The Alpha's Unwanted Luna (by Miss L) novel Chapter 182

Chapter 182

“But you didn’t know me back then, and I didn’t recognize you either. If you had saved me, I would have remembered,” I say softly, cupping Ryker’s face in my hands. He returns my touch with a sad, bittersweet smile.

“I don’t think so,” he replies gently. “At that time, you were too young to have found your mate. You were overwhelmed, lost in grief and confusion over your parents. Who knows what your mind was actually able to register in that state?”

I take a deep breath, trying to absorb his words. “I took your son from my own, and had him and Josh double back to confront Moon River while I managed the cleanup with the other warriors,” Ryan explains. “Your father kept Alpha James’s name in his wallet and saved it as an emergency contact on his phone. I knew James from past Summits and recognized that you had a connection to our way of life. I sensed you were special, but I never fully understood how until Rayna found Jeremiah and your name came up again.”

Ryker looks at his father, curiosity flickering in his eyes. “So, is that why your travel schedule changed?”

Ryan nods slowly. “Partly, yes. I was also afraid of having this conversation. I worried you might blame us for your parents’ deaths, or worse, take it out on Ryker. He’s waited so long for a chance at happiness—I didn’t want to jeopardize the fragile progress you’ve made by burdening you with this knowledge.” He offers me a small, familiar smile—one I recognize as Ryker’s own. I smile back, grateful for the moment of connection.

“It’s not any more your fault than it is mine,” I say, shrugging as a few tears escape. Therapy has drilled this into me: it wasn’t my fault. It was just a cruel chain of events. That doesn’t make it hurt any less, though.

Ryan sighs deeply. “No, but what weighs on me the most is that without that terrible situation, I’m not sure Ryker would have ever found you.”

His words hit me like a punch to the chest. I stop breathing for a moment, staring at Ryker, whose face has gone pale.

Without another word, I leave the office and head straight to our bedroom. There’s really nowhere I can go without Ryker following, but I’m hoping he’ll give me the space I need to let everything settle.

I decide a long, hot bath is exactly what I need. Sliding into the steaming water, the scent of the fragrant bubbles helps soothe my restless mind as I replay everything Ryan said. I still can’t believe Ryker was the one who pulled me from the wreckage. I remember being told the car had to be pried open to get to me, but no one ever said who did it. I assumed they used the jaws of life. I woke up in the hospital with Aunt Beth by my side, and no one mentioned anything else.

Now, so many questions swirl inside me. Ryan said he knew Uncle James. Did Ryan tell them to keep it quiet? Why didn’t anyone tell me a pack of traveling shifters had saved me? It’s not like I didn’t know about them before.

Just as I’m about to get lost in these thoughts, a soft knock sounds on the bathroom door.