The Luna’s Choice by Kat Silver

Chapter 21: Theo

“Everything okay?” Will asked.

I had shot out of bed in a panic when Ayla’s pain woke me up. I ended up knocking the clock off the nightstand as I searched for my phone, so Will was up with me now.

I nodded. “Yeah, she’s fine,” I told him. “Just tripped.”

I ran my hands over my face. I should have tried to get some more sleep, but I was wide awake. So, that wasn’t going to happen. Especially since I could still feel the sting of Ayla’s injury. The pain wasn’t bad, but it was just another reminder that I wasn’t there with her.

I headed to the bathroom to take a cool shower. I might as well get back to the station to get this over with. When I got out, Will was on the phone with Beth and the kids. I had felt guilty about keeping my distance as long as I had, but that guilt lessened every time I heard him on the phone. He may have felt hurt, but when I thought about my complicated life and relationship, I couldn’t feel bad for not dragging him into it all. I just hoped that he would be able to go back to his life after this trip.

I got dressed and grabbed my wallet and keys as Will got off the phone.

“You get cleaned up. I’ll grab us something to eat,” I told him as I headed for the door.

There was a diner a few doors down from the hotel. I pulled up and went in to order something to go. I sat at the counter and grabbed a

menu. A waitress came over with a bright smile and was entirely too perky for me to handle today.

“Hey, there,” she greeted me. “My name is Maddi. What can I get for you today?”

I gave her the food order, letting her know it was to go.

“Aw, that’s too bad,” she said. “You sure you don’t want this for here? I would love the company.”

please,” I said, trying to remain

“Will do.”

she messaged me back right away. I messaged

think I’ve ever seen you here before,” the waitress said as she leaned on the counter in front of me. “Are you passing through

grunted, not really interested in whatever small talk she was trying to make. There were other

she said, her finger trailing along the back of

snapped my hand away, appalled that she would dare

be like

I ground out, pointing to the mark I knew was plenty visible for her to

Her hand rubbed along

abruptly. My fists clenched as my aura began to fill

room.

a familiar voice called sternly behind me. I turned to see Sheriff McCabe approaching. “Get back to work. Go check the

back at me. She shrank

without another word. McCabe dropped into the stool

our town floozy.

only because this town has been through enough. But she’s

“Maybe Maddi would finally learn her lesson if she was. Crossing our Luna may not be the stupidest thing she’s done. but I would guess

a dirty look and aggressively set the paper cup in front of

said. Maddi started to protest but was cut off. “It’s the least she

shortly, escaping quickly back to the

and turned to me. “You heading

swing by the hotel to pick