The Luna’s Choice by Kat Silver

|||

O

Chapter 20: Ayla

Instead of returning to the room, I made my way toward the back of the house. Floor-to-ceiling windows lined a large portion of the lodge and looked out into a beautiful, wooded area. I found the back door and let myself out.

The porch was huge. The house was built on an incline, so this deck sat about ten feet from the ground. I hobbled my way to the stairs. It wasn’t pretty, but I managed to make it down them to the bottom. I swung myself through the yard, plopping on the ground not far from the tree line.

I wanted to run. To shift into my wolf and disconnect from the world. But I still couldn’t sense Dasha. Even if I could, I wouldn’t try to bring her back yet. The ache in my chest reminded me why she needed time.

I caught Kingston’s scent as he approached me, sitting on the grass beside me.

“Are you okay,” he asked.

I grinned. “Yeah, I’m okay.”

“Did he upset you?”

I chuckled softly. “No, he didn’t upset me. He actually seemed nice. I’m kind of sad I won’t get a chance to know him better.”

We sat in silence for a while. It was a beautiful morning. The sky was so bright and clear that I could see far into the trees. The ground continued a slow and shallow descent, and I could see a lake off in the distance. It reminded me of my little

။

O

pond.

“I miss Dasha,” I finally said.

“Can you sense her at all?” Kingston asked.

I shook my head. “She needs time.”

“What about you? How are you feeling about everything?”

loss of my family. I’m frustrated that I can’t heal and will be stuck like this for months. And I really want to go for a run. But I’m

away,” Kingston said. “But I will do whatever I

brow furrowed. I hadn’t wanted to say anything to him, mostly because I thought I was going crazy. But I really

I began, “you do make the

up straight next to me. “What do you

why, but whenever I’m close to you, whenever we’re touching, the burning goes away.” I rubbed my

back down, his legs stretched on either side of me and his arms

2/5

။

0

<

helps,” he whispered,

you can’t be here all the time,” I teased. “I doubt your

but I’ll be here whenever you

scent engulf me. Even sitting next to an actual forest, I could distinguish his smell

think this will help bring your

D

I said solemnly. “I doubt

you

as much as I do, but she didn’t agree that saving her from some heartache was worthing losing our fated mate. Not without

understood your reasons. She knows you meant well. And it’s not like you

for it after,” I said. “And when she heard what Kylee had said and realized that was who we gave up our mate for, she couldn’t take it. But in the end, I was the one who

Kylee turned out to be, it doesn’t make your sacrifice any less admirable, Ayla,” Kingston

it was all for nothing.”

|||

O

<

298 Vouchers

“She’ll come around.”

“I hope so.”

settled over us again. This time it was Kingston

you feeling

with a

this mean you’ll stay

don’t have any better offers,” I

me, kissing the top of my