Rebirth Of The Rejected Luna Chapter 193: Becoming The Villain

Tiana's POV

Peter looked at me for a moment, then nodded and turned to leave. "Get some rest," he muttered. I watched him go, thinking hard.

Peter was my key. Unlike Theo, he wasn't tied down to someone else. He wasn't distracted by another woman. There was nothing stopping me from getting close to him.

For a moment, I felt a pang of guilt. Was I using Peter? I pushed the feeling away. Everyone had betrayed me first - Theo, the pack, even Amara. None of them stood up for me or tried to clear my name. I was alone.

I had to do whatever it took to survive. If that meant playing a role, and getting Peter to trust me, then so be it. I took a deep breath and steadied myself.

They wanted me to be the villain and I'd play the part now that I was back at Shadowclaw, but I would make sure I was the one writing the ending.

Peter stopped at the door and turned around. His shoulders tensed for a moment, and then he faced me. His expression was calm, but his eyes made my stomach feel tight.

"Have you eaten?" he asked. I was surprised by the question. I didn't expect him to care about whether I had eaten or not.

"No," I replied. I didn't think it was a big deal.

His eyebrows furrowed slightly. "Why not?" he asked. I shrugged. "I'm not hungry."

There was silence. Peter didn't say anything, but the way he pressed his lips together told me he didn't like my answer. I tried not to care, but then I saw something in his eyes that there was a flash of pain.

It hit me then. Peter wasn't just asking about food. He was asking because he cared. And that realization made me feel something I hadn't expected.

I didn't know what to make of it. I didn't know why Peter would care about me, or why I would care about his concern. But I did. And that scared me.

I looked away, trying to break the spell. But Peter's words stuck with me. "Have you eaten?" It was such a simple question, but it felt like so much more.

He had just spoken about Amara. And now here I was, mirroring the same carelessness that had stolen her from him.

My throat tightened. I looked away. "You’re grieving."

Peter let out a breath. Short. Controlled. "It’s the past," he said, forcing a small, dismissive smile. "It doesn’t matter."

But I saw through it.

"It might be in the past," I murmured, "but I know it still hurts."

Peter's jaw clenched, and for a moment, I thought he would deny his feelings. But he didn't. He just stood there, silent, looking deeply into my eyes. It was like he was searching for something, maybe a reason to push me away.

I didn't give him the chance. I needed him to trust me and feel safe in telling me things. Before I could think twice, I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him. He froze, his muscles tensing under my touch. His body became rigid as if I had done something wrong.

I expected him to pull away, to tell me off, to remind me that he was the Beta and I was just a warrior. But he didn't. Instead, something inside him cracked. I felt the slow breath he released, and the slight tremble in his hands as they hovered at his sides.

For a moment, we just stood there, locked in a silent understanding. I could feel his heart beating against my chest, and I knew that he could feel mine too. It was like we were connected in a way that went beyond words.

Then, after what felt like forever, he exhaled. And his arms came around me. But not hesitantly. Not cautiously. Desperately. He pulled me tight against his chest, his grip firm, almost bruising. And then, before I could even process it, he buried his head in my shoulder.

I felt a rush of emotions as I held him close. I didn't know what to make of it, but I knew that it felt right. It felt like we were two broken pieces that had finally found each other, and were now trying to mend ourselves together.

My breath caught in my throat. This was dangerous. This wasn't what I had planned. But I didn't pull away. I couldn't. Because suddenly, I felt that electric spark again. It ran up my spine, wrapped around my ribs, and settled deep in my chest.

My heart skipped a beat, then started racing. Every nerve in my body was suddenly super aware of Peter. His warmth, his grip, and the way he was breathing all felt overwhelming.

I clenched my jaw, trying to stay in control. This means nothing, I told myself. It's just a strategy. Peter is the key to getting information, to getting closer to the truth.

Unlike Theo, he didn't have a mate keeping me at

arm's length. Unlike Amara, he was still here, alive, and vulnerable. And he was trusting me in a way he shouldn't.

A small part of me felt guilty about using him. But then I remembered how Amara had betrayed me, how she had let the pack turn on me. I pushed the guilt aside.

I refused to feel guilty about Theo too because he now had Elara but as Peter shifted, his nose brushing against the side of my neck, my breath caught again. This was getting complicated.

I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the way his touch sent heat curling down my spine. But it was impossible.

Because Peter was so close to me, his scent surrounded me, and his grip on me hadn't loosened. I thought I could break free from the spell and pull away, acting like nothing had happened.

But just as I thought that, Peter's hold on me tightened. He wasn't letting me go. My heart started racing, pounding against my ribs.

And suddenly, I wasn't sure who was in control anymore. Was I playing him, or was he playing me? The lines had gotten blurred, and I couldn't tell what was real and what wasn't.