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."

back, looking

comes. I held my breath, my heart

flame who walked into my life when I

true love."

reached out to grab Ryder. I knew my nails dug

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

stepmother to my children. I thought you would treat them as your own. Love them, teach them

anger and pain churned in my chest. She never loved us, never tried to

never...

1/3

Chapter 242

completely realized this wasn't the ceremony she'd imagined. She tried to pull her hands from his, but he held them tightly.

finally going to end. The fear deep inside was also getting

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

monologue now had cars welling in my eyes. Everything from before no longer mattered; I

crying, her voice getting louder. "Please don't! I love you! I've always loved you! I rejected my mate for

wave of nausea rise in my throat. What other

do you want?" Dad

I came to you and

stopped struggling, as if accepting

at her, trying to read

"Who?"

tell!" Martha

chose to come into my children's lives and make them miserable. You

never listened! She was always

was a child!" Dad's voice thundered across the clearing. "She was a grieving child who needed love

cruelty!"