Page 73 of His Loved Lycan Luna

“Don’t know yet, somewhere, but I will be back before my week offis over.”

“Take your time, Gannon. I can manage without you. Besides, when was the last time you had time off, anyway?” I ask, knowing it has been years. Like Damian and Dustin, the man never took days off, usually called back to work before he actually can or sent off on errands.

“Thank you.”

“Just make sure Azalea sees Abbie before she goes.”

Gannon nods just as Damian climbs in the car also. I open the mindlink, observing Gannon stop as he goes to shut the door. He looks at me questioningly, but I don’t want to ask out loud with Trey in the car. Not that he’s paying attention; he seems too busy playing on his phone.

‘Have Doc come to take blood from Azalea for me before you leave,’I tell him and nod.

‘Still no luck with the tests?’he asks, and I shake my head.

‘Will do. Anything else?’

‘Yes, enjoy your time off,’I tell him, and he smirks, shutting the door.

Chapter Forty-Six

Walking out of my room, Liam greets me by looping his arm through mine in a gesture that feels both familiar and comforting. “And what adventure do we embark on today, My Queen?” he asks with a playful glint in his eyes. I scan the area, searching for Dustin.

“Dustin went to fetch your breakfast,” Liam informs me as we start descending the steps.

“I’m not hungry. I simply wish to see Abbie,” I reply with a slight furrow of my brow, heading toward Gannon’s room. Abbie has remained secluded in the room since our return, prompting Gannon’s desire to take her somewhere. Before she departs, I need to make sure she’s healing alright.

Kyson told me she is leaving through the mindlink. It always freaks me out when he uses it. I’m not used to having someone in my head, let alone being a part of something. Abbie is rogue again, and I hate that, but she refuses to let Gannon mark her. Every time I ask Kyson to make her part of the pack, he says she refuses and he can’t unlesshe changes her.

I understand why. It’s not just about her feeling unworthy of deserving good things. If Gannon fails to help her, she won’t remain Lycan, and I can’t fathom a world without Abbie by my side. Shortly after the King’s departure, Gannon visited to inform me that he plans on whisking her away, and they’d depart after lunch.

Strolling through the winding corridors that lead to the back of the castle, I rap my knuckles against the door, hoping for a response. But silence greets me instead. I glance up at Liam, and with a determined grip on the door handle, he pushes it open cautiously, peeking inside.

“I’ll wait here. Gannon isn’t around,” Liam informs me, his gaze averted as if avoiding something uncomfortable. I nod in acknowledgment before making my way into the dimly lit darkroom. The heavy curtains are drawn shut, blocking out any trace of light and making it challenging for my eyes to adjust. In my attempt to navigate the room, I accidentally stub my toe on a coffee table, a surge of annoyance coursing through me. Cursing under my breath, I press forward toward the bathroom door.

“Abbie? It’s me,” I call out softly, hoping for a response. None comes. However, it sounds as if she is crying behind that door, and suddenly, I understand why Liam hesitated to enter. Taking in my surroundings, I push the door open wider and close it behind me. As I turn toward the darkened bathroom, I notice the mirrors have been concealed by large sheets of black paper, rendering the space even darker than the main room. The air is thick with the saltiness of her tears mingling with billowing steam.

An instant wave of perspiration breaks out across my skin; it feels like a stifling sauna in here. Strained murmurs emanate from within the enormous glass shower stall, its surface fogged up by steam.

“Abbie?” I whisper, opening the shower screen. And there she is, huddled at the bottom of the shower, scrubbing herself with a ferocity that seems it will be painful while she presses into the corner.

Her skin is flushed and raw fromthe scalding water. It is evident she isn’t okay. Everyone knows it but seeing her like this shatters my heart. Abruptly, she halts her movements as if only just realizing my presence. Slowly, she lifts her head and stares blankly ahead.

Clutched tightly in her hand is a scourer, the kind one would use to clean heavily stained pots, not delicate skin.

“I can still feel his hands, Az. Still taste his vileness in my mouth,” she whispers, her vacant gaze fixed on some distant point. A tear slips down her cheek, mingling with the cascading water before disappearing down the drain. Her quivering lip reveals the pain etched deep within her. Without hesitation, I step into the scalding hot shower, my clothes immediately becoming soaked.

I move toward her, near the far wall, and sit beside her. Some parts of her skin are bleeding, evidence of how harshly she has scrubbed herself. The scars that litter her body are raw and angry, although thankfully, they have healed and are now nothing more than raised reminders.

“Sometimes, it’s alright to remember the darkness, Abbie. Just don’t linger there for too long. Don’t let it trap you or give him control that he no longer has over you,” I tell her gently, my grip tightening around her hand that holds the scourer.

“I don’t want control. I want to forget, to hate him without loving him. How can you still love someone even after they do something like that? I should have listened to Gannon. I should have stayed,” Abbie whispers.

“That wasn’t love, Abbie. It was the mate bond, a twisted version of what you thought love should be,” I explained.

“I was naive, foolish,” she scolds herself bitterly.

“No, you wanted something more than what we have been given, and that’s not your fault,” I tell her. I sit with her, letting the boiling water scald my legs.

Thankfully, she only has her legs under the water, the rest of her pressed againstthe wall.

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