The Luna’s Choice by Kat Silver

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Chapter 3 Ayla

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Chapter 3: Ayla

I woke up to the first rays of sunshine heating my naked body. I was grateful for the warm night of mid–summer. Otherwise, I probably wouldn’t have made it through the night in my human form. My wolf still hadn’t re–emerged, and I couldn’t say I blamed her. The prospect of seeing Theo again this morning was hard enough for me. Dasha wouldn’t be able to handle sensing his wolf again. She had told me he wasn’t happy about the rejection.

But it had to be done.

And we had to accept it.

I wasn’t going to break Kylee’s heart like that. Especially if he actually loved her that much.

She would be happy. And I had to find a way to make that enough.

I sat up and looked out at the reflective pool. I stood up and I walked into the water. I submerged myself completely, washing my body clean of Theo, the mate bond, and every dream of finding my soulmate.

The ritual wasn’t new to me. I did this after my father died. I came here to wash away the grief. And when my mother started to fall apart. When she started drinking heavier and gambling and I realized we were running out of the money Dad had left us. I had to make some tough decisions to keep the family going. Once I made them, I came back here to forget the person I was. So I could be who my family needed

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Chapter 3 Ayla

me to be.

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I came here to wash away all of the what–ifs and what–could- have-beens.

When I emerged, I started the long walk back home.

When I made it back to the house, I could hear the faint sound

of voices coming from inside. They had already arrived. I quickly collected my clothes from the lawn, putting them back on before heading inside.

I had to pause when I opened the door, bracing myself against the intoxicating scent that belonged to Theo. I had hoped the effects would have lessoned by now since we broke our bond, but I wasn’t that lucky. But again, I shook off the feeling and prepared to push through this like everything was normal.

I walked through the kitchen and into the living room, where, again, I found Theo alone. I could hear Ma and Kylee down the hall, and I prayed they would be out soon. Theo’s hands clenched when his eyes met mine. It wasn’t hard to read the look of disgust he held in them.

I failed to hide the hitch in my breath, but I still managed to raise my chin. I wasn’t about to let him see how he still affected me. Just a few more minutes and we would both be rid of each other, at least for a little while. Hopefully, it would be enough time for the bond to dissipate and free us of all this.

“There you are,” Kylee’s voice rang down the hall.

I turned to her with a smile, returning her hug as she wrapped

her arms around me. I held on for a minute, letting her

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Chapter 3: Ayla

proximity calm me.

Why is your

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again last night,” Ma said with bitterness in her voice.

had to stop myself from

I just went for a run,”

night?” she

You were passed out drunk. I cleared my throat and brushed

smiling down at Kylee as I rubbed her arms. Looking at the face of the girl I had practically raised since she was nine,

soon. Come up whenever you’re ready,” she said as she

love you,” I

“I love you.”

my mother, taking her in my arms

care of

going,” Theo

walked out, closing the

Chapter 3: Ayla

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it all came crashing down. I sank to my knees, begging the goddess to just let it all

that spot, staring without seeing. I didn’t even know Zeff was there until

what the hell? What’s wrong?” he asked, brushing hair out of my face, forcing me to look

mate,” I said, the corner of my mouth tipping up mockingly. “He’s scheduled

Zeff exclaimed, anger and concern twisting his handsome

was the only person who knew everything I went through. And here he was, listening to me tell him about meeting Theo, the mating ceremony, and my rejection. Why couldn’t

he said, lifting me up. “You’re

blessing. I was numb. Zeff held me up by my waist and led me out to his car. He tucked me into the passenger seat and disappeared into the house again,

drove us the twenty minutes to his house. Just like before, he helped me inside, this time sitting

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Chapter 3 Ayla

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I loved this couch. We had spent a lot of time on this couch, watching movies, talking about books, brainstorming ideas for work. This

now.

cursed as he pulled it out, checking

he said. “Honey, I have to take this. I’ll be right back,

kissing my head before walking out of the room. Alone again, I pulled my feet up onto the couch, tucking

to snap out of it. I needed

from my eyes. No one had seen me cry. Not since the night my father died. I wasn’t about to change that now. Not over someone like Theo. He paused, giving me a look. He knew I’d been crying. It always bugged him when I did that. Not that I often cried anyway, let alone enough for anyone to see it. But Zeff was always trying to get

into him. I let myself relax some. This was the first thing since Theo walked into my life that felt normal, felt comfortable. He leaned

my laptop?” I asked

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Chapter 3 Ayla

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and fell heavily. “Yes, but we’re not going

going to the duffel