Page 34 of Luna Rising

“I’m right here, Zara.” He squeezed me tighter as if trying to hold together the pieces of all the lives flowing through my mind. “It’ll pass,” he whispered the words I chanted to myself.

Finally, the memories ceased. I straightened to stand on my own. Ewan cupped my cheek and searched my eyes for a second before leaning in to brush his lips across my cheek. “Better?” he asked.

“All good,” I assured him.

Birch cleared his throat, tone much more respectful than his usual dry delivery when he spoke. “Would you prefer to try things on here or should I have everything sent to the house?”

It wasn’t a hard question, but my mind blanked and I couldn’t make this simple decision. “Um, I don’t know.” I glanced at Ewan. “What do you think?”

The two men exchanged glances that I knew were about me. I didn’t know how much Ewan had told Birch, but he definitely wasn’t oblivious to my current problems.

“Send everything to the house. Zara and I have a busy day.”

Apparently Birch hadn’t been joking about being my fashion advisor. He made all the final selections on my new wardrobe, which was fine with me. The saleswoman rang up the transaction, and Ewan handed over a credit card.

The woman glanced up, and I caught her eye. My smile surprised her. I had been pretty aloof and stood idly by while the pack’s head enforcer picked out my jeans. In her shoes, I would’ve found myself pretty snotty too.

“I’m Zara,” I said before she could look away. “I missed your name earlier.”

“Jennifer,” she stammered, fingers fumbling the credit card when she held it out to Ewan.

I gestured to the stacks of clothes on the sales counter. “Thanks for helping Birch with all that.”

She lowered her eyes. “I’m always happy to help our Lu–”

Ewan cleared his throat. “Zara and I appreciate it, Jennifer.” He draped an arm over my shoulders and nodded to Birch. “What’s our next stop?”

“Shoes and underwear,” he replied.

“You can handle the shoes,” I told him. “I’ll pick my own bras and panties.”

Jennifer suppressed a giggle. I tried to get her attention, but she refused to meet my eyes again. It was weird. No Gemini treated my mother with this level of deference. They all showed her the respect due an alpha’s mate. But no one in our pack ever trembled before her to my knowledge.

Of course, my mom wasn’t a reincarnation of an original wolf–with fangs. That added a little something extra, I supposed.

Our trio left Moon Cycle and headed to Feet, where a fae man with an obvious foot fetish caressed my arches as I tried on shoes. Ewan got all growly. My glare did nothing to quell his temper. His crimson eyes turned murderous.

“You know her size,” he snapped. “Come on, Zara. Birch can finish up here.”

Birch nodded and started pointing to display shoes he wanted boxed and sent to our house. Fuming, Ewan waited for me to tie my boots. His touch was light on my back as he guided me toward the door.

“Overreact, much?” I teased once we were on the sidewalk.

He gave me a pointed look. “We’ve been over this.”

I rolled my eyes. “Maybe you should be drinking the tonic.”

He didn’t find me funny. I put a hand on his chest, over his heart. Ewan relaxed into my touch.

“Next time I need shoes, we’ll go to a woman,” I promised.

His lips twitched as his arms circled my waist and drew me closer. “Good. Now let’s go get you fun lacy things. I know where that store is.”

Ewan was way more enthusiastic when it came to picking out bras and panties. His requests made the saleswoman blush numerous times. By the time Birch met us, her cheeks had taken on a permanent redness that I worried might never fade.

“Why work in a lingerie boutique if talking about lingerie embarrasses you?” I asked once we returned to the crisp, midday air.

“She’s star-struck,” Birch said. “You two have that effect on people.”

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