Rise of the Rejected Luna - Chapter 131

Chapter 131: _Love
My mother left my side briefly, glancing at Elder Gita who had her gaze fixed on me.

“Oh, Elder Gita, you made it.” My mother breathed out in relief.

Now that was unexpected, knowing how the two women seemed to have differing views when it came to the pack’s spiritual matters.

Phoebe being one of those ‘differing views’.

“What happened to the Alpha?” Elder Gita asked with furrowed eyebrows, walking up to my side and placing her hand on my forehead.

I had a lot of things to discuss with her, one of them being the mysterious voice I heard when I was in a state between life and death.

But I couldn’t even find the strength to speak right now due to the pain that wracked my body, and I could only barely move my head, facing the Elder weakly.

She stared down at me with her hand on my forehead and seemed to be concentrating.

“He got stabbed with a silver dagger and we think he was poisoned by wolfsbane.” Phoebe blurted from where she sat beside me on the bed, her hand on my shoulder.

She seemed shaken but was trying to be brave, her fingers gripping my shoulder as if she was trying to draw me back from the clutches of Death itself.

Well, I’ve seen Death already and I don’t think I’ll want to see it anytime soon again.

“He wasn’t just poisoned by wolfsbane.” Elder Gita muttered, holding on to her staff tighter and closing her eyes while moving her hand from my forehead to all around the rest of my body.

Her eyes soon opened wide in surprise. “Someone has been poisoning him slowly with wolfsbane, giving it to him in small doses so he wouldn’t notice. His wolf is almost obsolete within him and it doesn’t even have the strength to heal him.” She explained.

Suddenly, Phoebe remarked sharply. “Catherine, the elixir! Where is it?”

My mother, who was standing away from me with her arms folded in front of her chest, jolted and brought the small bottle in her hands forward, placing it in front of my mouth.

“Drink up, you’ll be fine.” She urged me with a soft smile, caressing my forehead.

I drew in a deep breath, swallowing the liquid, which had a slightly bitter taste that stung my throat when it got there.

However, a fleeting sense of relief soon spread around my body, easing my pain a bit.

“The Alpha will be fine.” Elder Gita suddenly announced calmly, stepping away from me.

She glanced at the two maids who my mother had brought in and gave them a signal, prompting them to bow slightly before scurrying out of the suite with the bowl of hot water and towels in their hands.

When they’d left, the older woman also turned her gaze to my mother, placing her hand on her shoulder and forcing her to stare at her with arched eyebrows.

“We need to give them space.” She muttered to my mother calmly, glancing at Phoebe, who was still sitting beside me, caressing my head with her fingers.

I wanted nothing more than to hold her closer to my body, but I was too weak, so I resorted to brushing my face on her hand repeatedly.

My mother seemed hesitant to listen to Elder Gita’s suggestion, turning her gaze from Phoebe and then to me.

However, unlike what I’d expected, there was no disdainfulness or hostility in her eyes when she glanced at Phoebe.

Eventually, she sighed, clutching my shoulder briefly before following behind Elder Gita.

When the two women finally left the suite, shutting the door behind them, Phoebe broke down into sobs.

I was stunned, watching as she pulled away from me and buried her face in her hands.

“Gosh, this is all my fault.” She chastised herself, brushing her hands through her hair with frustration.

I dimmed my eyes, parting my lips to say something.

Luckily, it seemed the elixir my mother gave me was working a bit, allowing me to let out a slight groan first before I spoke. “H– How is any of this your fault?”

She raised her head from her hands, a warm smile curling up her lips as she placed her hand on my shoulder. “You’re talking again. I’m sorry for disturbing you, I’ll just–”

Suddenly, she stood up and was about to leave as she spoke.

But I reacted quickly, grabbing her wrist with the little strength I was able to muster, causing her to gasp silently in surprise.

“S– Stay,” I whispered, staring into her eyes despite the darkness that surrounded the suite.

She stood there, staring at me with such an intensity that I half expected her to lean in for a kiss.

A sly grin curled up my lips as I slowly sat up with gritted teeth.

“Hey, what’re you doing?” Phoebe panicked, placing her hands on my back and trying to get me to rest again.

But I declined her attempts by gently placing my hand on her shoulder, drawing her closer to my body. “I’ll… I’ll be fine. I just need you around.” I explained casually.

She stood there confused, her body pressed against my chest while her eyes fluttered.

The silence in the suite was tense, but neither of us tried breaking the ice as Phoebe sat beside me again, trying to avoid my gaze.

“Did you… Did you hear everything I said when you were unconscious?” She suddenly asked, her voice sounding a bit nervous for some reason.

I glanced at her briefly before I responded. “Depends on what you’re referring to. You said a lot of things while I was ‘unconscious’.”

My response left Phoebe stunned for a bit before she slapped her forehead. “Gosh, you heard everything.” She grumbled.

I found that cute and couldn’t stop myself from chuckling.

However, I soon stopped when a sharp pain shot through my chest.

“Listen, Kaene, you don’t have to make any decisions if you don’t want to.” Phoebe suddenly muttered, lowering her gaze. “I know most wouldn’t forgive me after what I did and–”

“I’m not ‘most’, Phoebe.” I blurted, stretching my hand and grabbing hers. “And I want you to know that I think you’re right. What we share… It goes beyond the mate bond. It goes beyond the betrayal. It goes beyond the sex.”

Her face reddened with a blush as she tried to look away, but once again, I was able to muster enough strength to grab her chin with my other hand and force her to bring her gaze to me.

We stared into each other’s eyes for what felt like years, my gaze going briefly to her lips a few times.

Eventually, after more than a minute of silence, I didn’t know when I blurted. “I love you, Phoebe.”

I cringed a bit but it soon felt like the natural thing to say. It felt like a weight had been lifted off my chest after I said that.

I didn’t even care if she said it back, I just wanted to–

Suddenly, without warning, Phoebe leaned closer to my face and planted a kiss on my lips, taking the lead by placing her hand on my head and drawing me in.

My eyes shone wide in surprise but I soon reciprocated the kiss with the same intensity, my right hand going to her waist as my lips devoured hers in an explosion of passion.

Eventually, she pulled out of the kiss, her chest rising and falling as she panted with a wide grin on her face.

“I love you too, Kaene.”