The Luna’s Second Chance Mate

Larissa’s POV

This was all a dream. This was nothing but a dream. I continued to repeat these words in my head as the image of my ex husband floated in front of me. Yes, that was it. I was hallucinating. It was only natural in a situation like this. I was so stressed out by Amaya’s return and the stress of the wedding that my brain had begun to play cruel tricks by manifesting my deepest fears. It was not possible that Stefan was standing in front of me. This was all just in my head.

Taking a sharp breath, I turned back to the guard who was by my side with a horrified look on his face. I must have startled him by nearly slipping down the stairs. I shook my head and told him I was fine as I turned to make my way back to my room. Perhaps the entire conversation I’d had with the guard was in my head too. I sighed. I really needed some rest so I could get my head back on straight. This whole thing was beginning to take a toll on me.

“Larissa, please don’t leave.” A familiar voice called out as I walked back up the stairs. A chill ran down my spine at those words. I could recognize that voice anywhere, and I knew it belonged to Stefan. I shut my eyes tightly for a few seconds before I finally turned around.

I stared at the man in front of me. He was tall. Brawnier than the last time I saw him. But him all the same. I shut my eyes and opened it again, unwilling to believe he was here. Maybe I was mistaken.

I watched him give a weak smile and call out my name. And then it all set in. My jaw clenched as I watched him take quick steps towards me. I could not process all the different emotions I was feeling at that moment. Shock, fear, and most of all, hot red rage.

“Stefan?” I repeated, hoping for both our sakes that my eyes were playing tricks on me. I could not handle another surprise, especially not after the shocking events of the past few days.

“Larissa, yes it’s me.” He had the nerve to sound relieved. Without as much as a slight hesitation, he walked up the stairs, making his way to me with a smile on his face, and without warning, he wrapped his arms around me in a hug. So many different things happened at that moment. At first I flinched, the old fear I had for him flashing through my mind and seeping in. But all that fear was immediately replaced with anger. The worst years of my life were the ones I spent with Stefan. He had tortured me, disrespected me, and hurt me over and over again without a care in the world. And now this same man was here in a place I could finally call my home, hugging me like we were old friends.

Something inside me snapped. Rage like I had never felt before exploded in my chest, and my wolf growled in agreement. Furious, I tore myself away from Stefan’s grip and pushed him as hard as I could. He stumbled down the stairs but caught himself just in time to keep from falling. My chest heaved with anger. I did not know where that strength had come from, but the mere thought of Stefan being close to me had irritated me.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I demanded, walking down to stand face-to-face with him. “What are you doing here and how did you find me?”

Stefan slowly pulled himself upright and held out his hand. “You have every right to be mad at me, Larissa. I shouldn’t be here, I know. But believe me it was never my intention to show up here and disrupt your life–”

“That’s exactly what you’re doing,” I snapped. I shook my head. Right now I wanted to flee. I wanted to run far away where I was sure he wouldn’t find me. The last memory I had of Stefan was running away from him after almost getting sold to a whorehouse. My chest was beginning to constrict painfully, and every breath I was taking seemed shorter than the last.

Suddenly, I couldn’t breathe.

It only took me a few seconds to realize I was having a panic attack. Being around Stefan was wracking up memories I didn’t want. I had to get away from him.

“Just give me a chance to explain, I beg you,” he said, walking closer.

I put up a palm. “Get away from me.”

“What the hell is going on here?!” A voice thundered. I turned around to see Kaden bounding down the stairs. My heart leapt with gratitude. I had never been more happy to see him. Kaden got to where I was standing in a flash and put his arms around me protectively. Then he glared at Stefan.

“I’m Kaden Griffin, Alpha of Griffinhowl pack. And you are on my territory, talking to my mate, which begs the question; who the fuck are you? I won’t ask you again.”

His voice was firm, his words direct. And I knew he was ready to bundle Stefan out of the mansion.

“Her mate?” Stefan asked, and I could hear the surprise in his voice. “I didn’t know that. I’m just here to talk to Larissa.”

A loud growl escaped Kaden and without warning, he grabbed Stefan by the collar and squeezed tightly, restricting his airflow. As I watched Stefan struggle for those few seconds, sadistic thoughts flowed through my head. But I quickly shoved them away and stopped Kaden.

Kaden obeyed, but then motioned the guards to take Stefan away.

“Larissa!” Stefan called out. I refused to look. “Larissa, please. Katya is dead! And I will be too if you turn me away now.”

I suddenly froze all over, letting the words I’d just heard process in my head. Katya was dead? My eyes widened in shock. How? What on earth could have happened? And what did he mean he could be next? These thoughts raced in my head and I did something I never thought I would.

“It’s okay,” I held onto Kaden’s arm as he made to accost Stefan. I was still shaky from the news I’d just heard. I couldn’t believe Katya was dead. I know a part of me completely and utterly despised her for ruining my life, but I’d never wished death on her. The thought of that gave me chills.

And now I was faced between Kaden and Stefan standing helplessly across me, the guards ready to bundle him out. I didn’t care, I continued to tell myself. He had no right to walk back into my life for any reason at all, and it was best to let Kaden deal with it. Throw him out without a care in the world. Discard him like he did to me. But there was still a part of me that wanted to let him be.

The disgust and anger I felt for him had not changed at all, but he had come all the way here in search of me, and I wanted to know what he had to say. Katya was dead too, even though it shouldn’t be of any concern to me, I still couldn’t help but wonder.

“It’s okay, Kaden,” I repeated when the doubtful look still didn’t leave his face. I knew if it were up to him, he’d have thrown Stefan out a long time ago. He wouldn’t even have let him see me. I looked up at Kaden who was still glaring at Stefan in disgust. It was the same way I had looked at Amaya. Again, I wondered why all of this was happening right now. It was unfair to the both of us. But I tried to take the thoughts off my mind right now. I had plenty to deal with.

“Are you sure?” Kaden asked, glancing at me before turning back to glare at Stefan. “I don’t want this asshole anywhere near you, Issa. I can have him thrown out and dealt with. Just say the word.”

I shook my head, grateful that Kaden was here with me. I don’t know what I would’ve done otherwise. “It’s okay, babe,” I reassured him. “It’ll be very brief. I want to know what he has to say.”

Kaden didn’t seem to like the idea still, but he finally signalled the guards to let go of Stefan, and then he pulled me gently to him and kissed me like no one was watching. My face immediately heated up, but I did not pull away. It was our first kiss since the wedding. Finally, he backed away. “I’ll be just at the door, okay?” He said, adding through mind link that he’d be listening to every word we spoke just in case Stefan tried to play smart. I wanted him to listen and I told him so. With one final nod, he walked back inside and the guards followed suit leaving Stefan and I alone once again.

I stiffened at the sight of him, but again he slowly progressed towards me. “Please, Larissa. Just give me a chance to explain everything.”

As I stared at him, memories of the past continued to revisit me. Stefan suddenly acting cold towards me. Stefan having sex with Katya on our wedding night. My fists clenched again and I had the sudden urge to call Kaden back. Did Stefan even deserve a shred of kindness from me? The answer to that was no. But I held myself back. Katya was dead. That should make a difference, even if it was little.

“I’m giving you your chance now,” I finally muttered. “Why are you here, Stefan?” My voice was calmer. I was exhausted, tired of my life falling apart. I just wanted it to stop.

Stefan took another step towards me, and for the first time in my life, I saw him look pitiful. It was not something I associated him with so it was a little strange. “Larissa, please,” he began. “I know I have no right to be here, not now, not ever. But I’ve thought about you for so long, and I realized just how badly I treated you then. You know I have never been like that, Larissa. You know me. You know the real me.”

Venom filled my mouth but I kept silent.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“You know just how much I loved you, Larissa. And I would be lying if I said I still didn’t love you. I-I let Katya tell me those lies and get into my head. And those photos…they looked so real. I didn’t know what to believe in anymore. Put yourself in my shoes, Larissa–”

“Don’t. You. Dare.” My voice was shaky and I was struggling to hold back the angry tears that filled my eyes. “Don’t you dare try to play that card with me, Stefan. Put myself in your shoes? I would never have done what you did. I would have listened to you. I would have had an actual conversation with you. And I would never believe your step sibling over you. So, please, stop with that. You knew exactly what you were doing, and you didn’t care.”

Stefan bowed his head, and for a moment, I thought I saw remorse flash on his expression. “I’m sorry,” he said brokenly. “I’m so sorry. I treated you badly. No one deserves that kind of treatment. And you’re right, I shouldn’t have asked you to put yourself in my shoes. You would never have done what I did, Larissa, because you’re a good person. You’re a better person than I am, you’ve always been. I just…I wish I could turn the hands of time to erase all the pain I caused you.”

Tears sprung to my eyes. Why was he apologizing now? It should have made a difference, but it didn’t. I couldn’t look past everything he’d done to me, no matter how hard I tried.

“I need you, Larissa.” His eyes were glazed over now and I could not hide my shock. As far as I knew, Stefan never showed any emotions. “I need you,” he repeated.

For a moment, I was silent. “What happened to Katya?”

He stared at the floor for a while before turning back to me. “She contracted a disease…an incurable sexual disease.”

I was stunned. That was a terrible way to die. I knew I shouldn’t feel bad for her, especially after everything she’d done to me, but I still did.

“It broke her down from the inside. She died two months later, and that’s when I found out she had transmitted it to me. It turns out she had multiple partners. She ruined my life, Larissa. And the only way I can be saved is by mating with my one and true mate. You.”

I shut my eyes tightly. He was dying. He needed me to save him. I stared back at him, my thoughts scattered all over the place.

“I need you, Larissa. I need you.”