Rebirth Of The Rejected Luna Chapter 119: Carlo Zea

**Erika's POV**

Carlo’s lips were warm, and firm, yet surprisingly gentle. His hands rested lightly on my waist like he was testing the waters, waiting for me to decide if this was something I wanted.

And the truth was that I did.

A strange, thrilling warmth spread through my chest, sinking deep into my bones. My fingers curled into the front of his shirt, gripping the fabric as if it could anchor me to something real. The softness of the cotton was a stark contrast to the rough, unyielding beat of my heart.

His intoxicatingly earthy smell wrapped around me, making my thoughts blur like footprints in the rain. I breathed deeper, inhaling the smell of him, and my head spun with it. It was as if his aroma had unlocked a hidden door in my mind, releasing a flood of memories and emotions that I'd thought were long buried.

The warmth in my chest spread, seeping into my veins like liquid fire. My skin prickled with goosebumps as his eyes locked onto mine, burning with desire that left me breathless.

Everything else faded into insignificance.

I wasn’t supposed to want this.

But I did.

Carlo exhaled slowly, his breath brushing against my lips, sending a ripple of shivers down my spine. His hands tightened around my waist, fingers pressing into me with a mix of gentleness and urgency, as though he was holding himself back from losing control completely.

The way he kissed me was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. It was slow, deliberate, and filled with so much passion. His lips moved against mine with a tenderness that felt almost reverent as if he was memorizing every curve, every breath, every fleeting moment. It wasn’t rushed or demanding; it was patient as if he had all the time in the world to savor this.

With each touch, the rest of the world seemed to dissolve. It was just us, caught in a quiet, electric moment where nothing else mattered. I could feel the heat of his body against mine, the steady rise and fall of his chest syncing with my own racing heartbeat.

And I gave in completely. I let him explore, let him take his time, let him unravel me piece by piece. There was something in the way he looked at me, the way his hands traced my skin, the way his lips lingered, that made me feel both cherished and consumed. It was as if, in that moment, he was seeing me, really seeing me and I couldn’t help but surrender to it.

For a moment, nothing else existed. Not the pack. Not the training. Not the questions that had been eating at me. Just this. Just him.

Then reality slammed back into me like a slap to the face.

I pulled away, gasping for air, my heart hammering against my chest like it was trying to break free. Carlo didn’t move back, didn’t give me a moment to steady myself. He stayed right there, so close that his forehead almost brushed mine, his breath warm and uneven against my skin, sending tiny tremors through me.

His eyes locked onto mine, dark and intense, like two endless pools I couldn’t look away from. They held something I couldn’t quite name. Something raw and magnetic that made it impossible to think, to breathe, to do anything but feel. I was caught in his gaze, pulled under by a force I couldn’t resist like the tide dragging me deeper into the ocean.

My chest heaved, my lungs aching for air, but I couldn’t seem to fill them. I swallowed hard, my throat dry, and when I finally managed to speak, my voice was barely audible. The words felt fragile like they might shatter the moment if I said them too loudly. But I had to say something to break the spell that had wrapped itself so tightly around us.

“Why did you kiss me?”

Carlo exhaled, his gaze never leaving mine. Instead of answering, he tilted his head slightly, watching me like he was waiting for something.

Then, he asked the one thing I wasn’t prepared for.

“Why didn’t you push me away?”

My mouth opened—then closed. I had no answer.

Because I didn’t want to push him away.

Because for the first time in a long time, I felt something that wasn’t just anger or frustration.

But I wasn’t ready to admit that.

I looked away, my pulse still racing.

**Carlo’s POV**

She was stunning.

The way the moonlight kissed her skin, casting a soft glow over her sharp features. The way her lips, still slightly swollen from our kiss, parted just enough to let out uneven breaths. The way she stood there, stubborn and strong, but not running.

Erika was fire. Untamed, unpredictable, impossible to hold.

And I wanted to burn in her flames.

She was everything I admired. Fearless. Determined. Good at everything I loved. She fought like a warrior, rode like she was born in the saddle, and pushed boundaries just to see if she could.

And yet, she was more than that. She was real.

No masks, no carefully chosen words to fit expectations. Just raw, untamed energy that drew me in like nothing else ever had.

I didn’t think.

I just moved.

My hands found her face, fingers brushing against her jaw as I tilted her head up to mine. And then, I kissed her again.

This time, I didn’t hold back.

A small gasp left her lips, but she didn’t resist. If anything, she met me halfway, her fingers tightening around my arms as she pulled me closer.

Heat surged through me, sharp and electric, curling deep in my gut.

She tasted like defiance, like something forbidden and irresistible all at once. I wanted to memorize every second, every sound she made, the way her body fit so perfectly against mine.

But then—

A shift.

Something in my chest tightened, an unfamiliar pull rippling through my body. It wasn’t just attraction, it wasn't just desire. It was something deeper, older, more primal.

A presence stirred inside me, one I hadn’t felt this strongly before. My breathing hitched, the hunger morphing into something sharper, something undeniable.

And then, it hit me.

Mate.