Page 71 of Marked By Moonlight
Rowena and Emeric are making food in the kitchen, but the gentle clang of moving pots and pans around stops the second I say the words.
Ambrose shakes his head. “It would kill you.”
“Will it break the curse, though?”
Silence is my answer. I don’t know if it’s because Ambrose is trying to think it through or if he’s trying to find a way to talk me out of doing it. Finally, he says with a low growl. “It doesn’t matter because I’m not risking your life to break the curse.”
“Why? The curse has to be broken. I know you haven’t told me everything. And I don’t know how it affects you personally, but I know that it does. I know that time is running out. I’m willing to do it, no matter the consequences.”
He shakes his head. “I’m not.”
“Why?”
“Because we are mates!” Ambrose jumps up and throws his hands up like he thinks I’m crazy.
“So? You’ll get a new mate if I die; that’s what everyone keeps telling me.”
Ambrose turns to me. “I won’t. Once the marking ceremony is completed, it will only be you.”
“Then you’ll find someone to love. They may not be your mate, but you could love again. Choose your own partner and forget about all this predestined bullshit.”
“You’re not listening to me. I don’t want anyone else. I want you. I won’t accept you dying as a way to break the curse.”
“But we don’t even love each other. We’re just compatible. We’re just—”
Ambrose cuts me off with another growl. “Stop acting like you aren’t worthy—of being my mate, of me falling in love with you. Just because it hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean it won’t. We will find another way, but you aren’t sacrificing yourself to break the curse.”
I frown.
Rowena is suddenly in the living room. “I have an idea.”
We both snap our heads in her direction.
“Ambrose should initiate Lumi into the Moonlight pack. It might be just what she needs to feel like she belongs. Maybe she needs to feel part of the pack in order to be able to shift.”
My eyes brighten at her idea, but then I see Ambrose’s expression. He’s as upset as when I suggested completing the marking ceremony as a human. I realize I have no idea what ittakes to be initiated into the Moonlight wolves, but whatever it is, I have to do it.
Chapter 29
Lumi
“What would I have to do to be initiated into the Moonlight pack?”
Ambrose isn’t looking at me; he’s looking at Rowena like he might kill her for bringing up the idea in front of me. It makes me feel like it isn’t the first time that she’s brought this up to him.
“Lumi is going to have to do it sooner or later,” Rowena says.
“Later then,” Ambrose growls.
I fold my arms as I watch them argue in front of me like I’m not even here. But it gives me time to study both of them and their relationship together. If they once had feelings for each other, they’re not there anymore.
“It’s not really your decision,” Rowena says with a smirk.
Ambrose steps in front of me like I need protection from Rowena. “I’m not putting her through that.”
“You can’t stop her if she wants to initiate.”
“I’m the alpha. I can deny her.”
