THE FORGOTTEN LUNA

KAEL.

"Was she sad when I was in a coma?"

"She was miserable." Landon glanced at me and gave me a weak smile before turning his attention back to the road. "Her eyes were always puffy by morning, so I knew she was crying herself to sleep. But she would still do her duties, running the household and making decisions for the pack. She lost weight. The colors in her eyes were gone. She would smile, but not the same smile she carried before. She kept her agony to herself, but she made sure the surroundings looked happy. She added more flowers around the house and your room so when you wake up, the house wouldn't look dull."

The flowers that Miranda said were Desiree's doing. This was, of course, a lie, as since Adessa left, the house had never had any fresh flowers around.

"And you know what's funny? She would dress up every day in blue because that's your favorite color. She wanted to look pleasant in your eyes once you wake up."

"And I told her to fuck off when I did," I mumbled under my breath as I closed my eyes and gently rubbed my temples. My eyes were starting to water, and I was doing my best to keep them at bay.

"She declined many invitations and moved all meetings at the central hall to your home so she didn't have to be far from you. No one else cleaned you up or changed your clothes except her. She would have maids assisting her, but it was all her shaving your stubble and clipping your nails."

"Stop making me feel more guilty," I said after letting out a sigh. "Why the fuck do you know all this? Was she confiding in you?" I couldn't deny the jealousy that rose in my chest.

"People talk, Alpha. The maids talk with each other, and you know me. You know where to find me when I'm not working."

"In my kitchen," I replied.

"Exactly. And they talk all the time about what they see. That's why I told you that woman is a gem. I could tell she loves you." He added.

"She's in danger, Landon. I know Draco won't stop until he finds her." I didn't know what to say, so instead, I blurted out my worries.

"Then we need to find her first. She is safer with you than being out there alone."

"I know that, but I also need to get to the bottom of all this. I need to find out who sold her and if my accident was a real accident. Because if it's not, then maybe taking her home means more danger for both of us."

"We grew up together, Kael. I have no one but you, so if there was anyone in the world I would not kill, it's you, or I will end up alone again. I will gain more with you alive than with you dead."

I didn't say anything, but he was right.

I met Landon when we were kids. He was from the orphanage. He was one of those smart kids who got a scholarship to study at the Alpha University.

We became classmates, teammates, and partners in class. He saved my ass more than I could remember during presentations and research work. I was smart too, but I could be as lazy as fuck.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

When we graduated from high school at sixteen, I asked him to move in with us with permission from my father. I already wanted him to be my Beta. My father also saw the potential and let him train under his Beta then, Dexter's brother.

But then his Beta died all of a sudden, and Landon was too young. So Dexter took over his brother's post. But when I took over as Alpha, I took him with me as my Delta and let Dexter stay as my Beta, as I had no other better option than him. The car stopped in front of the house, and I reminded Landon to follow me to the office after he parked his car.

My eyes squinted when I saw my car was gone from its parking space. My Beta, as well as the others, could use it to drive me around, but I was not here, and I didn't ask anyone to do something on my behalf using my car.

I shrugged my shoulders and continued walking. I had thought Dexter probably used my car instead of his, but that theory was proven wrong once I entered the house.

I saw him come out of his office, and we met along the corridor.

"Are you alone?" He asked.

"Yes, Landon is outside, but he's coming in. I want you and him in my office."

"Okay." He nodded. "How was your trip?"

"Is Miranda here?" I asked instead of answering his question.

"Yes," he replied, his forehead creasing. "Do you need her?"

"Tell her I want her in my office."

"I'm here, too." A sweet voice rang in the air, and I swiftly turned around to face the direction from which Desiree's voice was coming.

"I'll go get Luna Miranda," I heard Dexter say as he walked away while I watched Desiree approach me with a broad smile on her face.

Desiree was beautiful. There was a

point in my life when I believed she

was the most beautiful woman Thad ever laid eyes on, but meeting Adessa, even just for a day, made me unsure about that.

Their features were the exact opposite, even their body frames. I didn't want to lie to myself and say Desiree still had my attention because I knew I would rather see Adessa.

"I'm sorry about my outburst this morning. Desiree's words snapped me back to the present as her arms wrapped around my neck before she leaned closer and pressed her lips

against mine.

en

In no time, she was kissing me, and I was caught off guard-my lips slightly parted, and my eyes widened.

My hands went to her waist, and she took it as an invitation to push her tongue into my mouth.

I felt guilty, but I had no idea why. Was it because my lips were locked with hers, but I thought of Adessa, or was I guilty because it was her with me and not my wife?

There must be something funny on

my face because the moment

Landon stepped inside the house and our eyes met, his body hunched forward, and his hand clamped over his mouth to stop himself from laughing. But whatever his reason was, I was grateful because it snapped me back to the present, and I was able to gently pull Desiree away from me.

"Did you miss me?" She asked seductively.

I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could say something, Landon had already spoken.

"I'll go ahead and wait for you at your office, Alpha." He said and walked past us.

I nodded my head even though he couldn't see me anymore before facing Desiree again. "I need to meet up with them."

"Can I come?"

"Yes. I want you there, too." I said before letting go of her arms, turning my body around, and stepping away, not even waiting for her to walk with me.

I told Desiree we shouldn't be intimate for a while, but maybe I was running out of time. I needed to break it off with her before the thoughts of Adessa consumed me.

I knew it was unfair that I would break her heart the second time around, but it was better than letting her believe we still have a relationship.