The Luna Queen's Rebirth (Ellie and Dominic) novel Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Dominic POV

“Ellie,” Lucas said with that stupid bow. “Will you be my partner?”

And that alone sent my world into orbit. The room tilts,, and for a second my brain just… stalls.

This isn’t right. None of this is right.

She didn’t even look at me.

Vivian gasps beside me. “Oh! Well… I guess that settles that!”

Her voice sounds muffled, far away, like I’m underwater.

People are whispering, pointing. Some full-on staring like they just witnessed a public execution.

“Yikes,”

Marcus mutters to Tyler. “I betted on Vivian… but damn, that’s cold.”

Ellie choosing Lucas. Ellie choosing anyone other than her fated mate – the future Alpha – is…

What does that even say about me?

My chest twists sharp and hot. Humiliation, anger, something deeper and uglier coiling tight in my gut.

She was supposed to pick me.

She was always supposed to pick me.

I never paid much attention to Lucas before. He wasn’t worth noticing. But judging by the way the girls looked at us – the whispers, the stares – apparently we were always rivals for ‘hottest guy.’

Funny. No one told me I was supposed to be threatened. And I never was.

Until now.

Before the instructor had told us to pair up, Lucas had his own group of fan swarming him. He was flashing that lazy grin, lounging against a table like he’s posing for a magazine shoot he definitely didn’t earn.

Lucas is a flirt. A loud, overdramatic, irritating flirt. He flirts with teachers. With baristas. With vending machines if he thinks the buttons look shiny enough. But he doesn’t choose anyone. Not for real.

He had nothing I didn’t. He wasn’t note worthy. He was a playboy with a lazy streak in class- not even an exceptional fighter.

And yet…

Ellie stops in front of him, with this look in her expression. It’s small, almost imperceptible. “Sure, I’d love

to.”

My stomach twists. Hard.

Love to?

Lucas gives her that infuriating grin, the one he uses when he thinks he’s charming.

1/4

+25 Bonus

My hands curl into fists.

This isn’t happening.

Lucas doesn’t want Ellie. Lucas can’t want Ellie. He’s doing this to show off, to stir drama, to poke at me whatever. Anything but the idea that he actually wants to stand beside her.

The instructor snaps her fingers for attention, oblivious to the social earthquake she just unleashed.

“All right, everyone! Let’s begin with something simple. One partner places their hand on the other’s hip.”

The words barely register before Lucas steps closer to Ellie. Just a small shift forward, nothing dramatic, but to me it feels like he’s crossing a line’drawn into the earth since the moment the Moon Goddess paired

He hesitates, glancing at her like he’s checking for permission, then places a tentative hand on her waist.

My breath catches.

Actually catches..

Ellie tenses, just slightly. And then, the part that hits me hardest, she gives Lucas a polite, almost shy smile.

That tiny, fleeting moment sears itself into my mind so fast it feels like my brain catches fire.

He didn’t deserve that smile.

A tug at my sleeve jerks me back into the present.

Vivian stands next to me, cheeks glowing, fingers curled lightly around my arm.

Gods… I had almost forgotten she was there.

She giggles in that breathy, delicate way that usually makes guys fall over themselves. She’s all soft innocence and fluttery lashes. Normally, I liked that.

Right now, it grates.

“Dom?” she whispers, tilting her head. “Are you okay?”

r

My skin is hot, pulse everywhere it shouldn’t be. My focus is a splintered mess.

“Yeah,” I say, forcing calm into my voice. “Just thinking about practice later.”

“Oh!” Vivian giggles again. “You should probably focus on this first, you know? You’re supposed to be the example.”

I huff a breath. “I am focused.”

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