Page 42 of A Luna's Dynasty
His sudden tenderness caught Lita off guard. She searched his face, finding a warmth there she’d almost forgotten. Memories of their past friendship flooded back, along with the pain of his unexplained absence.
“How can you be so protective now?” Lita challenged, her green eyes flashing with hurt and confusion. “You quit talking to me without any explanation. Why should I trust you?”
Grayson’s broad shoulders slumped, regret etching lines across his rugged features. “I’m sorry, Lita. I never meant to hurt you,” he murmured. “I’ve been in intense training, and communication was impossible. But I never stopped caring. There’s so much I want to explain to you.”
“Not now you don’t.” Caspian gave Grayson a warning glare.
“Don’t try to tell me what is best. Know your place!” He let out a rumbling growl, and Caspian shifted nervously but refused to back away.
Lita used to feel very comfortable around Grayson. It was almost like being with her brother. He was familiar to her, but now, something was bothering her. Something about him … and something about Caspian that was making her feel frustrated. Her mind was reeling. The conflicting pull between the two men, the secrets that seemed to hover just out of reach—it was all too much. Her head throbbed, and a wave of dizziness washed over her. Still, she clenched her jaw, determined not to show weakness in front of either man.
Grayson glanced up at Caspian and then at the doors at the far end of the room. “It’s stuffy here. How about we get some air?” He could see that she looked pale, and he was worried about her.
“I don’t understand,” she breathed out. “Why am I feeling so frustrated right now? I feel like—” A waiter walked by with a tray of cookies, and she winced as a scent wafted through the air. Anise oil. “I definitely need some air.” She tore away from both men and ran to the nearby door. She pushed it open desperately, letting the cool night air rush over her. Stepping out, she made her way to a cobblestone path. It led to a quiet area where there was a beautiful, sparkling fountain trickling calmly. She approached it and leaned her hands on the cool stone, feeling the spray of the water as it splashed softly.
Fireflies danced around her, their soft light pulsing in an almost hypnotic rhythm. The wind picked up, swirling around her in a way that felt almost… sentient.
As she stood there, trying to catch her breath, a strange sensation washed over her. It was as if something was calling to her, tugging at the edges of her consciousness. Lita closed her eyes, overwhelmed by the feeling that she was on the cusp of uncovering a truth that would change everything.
“What’s happening to me?” she whispered to the fading sun, her words carried away by the wind as the fireflies continued their ethereal dance around her.
Chapter 25
“Pull yourself together,” she muttered under her breath, her voice trembling despite the brave front she was trying to maintain. “They were just cookies.” But itwasn’t just the cookies. It was also the large crowd of strangers … Grayson and Caspian … a sense of belonging, something familiar but out of reach. Honestly, it was a painful reminder of the belonging she longed for but was always unobtainable.
She closed her emerald green eyes, focusing on the gentle gurgle of the water in the fountain. The soothing sound helped to ease the throbbing in her temples, if only for a moment. Lita took a deep breath, the crisp evening air filling her lungs and granting a temporary reprieve from the suffocating atmosphere of the masquerade.
The soft crunch of footsteps on the gravel path shattered Lita’s momentary solace. She glanced back to see Grayson and Caspian coming toward her.
“Lita, are you alright?” Grayson asked, his deep voice laced with a protectiveness that didn’t make sense to her.
Caspian moved next to her, his blue eyes shimmering in the moonlight. “You don’t look like you’re feeling well.”
The pain in her head intensified, as if they were both the source of it. “Please, leave me alone.”
“Lita, I can’t just—” Caspian started, but Lita turned and snapped.
“Both of you, go!” Her voice seemed to radiate with a power she didn’t know she had. She was overwhelmed, and it was their presence that was creating these irritating sensations.
Grayson and Caspian exchanged a worried glance, their brows furrowing with a silent communication that Lita couldn’t comprehend. She watched as they hesitated, clearly torn between their desire to comfort her and their respect for her wishes.
“If that’s what you want,” Grayson finally said, his voice heavy with reluctance. “But I will be just inside there, if you need me …” he trailed off, pursing his lips before turning away. Caspian’s gaze lingered over her face for a moment before he turned andfollowed Grayson. Regret immediately washed over her for how she’d snapped at them, but the pain was subsiding. She just needed to get control of her emotions. She sank down onto the edge of the fountain, her fingers trailing through the cool water as she tried to quiet the chaos in her mind.
“Why can’t I just be normal?” Lita whispered to herself, her voice barely audible over the soft splashing of the fountain. “Why do I always feel like I’m on the outside looking in? How can I ever belong anywhere?” Could Asher really accept her unconditionally? Could they create a world together where she truly belonged? It seemed like a beautiful fantasy … a bedtime story for pups.
She had seen reality, and it was much harsher and far more unforgiving. She wanted to trust in Asher and allow herself to be vulnerable with him. Her pack had taught her that there was nothing she could do to be accepted, and it was hard to convince herself that things would be different with Asher. She had scars on her heart … marks upon her soul that she dreamed would one day be healed. That there was someone who would fight for her. Someone who would love her and embrace her wounded heart.
As Lita sat lost in her thoughts, the sound of approaching footsteps caught her attention. She turned to see a group of unfamiliar men, their faces illuminated by the soft glow of the fountain lights. They moved with a casual grace, and their demeanor seemed unthreatening as they drew closer.
“Well, well, what do we have here?” the tallest of the men drawled, his voice smooth as silk. “A beautiful lady all alone, on such a lovely night.”
Lita tensed, her instincts screaming at her to be cautious. She forced a polite smile, her tone guarded as she replied, “I just needed some fresh air. The party was getting a bit overwhelming.”
The men exchanged knowing glances, their lips curving into smiles that didn’t quite reach their eyes. “Ah, we understand completely,” another chimed in, his voice dripping with false sympathy. “These gatherings can be so stuffy, can’t they? It’s much more comfortable out here, with the cool breeze and the relaxing sound of the water.”
Lita nodded, her heart beginning to race as the men slowly encircled her. She could sense the danger lurking beneath their charming facades, the predatory glint in their eyes setting off alarm bells in her head.
“You know,” the leader of the group purred, his gaze raking over Lita’s form appreciatively, “a stunning creature like you shouldn’t be out here all alone. There are all sorts of dangers lurking in the shadows.”
