Moonlight Betrayal-Chapter 84

Chapter 84

Kaeleen’s POV

The drive back to the pack was filled with me singing along to music because I was fucking excited. The world didn’t know I was seeing someone and going to the gala with Astrid would show them that I was taken and not ready to mingle.

’Taken? Yeah right. Only say that after the mating ritual is complete.’ Ryker grumbled.

"Come on. You know how we need to do this carefully. Just a kiss sent her spiralling, thinking about her ex. Imagine what telling her about the mating ritual will do." I replied.

’Are you sure she doesn’t know though? I find it hard to believe that someone who was the Luna to a former pack wouldn’t know what the mating ritual consists of.’

"Remember I told her we could bypass it." I said to him,

Ryker huffed. ’Yeah. And that’s on you. Just wait until you start feeling the effects of not completing the ritual.’

"It wouldn’t get to that." I grumbled.

’Let’s hope so."

Ending the conversation with Ryker even if I knew he was saying the truth, I bypassed the main entrance of the house, my feet taking me along the stone path that led around to the back, towards the guest wing where I’d had her studio built. The lights were on, casting a warm, inviting glow that spilled out onto the manicured lawn. The scent of linseed oil and turpentine, a fragrance I now associated completely with her, grew stronger as I approached. freewebnoveℓ.com

After all that was said and done, Ryker was restless within me, pacing with a mixture of anticipation and a deep, primal need to be near her. Well, I couldn’t blame him. I was excited also.

I paused at the door, my hand hovering over the knob. I placed my ear against the door if I could hear anything but there was nothing. I opened the door and noticed the place was empty. I thought she would be here though.

I turned and was about to walk away when I heard a voice behind me making me jump. What the hell? I turned and saw Astrid crouched down in laughter.

"Got you." She said between laughs.

I never even perceived her. Her scent that I was so accustomed to. I sniffed the air and...nothing.

"What the hell? I can’t smell you." I growled.

She laughed again, holding her stomach before turning to me. "I masked it."

"Did you already know I was coming here?" I asked her.

She shook her head. "Not really. But I had planned to scare you. You just happened to be here. Wrong place, right time." She said with a chuckle.

My vision swimmed with the intense urge to kiss her. To push my tongue into that warm mouth of hers but I shook my head. It was nice to see her like this though. Laughing and free.

"But why are you here, did you need something?" She asked me.

"I came here for you since you’ve been locked in here for days."

"Awwn, did you miss me?" She asked me, closing the distance between us to pay my cheeks.

The action was so foreign that it made both of us pause. She stared with wide eyes and I stared at her with longing. Damn, I’d take that touch if it’s what she’s giving to me. But I needed to be patient with her.

"Um..." she adjusted while playing with her fingers. "what were you saying?"

I released a sigh. "I came to see you but now that I’m here, would you mind showing me your studio?" I asked her.

"What do you mean showing? You’ve been in there numerous times." She pointed out.

"Yes but you haven’t given me a tour of the place." I said playfully.

She gave me an eye roll in reply but opened the door.

I stepped in nodding my head as I took in the studio, pretending like it was my first time in here.

The studio was bathed in the warm light of several strategically placed lamps. The air was thick with her scent of wildflowers and that clean, creative smell of paint and charcoal. I took a long whiff of the room and Astrid stared like I had grown two heads. I was loving this expressive side of hers.

She gave me a tour, playing the part of a guide even as I annoyed her with my incessant questions. When she was done she turned to me with a smile.

"Now that that’s over, give me the food." She said,

I feigned ignorance even if the pizza box was right in my hand for the world to see.

"What food?" I asked her with a frown.

"Kaeleen," Astrid groaned the same time her stomach growled.

"Have you had nothing to eat?" I asked her with a frown.

"I was rather preoccupied." She said with a blush coating her cheeks.

"With what?" I asked her, my voice coming out harsher than I intended.

She gave me a frown. "With work? You do remember I’m your Luna right?"

"But pack work isn’t that..." I paused as it dawned on me.

"You liar. You were locked in this studio and forgot to get something to eat right?" I asked her with narrowed eyes.

She ignored me, instead going for the box in my hand and I wasn’t fast enough because she succeeded in taking it from me. She gave me a triumphant smile and after eating a piece she invited me to join her.

We sat on a small, worn-out sofa in the corner of the studio, the pizza box open between us. For a while, we ate in a comfortable silence, the only sounds in the room were the sound of her obvious delight at having food in her stomach and the birds in the distance. With her, silence was never empty. And the more time I spent with her, the more I realized she was an expressive person but the past had put such a grey cloud over her that she wasn’t free to do so but not anymore.

"You said you had something to tell me?" she said after a few minutes, her perceptive eyes studying my face. "Or was it just the pizza you wanted to give me?"

I chuckled,"Maybe?"

"Liar. What did you want to talk about?" She asked me.

I put my slice of pizza down, turning to face her fully. "We did it."

"Did what?"

"The Phoenix. The car Alex and I have been working on for the last three years... it’s finally finished."

Her face lit up with genuine delight, a pure, unselfish happiness for my success that made my heart swell. "Kaeleen, that’s wonderful! All your hard work has paid off. You must be so proud."

"I am," I admitted. "We both are. And now we have to launch it. Show it to the world." I paused, the nervous energy returning. "We’re planning an event. A black-tie gala at the Grand Oak Ballroom in a few weeks. It’s going to be a huge affair. We’re revealing the car and auctioning off the very first one for charity."

I watched her face carefully as I spoke, gauging her reaction. She listened intently, her expression one of genuine interest. There was no fear in her eyes, no apprehension. Only excitement. For me.

"That sounds amazing," she said, her voice full of warmth. "A party to celebrate something you built. You deserve that."

This was it. I took a deep breath, my heart starting to pound again.

"Astrid," I began, my voice softer now. "The reason I’m telling you this is... I want you to be there. With me."

She blinked, her smile faltering for a second as she processed my words.

"I know it’s a lot," I rushed to say, not wanting her to feel pressured. "It’ll be crowded, and there will be cameras. It’s a world away from this studio. And if you don’t want to, I will understand completely. There is absolutely no pressure. The last thing I ever want is to make you uncomfortable."

I held my breath, waiting for her response. I had prepared myself for a gentle refusal, for the fear to return to her eyes.

Instead, she was quiet for a long moment, her gaze thoughtful. Then, a slow, beautiful smile spread across her face. It was a smile that reached her eyes, making them shine with a light that outshone every star in the sky.

"I would love to," she said, her voice soft but firm, filled with a confidence that sent a jolt of pure joy straight through me. "I would be honored to be there with you, Kaeleen."

I stared at her, momentarily speechless. It was more than I had hoped for. She wasn’t just agreeing; she was happy about it. Excited.

"Really?" I asked, needing to hear it again.

"Really," she confirmed, her smile turning into a small laugh. "You’re sharing this huge part of your life with me. You’re inviting me into your world. Why wouldn’t I want to be there? I want to see you shine. I want to stand by your side and watch everyone see how amazing you are."

Her words were a balm to a part of my soul I hadn’t even realized was wounded. She wasn’t afraid. She was proud. Proud to be with me.

Overwhelmed, I finally gave in to the urge I’d been fighting all evening. I reached out, my hand gently cupping her cheek. Her skin was soft, and she leaned into my touch instinctively, her eyes fluttering shut for a second. My thumb stroked across her cheekbone, smudging a bit of charcoal.

"Thank you," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion.

She opened her eyes, her gaze deep and searching. "There’s nothing to thank me for. I’m only going with you because I know I’ll steal the show."

She moved back, taking another piece of the pizza.

"I’ll love that." I said with a laugh.

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