Don't Poke the Luna (Xena and Ryder)

Xena's POV

My world shattered in that single moment. Penelope? The Peneloped trusted with everything? My thoughts scattered like glass fragments, betrayal cutting through my heart like a knife. How was this possible?

I stared at her across the room, watching as she deliberately avoided my gaze. Logan stood near her but made no more to touch her. My heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand, pain and betrayal tangling together until I could barely breathe.

"Penelope?" I called softly, my voice carrying a tremor I hadet interced

She lifted her head, tears glistening in her eyes-those eyes I'd trusted so completely how seemed like they belonged to a stranger. "I swear I didn't know anything! You know I'm an orphank You even und me in the forest!" she pleaded, desperation saturating her voice. 'I don't even know who my family is!

My chest ached like I'd been stabbed. Deep down, something told me she was telling the truth, but the DNA evidence was right there in front of us. How could I deny what was staring me in the face?

"The DNA shows a parental match ratio," Alpha Benedict explained, his voice measured and cold. "This means it was her father who shot at you both." He turned to me. "How did you find her?"

"She was in the orphanage where I volunteered," I recalled, memories flooding back of that stubborn, brilliant girl I'd first met. "She was a teenager then... about fifteen, already getting into trouble. Sneaking out, stealing things."

"I stole books! It's not like I was some junkie!" Penelope defended herself, hurt flashing in her eyes.

"They were advanced books. Nobody cared what books she took, just that she was stealing. I noticed the content of those books, so took responsibility for her. Had her do tasks for me. Once she earned some trust, showed me what she could do, I started paying hen Not much, but enough for clothes and food. Eventually, Dad helped her get into a youth housing program to get her out of the orphanage." The words came mechanically from my mouth as memories washed over me-all those moments with Penelope, one of the few people I truly trusted, and now... I couldn't bear to finish the thought.

Penelope's eyes brimmed with tears, her desperation breaking my heart despite

we put her DNA in the system in case of any matches. Until now there weren't any." Dad stared at the paper like it was some alien object. His expression

lying?" Alpha

at the ceiling. This had to be excruciating for him, torn between loyalty to his sister and loyalty to his mate. I could feel his struggle, and

Penelope looked at him, heartbreak and shock painted

to us?" Dad asked severely,

heart pounded violently in my chest, watching my friend being treated this way sent a

answered through

anything from

1/2

Chapter 155

I would never

forward to hold her. Ryder's hand troked my back, giving me a

around the room. Only when everyone shook their heads did he relent. Logan had moved

hand.

Logan's outstretched hand, refusing his

Rogues?" I asked, trying to make

traced who wanted to take your We assumed the Rogues at the pack boundary and the ones at the car accident were