The Luna’s Second Chance Mate

Chapter 23

Larissa’s POV

“Declan dear…Declan! Wait up!”

I was already out of breath, why was it that a toddler as little as this child would outrun me every single time?

He was giggling and running up the stairs without even looking back, and no matter how much I tried to catch up with him, he was always one step ahead of me. Or several, I couldn’t count how many times I had stumbled already on the stairs with Gwen right behind me.

He had said he wanted to play something fun. I didn’t realize that the idea of fun I’d instilled in him involved me running around like my life depended on it in a bid to ‘tag’ a child. For the first time, I was grateful to have put my hair up in a bun.

I stopped in front of a pair of French doors that I’d never crossed before. It was upstairs as well, only that I’ve been too busy struggling to keep my job to actually tour round the house. Declan had already run through the door while I stood there panting and gasping to catch my breath.

“This child will be the death of me.” Gwen coughed out, pushing the door open slowly. I followed her through the door, only now noticing the refined architecture. It was a tall balcony with its pillars crafted with what was reminiscent of Italian architecture.

There were some exotic flower pots littered spaciously, subtly reminding me of home. I loved that the weather was particularly fresh, although I couldn’t tell if it was the weather itself or the sweet smelling flowers.

Slowly, I noticed the figure standing in middle with his back facing us. Declan was at his side, clinging to one strong leg whose muscles peeked from the pair of sweats he wore.

He turned around when the boy held his legs and wouldn’t let go. There was a glass of wine in his hand, I saw his arms flex with the glass when he saw the boy. It was the alpha standing there without all of the regality, instead clean shaven and embodying his casual flair.

“Declan, what are you doing here?” He cooed at the toddler, scooping him swiftly so that they were standing at similar heights. I saw him break a toothy smile for his son, running a hand through his hair and smiling a little wider when Declan leaned into his touch.

Now that I thought of it, I’d never seen him smile. Not at me, not at the guards, not at his visitors, not even at his beta.

I’d subconsciously wired myself to believe that he could never break a smile for any being, but here he was proving me wrong with the most beautiful smile I may see in this lifetime.

I had to admit that he looked amazing. Regardless of the smiles, he was always an eye candy. But with a genuine smile gracing his lips, he looked like a protective father who would do anything for his cub. And his mate if he didn’t hate her so much.

Declan was babbling at this point, wielding one of his wooden knives in his father’s face and smiling to himself. I could see him stifle a laugh when the boy shove his small hands through his father’s hair, and I couldn’t help but stifle on of my own.

“You look a lot happier lately.” I blurted out before I could catch myself. He finally noticed the other people in the room, and I saw the beam on his face slightly falter at that. Gwen turned to look at me and if eyes could speak, hers said ‘you’re screwed.’

Contrary to my expectations, he didn’t say anything. instead, he set Declan down and shifted his attention to the sea of nothingness in front of us.

For more than five minutes, I stood there awkwardly staring at nothing as well. Gwen had picked up Declan after his father had set him down and had taken him outside.

Yet I couldn’t allow myself to leave like I should have. I walked to the edge of the balcony where he had set down his half empty glass. His fingers ran over the rim of the glass with his eyes transfixed on it before letting out a small sigh.

“What are you still doing here? Shouldn’t you be getting busy?”

I was certain that he intended to be harsh with me, but there was no undertone. His voice was betraying whatever emotion he’d meant to put on display. I let out a small titter at that, crossing my arms behind me.

“I lied back then. I know it’s not in my place to say, and you hate me. But you look more worried than happy lately.”

He cocked a brow and shifted his attention from the glass and to me.

“So, if it isn’t in your place, you know you’re clearly sweating your grace.”

“I’m sorry, but I couldn’t help but notice.” I continued and looked away from him, reveling in the feeling of the soft breeze blowing against my face.

“Keep your observation to yourself.” He snapped back with a visible frown. I didn’t kill his son, he was looking at me like he would rip me into shreds. Even if somehow, I knew he wouldn’t.

I chuckled instead and placed my elbows to rest on the smooth edges. “It’ll be resolved, I just know it.”

“Excuse me?”

“What you’re worried about.” I pointed out with a small smile. “I don’t know what it is, perhaps work or something more serious. But it’ll be resolved.”

You’re the alpha afterall. I didn’t add the last bit because there was no way in hell he wouldn’t misinterpret me. He might think that I was mocking him, I’d rather not get even more written in black ink.

He didn’t say anything, but I could feel the weight of his stare before he eventually looked away to sip at his wine again.

The silence was comfortable, even if there was a monster in the room. I didn’t want to talk about what had happened between us the last time, neither did I feel it appropriate to talk about it.

“Thank you.” I blurted out again, mentally face palming. He turned to look at me, raising one brow.

“For what?”

“Everything…the last time at the study…”

“I do not entertain crap like that. So, if that makes you feel special, I’d rather you didn’t. It wasn’t an act of kindness.”

“I know, but that isn’t the only thing I’m thankful for.”

His brows were now sitting in furrows, looking intently at me. I coughed out in discomfort, shifting my weight and clearing my throat.

“You know, I’ve had a difficult life too.” I continued. “Down to the point where I always thought that every damn day was going to be my last.”

“Like the day I found you in the woods.”

I nodded in affirmation. “That day, I genuinely hoped it would be my last. But somehow, I don’t see it like that. That’s why I’m thankful to you. Even though you enjoy putting me through hell, I still have a roof over my head.”

I heard him scoff while I smiled to myself in thought.

“You talk as if you’ve had it the hardest. What kind of life did you live then?”

My lips froze at the question. The kind of life I led? The one of affluence and happiness with my family, or the one where I was made to suffer and watch my step sister sleep with my husband? The one where I was publicly rejected and humiliated for what I had idea about? Sold as a pathetic sex slave? Or beaten by the people I thought of as family?

Whichever way, I couldn’t answer his question. Neither could I let myself slip and cry in front of him for no reason.

I forced myself to smile back instead. “It’s been a difficult one, that’s all I can say.”

That was all I could say. I cleared my throat and blinked before looking back at him. He was staring right back without uttering a word. I couldn’t break eye contact either, it almost felt like he was staring into my soul, exciting my wolf in small volts of electricity.

He took a few steps in my direction, closing the already small distance between us. His stare didn’t falter however. I saw his pupils dilate and the silver bands around his irises intensify.

There was a subtle flash in his eyes that I certainly would have missed if his eyes weren’t so enchanting. Although his eyes had taken a form that I couldn’t comprehend, I still couldn’t read his expression. What did he want? Who was he behind his coldness? From the way he’d spoken, I could see shards that I didn’t understand.

Before I could even process my own thoughts, I felt his hot breath on my face. It was exciting in all the wrong ways, I could feel my heart run a marathon in a second. It was thumping so loudly that it may have as well beat out of my chest. If he heard it, I was screwed. I dared not look up at him or open my eyes, afraid that I would break whatever delicate things were happening at the moment.

Until I felt something soft gently graze my lips, just enough for me to catch it. A pair of arms snaked themselves around me, pulling me even closer before the soft feeling had returned to my lips.NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.

My brain was short circuiting. Was this what it felt like to be kissed? If I thought the scent of grasses and woods were tantalizing to my nostrils, it tasted even better. But even more, I couldn’t think straight. He was kissing me! Out here in the open! Why? What was going through his head?

Melting right into the kiss, he tilted my head gently, giving me moths in my stomach. It was the first time… I didn’t know how to respond to the intense rush I was feeling. I didn’t even know if I was responding to his kiss right. But I could genuinely remain here forever.

His breathing was slow and almost erratic as he continued to kiss me, but his sudden pull caused me to wince in surprise at the loss. He pulled away from me, his hands still sitting just above my hips and his eyes wide open.

I met his eyes with confused ones of my own. What just happened? He cleared his throat awkwardly before clearing his throat and letting me go. If the feel of his lips on might bring euphoria to me, his eyes that looked at everything but me snapped me back to harsh reality.

I struggled to stand straight, as my knees felt like jello all over again. Now I was the one avoiding his eyes. He regretted it. He did, for sure. And now I felt like a fool for letting him kiss me for no reason. Toyed with…who the fuck did he think he was to treat me this way every bloody time?!

“Get back to work.” He finally spoke up as though nothing had even happened. My eyes widened watching him down the red liquid in his glass. And with that, he turned on his heels and walked away.

I felt tears; hot, confused tears well up in my eyes. Here I was, setting myself up to be treated like shit all over again. He was the worst. I wiped my eyes in a futile bid to stop myself from crying. And I fell to my knees still in tears, letting myself sob quietly.

I hated him…but he’d already ignited a flame that I didn’t know how to quench.