Page 66 of A Luna's Revenge

I watch Reggie remove the candle and push Xy’s hand into the frosting. He squalls again, but this time, in disgust, as he holds out his frosting-covered fingers with a grimace. He doesn’t like the sticky feeling.

Laughing with the assembled crowd, I approach Xyran, swipe my finger across his birthday cake, and smear the frosting in his open mouth. He recoils at first, but then, tasting the sweet flavor, he shivers and smiles as he cautiously begins licking the chocolate icing from his tiny hand.

Reggie straightens from where he stands in front of our pup and draws me into his arms. “I love the family we’ve created here, Charlie.”

“Me, too.” I sigh as the volume increases around us. Mom and Dad are now stooped over Xyran, talking animatedly as he continues to decorate his face with chocolate while sucking his fingers. Dad leans in and kisses Xyran’s forehead. “That’s our grandpup!” He brags.

Reggie dips his head into my neck and inhales deeply. He gasps sharply, pulling back to look me in the eyes. I giggle. “Charlie?” His hand slides to my still-flat stomach as he softly begins to caress it. “Are you–?” He stutters as his eyes start to moisten. “Again?” He chokes.

“Yes,” I whisper just before he tenderly kisses me. Surrounded by our family and friends, who celebrate the life we created; together, in ourlittle bubble, we share another secret–a tiny spark of a new life growing beneath my heart. A tear rolls down my cheek as Reggie hugs me tightly to him. In a few short months, we will be welcoming our daughter.

Reggie and I have come to terms with our new normal. Just after Xyran was born, we returned to Little Silver Creek to live and raise our family. It only made sense as it’s where our families live. At first, it was a little awkward because I felt like mypack had betrayed me, but I soon learned that Jenson’s cheating wasn’t as widely known as I had thought.

The handful of she-wolves in the pack, who had cheated with Jenson, had been ostracized and decided to relocate to Stone Mountain City. There were rumors that a few of them had found their fated mates but had been rejected by them for their part in breaking up Jenson and me. I call that Karma, but I place most of the blame on Jenson as he is the one who broke sacred promises to me. It still hurts, though, as I grew up with these females; they were my childhood friends.

I’ve always been a girl’s girl and support my sisters, and Ifeel the conquest of taking someone else’s mate is not something to be proud of, in my opinion.

I might be jaded, but I think most males are carnaland, given enough persuasion, will cheat. I don’t think we need to give them a pass. We are teaching males how to treat us, and we can't let things slide because "boys willbe boys." No, we all need to have accountability.I have zero tolerance for cheating, and Reggie knows it.

As for Tracy, she and her daughter have been living here in Little Silver Creek because her former pack wouldn’t take her back, and her sister disowned her. Beta Ben, who has been caring for the pack in Jenson’s absence, is soft-hearted and allows her to live here since she has no place to go.

I believe she also hopes that she and Jenson will reunite and she will become Luna when he’s released from the mental institution wherehe was placed after his breakdown. But it has become clear that she and he are not getting back together.

As I take in the party around me, I clear up the paper plates and cups. Reggie is talking to Xyran and feeding him cake and ice cream.

Reggie’s Mother is cleaning cake out of Xyran’s hair with a diaper wipe while his sister has Xyran’s hands in hers,dancing with him. Our Dads are talking and boasting about their grandpup to anyone who will listen. He is the first and only grandpup, at least for another few months. I smile happily and rub my belly at the secret.

Asher

Jenson and I were institutionalized after Charlie gave birth to her pup. From what we’ve learned, Reggie and Charlie are second-chance mates. While I agreed with Charlie's leaving because of Jenson’s actions, Jensonnever got over it. I am astonished by his shock at how things ended. I am not sure what he expected. We physically present as Jenson, but I control our mind.

“Jenson.” Dr. Michelle prods softly.

“Asher,” I reply, looking at the sweet doctor who has diligently tried tohelp Jenson recover.

“May I speak to Jenson?”

“You can speak to Jenson as much as you want to Dr. Michelle, but I don’t know if he can hear you. He doesn’t acknowledge or respond. He’s still curled up in the back corner of our mind,” I inform her. We have been going over this for months now. She tries to get Jenson to come out, but he never does. He just sits and stares at the wall. I can’t sense his thoughts, and he no longer speaks to me.

“Asher, this is the strangest condition I’ve ever encountered. In the history of shifters, there has been no other documented case where the human and wolf sides have exchanged identities.”

“So, you have said, Dr. Michelle.”

“Asher, you can drop the doctor title when we are alone. We have known each other a long time.”

“Yes, we have. Has your diagnosis changed regarding my mental state?”

“No. You are of sound mind. The only part of you that is still struggling is your human.”

“Then why don’t you discharge me, and let’s pursue a relationship,” I whisper.

“I’d like that very much, Asher. I just wish I could get Jenson to come out.”

“Give him time. It’s his due punishment.” I say, “How long has your mate been deceased now?”

“I’ve been a widow for three years.”

“Let’s you and I find happiness.” I breathe, reaching for and clutching her hand in mine.

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