Rebirth Of The Rejected Luna Chapter 104: 104: Love

**Tiana's POV**

Theo’s hands froze, hovering just above the undone laces of my dress as if he’d been caught in some kind of spell. His breathing was uneven, and ragged, matching mine.

"Theo," I said in a hesitant voice, my hands travelling down his chest slowly.

“Tiana,” he murmured, his forehead resting against mine. His voice was low, and strained, like he was struggling with something. “You drive me insane. Every time I think I’ve got a handle on my emotions, you destroy that control I think that I have,’' he said, his face only inches from mine.

I could feel the rise and fall of his chest against mine, the heat of his body so close, yet the distance between us felt miles wide. I pulled back just enough to look into his eyes—those stormy, turbulent eyes that always seemed to hold too much. “Theo,” I said, my voice steady despite the ache in my chest, “I don’t want us to be like this. Fighting. Second-guessing each other. If we’re going to stand together, we have to trust each other.”

He let go of me slowly, his hands falling to his sides like he didn’t trust himself to touch me. “You’re right,” he admitted, though his voice was still rough, still edged with frustration. “But Derek... Tiana, he’s dangerous. He knows how to play on weaknesses. I just—”

“Enough about Derek,” I interrupted, stepping out of his grasp and turning away. My fingers worked quickly, tightening the laces of my dress that he’d loosened, as if the act could somehow restore the balance between us. “I’m tired of his name hanging over us and messing with us. I told you before, there's nothing he can say or do to change where my heart lies.”

“But what if he doesn’t stop?” Theo’s voice softened, but there was still that edge of protectiveness, that fear that seemed to gnaw at him. “What if his persistence puts you in danger? Or worse, makes you question everything we have?”

I spun around, my eyes locking onto his. The hurt and frustration bubbled up inside me. “You’re the one making me question things right now, Theo. Not him. If you can’t trust me to stand by you, how are we supposed to survive the challenges ahead? The pack, Elara, the Lycans, there’s more to this than just Derek.”

Theo stared at me, his expression unreadable for a moment. Then, slowly, it seemed like my words seemed to sink in. The fire in my eyes must have burned through his doubts because he nodded, his shoulders relaxing just a fraction. “You’re right,” he said again, his tone quieter now, more subdued. “I trust you, Tiana. I do. I just—”

“You need to trust yourself too,” I cut in, my voice firm but not unkind. “You’re the Alpha, Theo. You’re supposed to lead with confidence, not let doubt eat away at you.”

The room fell silent, the only sound was the rhythm of our breathing. Theo took a step closer, his hands finding mine, his touch warm and grounding. “I’ll do better,” he promised, his voice earnest, his eyes searching mine. “For you. For us.”

I softened then, my fingers curling around his. “Good. Because if you pull a stunt like this again, I might just start thinking you and Derek aren’t so different after all.”

A low growl rumbled from his chest, but there was no real anger in it. “You’re infuriating,” he muttered, though the ghost of a smile tugged at his lips.

“And you’re exhausting,” I shot back, a small grin breaking through my own tension. “But I guess we’re stuck with each other.”

Theo pulled me close again, his arms wrapping around me like he was afraid I’d slip away. He pressed a kiss to my forehead, his breath warm against my skin. “You’re not just stuck with me. You’re mine, Tiana. And I’ll fight for you, even when it’s against myself.”

I sighed, leaning into him, letting the solidness of his body press on mine in a somewhat protective manner. “And I’ll fight for you too, Theo. Just... let me do it in my own way, okay?”

“Okay,” he murmured. Theo’s arms were still wrapped around me, his warmth seeping into my skin, when I tilted my head back to look up at him. His stormy eyes met mine. “Will you stay tonight?” I asked softly, my voice barely above a whisper. “In my chambers?”

His gaze softened, and a small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “Of course,” he murmured, his voice low and steady. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

I nodded, feeling a flicker of relief.

I stepped back, taking his hand in mine, and led him toward the adjoining bathing chamber. The room was dimly lit, the flicker of candlelight casting soft shadows on the stone walls.

Theo followed me without a word, his fingers laced tightly with mine. When we reached the tub, I turned to face him, my hands moving to the buttons of his coat. He watched me silently, his breath catching slightly as I undressed him, layer by layer until he stood bare before me. It was the first time I was seeing him like this. His body was a map of scars. I traced a faint scar along his chest and felt him shiver beneath my fingertips.

“Your turn,” he said, his voice rough but tender. His hands moved to the laces of my dress, his fingers deft and careful as he undid the knots he’d loosened earlier. The fabric slipped from my shoulders, pooling at my feet, and I stepped into the tub. Theo followed, settling behind me, his chest pressed against my back, his arms wrapping around me.

For a while, we just sat there caressing each other. The warmth of the water and his body soothing me. I leaned back against him, my head resting on his shoulder, and closed my eyes. His fingers traced idle patterns on my arm.

"I love you," he whispered.