Don't Poke the Luna (Xena and Ryder)

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Chapter 180

Xena's POV

"It's not exactly a vacation, and I wouldn't call it relaxing either. I think your dad left something for you there. I checked the address

it's a storage unit. Honestly, I believe he hid all of your mother's belongings there. With Martha about to be locked in the dungeon, you can finally have them. I think going there to retrieve ose things, or whatever's there, would be a good idea.

A storage unit?" I turned to face him, my heart skipping a beat, My mother's belongings-fragments of memories I never truly had, traces of her existence that Martha had methodically erased from my life.

Ryder knelt down on one knee, his green eyes level with mine. "Yes. This isn't about taking you away or anything like that. Whatever's in that storage unit, your father thought it important enough to hide it there. Obviously somewhere Martha didn't know about. If he left it for you, I think he wanted you to retrieve and cherish those things, whatever they are."

"I always thought my mother's things would be in her house." The words felt hollow leaving my lips, like I was speaking about a stranger rather than the woman who gave birth to me.

“I don't think so. That house is on your father's pack territory. Martha is Luna. She can do whatever she wants, and if she discovered the house and set fire to it, everything would be gone. This way, ever if the house was destroyed, he preserved those things."

"That actually makes sense," I murmured, imagining my father secretly collecting my mother's items, carefully hiding them away, just to one day place them in my hands. The thought of him showing that kind of care made my chest ache in a peculiar way.

"Will you consider it?" Ryder asked softly, his eyes shimmering with genuine

concern.

"I will." I promised, surprising myself with how much I meant it.

"Thank you. Are you almost finished?" Ryder stood up, dusting off his jeans.

at him,

thinking we could go for a motorcycle ride this afternoon." Ryder

the way you think." I smiled and stood

office door open for me

Nolan shouted as I emerged

looks amazing!" The installation was complete. The other kids

out, and one person had swept away all the dust and

pride of an artist seeing his vision

late and I hadn't eaten since breakfast. My stomach was starting to make its protests known. "When are you planning

in. "Not sure yet." He grabbed his shirt and pulled it on, muscles flexing as he did. He walked to the door

friends filed out of the

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said once we were inhe car. They drove

for Penelope." I said, feeling a

over me.

that possible?" Ryder asked as he pulled

the window, letting my hand float on the breeze.

of a

progress on

public investigation. We want to keep a low profile until Saturday." Ryder

stomach's very real protests. "That's a first.

immediately, my mouth

can change and head over there." Ryder agreed, his thump tracing

them in forever. We pissed Ama off this morning, so it might be a good way to make it up to

pissed herself off this morning," Ryder frowned and