Don't Poke the Luna (Xena and Ryder)

Chapter 46

Xena's POV

"Why are you stopping me?" I asked, disappointment clear in my voice.

Logan walked over and placed his hand on my shoulder. "X, don't be like that."

I gently moved his hand away and headed toward the cafeteria. "Fine, whatever.

See you

later, boys." I pulled out Helen's diary and began flipping through it quickly.

By the time I reached the cafeteria, it was already buzzing with activity. I tucked the diary back into my bag and stood in line, waiting. Logan walked in and took a seat next to

Keira. She looked thrilled.

Just as I grabbed my lunch, I felt a tap on my shoulder.

"Hey gorgeous! Come sit with us!" Ama beamed, her smile bright as sunshine.

I glanced over at their table where Ryder had just sat down. Then I looked at our usual spot where Samuel was staring at me, his gray eyes intense. My heart twisted painfully, a strange anxiety washing over me. The emotional rollercoaster of the past few days was almost too much to bear, especially with all this unresolved tension.

"Maybe tomorrow. I'm not really hungry anyway."

I turned and dumped my food, practically fleeing the cafeteria and heading outside. The breeze made my hair dance against my cheeks as I kept walking. I expected Ama to follow, or maybe Samuel, but it was Logan who caught up to me, grabbing my shoulder and forcing me to face him.

"What's going on? You never let those girls get to you before."

not directly. It's everything. You know we turn eighteen in four days. For you, nothing

wanted to be honest with him, to let him see what

and we sat beneath it. He draped his

1/3

Chapter 46

did you-" I

the subject. Tell

We've been telling ourselves this whole time not to have feelings, that if one of us did, we'd stop. He never told me, and now if we're

Ryder?" Logan

about him?" Logan heard my heart

think he's

the million-dollar question. I lowered my head, my fingers unconsciously drawing circles in the dirt,

different. Samuel is like a protector, always

an

of you do, so he just... lets me be me."

my voice even.

what I

could provide a new place to live, away

with your head and start feeling

can't control this. Only your heart has those

like a bell ringing

"Yeah..." I replied weakly.

way Ryder looks at you. If you leave your childhood friends

feel guilty about

my mate?" I looked

saying if it's not Samuel, you shouldn't feel guilty." Logan

feel guilty if