Chasing His Kickass Luna Back Chapter 230

Abby

I step out of Marcus’ car and take a moment to take in the mansion that stands in front of me.

I still can’t believe that I used to call this place home. Hell, I designed almost all of it myself; the gardens, the fountain on the front walkway, the color of the shutters. They’re a soft sage green, a nice contrast from the red bricks. There’s ivy growing up the front, which is new. I like it.

Grabbing my bag, I follow Marcus up the front path and inside.

“Here we are,” Marcus says as he opens the door for me. “I have to attend a meeting, but make yourself at home.”

I nod and watch Marcus leave, then make my way toward the stairs. But as I pass by the dining room, my eyes widen in surprise.

Spread out on the dining table is an array of my favorite foods. My stomach rumbles at the sight of all the delicious dishes. It’s clear that someone has gone to great lengths to make me feel welcome.

As I look at the array, I start to wonder where Karl is. Surely he’ll share a meal with me. I scan the room for any sign of him, but the place seems empty except for a middle-aged woman I’ve never seen before. She approaches me with a warm smile.

“You must be Abby,” she says, extending her hand. “I’m Sarah. Karl is in a meeting right now, but he wanted you to enjoy the food. He’ll be here as soon as he can.”

I shake her hand and offer a polite smile. This must be the woman Karl hired as his campaign manager. She seems nice. “Nice to meet you, Sarah. Thank you for the welcome. The food looks amazing.”

Sarah nods. “It’s our pleasure. Please, have a seat and help yourself. Karl left specific instructions to make sure you’re well taken care of.”

I take a seat at the table, feeling a bit awkward sitting here all alone.

The spread of food is tempting, though, and I decide to start with a small serving of my favorite dish. It’s just as delicious as I remember, and instantly transports me back to a time when Karl used to surprise me with this sort of thing all of the time.

For a while, I just sit there, savoring the food. Karl is still nowhere to be found, but I don’t mind the silence. It’s a welcome reprieve after the days of chaos at my apartment, and I almost forgot how nice it was to hear the sounds of the birds outside rather than car horns and police sirens.

When I finish my meal, I decide to take my plate to clean it myself. I enter the spacious kitchen, which is well-lit and impeccably clean.

In fact, I’m just thinking to myself that I’ll have to cook a meal later myself as I’m rinsing my dish, when a woman’s voice startles me.

“Oh, let me take that for you, dear,” she says. I turn to see Alice, the housekeeper, bustling toward me.

I chuckle softly. “Hey, Alice,” I say. “Don’t worry about it. I can wash it myself.”

Alice gives me a warm smile. “Nonsense, Luna. I won’t allow you to wash your own dishes.”

I furrow my brow at the title she uses. “Alice, you know I’m not the Luna anymore,” I say, a hint of sadness creeping into my voice.

She seems surprised by my response and gives me a curious look. “I thought you and Karl were back together.”

Now, I’m the one who’s surprised. “No. Did Karl tell you that?”

Alice shakes her head. “No, he hasn’t breathed a word. But there have been rumors, so I assumed…”

I quirk an eyebrow. “Rumors? What kind of rumors?”

She leans in closer, her voice hushed. “Well, dear, there have been whispers since the Alpha party. People saw the two of you dancing, and you know how gossip spreads in a small community like ours. Everyone is saying you’re back together.”

My eyes widen in surprise. “Dancing at a party doesn’t mean we’re back together,” I clarify. “It was just a dance, Alice.”

The housekeeper gives me a knowing look. “Of course, dear. I understand,” she says in that tone of voice that tells me that she doesn’t particularly believe me. “But you must know how people love to talk. They’ve been saying all sorts of things.”

I shake my head, feeling a mix of frustration and amusement. “I forgot how gossipy people can be out here in the countryside.”

Alice chuckles softly. “It is a small town, after all. News travels fast. Much faster than the big city, at least.”

As she takes my plate to wash it, I can’t help but wonder why Karl hasn’t corrected these rumors. Maybe he enjoys the speculation, or maybe he hasn’t even heard about it. Regardless, it’s not the kind of attention I want right now.

I thank Alice for her help, and she nods with a warm smile. “You’re welcome, dear. If you need anything else, don’t hesitate to ask.”

I exit the kitchen, feeling a bit disoriented by the conversation. It’s clear that my arrival here has stirred up some excitement among the pack members. I make a mental note to have a talk with Karl about it. I don’t want any misunderstandings or false expectations.

Passing through the dining room, I start to head toward the stairs toward my room. Sarah is just coming down, and there’s a smile on her face.

“Is there anything else you need?” she asks. “I just brought your bag upstairs for you.”

I offer a grateful smile. “No, thank you, Sarah. The food was wonderful. I think I’ll head up to my room now. Thank you for taking my bag, although you didn’t have to.”

She nods understandingly. “Of course. Enjoy your stay here. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”

With that, I make my way up the grand staircase toward my old room. I feel a bit strange; the last time I was here just a few months ago, I felt like a stranger. Now, I feel like the guest of honor. What are people thinking?

Is it really the case that everyone thinks I’m the Luna again?

With a sigh, I step into my old bedroom; at least in here, I can relax for a little while. I figure that maybe my presence is just a little jarring and people don’t know how to act, and maybe they’ll settle down in a day or two.

On the bed, I notice a beautifully wrapped box with a card attached. I approach it and carefully open the box.

Inside, I find a new book—my favorite genre, murder mystery—and a set of spa items. The card, written in Karl’s handwriting, reads: “Just some things to help you relax. See you soon. -K”

The gesture makes me feel spoiled, just like I did when I was married to Karl. It’s clear that he’s gone out of his way to make me comfortable, which is both sweet and a little odd.

But as I sit on the edge of the bed, another wave of uncertainty washes over me. Will being here again, surrounded by all these luxuries, make me fall back into my old routine with Karl?

We promised to keep our relationship casual for now, but here I am, being spoiled and treated like the Luna. I don’t know how to feel about it.

I’m lost in thought when suddenly, there’s a soft knock on the door. I look up with a start, and before I can get up to open the door, it’s cracking open.

“Abby?” Karl’s voice comes through.

Without thinking, I jump to my feet, smoothing down my hair although I’m not entirely sure why. “Come in.”