Page 86 of His Lost Lycan Luna

ChapterFifty-One

KYSON

The guilt I feel for snapping at her is horrendous, gnawing at the pit of my stomach like a ravenous beast. I hated myself for it; the way she shrank back made it all the more terrible. I couldn't erase the fear on her face from my outburst from my mind, like a haunting image that threatened to stay with me forever.

My instincts were all over the place, a whirlwind of emotions I struggled to contain. The anniversary of my sister's death loomed heavily over me, casting a dark shadow on my thoughts. Then Ivy's birthday was obviously looming, and her attitude, as well as fighting, and my own instincts were becoming too much to bear. Although it’s not her fault, she’s temperamental these days. I can’t blame her, though; I am too even at the best of times. She doesn't understand what is happening, whereas I do, since I have shifted and seen many werewolves shift over the decades.

The closer she gets, the more animalistic she will become before finally shifting. With me being so close, it only enhances those instincts and makes her urges so much more intense as her body and brain try to process that I am her mate. The air between us is thick with tension, and I can feel the magnetic pull of our connection growing stronger each day.

I run my hand down her spine. She shivers as she sleeps on my chest. The scent of her hair, a mixture of wildflowers and the faintest hint of vanilla fills my senses as I breathe her in. Ivy had whined and growled earlier, complaining that I kept putting her to sleep. But the more she sleeps, the better her transition will be when she shifts.

Our bond is strong, and I can tell that it’s almost forged. I knew when she shifts that she will recognize me as her mate instantly, maybe even beforehand. The thought of our bond becoming complete fills me with an anticipation that is both thrilling and terrifying.

A knock at the door pulls me from my thoughts. I had enjoyed the quiet and reveled in the feel of her body pressed against mine, her soft skin a balm to my frayed nerves. So the knock annoyed me, an unwelcome intrusion into our peaceful cocoon. The door cracks open, and Damian walks in before sitting down in the armchair. His tall, muscular frame is draped in casual clothes, his dark hair disheveled as if he'd been running his fingers through it.

"Turn away for a second," I tell him, my voice firm. He obliges, turning his gaze to my bookshelf. Its rows of leather-bound tomes cast in the warm glow of the room's soft lighting. I roll Ivy onto her back before covering her naked body with the blanket, tucking it under her chin. She whimpers, so I jam my pillow next to her face. I watch as she buries her nose in it while Damian chuckles softly, his deep voice like a comforting hum in the air.

"I see the bond has formed. I think she will wake up and recognize you soon enough," he observes, his eyes flickering between Ivy and me.

"Yes," I tell him, emerging from the bed. Damian looks at my arms and chest that are covered in her bite marks. She even bit me three times while she was asleep. This marks shows our growing connection, a reminder of the fire that burns between us.

"Definitely almost forged," he laughs as I sit down across from him, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Why the drop-in? It's nearly 1 am," I inquire, my brows furrowing in curiosity.

"Have you slept?" he asks, eyeing me with a mix of concern and skepticism.

"What do you think?" I retort, feeling the weight of exhaustion bearing down on me.

He shakes his head. "Kyson, you have to sleep."

"You don't think I've tried," I say, scrubbing a hand down my face, feeling the rough stubble that has grown since my last shave.

"It can wait until you do," he says, hopping up from his seat.

"No, tell me. It must be important," I insist, my voice tinged with impatience as I look back at him.

He glances at Ivy on the bed before clearing his throat awkwardly. My brows furrow, and he nods toward her, keeping his gaze on me. I look over to find she had kicked the blankets off. I get up and quickly recover her before returning, only for her to kick them off again. The rhythmic sound of her breathing fills the room, a soothing lullaby that threatens to lull me into slumber as well.

Damian turns his seat to face the wall, hearing the ruffle of blankets as she overheats. "You have a thing for her being naked," he laughs, the corners of his eyes crinkling with amusement.

"I like the feel of her skin. It keeps my Lycan side calm," I explain, my voice taking on a defensive edge.

"So, you haven't shifted?" Damian asks, his tone serious now. Usually around the anniversary, I am almost permanently stuck in my Lycan form, ruled by emotion.

"Not because of the anniversary, though I lost my temper earlier. I thought she went into…" I stop, the words catching in my throat. I can’t even bring myself to admit what the room was for.

"Dustin told me," Damian says, his voice gentle as he tries to offer comfort. I nod my head and swallow guiltily.

"Well, as long as you're in control, I suppose I will tell you," he says, brushing his fingers through his hair, a nervous habit he's had since we were children.

"We spoke to Alpha Dean. His son, Brock, wasn’t very helpful. Anyway, Alpha Dean is still trying to find the rest of the information from the night Ivy and Abbie were brought in, and you were right about her being ready for her shift. Her birthday is in two days," he reveals, his voice steady and informative.

I nod. That made more sense. "So why is that an issue? If anything, that is good news," I tell him, glad I didn't have to wait weeks.

"Alpha Dean asked for us to come to see him. He wants to be sure and has asked for some files to be sent over. He wants to know if we can come to visit him today."

"What for?" I ask, concern creeping into my voice.

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