The Perfect Luna by Marissa Gilbert

Chapter 44. Ash

Ash let out a heavy sigh and went all the way into the centre of the room, sitting in the exact chair where the mystery guest was sitting just a few seconds ago. He sniffed the air around him and his head snapped in Riannon’s direction. She simply nodded confirming his suspicions and then sat back into the opposite armchair.

“So?” she looked at him hopefully. It had to be something important if he decided to put away catching the intruder personally and stayed to talk to her instead.

“Do you remember how my mate died?” he asked, and she clenched her lips, giving him a

nod again.

“How can I forget?” Ria lifted her knees all the way to her chest and hugged them, (This novel will be daily updtaed at www.noveljar.com)“Chloe was one of my best friends at school.”

“I remember,” he smiled, “She used to call you and Maya her sisters.” “That’s what she was for me,” Riannon admitted, “Family.”

“After she died,” he gulped and looked at her, but meeting her gaze chose to look away and out of the open balcony door, “I was shattered. Broken…”

“I remember that too,” his Luna said quietly.

“She was my light,” he rested his head on the back of the chair, “My everything. And after her death, nothing mattered anymore. I was in the darkness. The darkness that nobody could understand. Nobody but you.”

He looked at her again and she nodded silently. Ash lost his mate a few years after she lost her siblings. She did know very well what he was going through. Although they said that losing a mate was worse than anything. But still, the experience was similar.

She remembered that after giving him some space to grieve, she saw that he was slipping away. And she remembered how she fought to make him stay and live the life he was

supposed to live. As the new Beta of their pack.

Brayden was angry at times because he couldn’t personally get any of this and had to commence his Alpha training alone, without his Beta. At some point, he even wanted to choose a different Beta, but Riannon talked him out of this. Luckily, back then her opinion mattered to him. He gave them time to “fix” his friend while he covered for him.

Slowly, day by day, Ash was getting stronger. He was never the cheerful guy they used to know back at school again, but he remained reliable and loyal, which was way more important.

But when a tragedy happened and her and Brayden’s parents were killed, Ash suddenly stepped in for the sake of them both. They could trust him in their hard time and he performed

Ria always thought that he found a new purpose in life when Brayden finally became the Alpha and named him his Beta. This was Ash’s turning point according to her.

this time he pierced her

she shrugged

before

be your friend in the first place,” he stopped her before she could finish that sentence,(This novel will

her to some extent, but she chose not

and took her hands, locking his eyes with hers,

get to meet you first. No offence, but Bray never saw you for who you were. He cared for your looks, your strength and your skills. But

when you met Chloe?” she tried to walk

was just a childhood crush. But she was gone, Riannon. And I knew that she would never come back. I fell into despair after her death, thinking

This was a

gone and although I remembered our bond, you were

She furrowed her brows.

“But that’s…”

to me. The more time I spent with you, the more my old feelings were coming back. Chloe was letting go of me and… To be honest, sometimes I think

to get out of this. His confession was a bit too

“Just think about it, okay? I know that you didn’t see that coming. I tried to keep my distance when I could, you were

her lips parted when the realisation struck her. But they weren’t happy anymore. Everything changed and Ash saw a possibility for them to be together. What if that was why he always took Brayden’s side in the past? Each time he did this, it was

want to keep this façade of marriage and stay the Luna, will be your lover in the shadows.(This novel will be daily updtaed at www.noveljar.com) If you

lips as they became too dry and his eyes lingered on them. Yet he

done.

marry some Alpha, I would follow you too. As your guard or whatever. Just let me be with you.” She stared at him and he did not blink or budge. His hands were still holding hers and she knew that she had to be honest

fully, of course. But in regards

his grasp, making him sigh from disappointment, “I can’t.

anymore!” he snapped momentarily and then rubbed his eyes, trying to focus, “He is sha.gging his

me of my dead brother. You don’t see me as a friend, but this is what I see

try,” he stood up and turned away, “Slowly

be honest with you. This would

that this is all that I am to you?”

hesitate, “So, this is the decision that you would have to make. Will you take my side as my friend and support me until the end? Or will you stay with Brayden? Whatever you choose, I will accept. But

am his Beta,” he reminded