From Rougue To Luna novel Chapter 19

"Do you know what I see?"

I shook my head as his thumb stroked against my cheek.

"I see someone who had the courage to do something on her own, with no help from anyone. You had the hope to look past someone's flaws in the face of something new and frightening. But even more, I see someone who had the courage to leave when you saw that you deserved better than the life he could give you. Lili, you should never be locked away in a cage, controlled by men who don't know who you truly are. You deserve the world, and I feel like we can give that to each other. Whatever is happening here, it's strong. I know you can feel that." His free hand reached up to brush my hair from my face, tucking it gently behind my ear. His eyes dropped to the mark in the crook of my neck and his gorgeous blue eyes swirled darker, almost an indigo as a muscle in his jaw ticked. "Did he hurt you?"

My jaw clenched tighter and I wrinkled my nose in distaste at the memories. I nodded shortly and looked away but he pulled my face back to look in to his dark gaze. "I will never hurt you, do you understand? And I will kill anyone who's ever laid a hand on you or caused you pain." His voice was low, dripping with the undercurrent of anger.

His hand brushed down my cheek and trailed my neck before picking up just slightly to avoid the mark before setting back down to trace circles into my shoulder. He was silent as the anger rolling off of him reigned in, his fingers tracing the black ink creeping up my shoulder. "What is this?" He asked finally.

I looked down, knowing what he was referring to. "It's one of my tattoos. I have a few."

His brows rose as a smirk slowly crept up his lips. "What is this one for then?"

I shifted and pulled the shirt down further so that the back of my shoulder was exposed. He peered down to see the thinly inked black lines of the feather fading in to a howling wolf before scattering into a dozen birds as they flew up and over my shoulder.

We finally came to the edge of the tree line surrounding the pack house and I walked over to the tree where I'd left my clothing. I quickly shifted and slipped back into my leggings and tee before pushing my shoes on to my feet and walking back towards Rhett. I couldn't see him anywhere, but I knew he was close. I could feel it. Suddenly a large arm snaked around my waist and yanked me back against a hard body behind me. I squealed as his large hands spun my hips, turning me around to face him.

He reached up to tuck a stray hair behind my ear and I leaned into his touch. "Will you be all right on your own for breakfast? I don't want to leave you, but Asher says it's important."

I nodded and smiled slowly. "I'll be fine. I have to start meeting them some time right? May as well be now I guess."