The Luna’s Choice by Kat Silver

Chapter 44: Kingston

I waited for her to say something. Despite my comments, I really could see that she was happy with Theo. It hurt like f***ing hell, and it was hard to keep my behavior in check. But I was trying. Ever since Randy had come to Sablemane and told me about their theory about Ayla’s effect on Alphas, I had been working to reconcile my feelings for her. It got easier after they had marked each other, but it was still hard.

Pierce had protested my coming here for this reason. He insisted he should go instead, but I didn’t want to hear it. I needed to see her. But it was genuinely just to mend things between us. Ayla may have forgiven me back in the Onyxcrown ruins, but I knew she still thought of me as the person who tried to force his mark on her and kept her father’s ring from her.

It was eating me up inside thinking about it.

“Ayla, I just want to try to make things right,” I said again. “With our history… with our families… I’d hate for you to keep hating me.”

“I don’t hate you, Kingston,” Ayla insisted. She shook her head. “Truth is, I’ve missed you, too. Your friendship. I still appreciate everything you did for me. But it can never be the way it was before.”

“I know that,” I said firmly. “Believe me, I know. But our packs are still allies. And I won’t pretend that I could be friends with Theo any time. soon.” Ayla gave me a look. “Simply out of jealousy,” I said with a wry grin. “Forgive me my wolf’s nature. Some things aren’t so easily changed. But you’re right. I’m not blind. Whatever mistakes he made before, he’s not making them now. I can at least respect him for that.”

“Thank you,” she replied sweetly.

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“But it would be nice to have some friendly company when we’re doing business,” I said.

She smiled slowly. “I think we can manage that,” she confirmed. “But can we worry about that tomorrow? I’m wiped for the day.”

I chuckled. “Of course,” I said, standing from my chair.

I offered her a hand. She took and stood. I made an impulsive decision and pulled her against me, wrapping my arms around her in an embrace. She stiffened at first, but I just held her. As she realized it was meant as an innocent gesture, she relaxed, snaking her arms around my waist for a moment.

I thought it would have been a terrible, dangerous idea. Holding her again, breathing in her scent like this. Memories flashing through my mind. This should be torture.

But it wasn’t.

the first time in weeks, it was just nice to hold Ayla and know she

giving me a tentative smile.

better go,” she said. “Theo’s

is,” I teased. “I won’t lie. It feels good

it just fine. He knew

ruin all

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she said as she made her way to the door. “If it helps, I wouldn’t expect him to be overly friendly with you, either. So, I’d be playing

my eyes

I can’t imagine this would stay hidden with all the traffic it’s

answered. “We’re addressing that. We never had much use for it before now. But setting up something more permanent and covert now makes sense. We’re starting construction

separate ways. I thought about the day as I walked

It was Pierce.

I answered

it go?” he

said. “They’re definitely dealing with Grogan. We have one more rogue to interview,

the atmosphere between you

put it that way,” I

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him relax through the phone.

said.

replied. “So, she’s doing

really well. I’ll call you in

which was fine with me. I changed into a pair of sweats to sleep in and sat on the edge of the bed, playing with the file folder in my

lot of research into her family since her rescue. But there was still a lot she didn’t know. My mind wandered back to the moonstone hidden in its spot back home. No one had mentioned it. I didn’t think they knew about