Don't Poke the Luna (Xena and Ryder)

Chapter 242

Xena's POV

ter one of entitlement made me want to vomit. What did she mean by everything we've done for us? What had she done besides make our lives worse? My fists clenched under the table as I fought to suppress the rage building inside me.

Dad smiled at her. "We have to walk over there to see it. Let's all take knew this was going to happen, and so did Penelope. I wasn't sure if wasn't prepared.

I followed behind, the unease in my chest growing stronger.

a walk. Dad announced and stood up. Logan acted like he wanted to know or didn't want to know, but either way, I

We walked behind Dad and Martha. Logan and Penelope were besides, walking quietly. Dad's steps had a lightness I hadn't seen in years. Martha was practically bouncing. She looked like a child waiting to unwrap presents.

When we came to a small hill, there was a little archway. It was covered with white flowers hanging down. More white flower pots were arranged in rows, forming an aisle.

Wedding setup? My heart sank. They wouldn't be...

"Did you do all this? For me? Are we going to renew our vows?" Martha said excitedly, looking at Dad and grabbing his arm. Leonard and Delphine stood on either side of the archway, waiting.

I felt sick at Martha's expression, but at the same time had a strange premonition that things might not be what I thought.

"Something like that." Dad smiled brilliantly as we walked over. Logan motioned for us to sit on the left, and they sat on the right. Dad pulled Martha to the front. Standing face to face, he took her hands. Martha had a stupid big smile on her face, tears in her

eyes.

She really thought this was some romantic moment. I watched coldly, the alarm bells in my head getting louder. But Dad's expression... that wasn't the look of love.

"This is wonderful." Martha wiped her tears with her hand, saying with a trembling voice.

"Please let me speak." Dad announced. She was obviously startled but calmed down. "I've prepared some words to say."

straightened her back,

I held my

walked into my life when I needed companionship most. I had lost my true mate and

true love."

hand reached out to grab Ryder. I knew my nails dug into his skin, but

needed to survive and you gave me that option." Martha began to frown, blinking several times as if trying

would be a good stepmother to my children. I thought you would treat them as your own. Love them, teach them things, make memories

she didn't. My teeth clenched as years of anger and pain churned

never...

1/3

Chapter 242

wasn't the ceremony she'd

heart founding, Finally, it was finally going to

and anger. Every chance you got, you abused my daughter, simply because she looked like her mother. Fortunately, I needed to stay alive to ensure they could live to adulthood and find their mates. I'm a smart man, and I've arranged their futures so that when I die, they'll be taken care of. I know you wouldn't do that. Now that they're all grown up with their own mates, I'm completely confident in doing what I should have done

of Dad was that he indulged Martha's abuse of me, and I carried disappointment and hatred toward him. But his monologue now had cars welling in my eyes. Everything from before no longer

don't! I love you!

She rejected her mate? I felt a wave of nausea rise in my throat. What other lies did this woman

want?" Dad seemed

I rejected my mate before I came to you and proposed we pair

as if accepting

at her, trying to read the

"Who?"

never tell!" Martha

my children's lives and make them miserable. You chose to hurt them when I wasn't looking. You chose to be cruel to a little girl who had just

"She never

thundered across the clearing. "She was a grieving child who needed

cruelty!"