The Luna Queen - Chapter 36: Chapter 36

_Leah's POV_
Susan’s sudden embrace startled me as I stood beside Tariq. My mind was still buzzing with the weight of everything happening around me. The familiar warmth of my friend, however, eased some of my tension. Susan held me tightly, her voice trembling with relief.
“I’m so happy you are safe, Leah,” she said, pulling back just enough to look me in the eyes. “I was so worried about you.”
I forced a smile. “Thanks, Susan. I… I am okay.”
Susan frowned slightly, her eyes scanning my face as though searching for signs of distress. “Are you sure? I know everything has changed so quickly. Especially with…” she lowered her voice, “…your new powers.”
I shifted uncomfortably. I still hadn’t come to terms with the changes in me, the strange energy I felt pulsing through my body ever since the ritual. I hadn’t even fully understood the extent of what I could do.
“I don’t really know how to use them yet,” I admitted quietly. “It’s all… overwhelming.”
Before Susan could respond, Tariq’s voice cut in. “Don’t worry about that, sweetheart. We’ll train together. I’ll help you.”
I glanced up at him, meeting his steady gaze. His words were meant to comfort me, and in some ways, they did. But there was still a nagging sense of unease I couldn’t shake. I nodded slowly, forcing myself to believe that Tariq could guide me through this, that everything would be fine as long as he was by my side.
Tariq’s hand gently squeezed my shoulder, his voice soft. “It’s getting late. You must be exhausted after everything. Let’s go to bed. You need to rest.”
Susan smiled warmly at me. “I’ll leave you two alone. Get some sleep, Leah. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”
I watched as Susan walked down the hall toward her room, disappearing behind a large wooden door. The mansion felt quieter now, the echo of her footsteps fading into the distance. I turned to Tariq, who had already begun leading me toward a grand staircase that spiraled up to the second floor.
We walked in silence, the sound of our footsteps muffled by the thick, luxurious carpet beneath us. My heart raced as we reached a large, intricately carved door. Tariq pushed it open, revealing an enormous room inside.
It was breathtaking in its grandeur. The ceiling was high, with dark wooden beams that crisscrossed above us. The walls were painted a deep shade of red, adorned with gold accents. Heavy curtains hung over tall windows, and in the center of the room stood a massive bed draped in dark velvet.
My eyes widened. There was only one bed.
I turned to Tariq, my voice hesitant. “Is this… where I’ll be sleeping?”
Tariq smiled, amusement flickering in his eyes. “Yes, sweetheart. We’ll sleep here together.”
My breath caught in my throat. I had never shared a bed with anyone before. The thought of it made my heart race even faster. “I’m not used to sleeping with someone else,” I admitted.
Tariq’s expression softened. “You’ll need to get used to it, Leah. We’re together now. We love each other, and it only makes sense for us to sleep in the same bed.”
I felt a flutter of confusion in my chest. Did I love Tariq? I wasn’t sure anymore. He had saved me, protected me, and stood by my side when no one else had. But something deep inside me, a whisper from my wolf, Athena, told me this wasn’t right. This wasn’t the future we had envisioned.
"Kayden is the one for us," Athena whispered. "Not him. This isn’t right."
My heart ached at the mention of Kayden, the Alpha who had rejected me, cast me aside like I meant nothing. Kayden had broken my heart, left me feeling unwanted. Tariq had been there, picking up the pieces. He had given me a sense of safety when everything had fallen apart.
"Kayden rejected us, Athena," I reminded her, trying to drown out the lingering doubt. "Tariq is here. He’s the one who stayed. He is the one who saved us."
For a moment, Athena went quiet, though I could still feel her unease. But I pushed it aside. I needed to believe this was the right choice. I smiled up at Tariq. I had already made my decision.
“Yes,” I said softly. “I’ll marry you.”
Tariq’s face lit up with a smile, and he slipped the ring onto my finger. It gleamed in the dim light of the room, a symbol of the new future I had just agreed to. Without a word, Tariq stood and pulled me into his arms, kissing me deeply.
I closed my eyes, trying to let myself melt into the moment, into the warmth of his embrace. But as his lips pressed against mine, the nagging voice of doubt remained at the back of my mind, unshakable.
Tariq broke the kiss and scooped me up into his arms, carrying me to the bed. He laid me down gently, his eyes filled with affection and desire.
“You make me so happy, Leah,” he murmured, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “I’ll take care of you. Always.”
I nodded, my heart heavy with conflicting emotions. I tried to focus on the present, on the way Tariq made me feel safe and wanted. He began to undress me with gentle hands, his movements slow, as though he was savoring every moment.
I felt a flicker of happiness as we made love, but it was accompanied by an undercurrent of unease. I wanted to feel whole, wanted to believe this was my new beginning. But deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing.
When it was over, Tariq wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close to him. He fell asleep quickly, his breathing evening out in the quiet of the room.
I lay awake, staring up at the dark ceiling, my mind racing. Athena’s words echoed in my thoughts.
"This isn’t right."
I closed my eyes, trying to push the doubts away, but they clung to me like a shadow. I had made my choice. Now I had to live with it. But as I lay there, wrapped in Tariq’s arms, I couldn’t help but wonder if I was making a terrible mistake.