The Luna’s Choice by Kat Silver

scooped me up as he did so. He left the bedroom and carried me to the couch. He set me

down on the end before grabbing a throw pillow. But I blushed when he sat next to me and

pulled my legs onto his lap, tucking the pillow under my cast.

“There,” he said with a smug smile. “Now we’re settled in, and I’ve got all the time you

need.”

I opened my mouth to say something but closed it, pouting as I realized I was trapped. I

looked at Kingston. There was something in the way he looked at me that was unfamiliar. I

felt my cheeks warm again and I looked away. Taking a deep breath before I started

talking.

“I met Theo a little over a week ago when my sister brought him home to introduce him to

us… as her mate.”

“What…”

“Look, I told you this was complicated. There are likely going to be quite a few more

shocking moments. So you might want to hold all the ‘whats‘ and ‘oh nos‘ until the end.”

He nodded. “Okay. Go on.”

“Well, we couldn’t exactly say anything. I pushed through dinner as best I could, and as

soon as we got the opportunity to be alone, he rejected me. And I accepted. I wasn’t about

to break my baby sister’s heart over someone I didn’t even know.” I explained. “Besides,

they had already told us about their mating ceremony scheduled in three months.”

Kingston started to say something, but I raised an eyebrow.

“He showed up again a week later and tracked me down at… my friend’s house.”

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Chapter 16: Kingston

“And?” Kingston urged.

288 Vouchers

“And I tried to reject him again, but his wolf wouldn’t accept it. So I cut my ties to the

pack,” I said, avoiding the more painful

details.

“No, Ayla, there’s more you’re not telling me.”

I ran my hands over my face and through my hair in frustration. “He was pissed off

because he found me at a

male’s house. Zeff is my best friend. He was just trying to take care of me. I told Theo it

was none of his business anymore.

That I didn’t have a mate.

He liked that even less. He kissed me. I pushed him off, saying I wouldn’t let him hurt

Kylee like that. That’s when…”

I closed my eyes, trying to push past the emotions that were trying to flood back in.

I felt Kingston’s hand on mine and took a deep breath.

“That’s when Theo told me exactly why he rejected me.”

Kingston’s hand tightened.

“He said Kylee told him I was selfish, cold, and irresponsible. That I had abandoned her

and our mother after our dad died.

That he could never be with someone as heartless as me,” I said, feeling anger and

betrayal break the surface. “And he never even tried to find out my side of things. Never

bothered to try to get to know me. I don’t know if Kylee blatantly lied or if it was Ma’s

influence that led her to actually believe those things, but I gave up everything to take

care of them. And the one person who was supposed to see that couldn’t be

bothered to think for his f***ing self.”

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Chapter 16 Kingston

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I hadn’t realized how heated I had gotten. I hadn’t realized how pissed off I was about it

all. I had been making excuses for them all since I left. Thinking if I could explain it away,

it wouldn’t hurt so much. But that was bullshit. They all betrayed me. And yes, I was

pissed.

Everything I had done in the past ten years started flowing out of my mouth. I just kept

going on as I realized just how ungrateful they were and that they had taken advantage of

me for years.

And this is what I get for it?

“I mean, I gave up my f***ing fated mate for her,” I bellowed. “Not that that’s much of a

loss anyway. Between him taking everything at face value not boding well for him being a

capable Alpha and finding out exactly how little my family thinks of me, I wasn’t about to

stay there. So, yeah, I cut my ties. I’d rather have no pack than one led by people capable

of that.”

I was finally done. I waited for Kingston to say something.

“So, why not tell your sister everything? Why not tell them all everything? You have the

proof to back you up. Why leave?”

“Because it wouldn’t change anything,” I stated. “And regardless of what they did, they

didn’t do it to be cruel. As I said, I don’t know if Kylee came to these conclusions on her

own or not. I’m sure Ma had some part in it, but I could see how some situations could

lead her to that. And Ma has her own demons. She needs help I can’t give her, and

confronting her won’t ensure that happens.”

“What about Theo?” he asked. I thought I heard sadness in the question.

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Chapter 16: Kingston

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“I know he has been dealing with a lot with Alpha Torin’s hea…” I stopped, not wanting to

endanger the rest of the pack with that information.

“I’m aware of Torin’s condition,” Kingston said. “He’s a friend.”

I nodded. “Then you can imagine his son may be struggling. I‘ m not about to forgive him.

But he has enough to deal with. So following some vendetta against all of them won’t help

anyone. And it could end up disrupting the rest of the pack. It‘ s not worth starting a war

over.”

“Then stay here,” Kingston said, grabbing my hand. “Join our pack.”

“What?”

“Trust me, Ayla,” he said with a grin. “You belong here. And I can prove it.”

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Chapter 17: Theo