at all. I just… Um… I think I have a stomach bug. I should probably go.”

“Oh. Okay.” I watched as she hurried away. She left the books she was going to buy sitting there on the shelf

next to us.

Well, that was weird. I grabbed her books and paid for them, planning to give them to her later.

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