Chasing His Kickass Luna Back
Chapter 0291

Abby

"Abby, I..."

Karl's voice wavers ever so slightly, his words trailing off. There are a few moments that feel like an eternity as his eyes dart around the room, and I feel like I can't take it anymore.

"Karl, just say it!"

His eyes widen slightly as my voice raises an octave, but I'm not backing down. I need to know what Logan meant; I need to know what this secret is that Karl seems to be keeping. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ Find_Nøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“Alright,” he finally says. “Can we sit down, though?”

I almost consider saying no, but the look in his eyes makes me soften. I nod and follow him over to the couch, where we both sink down onto the cushions, or knees touching. I'm perched on the edge of the seat, watching him intently as my fingers worry the hem of my shirt.

"Go on.”

He takes a deep breath, and finally he speaks.

“On the day of the competition, I wasn't being completely truthful with you,” he says quietly. “Yes, it's true that I didn't try to bribe the judges or anything like that. I did just want to talk to Logan. But the things he said about you, Abby, I..."

Karl pauses, but I'm still watching intently, urging him silently to go on despite the pounding in my chest.

Finally, he continues. “Abby, I don’t know how to put this, but Logan said that you had no passion,” he says. “He said that you're lazy, and that you foist off all of your cooking onto the men in your life.”

I stare at him, disbelief and hurt washing over me in waves. Logan's words, delivered with that infuriating smirk, now take on a more painful clarity in my mind. I've always prided myself on my dedication to my craft, and the idea that I've lost my passion and become lazy in my work is a harsh blow.

"Why... Why didn't you tell me this, Karl?” I manage to spit out. My voice trembles with a mix of anger and disappointment. “You promised we wouldn't keep secrets from each other. I thought you would be honest with me.”

Karl rubs his temples, a pained expression on his face. “I didn't tell you the truth that day because... because I wanted to protect you, Abby. I didn’t want to crush your spirit. I meant to tell you later, but you were so heartbroken that I just couldn't do it.”

I bristle at his words, my frustration bubbling to the surface. I stand without meaning to, my hands clenched into two tight balls at my sides. “I'm not some fragile princess who needs to be coddled, Karl. I would have preferred to know the truth, even if it stung. How could you keep this from me?” Karl's shoulders slump, and he sighs heavily. “I know, Abby. I should have been honest with you, and for that I'm sorry.”

The room falls into a tense silence as we both process what has been said. My mind is racing, and I can't help but wonder what else Karl might be hiding from me. The trust between us feels fragile, and I'm not sure how to mend it right now.

But what hurts even more is what Logan said about my passion. It feels like a blow that was aimed directly at me, and I don't know how to handle it.

And the even more painful thing is that maybe, just maybe, Logan isn't wrong.

Ever since I opened this restaurant, my involvement in the kitchen has dwindled more and more by the day. I started off being the head chef, but lately I've been more of a manager than anything. I don't want to believe Logan's words, but maybe he’s onto something.

Finally, Karl speaks up again, his voice resigned. “And if you want me to be honest, Abby, I'll be honest. There's something else I feel I should tell you.”

I meet his gaze, my heart pounding in my chest as my mind wracks what else he could possibly have to tell me. “Go on,” I say hesitantly.

Karl takes a deep breath before he speaks. “I wasn't just at a family event today,” he says. “I was holding a luncheon today... a luncheon to meet potential candidates for a date for the Alpha party, and possibly a future Luna down the road.”

My eyes widen, and I feel a pang of hurt deep in my chest. It's a stark reminder of what has transpired between Karl and me—and what can never transpire again.

I want to scream, to cry, to tell him not to do it. But is that really my place? He's an Alpha; of course he's expected to have a Luna, and our love has run its course. And I can't really be mad at him; it's his right to find a new wife. After all, I did have a new fiance, Adam, until recently.

I swallow hard, my voice barely above a whisper. “I see.”

Karl's expression is a mixture of surprise and sadness as he looks up at me. “Are you... angry?”

I shake my head, even though my heart aches. “No, Karl. I can't be angry at you for doing what you have to do. It's the way our world works, and I can accept that. I just wish you had been honest with me about everything.”

Karl's shoulders slump even further, and he looks down at the floor. “I understand, Abby. I should have been more open with you.”

We stand there for a moment, each of us too stunned to speak. Hot tears prick at the backs of my eyes as a lump rises in my throat, but I manage to blink them back. I won't cry. I can't cry. I should be happy for Karl.

And I should be happy for myself that, despite the odds, I got a second chance to cater the Alpha party—a second chance which, from the looks of things, went pretty well.

Finally, Karl stands and clears his throat, breaking the awkward silence. “Well, I should be going,” he says softly. “Congratulations on your performance tonight, Abby. I hope all of your dreams come true.”

I force a small smile, my eyes welling up with tears that I refuse to let fall. “Thank you, Karl. I wish you well on your new romantic journey.”

There's another silence. But then, he steps closer and wraps his arms around me, pulling me close. I feel myself stiffen at first, unsure of how to react. And then I relax into him ever so slightly, allowing myself to inhale his familiar scent. I feel my wolf stir, but I push her down, telling myself that this is for the best. It's time for both of us to move on—for real this time.

When we finally pull apart, he looks at me one last time, his gaze filled with a mix of emotions that I can't quite read, as though he’s put up a wall between us. “Goodnight, Abby.”

"Goodnight, Karl,” I reply, my voice barely a whisper.

I watch him leave, feeling an ache in my chest that feels like a bullet wound. And as the door clicks shut behind him, I can no longer contain the tear that rolls down my cheek.

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