Page 27 of Luna

I turned off the burner and opened the text box. I looked at the meat, trying again to approach the white Styrofoam plate.

My stomach heaved.

“Just trying to make your amazing sauce.” I added a frowny face. “I think I’m doing it wrong.”

I hit send before I could talk myself out of it. I was pathetic, no better than the manipulative omegas who perfumed around alphas to get them hooked.

I’d wanted Halos for years. I’d stalked him through the flowerbeds and mulch, trying my hardest to flirt in the only way I knew how: through plants. It had resulted in a nice friendship, but I wanted more, and my hormones were making it almost impossible to keep my distance.

“What’s wrong?” He replied right away.

I sighed. I was an adult. I should just tell him I wanted him. And also, by the way, that I was pregnant; no, I wasn’t bonded, and I didn’t even have their phone number.

My stomach churned and my head pounded. I’d been living on crackers for two days.

I don’t know, it just smells weird.I replied.

I made myself some tea and went into my cozy living room. I’d made candles trying to catch Halos’s scent. Vetiver was an earthy, herbal aroma that blended well with mint.

My phone pinged again, and my heart pounded. Adrenaline spiked in my chest, and I shook my head. I needed to get a grip. Calm down. I prayed he was texting something to the effect of coming over to help me.

If he didn’t, I would have to suck it up and ask. I was a grown woman. It didn’t matter that the thought of asking for something he probably didn’t want to give made me want to curl into a ball.

Halos’s text came through and I opened the window.

I’m getting off work now. I could swing by and see what’s going on?

Relief coursed through me. I sat down in my chair and typed outYes please.

Bless that man. Bless him for being sweet and cooking for me. And now I was tearing up in relief that he was coming over.

I put my hand on my belly. “Baby, you’re gonna have to chill out. I’m doing the best I can but…” I trailed off. The baby wanted spaghetti and apparently spaghetti would be imminent.

I changed into nicer clothes, even though I still put on a loose dress because fabric rubbed against my skin wrong, and tried not to pace.

Chapter9

Luna

When Halos’s truck pulled into the driveway, I allowed myself another victory dance, slightly restrained this time because I still wasn’t feeling great.

I opened the door before he could knock and smiled. “You’re a lifesaver. I promise I took notes when I watched you before.”

“It’s fine.” He grinned, walking inside my cottage like he belonged.

I stepped forward so that he brushed against me, the spearmint and vetiver scent hitting my brain like the world’s best relaxation candle.

He paused. “What’s wrong with the meat?”

I hung back in the doorway and wrinkled my nose. “My stomach is being really stupid lately, and it smells so bad.”

He sniffed the meat. “Smells okay to me?”

“It’s fresh. I bought it this morning.” I shook my head. “It just smells gross. Like raw meat.”

I made a face and he laughed. “Okay, I’ll finish this part off.”

I showed him the crockpot and told him what I’d already added. He stirred the raw ground beef and bratwurst into the pan, and I couldn’t handle it.

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