Chasing His Betrayed Luna by KiKi Jones

eyes flickered with the genuine concern that | knew her heart carried.

I rolled my eyes again, settling into bed with Hazel. "Tellsomething | don't already know." | tried to sound

unaffected but deep down, | was barely holding back tears.

It's been almost ten days since | found out that Dakota was gone and I'd be lying if | claim to have my emotions

under control. It's been a real struggle and somehow, Raiden's words from four nights ago have remained in my

head like a tumor, complicating my life even "Let's see." Hazel pretended to think but soon blurted, "Ah! How

about the fact that the twins miss you?"

more.

| felt a sharp pang in my chest at the mention of my kids. | haven't been able to spend twith them even

though | had asked Alpha Tristan to take my noff the names of warriors that would be representing our pack

in the final rounds which would be kicking off in three days. | hadn't been training as hard as Jessica and a few

others who would be participating in the games yet | had been miserable.

Well, In my defense, none of them lost a Dakota. | did.

"Lia," Hazel called for me, taking my hands in hers as she scooted closer to me. "Don't think | haven't noticed

your swollen face and heard your silent sobs. You've been crying for the past ten days and I've been waiting for

you to say something about it but | can no longer wait, Lia."

Her hazel eyes held my stormy blue ones and | could already tell that she was about to ask questions that |

wouldn't be able to answer.

"Talk to me, Lia. Please. | can't bear to keep watching you suffer while | pretend to be asleep just because | don't

want to intrude. Tellwhat's bothering you, Lia." Hazel requested with the softest voice.

| was about to shake my head and tell her nothing was botheringbut she said, "And please don't tellit's

nothing. Letin."

Do | have to lie to her again? Fuck, this was torture. I finally had people who cared aboutyet | had been

forced to lie to them for many years. When Alpha Tristan askedwhy | couldn't sleep four nights ago, | lied to

his face too.

I can't continue like this.

| shouldn't keep holding all my problems in when I've people who want to listen and offer their shoulders to me

so | could cry on them if | wanted.

"Then open up to Hazel, Relia. You need to talk to someone and she can be trusted, right?" Inara stated, trying to

calm the raging war of emotions withinby making a suggestion.

"| can trust Hazel but letting her in is

too much, Ina. | can't risk Katie and | Kyle'e lives just to feel less

miserable. This is a phase and it will pass. know it." | responded to my wolf despite knowing that | wouldn't get

over Dakota's death for a very long time.

Inara muttered another suggestion, "What if you tell her something real without compromising the kid's lives?

Think about it, Relia. | want you to be less sad and the kids need you to be happy too."

My babies actually neednow more than ever and Dakota would wantto be anything but miserable and

sad. Perhaps it's tto share my sorrows with someone-

"You know what? You don't have to tell me, Lia." Hazel sighed in defeat and hurt flashed in her eyes as she

released my hand. "I'll take care of Katie and Kyle while you pull yourself together."

Hazel left the bed, heading for the bedroom door without sparinganother glance. Sometimes, | wished she

would just shout at me. Spat words atand madefeel guilty for treating her like she wasn't the only friend

| have ever had in my twenty-six years of living.

"My mom's death anniversary is fast

approaching blurted out just as Hazel turned the doorknob. Hazel froze, her back tensing while my eyes brimmed

with hot tears. | continued, my eyes fluttering-shut, "I feel so alone, Hazel. My heart hurt and | can feel life

knockingdown

again and again."

| broke into tears, sorrow gripping my heart as memories of the good times | had with Dakota drowned my soul,

blurring out all the reasons | had to be happy... which were just a few if | was being honest.

"Oh, Lia." Hazel breathed, her arms engulfingbefore | could sense her warmth beside me. "I'm so sorry,

sweetie. | shouldn't have made you talk about that. I'm so stupid-"

"N-no, you ar-aren't s-stupid. You are a g-good fr-friend and you deserve to k-know these things, Hazel." | sobbed

as | uttered those words, burying my face in Hazel's stomach.

| should be the one apologizing, not her.

"How can | make you feel better? | hate seeing you like this, Lia." Hazel whimpered, patting my hair as my body

shook with tears.

The bedroom door swung open before either Hazel or | could perceive Kyle who strolled in with wide eyes and his

mask in his hand. His brows furrowed, "Mama. You're crying." My son stated with disbelief.

| was about to pull myself together

and save from the sight but Katoe strolled into the room next, looking like she had been dragged through the

mud and punched in the face a couple of times. My little girl had unshed tears in her eyes but the second her

eyes met min she burst into tears.

"Katie. Baby..." | sobbed, rushing to my kids.

What the hell happened?