Chasing His Kickass Luna Back

Abby

As I watch Karl leave, the door clicking softly shut behind him, I'm left reeling from his proposition. It's insane; the very thought of the two of us entering into this ridiculous deal should never even cross my mind.

And yet, why is it... tempting?

With a huff, I turn around and throw myself back down onto the bed. I don't want to return to the party tonight—not after the way Karl embarrassed me in front of anyone. It's still too raw, too painful to face everyone. They'll be expecting me to say something, to act in a certain way that somehow seems “appropriate’.

But I don't even know what I would say or what I would do.

Karl's proposition should make me furious, and it does. I hate what he did. I hate that he didn't consult me before he announced it to everyone, and I especially hate that he has supposedly been researching ways to fix my dead ovary without even telling me first. How long has this been going on?

And yet...

I can't help but think back to those tiny shoes I saw in the shop window, the ones I yearned to buy for a child I never thought I would have. I keep thinking about the night that I cried in my bed, back when I first discovered that my chances of having a baby were slim.

I've suffered from years of depression and despair, thinking that my dream of motherhood would forever remain out of reach.

But then there's Karl, standing at the forefront of possibility.

The idea is tempting—far more tempting than I ever imagined. I've always dreamed of having a little baby of my own, and the idea that there could be a way to heal my body so I can do it on my own is like a dream come true. Single motherhood was never part of my plan, but it's something I would consider.

And yet, I still can't help but wonder: is he being truthful about this experimental treatment to restore my dead ovary, or is he just spinning tales to ensnare me, to make me compliant with his plan?

I turn to my wolf, who has been a constant presence in the back of my mind throughout this ordeal. She hasn't said anything so far since Karl left, but I know she’s there, waiting for me to open myself up to her.

"Please tell me what I should do,” I murmur into the pillow, my voice muffled. “I'm so lost.”

“I can't tell you what to do exactly,” my wolf responds softly, “but Abby... You've wanted this forever, haven't you?”

I nod slowly into the pillow before I roll onto my back. My eyes trail along the canopy of the bed, tracing the patterns in the mahogany wood and the sheer fabric.

“I have,” I whisper. “I've always wanted a baby. But... Not like this.”

My wolf sighs. “I know,” she says softly. “It's not what you expected. But you could be a mom, Abby. Even if it's not perfect, doesn't that mean more to you? The idea of finally getting to hold your little one in your arms?”

Her words make me tear up again, just when I thought the tears were subsiding. I let out a soft, choked sob, my chest heaving with the motion.

"Yeah. It does,” I manage through the lump in my throat. “I can't deny how tempting it is. God, that bastard has won again, hasn't he?”

"Abby, look at it this way,” my wolf says. “It's not a permanent arrangement, and maybe he's right; maybe it could be hugely beneficial to both of you. And maybe it's worth trying, not just for your restaurant's sake, but for your future child.”

I take a deep, shaky breath and wipe away my tears, sitting up.

Maybe my wolf is right. Maybe I should at least explore this twisted arrangement. My staff, my restaurant back in the city, they all depend on me. I can't let them down, not after everything we've been through.

Even if I don't get a baby out of this, maybe I can at least rest easy knowing that my restaurant could be saved. My staff deserves their jobs back, and I deserve justice. We can put this Alpha who possibly poisoned the Alpha party behind bars and clear my name.

Then my restaurant will reopen, and my staff will have their livelihoods back.

“I'll hate him by the end of this,” I mutter with a wry chuckle.

My wolf chuckles along with me. “I don’t think you can ever fully hate him, no matter what,” she says. “But I won't blame him if you do.”

I finally come to a decision, fueled by a mix of desperation and determination. This plan is crazy, and it's stupid, and it drives me insane, but it's too tempting to ignore.

But the thing is, I can't do this alone. I need my wolf by my side; no strings attached, no disappearing acts, no heartbreak.

“Alright,” I whisper to her, my voice hoarse from crying so much. “I'll give it a chance, but only if you promise not to go dormant again. I can't go through this without you.”

Her response is immediate and unwavering. “I swear on my existence, Abby. I'll never leave you again, even if you don't get back with Karl at the end of all of this.”

“Promise?” I murmur.

“I promise,” she says gently. “Whether you decide to stay with Karl or not, I'm staying by your side. Through thick and thin.”

That's all the reassurance I need.

With newfound resolve, I slowly stand from the bed and make my way over to the mirror. I take another deep breath, this one steadier than the last, and wipe away the remaining tears. Then, I get to work removing my smudged makeup. It's mostly been ruined, but I don't care. I don't need makeup tonight, and there's no point in wearing my mask anymore, either.

As I make my way out of my room and toward the staircase to rejoin the party, Karl's proposition keeps echoing in my mind.

Maybe it's crazy that I'm going to do this.

Maybe it's stupid.

Maybe it'll end in more disappointment and heartbreak.

But it doesn’t matter now. I have to try—like my wolf said, not just for my restaurant and my staff, but also for my future child.

Finally, taking one last deep breath to steel myself, I pull my shoulders back and descend the staircase. The party has continued, soft murmurs filling the room along with the sounds of the string quartet playing their music. Faces lift when they see me enter, and all I can make out is a sea of confusion, empathy, regret, and maybe even a little anger.

But I choose to ignore them, instead letting my eyes scan the crowd for one face in particular.

For Karl's face.

And there he is, standing in the middle of the room, looking straight up at me. The distance closes between us more quickly than I expect, and before I know it, his tall form is standing in front of me, his hand extended.

“May I have this dance?”