The Luna Queen - Chapter 24: Chapter 24

_Leah's POV_
Susan stood at the doorway, her eyes wide with surprise. “What’s going on here?” she asked, her tone playful but curious.
I immediately pulled back from Tariq, my cheeks burning. I stared down at the ground, too shy to meet Susan’s gaze. My heart was pounding in my chest, not from fear this time, but from the intensity of the kiss and the realization of what had just happened.
Tariq groaned softly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Mom,” he said with a sigh, “can you give us a minute?”
Susan didn’t move. Instead, she stepped closer to me, her expression softening. “Leah,” she said gently, reaching out and taking my hands in hers. The gesture surprised me. I looked up, confused, as Susan held my hands firmly, her eyes filled with warmth. “Do you like my son?” she asked, her voice quiet, but the question seemed to hang in the air heavily.
My throat went dry. I could barely speak. I was never good at expressing my feelings, and now, with Susan’s kind eyes on me, it was even harder. I glanced at Tariq, who was watching me closely, waiting for my answer. With a quick nod, I admitted the truth, too shy to say anything aloud. My heart raced, my cheeks flushing as the weight of my feelings settled in.
Tariq took a step forward, his voice calm and serious. “I never thought the Moon Goddess would bless me with a mate, Mom,” he said. “I thought that wasn’t my path. But now…” He paused, his gaze flicking to me. “Now, I think I was wrong. I want to pursue something with Leah.”
My eyes widened, my breath catching in my throat. My mind raced. Tariq… wanted me? The thought was overwhelming, and before I could process it, my body reacted first. I turned quickly and bolted toward my room, my heart thudding in my chest. I needed space, time to think. What was happening?
I reached my room, closing the door behind me and leaning against it, my hands coming up to cover my face. My skin was hot, my heart still racing. Was I falling in love with Tariq? No, that couldn’t be. Could it? The thought scared me. I had never been treated like this before, never been given the chance to be someone’s equal, someone’s… choice.
I slid down the door, sitting on the floor as I tried to calm my racing thoughts. Maybe, I thought to myself, maybe I already loved him and hadn’t realized it yet. That idea made my chest tighten with both fear and excitement.
Several minutes passed as I sat there, trying to make sense of my emotions. A gentle knock on the door startled me out of my thoughts.
“Leah,” came Tariq’s voice from the other side of the door. “Can I come in? I just want to talk.”
I hesitated for a moment, then stood up and slowly opened the door. Tariq stood there, his expression soft but concerned. “Are you okay?” he asked gently. “You ran off so fast. I wanted to make sure you weren’t upset.”
I shook my head, my voice barely above a whisper. “I am not upset.”
Tariq studied me, his eyes searching my face. “Then why did you run?” he asked, stepping a little closer. “Were you honest earlier, when you said you liked me?”
I swallowed hard, my hands twisting nervously at my sides. I had never felt so vulnerable in my life. But I couldn’t hide from this anymore. I had to tell him the truth. My voice trembled as I spoke, but my words were clear. “I think… I think I don’t just like you,” I whispered. “I think I am in love with you.”
Tariq’s eyes softened, his expression shifting from concern to something deeper.....something that made my heart skip a beat. Without a word, he closed the distance between us, cupping my face in his hands. His touch was gentle, yet firm, and his eyes never left mine.
“I’ve been waiting to hear that,” he murmured before leaning down to kiss me.
My breath hitched as our lips met, the kiss slow and tender at first, but quickly growing more intense. My heart raced, but this time it wasn’t from panic. It was from the overwhelming flood of emotions I felt; desire, fear, hope. I kissed him back, my hands finding their way to his chest as I leaned into him, feeling the heat of his body through his shirt.
Tariq deepened the kiss, his hands sliding down to my waist, pulling me closer. My mind went blank, my body moving on instinct. I guided him toward the bed, my legs shaky as we moved together.
We broke apart for just a moment, both breathing heavily, before Tariq spoke. “Are you sure?” he asked, his voice thick with emotion. He searched my eyes, giving me the space to back out if I wanted.
But I didn’t want to back out. I had never been so sure of anything. My whole life, I had been told I was weak, insignificant. But here, with Tariq, I felt powerful. I felt wanted. Nodding, I whispered, “I’m sure.”
That was all Tariq needed to hear. He kissed me again, more fiercely this time, and together we fell onto the bed.
My heart pounded as we undressed each other, every touch sending waves of heat through my body. I had never felt like this before....like I was truly alive. Tariq’s hands were warm as they explored my skin, and I shivered under his touch. My body responded to him in ways I had never imagined, and soon I was lost in the sensation, in the overwhelming connection between us.
Our movements were slow at first, almost hesitant, but soon the passion took over, and we gave in to the desire that had been building between us. Tariq’s kisses trailed down my neck, sending sparks of electricity through my veins, and I arched into him, my hands gripping his shoulders as he held me close.
As we made love, I felt like everything I had ever been taught about myself. My weakness and my insignificance was being rewritten. Here, with Tariq, I wasn’t just an Omega. I was strong, desirable, loved. Every touch, every kiss was a reminder of that, and by the time we collapsed together, our breathing heavy and our bodies entwined, I knew there was no going back.
I was in love with Tariq.
Lying there in his arms, my heart still racing from the intensity of what we had just shared, I felt something shift deep inside me. For the first time in my life, I didn’t feel afraid. I didn’t feel small or unimportant. I felt strong, capable, and most of all, loved.
Tariq kissed the top of my head, his voice soft as he whispered, “I love you, Leah.”
I smiled, my eyes closing as I rested my head on his chest. For once, I didn’t doubt it. I believed him.