Chapter 118
The morning light spilled through the nursery windows, painting the room in soft gold. I sat cross-legged on the floor, Lily’s tiny hand in mine as she babbled away, a mess of syllables and giggles that made my heart swell. Logan was nearby, gnawing on a teething ring like it was his greatest nemesis.
“They’re going to be geniuses,” I declared, ruffling Logan’s dark hair. “Just look at them. Babbling at six months? They’ll be discussing philosophy by the time they’re two.”
Lily squealed, smacking my arm, and I laughed.
As I turned to grab their favorite stuffed animals from the pile beside me, a prickle ran up my spine. That unmistakable sensation of being watched. Slowly, I glanced over my shoulder—and there he was. Jake. Leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, his sharp eyes fixed on me and the twins.
For a moment, I froze, caught in the intensity of his gaze. But then, a smile tugged at my lips, and I gave him a little wave.
Jake’s lips twitched like he was fighting a smile of his own, but before I could be sure, the moment was shattered by the sound of someone clearing their throat.
I turned to see Fatima, standing stiffly in the doorway, her expression icy.
“Luna,” she said, her voice dripping with disdain. “I need to speak to you.”
\---
In the kitchen, Fatima’s hostility felt sharper than ever.
“I don’t understand why you insist on playing house,” she snapped, slamming a pot onto the counter.
I blinked at her, startled. “I was taking care of the twins.”
“Priscilla’s twins,” she corrected, her eyes narrowing. “Not yours.”
The jab stung, but I refused to let her see it. “They’re part of this pack,” I said evenly. “That makes them my responsibility too.”
Fatima scoffed, grabbing a knife and chopping furiously at some vegetables. Her movements were harsh, almost careless, and the tension in the air crackled like a storm.
“You think you can just waltz in here and replace her?” she hissed, her voice low but venomous. “You’ll never be her.”
“I don’t want to replace her,” I said softly. “I just want to help.”
Her hand slipped, the knife nicking her finger, and she hissed in pain.
“Fatima!” I rushed forward, grabbing a towel to press against the cut, but she shoved me away.
“Don’t touch me,” she snapped, her voice shaking.
“What is going on here?” Sophie’s voice cut through the tension like a blade.
Both Fatima and I turned to see her standing in the doorway, hands on her hips, her expression a mix of exasperation and concern.
“Nothing,” Fatima muttered, turning back to her vegetables.
Sophie raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it, but she didn’t press further. Instead, she walked over to me, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder.
“You okay?” she asked softly.
I nodded, but my chest felt tight.
That night, after the twins were asleep, I found myself on the balcony, drawn by the light of the full moon. It hung low in the sky, luminous and hauntingly beautiful, casting everything in a silvery glow.
I leaned against the railing, letting the cool night air wash over me, when something caught my eye.
A single, delicate flower bloomed just below the balcony, its petals glowing faintly in the moonlight. It was beautiful, almost otherworldly, and I felt an inexplicable urge to reach for it. Flowers had always been my favorite and this one would be cute to give to Lily.
“Just a little stretch,I have got yo...” I murmured to myself, leaning forward cautiously.
The railing pressed against my stomach as I reached down, my fingers brushing the edge of the flower’s stem—
“What the hell are you doing?”
The growl startled me so badly I almost lost my balance, but before I could topple over, a strong arm wrapped around my waist and yanked me back.
“Are you insane?” Jake’s voice was sharp, his breath hot against my ear as he pulled me flush against his chest.
I twisted in his grip, my heart racing. “I was just—”
“Just what?” he snapped, his dark eyes blazing as he turned me around to face him. “Trying to kill yourself over a flower?”
“I wasn’t going to fall,” I said defensively, even though my heart was still hammering from how close I’d come.
Jake’s grip tightened, his jaw clenching. “Do you have any idea how stupid that was?”
“Oh, calm down,” I shot back, crossing my arms despite the way he was still holding me. “It’s not like I was dangling off the edge or anything.”
“You were leaning over the railing!” he growled. “If I hadn’t been here—”
“But you *were* here,” I pointed out, a smirk tugging at my lips.
Jake’s glare darkened, but there was something else in his eyes now—something that made my breath catch.
“You think this is funny?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.
“A little,” I admitted, biting back a smile.
His lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, I thought he might start yelling again. But instead, he pushed me gently back against the balcony railing, his hands bracketing my waist as he leaned in close.
“So you wouldn’t have fallen, huh?” he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
“Not a chance,” I said, lifting my chin defiantly.
Jake’s lips twitched, his face inches from mine now. “You’re impossible, you know that?”
“And you’re overbearing,” I shot back, my voice softer now.
We were so close I could feel the heat radiating off him, his scent wrapping around me like a blanket. My heart pounded, and for a moment, the world seemed to shrink, leaving only the two of us and the tension crackling between us.
Jake’s eyes flicked down to my lips, and I swore I saw a flicker of something—want, maybe?
But before either of us could move, the sound of someone clearing their throat shattered the moment.
We both turned to see Chris standing in the doorway, looking equal parts amused and awkward.
“Sorry to interrupt,” he said, though the smirk on his face suggested he wasn’t sorry at all.
Jake stepped back immediately, his expression hardening into that familiar cold mask.
“What do you want, Chris?” he asked, his tone clipped.
Chris shrugged, still smirking. “Just thought I’d let you know Sophie’s looking for you.”
Jake muttered something under his breath before turning back to me. “Stay away from the edge,” he said gruffly before brushing past Chris and disappearing into the packhouse.
Chris waited until Jake was out of earshot before turning to me, his smirk widening.
“You two really need to work on subtlety,” he said, chuckling as he walked away.
I stayed on the balcony, my cheeks burning as I stared out at the moonlit forest.
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