Rejected Luna Returns with Secret Twins (Lysandra) novel Chapter 135

I nearly choked. “What? No! Absolutely not! What has Kieran been telling you?

Orion puffed up proudly. “He said someday he would… um… I forgot the word.”

“Besides,” Lyra added helpfully, “Mommy can’t be bitten by a werewolf because she is a werewolf. So it must be Batman!

Orion rolled his eyes with all the exasperation a five–year–old could muster. “Batman isn’t real, Lyra!”

“He is too! I saw him in Uncle Alaric’s book!”

I couldn’t help laughing as I herded them toward the door. “Alright, my little detectives. Mommy needs to get dressed now. Can I have some privacy before I fully transform into a vampire or Batman? I’ll see you at dinner. Maybe I’ll just fly there as a bat!”

“Don’t worry, Mommy,” Orion called seriously as I pushed them gently into the hallway. “If you turn into a vampire, I’ll protect you from hunters!”

“And I’ll draw you with bat wings!” Lyra added enthusiastically.

I closed the door, leaning against it with a mixture of amusement and mortification. The moment they were gone, I rushed to my vanity, grabbing concealer and frantically applying it to the purple mark on my neck.

“Damn you, Tristan Wolfbane,” I muttered, checking to make sure the mark was completely covered. I selected a high- necked sweater from my closet, determined to avoid any further uncomfortable questions.

A soft knock came at my door just as I finished dressing.

“Miss Lysandra?” Sam’s voice called. “Alpha Alaric is waiting for you in the dining room.”

My momentary lightness vanished. Time to face whatever storm was brewing.

****

The dining room felt unnaturally quiet as I entered. Alaric sat at the head of the table, Kieran to his right. Both men rose as I approached, a gesture of respect that did nothing to calm my nerves.

“Where are Lyra and Orion?” I asked, glancing around the ornate room.

“They’ve already eaten,” Kieran replied, his yoice carefully neutral.

“Oh. That’s good.” I pulled out the chair next to my brother and sat down, smoothing invisible wrinkles from my sweater.

We began eating in silence, the only sounds the clink of silverware against fine china. Occasional glance the three of us, weighted with unspoken questions.

sed between

I couldn’t bear it any longer.

“Is there something you want to say, Rie?” I set my fork down, meeting my brother’s gaze directly.

“Finish your meal first. His tone was gentle but firm. “We have much to discuss afterward.”

1/3

My stomach clenched, appetite instantly vanishing, I knew exactly what he wanted to talk about. The fact that he hadn’t even called to ask about the news article wasn’t a good sign. It meant he was too angry for a mere phone conversation.

I noticed his eyes on my plate and forced myself to continue eating, each bite tasteless as sawdust. By the time finished, my nerves were stretched to the breaking point.

In the living room, I perched on the edge of the sofa, hands folded tightly in my lap. Kieran took a seat across from me. while Alaric remained standing, his Alpha presence filling the room.

“So, I began hesitantly. “You wanted to talk?”

“Where did he take you that night?” Alaric asked without preamble, his voice deceptively calm.

I looked away, unable to meet his eyes. How could I tell my brother that Tristan had dragged me into a secluded hallway? That he’d pinned me against a wall and marked me like I was his property?

“I asked you a question, Lysandra.” My brother’s voice hardened.

“Ric, he just wanted to talk-”

“That’s what you said about the council party too.” He cut me off, his patience clearly wearing thin.

I lowered my head, feeling the weight of his anger. When I looked up again, I flinched at the fury burning in his eyes.

“He just wanted to humiliate me with that news story, I think,” I offered weakly.

“He’s always trying to humiliate you, isn’t he?” Alaric’s voice dropped dangerously, his hands clenching into fists at his sides.

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.

“This time,” my brother continued, his expression darkening further, “I’m going to teach him what real humiliation feels

like.”

I frowned, alarm bells ringing in my head. “What are you planning to do, Ric?

“That’s not something you need to worry about,” Kieran interjected before Alaric could answer.

“But I can’t let two packs go to war over some stupid news article,” I protested.

Alaric studied me for a long moment, his scrutiny making me squirm.

“If I ever had to stand against him, would that bother you?” he asked finally, his voice unnervingly soft.

“Ric, why would you say that? I never want that to happen.”

“Who do you care for? Him or me?” The question hit like a slap.