The Rejected Luna’s Prince By Aurora Archer
Chapter 27 – Rachel
(Willa)
“But, he’s.” I paused, still reeling from what he said. My brain was firing thoughts so fast that I couldn’t grasp one.
“He will be such a good Alpha. He already is showing such promising decision-making skills. He’s very rational for his age, especially.” His mom folded her arms, looking down at Emmett affectionately.
“He’s what?” Caspien asked me, dragging his attention from Emmett.
“He’s not, you know, biologically yours,” I whispered.
“So?”
“So, is that even legal? Don’t you want to continue your bloodline?”
They were descendants of our first royals; they were royals. The strongest bloodline, they had to want to continue that.
“That doesn’t mean that we can’t continue the bloodline,” Caspien raised an eyebrow, and my face heated.
Having more kids was not something I ever thought about. But having a child with him? I realized that I wanted that. I wanted everything with him.
“But, he would be the eldest, and if he wants the title it’s his. If you’ll let me, I want him to be my heir.”
His dad looked up at Caspien with such excitement in his eyes, “There’s so much to teach him; I can start coming by each week to share the pack stories as I did with you.”
“Willa and Emmett have their own place,” His mom studied me, “For now at least.”
“We just moved to the city and then I kinda found your son, or he found me I guess.”
“Very well, I always liked how the humans dated; it seemed interesting.” His mom said looking back to Emmett.
“It is fun actually,” Caspien said, “It’s great getting to know her outside of pack life, it’s different.”
“I’m glad.” His mom gave us both a smile, “And we’re so glad that you waited for your mate and didn’t take Rachel as your Luna, as lovely as she is, Alpha’s taking chosen mates would weaken the pack.”
“That it would,” His dad added smiling affectionately at his own mate.
Caspien stiffened and my stomach lurched, who was Rachel? He told me that he didn’t have a girlfriend previously. I didn’t mind if he did, hell I had a full-a.ss mate before him, but I did mind if he lied. I didn’t need to be shielded from my own feelings and I didn’t want him to feel the need to regulate what I could and couldn’t handle.
“You know I would have never taken a chosen mate,” Caspien said, his voice cold, holding no room for argument.
“I know you said that but people talk,” She waved her hand not paying her son too much attention.
“Rachel wouldn’t have said that either,” Caspien went on, “She wasn’t like that.”
“We do apologize for bursting in on him like this,” His mom went on, I was trying to focus past the anxiety rising inside me, my hands felt clammy, “We would love to have something more formal too, dinner perhaps this week? And you’ll need to invite your parents too,” She smiled at us and I tried to smile back.
“That sounds nice,” I got out, but my voice sounded flat.
“Okay, so now that you’ve officially met Willa and Emmett, I promised them a movie night so-”
“It’s barely afternoon,” His mom chided.
“It’s almost evening,” Caspien gave his mom a stern look, “And Emmett has an early bedtime.”
“I guess we can’t argue with that, son.” His dad stood up and brushed off his pants.
“Can I keep this?” Emmett asked him, holding up their last paper airplane.
His dad looked at Emmett affectionately and places a large hand on his tiny head, “Of course, we can make more next time.”
Emmett did a little bounce, “Thank you, thank you. I can’t wait!”
We said our goodbyes to Griffen and Nora after his parents reluctantly left. I knew I would be seeing more of both of them soon anyways but I wasn’t great company at the moment. I couldn’t push away the anxiety and anger that coursed through me and I wanted answers.
“So,” Caspien said as soon as we got into the elevator.
“I don’t want to talk in front of him,” I whispered motioning to Emmett.
When we got back to Caspien’s place, I told Emmett to go upstairs and play with some of the toys Holden unboxed for him.
“So,” I turned to him crossing my arms, “The floor is yours.”
He took a long breath removing his jacket. I refused to be distracted by the sight, why did everything he do have such a significant effect on me?
“So, Rachel is a friend, was a friend.” I studied him and he was looking directly at me, I appreciated that at least.
I nodded once; friends aren’t gossiped to be chosen Lunas.
“We were together for years, nothing like dating though, she actually moved to Italy a few years back. We would see each other when she came to visit. Actually, I wouldn’t really call her a friend.”
“I see,”
“She knew nothing would come of it, I made sure she knew. She’s rational, and I don’t think she really even liked me. It was convenient.” He shrugged.
I found it hard that anyone wouldn’t like this man. Even if he scared most of the people he came across I’m sure they would get over it for a chance in bed at this man.
But I guess that was lust, not love.
“So then who started the rumors? Did she?”
“No, I don’t think she would have, “He frowned, “Her friends maybe, but she knew that nothing would come of it. We barely spoke when we weren’t in the same city.”
“That’s all?”
“That’s all,” His face softened, “What are you thinking?”
“If you’re telling the truth-”
“I am,” He took a step towards me.
“Well then, I understand I guess. It’s not like I was waiting for you,” I smiled but he winced, oops, “I just, I wasn’t mad at the Rachel thing, I was more upset that you lied to me.”
He opened his mouth.
“No, I know you didn’t.” I stopped him, “But that’s where my frustration stemmed from. I didn’t expect you to be a virgin,” I smiled at him, “But I was more worried that you kept something from me or lied about it for whatever reason. I just want you to understand that I don’t want you keeping things from me to spare me any feelings. I can handle myself and would rather know the truth than have someone else decide what they think I can handle.”
“I know that Willa, Goddess do I know that.” He closed the space between us and brushed a strand of hair behind my ear, “I honestly didn’t think about it, it wasn’t important enough to mention.”
“I believe you; I just got nervous for a second.”
Nervous that everything was too good, too perfect, and it would all come crashing down. I didn’t say that though, I didn’t want to sound too paranoid, but everything was so good with him.
“I understand.” He looked at me, his icy blue eyes boring into me, I knew he understood, more than I even said.
I closed my eyes and tilted my head back and his lips brushed over mine, settling all the lingering anxiety and making sparks dance across my body.
“Gross,” Emmett’s little voice came from the stairs and I pulled back sighing, “What are you doing?” He asked.
“Showing your Mama how much I love her,” He interlaced his hand with mine.
“Yuck,” He stuck his tongue out.
“Hungry?” Caspien asked him, Emmett nodded and bounded towards the kitchen.
“How about you get your clothes unpacked and I’ll get him a snack before we go down for a movie?”
“What?”
He motioned towards the door where black bags were sitting I walked past without even noticing.
“I only chose a few things,”
“I chose a few more,” He crossed his arms, “Take anything you want back but leave a few things here so you won’t have to pack a bag every time.”
“And how often am I staying?” I crossed my arms mimicking his stance.
“I thought you could both stay on weekends for now.”
“But-”
“If you’re going to say work, I don’t want to hear it. You’re already working most days, even if you cut back, and going to school. You deserve weekends off, and Emmett would probably like the stability of a weekend routine.”
“That was low,” I squinted at him.
“I’m willing to use any card to get you here more, think about it.” He shrugged, “Let me carry the bags up.”
“Believe it or not I can carry a few bags of clothes.”
“I know you can but I want to do it for you. You have enough on your plate, I want to do as much as I can for you.”
The movie was great; we had the entire theater to ourselves as Caspien promised. I sat between him and Emmett but Emmett moved to Caspien’s side halfway through to ask him questions.
I was reluctant to stay another night knowing I had an earlier shift the next day, but I was even more reluctant to leave him and forgo another night spent talking in his arms. I don’t think I had ever been so content or comfortable.
“So, what did you decide?” He murmured into my hair as I snuggled up to his chest.
“About what?” I was already drifting to sleep surrounded by warmth and bliss.
“Coming back next weekend.”
“Oh,” That woke me up a little, “I’ll have to see about the shifts.”
“I already texted Cali, and she said it would be fine.”
“You what?” I was really away now I pulled back and studied him.
“I didn’t tell her to do anything, I just asked.”
“How did you even get her number?”
He shrugged, one corner of his lips tugged up, “I have my resources,”
“Of course you do,” I rolled my eyes settling back into his chest.
Weekends off, weekends spent with him and Emmett. I would have to do the mental math tomorrow, and figure out if it was even sustainable if I gave up my regular weekend shifts, or if I could switch to a night shift during the week.
Caspien rubbed my back and I settled further into him, breathing in his warm sweet woody scent.
“Okay,” I murmured.
f**k logic; I wanted to be here. With him.