Filed To Story: Chasing the Rejected Luna's Heart (Clara & Liam) Book PDF Free
Somehow, even if I expected it, that admission was like a punch in the gut. “Oh, you mean because we have some kind of… ‘connection,'” I said, dragging it out in as melodramatic a voice as I could manage to match his.”Yes,” he answered, a hint of a smile on his lips.”Oh, well, that’s a bummer. I’m not really looking for serious right now,” I said.”We both know that’s a lie,” he answered. Anyone else would have sounded smug, but with him, it was just a statement of fact. Perfectly obvious.”Even if it was. Even if I was interested in that, I didn’t sign up for a bond,” I said firmly. “You could’ve warned me.””It wasn’t exactly planned.”
My face turned bright red as I thought back to that night. Yeah, I definitely hadn’t been thinking with my brain either, so I couldn’t fault him on that end. Not entirely. “Okay, then you still could have mentioned it sooner.””Like I said, I wanted to give you time.””What do you mean by ‘bond,’ exactly?” I pressed, even though I really wasn’t sure I wanted the answer.”It’s nothing as permanent as a mate mark,” he said, like he was reading my mind. “More of a foundation to build from. But it is binding, nonetheless.”
There was a moment of silence as I wrestled with that information. I finally shook my head, wanting to push it all aside. “No. No fucking way. I’m all done with being bound to anyone, let alone a stranger.””I’m well aware of your record with relationships,” he answered, his voice taking on a sarcastic edge. “But I think you’ll find an ancient vampire a bit more reliable than a pack of flighty young male wolves.””Don’t,” I said through my teeth, baring my fangs at him. “Don’t even go there.””Then let’s talk about this like rational adults,” he said, his tone calmer. “Tell me what’s changed. You planned on being a Luna, did you not? Why should you see a second chance at a domestic existence as the end of the world?””Domestic,” I echoed, the venom in my voice surprising even me. “What, just because my intended mates rejected me, I’m supposed to want to be kept like a pet in your castle? If you want to know so badly, I’ve gotten accustomed to being independent, and I have no intention of going back.”
He sighed as if he found my line of reasoning utterly ridiculous. I was starting to realize vampires weren’t actually any less possessive or chauvinistic than wolves. They were just better at disguising it. “You would be my consort, not my ‘pet’, and I can assure you, the title comes with more freedom than working as a waitress at a shady cocktail bar.”
Indignation burned within me once more, but at least this time, it was all mine. No need for my wolf-thing to intervene. “Thanks for your generous offer, but this shady cocktail waitress is just fine on her own,” I said, reaching for the door handle.”Lavinia, that’s not what I–“
I ignored him, launching myself out of the backseat and slamming the door before he could finish. I really wasn’t interested in hearing him qualify his condescension. I’d had more than enough of men with fangs and superiority complexes for one lifetime.
* * *
It turned out there was more of that to be had. Not only was I pretty sure Marcus was casing my house at night, despite his best attempts to deny it, but on my way home from the store–during the middle of the day, which was usually safe both from the men who were after me and the ones who had better if equally infuriating intentions–I realized I was being actively followed.”You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered under my breath.
I had a few options, really. Either I could double back and confront whoever it was, or I could keep walking home and pretend like I hadn’t noticed. Then there was the third option, which was ducking into a coffee shop for a little while and forcing my tail to give up. I chose the latter, since that was probably the safest in the event it wasn’t Marcus or Alexander. Hell, I wasn’t even sure Cole wasn’t in on it.
Once I took a table near the back, well out of view of the window, I set my groceries on the other empty chair and decided to let myself enjoy a rare moment of relaxation. There was still another hour before I needed to get back and open up the bar, and it wasn’t an especially busy night.
When I heard the bell above the door ring, I didn’t think anything of it. I didn’t even look up, since I was sure it was just some random customer. Marcus was way more subtle about his stalking. So was Alexander, which was unnerving, to say the least.
Then, I realized someone was walking toward me and a massive shadow eclipsed the table.
No, not someone.
Three someones.
I’d never imagined I would be face-to-face with the three of them again. Seeing Liam had been enough of a gut punch, so I would’ve placed that theoretical group reunion somewhere between a root canal without anesthesia and waiting all day at the DMV on a scale of Do Not Want.
Damon, Jax and Liam were all standing right in front of me, like three dark shadows from a past I would sooner forget. The emotions hit me in waves, each more powerful than the last. Confusion. Relief. Heartache. Rage. The last one lingered, simmering deep within my core as I tightened my fist hard enough that my nails dug into my palm.”What the fuck?” I hissed, leaping up from my chair. My fight-or-flight instincts kicked into overdrive, and I could feel my wolf baying somewhere far back in my soul, but it was a crapshoot whether she was as pissed as I was or still foolishly loyal.”Just chill for a second,” Jax said, holding out his hand as if he was the one being reasonable.”Chill?” I echoed, turning to Liam with an accusatory glare. “I told you not to fucking show up again, and you broughtthem?””You told me not to show up at your work,” he countered, as if that made it better.
I gritted my teeth because I felt in danger of screaming. “You knew what I meant.””Sit down,” Jax said in his usual gruff tone. “You’re causing a scene.””I’ll show you a fucking scene,” I seethed, my hand twitching at my side instinctively for my knife. He couldn’t know I had it on me, but he raised an eyebrow, like he was shocked all the same.
Damon looked equally confused, and I guess I couldn’t blame any of them. Not for that, at least. They were used to the prim and proper alpha’s daughter who did as she was told and never questioned her mates, let alone told them to go fuck themselves. They’d never actually met the new version of me.
Time for an introduction, bitches.”Ten minutes,” Liam said, holding my gaze. “That’s all we’re asking for.””That’s a big fucking ask, all things considered,” I spat, looking between the three of them. As furious as I was, I had to admit, I was curious what had motivated all three men to bother coming this far out for someone they had deemed so insignificant. At length, I dropped back into the chair and folded my arms. “Fine. Ten minutes, and then you’re the cops’ problem.””You’re bluffing,” Jax scoffed.
I raised an eyebrow, staring him down.”Just sit,” Damon said, pushing down on his shoulder to force him into an empty chair across from me before taking the other one.
Liam seemed like he was about to take the one next to me, but a death glare prompted him to pull one over from the next table instead.”Clock’s ticking,” I informed them.”Your father has staged a coup,” Liam began, his tone measured despite the absurdity of his words.”A coup?” I echoed. “He’s the pack alpha. How could he stage a coup against himself?””He didn’t,” Jax said through his teeth. “He’s just refusing to leave his post on account of his successors not being mated, which is bullshit and everyone knows it.””Guess you were right,” I said to Liam. “Still not sure what the hell that has to do with me.”