Rejected Luna Returns with Secret Twins (Lysandra) novel Chapter 72

The next day.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

The rhythmic sound penetrated the fog in my brain, dragging me toward consciousness. My eyelids felt like they’d been sewn shut with iron thread. I struggled to open them, tiny needles of pain shooting through my skull with each attempt.

When I finally managed to pry my eyes open, harsh fluorescent light stabbed at my retinas. I squinted, waiting for the world to stop spinning.

“She’s awake,” a female voice called out.

Gentle hands adjusted something beneath my head. A nurse’s face swam into view–young, pretty, with kind eyes that crinkled at the corners when she smiled.

“Welcome back,” she said, checking the monitors beside my bed. “You gave us quite a scare.”

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I tried to sit up. Big mistake. Pain exploded behind my eyes, and my right hand screamed in protest when I attempted to push myself upright.

“Careful,” the nurse warned, easing me back against the pillows. “Your hand is still healing.”

I glanced down at my bandaged right hand. The memories came rushing back with greater clarity now–the car spinning out of control, metal crunching against metal, glass shattering.

“Hurts,” I managed, my voice rough with disuse.

“I know.” She adjusted my IV drip. “You took quite a hit last night. Alpha brought you in himself. He looked… I’ve never seen him like that before. So worried. He stayed late.”

That couldn’t be right. Tristan, worried about me? The same man who’d told me repeatedly how little I meant to him?

“You’re very lucky,” she continued, checking my vitals. “Your body didn’t sustain too much damage; otherwise, this type of accident could have resulted in more serious consequences, even affecting your inner wolf.”

I searched within myself, relieved to feel Astrid’s presence–quiet but intact. She stirred slightly at my attention, her purple essence flowing through my consciousness like warm water.

“Thank you for saving me,” I said to the nurse, desperate to change the mental subject.

She shook her head, adjusting something on the IV stand. “No, no. Dr. Rylan personally treated you.

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Chapter 72

You have a few stitches on your head that will need time to heal.”

I reached up, fingers tentatively exploring the bandage wrapped around my head. The skin beneath felt tender, hot with inflammation.

“My driver?”

“He’s fine,” she assured me. “Some bruising and a mild concussion.”

Relief washed through me. Whatever had happened with the brakes, at least we’d both survived.

The door opened abruptly. I didn’t need to look to know who it was–Tristan’s presence filled the room instantly, his scent washing over me in a wave that made Astrid sit up and take notice.

The nurse straightened, her posture shifting to one of deference. “Alpha, good morning. She just woke up.”

“Leave us,” he ordered, voice clipped.

The nurse nodded and scurried from the room without another word, closing the door behind her.

Silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken tension. I finally turned my head to look at him properly.

Tristan looked like hell–dark circles under his eyes, stubble darkening his jaw, hair

uncharacteristically disheveled. Bandages wrapped his knuckles, and a butterfly bandage covered a cut on his forehead. He’d been injured saving me.

“For what you did last night… thank you, Alpha Tristan.” The words felt inadequate, yet necessary.

His expression remained cold, eyes tracking over my bandaged head and arm with clinical detachment. “I don’t need your thanks.”

He moved closer to the bed, each step deliberate. Something in his posture raised my hackles–the predatory stillness of a wolf about to attack.

Without warning, he tossed several glossy photographs onto the bed beside me. They scattered across the blanket, images up.

My heart stopped. There I was with Alaric outside the hotel, his arm around me, lips pressed to the top of my head.

“These photos-” I began.

“Why are you fucking him? Tristan cut me off, voice deadly quiet.

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Chapter 72

My mouth fell open. “What are you talking about?”

“Why?” He stepped closer, looming over the bed.

“You’ve misunderstood.” I kept my voice calm despite the panic swirling in my chest.

“Did you sleep with him to get the Lunaris Essence?” His jaw clenched so tight I could see a muscle twitching beneath his skin. “If I had known you’d whore yourself out to another Alpha to get the treatment, I never would have let you help my father.”

Each word sliced through me like a blade. I stared at him, unable to process the venom in his accusation. How could he think this? Alaric was my brother, for Moon Goddess’s sake!

But he didn’t know that. To him, Alaric was just another powerful Alpha.

“You’re not saying anything?” He leaned closer, eyes bleeding red at the edges. “What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue? Or am I supposed to expect an explanation for fucking another Alpha?”

I forced myself to meet his gaze, rage building to match his own. “I told you it’s a misunderstanding. But if you’d rather believe the story you’ve made up, there’s nothing I can do about that.”

His lips curled in a sneer. “I know why you did it. You just wanted to show me you were doing me a favor. Am I right?”

“What?” I shook my head, bewildered by his logic.

“Don’t play innocent.” His gaze swept over my body, contemptuous and cold. “This body… it’s useless to me. You’re not attractive anymore. Who knows how many men have touched it in the past five

years?”