The Rejected Luna's Revenge

na's

r. The same scent that had driven me wild that night in the darkne

sleepily, before f

ed me straighten up, I couldn't meet his eyes, my face flaming. Around us

red my courage, "I ne

rk wood and leather, everything radiating quiet power. But b

s voice held command, his Alpha

do you

he continued, "I've never heard

harp eyes, as if he wa

t it had become my shield, my excuse. The truth about my puri

ice echoed in my memory. Some gif

made public." The lie came easily after years of practice, but something about deceiving Alexander made m

an intensity that made me wonder if

ons. I breathed a sigh of relief

softer than usual, but his next words cut like knives. "But I cannot help your father

out of me, desperate and raw. "Pl

your ev

him sitting there, powerful and unreachable behind his massive desk,

rely above a whisper. "Trust me. Just

in his chair, his expression unreadable. "H

y chest. Had he seen through my deception about the healing? About my purificati

on my lips as his eyes locke

pha King who'd caught someone in deception. "No lies about that

corruption, the power my father had warned me to keep secret since childhood. Too dang

the only thing I could think of – I stepped forwar

slightly, but his touch was gentle as his rough fingers brushed my cheek. I

gh my desperation, I could still feel that pull toward him – the sa

nally said, his voice rougher than

tep forward, but exhaustion from the hea

re warm, steady, sending electricity through my entire body. We were suddenly so close I coul

arse, accusatory, but his hands didn't release

n me. I thought of my father, dying in th

exander the better choice? At least with him, the attraction was

eyes had darkened, pupils dilated with desire he couldn't quite hide. Sl

shiver. "What if I said yes to everything you've been trying not to

ing the urge to pull me closer. I felt his control wavering, saw it i

rail down his neck, feeling his pulse race beneath my touch. T

uld feel his heart thundering against my chest. "I know you recognized

ook up at his face, the raw hunger in his expression made me gasp. For one endless moment, I thought he would give in – t

g me so possessively now pushed me gently but firmly away. When I look

er something so precious for politic

of respect I hadn't earned, of care I couldn't afford to want. Tears bur

my pack turned against me? When even you, the Alpha King who

but his voice remained steady. "Desire is not

. Even Alexander, with all his power and authority, wi

ged to say, though each word felt like g

elt like another nail in my father's coffin. I turne

an the last, weighted down by crushed hop

e stopped me. "Go see Benjamin. He c