The Alpha's Stolen Luna - Chapter 104: Chapter 104

: Sutton
It was late when we arrived at the manor house. Jack was fast asleep. We didn’t want to wake him, so Lucas carried him up to the spare bedroom. Heading to our room, I started to get changed into my sleep clothes. Lucas cam up behind me as I removed my shirt. His hand touched the small of my back near my healing wound.
“This looks better,” he said softly.
Nova purred at his touch. I leaned into it. We missed him. We missed moments like this.
It was strange. Being here again. I’d gone through so much in this house. So many changes. Accepting Lucas was one of them. I was the one distance then. Too afraid of what our bond meant. Now, I felt like Lucas was pulling away from me.
I turned to face him.
“Lucas, tell me what’s wrong.”
He shook his head, taking my face in his hands. “I’m just worried about you, princess,” he admitted. “I promised you safety. Yet, things seem to keep getting more dangerous every day.”
I wrapped my arms around his waist, resting my head against his chest.
“I never expected you to control the whole world for me, Lucas,” I told him. “And if anyone should be carrying the guilt of these past few days it’s me. I brought this on you and the pack by coming here in the first place.”
“Don’t,” Lucas growled. “Don’t even think like that.”
I chuckled. “You see how ridiculous it sounds?”
He sighed heavily, pulling away enough to lift my chin. His lips grazed mine but I pushed for more. He deepened the kiss. I pressed against him. His hands moved down my side. He pulled me closer and I hissed. His hand pressing against my sore back.
“I’m sorry, Sutton,” he urged. “I didn’t mean to…”
“I know,” I rushed. “I’m fine. It’s okay.”
He sighed again. “I want you, baby,” he said. “I will always want you. But I’d feel better if we waited until you were better healed.”
I groaned. Nova whimpered.
“You’re probably right,” I reluctantly agreed.
Lucas helped me get dressed in my nightgown and we climbed into bed. He held me close. I was reminded of how he would come in here and chase away the nightmares. He was still doing that for me. But I was starting to feel like all I was doing these days was causing his.
I needed to do something about that.
Lucas woke up early the next morning to head back to Thorncrest. He would be back later in the evening. In the meantime, I had to find something to keep me and Jack occupied way out here. I figured Max could help me with that.
“I have a favor to ask of you, Max,” I told him as I brought him breakfast in the sunroom.
He looked up at me with narrowed eyes. “A favor?”
“Nothing nefarious,” I said with a laugh. “It’s nothing Lucas would disapprove of. In fact, I think he would rather approve of it. Although, I would prefer if you kept it between us for a little while.”
Max picked up his fork and stabbed a sausage. “You have me intrigued, Luna. What is this favor?”
“I’d like you to teach me how to fight,” I stated.
Max’s fork paused half-way to his mouth. “To fight?”
“Yes,” I said. “At least to better defend myself. I need to practice shifting, too. I know I need to be faster at it. I feel like Nova has good enough instincts to be a capable fighter” — I ignored Nova’s contrite growl in my head — “but I have nothing but a rudimentary sense of survival. So, between the two of us, we’re barely adequate at staying alive.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” Max said.
“I’ve been lucky so far,” I argued. “That luck will run out eventually. I would rather be prepared. We have a lot of free time on our hands for the foreseeable future, so what better to fill it with?”
Max remained quiet as he chewed his breakfast, thinking about my request. Finally, he dropped his fork onto his plate and leaned back into his the sofa cushions.
“And what to I get out of this arrangement?” he asked, with mischief in his eyes.
I grinned with a shake of my head. “I would, of course, owe you a favor in return,” I said. “To be redeemed at a time of your choosing.”
“Hmm… a favor from our Luna?” he mulled around. “That is advantageous position, indeed. Very well, I agree to your request.”
“Excellent,” I replied. “Can we start today?”
“Can I learn too?” Jack asked as he came into the sunroom.
I raised an eyebrow as Jack sat down next to Max with his own plate. Max looked up at me and I shrugged.
“I don’t see why not,” I said. “It’s not like we’ll be on any different levels of skill.”
Max looked Jack up and down. “Have you even heard your wolf yet, boy?” he asked.
“I don’t see what that has to do with learning to fight,” Jack retorted.
Max burst out laughing. “I suppose not much,” he replied. “Other than how we approach your training for now. Who knows, maybe putting a little muscle on you would bring out your wolf.”
“I feel him sometimes,” Jack said through a mouthful of food. “I think he’d like me to learn to fight.”
I couldn’t help but smile at his optimism. He’d been through a lot as well over the last few days. He was a sweet kid. It would be fun to do this with him.
“Then it’s settled,” I stated. “We’ll start today. Once you too are finished eating, we’ll meet in the back yard. It’s a beautiful day for a fight.”