Alpha's Blind Luna novel Chapter 71

We didn’t speak, didn’t move for a long time. Just held each other, holding tight knowing this moment would be fleeting. But this was the first time in two years someone hugged me and I’d be damned if I was going to waste it.

“Hector?”

He hummed into my shoulder and it sent a wave a goosebumps over my skin.

“Thank you.”

Lifting his head up, Hector looked at me in the eyes. “How can you say that? This is as good as forcibly marking you, Auri. I made the choice that you had no input. I just…I couldn’t listen…couldn’t watch as they did that to you. I’m sorry, I was weak. I…”

My finger came up to his lips, hushing him. “Stop, Hector. You saved me from another five rounds after that.” His eyes widened but I continued. “If anything, you might have saved me for all of those in the future too. It’s okay. You aren’t forcing me, Hector. It’s not the same.”

He shook his head and my finger fell from his lips. “You’re wrong. It’s the same. The lesser of two evils doesn’t make it good. It’s still fucking evil. I still…”

Softly putting both my hands on the side of his face, I pulled him forward and kissed him. My lips softly pressing against his surprised ones. He didn’t move, didn’t reply but I didn’t need him to. It wasn’t for him to show me he loved me, I knew that already. What he didn’t know was that I loved him. All this time, I had been connected to Logan and I was not going to break apart the mate bond but it was gone now. Would I have chosen to mate right now? No. I would have liked time. Apparently though, I’d had two years of it. I was glad it was Hector. I thanked the Goddess it was him. I felt for once maybe things did work out in the oddest of ways.

“I love you.” My whispered words widened his already surprised look.

“Auri, it’s not…”

I sighed. “I have for a long time Hector. With Logan, I couldn’t. Eventually, I wanted…I knew…hoped…one day it would be you.” Chuckling, I leaned back a little. “Not like this. Maybe something a little more romantic but I thought…maybe…”

“Auri, stop. Nothing can make this better.” His fists were balled up and his eyes cast down again.

Stubborn old fool. Years he pined and now that he had me, he was pushing me away. I didn’t reply though. I knew probably the only one who could pull him out of this would be Rydere but with all the silver, it wouldn’t happen. For now, all we could do was wait. Scooting over to the wall, I laid my back against it and patted the spot next to me. He still didn’t look up but he did slide his way over, our sides melding together.

“Vale is going to be mad.”

I hummed. “Why?”

“He’s been growing out his hair because he wanted to see if he could get it longer than yours.”

Smiling, I laughed. “Well, he’s won.” Lifting my hand up, I brushed the top of my head. It had grown out from the last time they shaved it off but it was only about an inch long.

Hector absently chuckled. “I never thought I would see the day your hair was this short but it looks good.”

“Easy to manage at least. Maybe I’ll keep it short for a while.”

His hand came up and his fingertips brushed through my hair. “It’s so soft.”

My head fell against him and our fingers intertwined, our hands holding tight together. We were quiet for a spell before I took a deep breath.

“How bad is it out there?”

“Fucking chaos. Goddess, Auri, it’s like a god damn world war out there. Nowhere is safe. No one is safe. At one point, Vale fucked up and added fuel the fire. Poor boy didn’t mean to but then Zeke just swooped in and took care of it. He’s made a name for himself, Ezekiel the Peacekeeper. I don’t know how he does it but damn if he isn’t the only thing standing between the few lives we’ve lost already and hundreds of thousands of lives we could have lost.”

I smiled. Zeke was always the right choice. I knew my instincts weren’t wrong about him. About handing him the most dangerous documents as well as every safety net I had ever built. Pride filled me but also dread that it wasn’t over yet. That they had to go through two years already without me.

Looking up at Hector, our eyes met and his hand came up, brushing my cheek. He looked so torn. I closed my eyes and leaned into his touch.

“I missed you, Auri.”

My heart leapt into my throat and I squeezed his hand. “I wanted to see you again but not like this. Never like this.”

“I know. But I couldn’t care less how it happened. Torture me a thousand days. Ten thousand even, if it meant I could see you and hold you like this.”

I smiled and looked up at him. His eyes weren’t looking at me though, but at the wall ahead. Sitting up, I noticed his forehead was starting to perspire. Lifting my hand up, I wiped the drops that were forming away.