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.”

I said, trying to remain polite.

“Will do.”

messaged me back right

as she leaned on the counter in front of me. “Are you passing

whatever small talk she was trying to make. There were other customers

happy to show you a good time while you’re here,” she said, her finger trailing along the back of my hand. “Especially

rumbled in my chest. I snapped my hand away, appalled that she would dare touch

be like that,” Maddi

pointing to the mark I knew was plenty visible for her to

she here?” Her hand rubbed along my

up abruptly. My fists clenched as my aura began to fill

room.

called sternly behind me. I turned to see Sheriff McCabe approaching.

looking back at me.

into the kitchen without another word. McCabe dropped into

our town floozy. She

I acknowledged. “I’ll let it go this time. If only because this town has been through enough. But she’s lucky my

lesson if she was. Crossing our Luna may not

McCabe a dirty look and aggressively set the paper cup in front of him. She gave me

house, Alpha,” McCabe said. Maddi started to protest but was cut off.

course,” she replied shortly, escaping

his coffee and turned to me. “You heading to the station.

swing by the hotel to pick up