The Alpha's Stolen Luna - Chapter 138: Chapter 138

: Lucas
“Are you sure I should be here?” Sutton asked nervously. “I don’t know if I should be here. He’s probably not going to want to see me. I should go.”
I grabbed her before she headed for the door. Taking her by the shoulders and planting her on the couch.
We were in the apartment my family stays in when they visit. Aunt Lara and Jack were supposed to be here any minute. Aunt Lara said Jack is talking a little now but still won’t talk about his mother or anything to do with that night. At least, he wasn’t talking about it with her.
Still, I wasn’t planning on ambushing the boy with questions the moment he got back. That’s why we were waiting for them in their apartment. I figured it would be more comfortable and less pressure to greet them here rather than out front or having them come to our suite.
Sutton was worried that her presence would upset him. That somehow she was more of a reminder of that night than the rest of us. I obviously disagreed.
“He’ll be glad you’re here,” I assured her.
Sutton chewed her lip nervously. The heel of her foot tapping rapidly. I was about make another attempt at calming her when we heard the doork lock click and a voice on the other side. Sutton jumped up, nearly knocking me over in the process. I rested my hand on her waist, giving it small squeeze to remind her that I was here and it would be okay.
The door opened and Aunt Lara walked in, Jack in tow.
“Lucas, Sutton, what a pleasant surprise,” Aunt Lara said. “I thought we wouldn’t see you until later.”
“We wanted to be here when you arrived,” I said. “To make sure you got here and settled in okay.”
“Oh, well that was nice of you,” Aunt Lara replied a little nervously.
‘I’m not here to question him, Aunt Lara,’ I linked her, trying to put her at ease. ‘I’ll give him a little more time.’
My aunt visibly relaxed. I understood her concerns. I shared them myself. Jack was just as much my responsibility as he was hers. But it was good that she was being so protective of him. Even from me. He would need that to get through this.
“It’s good to see you both are holding up,” Sutton said, stepping in nervously to give my aunt a hug.
Aunt Lara, of course, returned the embrace, holding onto Sutton a little longer than normal. When they separated, Sutton started to move toward Jack but stopped herself. Jack’s face remained blank, not seeming to care either way about what happened next.
An awkward silence filled the room. Sutton played with her hands anxiously before being the first to speak.
“Um… Tanjie just linked me,” she said to the room. “I’m needed at the garden.” She turned to our guests. “I’d love for you to come see them, Jack. We’ve made a lot of progress. But only if you have the time.”
“That sounds like a great idea,” I said. “Why don’t Jack and I join you on the walk down while Aunt Lara gets their things situated here?”
“Oh… Yes, I’d like that,” Sutton replied. “But only if Jack is okay with that.”
“I suppose the fresh air would be good for him,” Aunt Lara stated. “What do you say, Jack?”
Jack shrugged but still gave a nod that he would come with. We left Aunt Lara to unpack and made our way out to the grounds. Sutton hurried ahead of us to join the crew and help with whatever it was they needed. I held Jack back so it was just the two of us. I led us over to a stone bench that sat at the edge of the site.
We sat quietly for a while as we watched everyone work. It usually wasn’t something that was unusual between us, however, there was no ignoring what hung in the silence this time. I struggled knowing there wasn’t much I could do to help him get through this, especially when I still needed to know what he knew.
“I know it’s hard to be back here, bud,” I said, “but I am glad you’re here.”
“I don’t know how she got it,” he replied quickly. “The gun. I don’t know how she got it. I don’t know who those men were. She only told me to tell her what Au… what Luna Sutton was doing.”
My jaw clenched as I released a slow breath. “We don’t have to talk about that yet, Jack,” I told him. “That’s not why I brought you down here.”
“I’d rather just get it over with,” he said. “Mom said we had to come here. She said if we didn’t, you would never want to see me again. She said that Luna Sutton wouldn’t let you see us again. She really thought you would let her stay if I was here. So when you didn’t, she said I had to tell her everything. I had to help her make it so that Luna Sutton couldn’t take you away from us.”
“You know that was never going to happen, Jack,” I assured him. “You will always be an important part of my life.”
Jack hung his head. “I told her about the garden,” he said quietly. “I told her this was where she had been working every day.”
I sighed heavily, unsurprised by his admission. “That’s how they set up the ambush.”
Jack nodded. “But I… I didn’t know he was going to do that, I swear,” Jack rushed. “I didn’t want her to get hurt. I just thought they would take her away. I just wanted to make Mom proud. To make her happy again. I wanted to do something right. To take care of her like I’m supposed to. I’m sorry, Uncle Lucas. I really am.” He ran his sleeve across his face as snot and tears ran freely. “I never wanted her to get hurt. I felt so bad after what happened. I know it was all my fault. I’m so sorry.”
I wrapped an arm around his shoulder and pulled him against me, kissing the top of his head as I let him cry it out. When his tears had passed, he sat back up.
“I know you’re sorry, Jack,” I told him. “You were doing what your mother told you to do. I can forgive you for that mistake. But after the attack, when Sutton was hurt, why did you keep helping her? Why would you tell her Sutton was taken to the manor house?”
Jack’s brow furrowed. “I didn’t.”