Page 16 of A Luna's Dynasty
Lita's vision blurred, Mira's rage pounding against her skull. She could feel her wolf's desire to lunge, to protect what was hers.No, Lita thought desperately,Mira, we talked about this.
"Lita?" Asher's concerned voice seemed to come from far away. "Are you alright?"
She couldn't answer, every ounce of her concentration focused on containing Mira's fury. Her nails dug into her palms, leaving crescent-shaped marks as she fought for dominance over her wolf.
Asher's eyes widened as he took in Lita's struggle. His face hardened, and he turned to Felicia with a growl. "Get. Out."
“How easily you’re discarding me now. I have been a loyal pack member … just like my family was.” As Felicia turned toleave, Lita caught a glimpse of a triumphant smile playing at the corners of her lips. Through the haze of her internal battle, a flicker of suspicion bloomed. What was Felicia up to? She glanced at Asher, noticing a wounded expression on his face, but he quickly wiped it away.
Asher's strong arms encircled Lita, his warmth seeping into her trembling form. "What's wrong? Why can’t you control your wolf?”
"It's ... complicated," she managed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Things with Mira aren't straightforward."
As she spoke, she reached a hand up, her fingers unconsciously tracing the delicate chain around her neck. The enchanted necklace lay hidden beneath her shirt, a constant reminder of her past and the control it still held over her.
If he only knew,Lita thought. The necklace she wore was the reason she couldn’t fully control Mira. It represented more than just control over her wolf; it was her last tie to Red Grove, to the life she'd known. She could remove it now, but doing so would mean she couldn’t return to Red Grove. Not that she really planned to, but it would remove that lifeline.
Asher's hand cupped her cheek, his silver eyes searching hers. "You can tell me anything, Lita. I'm here for you, always."
Was he really going to be there for her always?
Enough of this hesitation,Mira growled.We’ve found our mate. It’s time to claim him.
Lita’s brows furrowed, her green eyes unfocused as she communicated with Mira.It’s not that simple. We don’t even know him. He had a fiancée today! You really think we should just blindly accept him?
I’m tired of stepping aside,Mira snarled, pushing against Lita’s restraint.You’re always so considerate of others. For once, put yourself first.
It's easy to observe and understand people's nature as a wallflower. We need to be cautious.
Mira's anger flared hot and bright.A wallflower? You aren't a damn wallflower, Lita. You're the alpha's daughter!
Mira, what has gotten into you?
Finding our mate has woken me up. You need to trust Asher. We should claim him now. We can work on our relationship later.
Work on the relationship later?!she snapped back.You're not being considerate of my feelings at all!
With a mental slam, Lita severed their connection, leaving her sitting rigid and angry at the kitchen island.
Chapter 10
Asher's warm hand brushed her shoulder, warm sparks and tingles raced through her body. "Lita, is everything okay?" His silver eyes searched her face.
"I was ... having an argument with my wolf," Lita admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "And I'm tired. So tired."
“Of course you are. It takes a lot for us to control our wolves. More so when they’re strong. Do you need anything? Anything at all?”
Lita shook her head, then paused. She stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. "Actually, there is something," she said, her green eyes meeting his silver ones with sudden intensity. "You need to decide exactly what you want, Asher."
Confusion clouded his features. "What I want? I don't understand."
Her heart raced, but she pressed on. "Take the night. Really think about whether you want to drop your fiancée for a stranger." The words tasted bitter on her tongue, but she needed to say them.
Asher's expression hardened, his jaw clenching. "Lita, you're not a stranger. You're my mate."
"Asher," she began, her voice barely above a whisper, "there's something you need to know. A secret about me. Before you can really accept me as your mate. But I’m too tired right now to get into it.”
“Lita," he said, his voice low and intense, "I meant what I said. You're my mate. Whatever this secret is, it doesn't change that fact. I'm committed to you, to us." He stepped up to her, brushing his fingers against her cheek. “Get some rest. We have the rest of our lives to talk. So take care of yourself now.”
