All Chapters of TO DENY A LUNA: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

VELARA’S POVWould he report me to child services?The thought shot through me like ice as my baby’s cries swelled louder, frantic and desperate. I instinctively reached for him, cradling his tiny body to my chest as though shielding him from the stranger before us. The man’s gaze briefly flickered to my son, then shifted elsewhere. He sniffed the air.Why was he doing that?Confused, I pulled my baby tighter to me, my heart hammering. Did he intend to take him away? Fear crawled beneath my skin.“It’s only for a little while. I swear I won’t be here tomorrow,” I said quickly, my voice thin and quivering. “Please don’t call anyone. Don’t tell child services.”He tilted his head, regarding me in a way that felt more curious than judgmental, though I still couldn’t trust it.“Is your car even working?” he asked, stepping to the side and nudging one of the worn tires with the toe of his boot.“No gas,” I replied hastily, my words stumbling over one another. “I’ll leave in the morning. I

VELARA’S POVThe question lingers in the air between us, heavy and unsettling. “Where is your family?” he asks with genuine curiosity, his eyes searching mine for an answer that I’m not ready to give. My heart hammers wildly in my chest. What could I say? The truth, being Alpha Viktor’s daughter must stay locked away. I lower my gaze, swallowing the turmoil inside me. Instead, I simply nod toward my son and say quietly, “He’s all I have.”His expression shifts, softening with understanding. “So, they abandoned you, right? Because you’re unmated?” The words hit like a sharp sting. I nod again, swallowing the lump in my throat, eyes fixed on the floor.“My mother raised me alone too,” he continues softly. “She wasn’t a rogue like you though. She was a widow. Dad died, and she managed everything by herself. Had the pack behind her, at least. It must be so much harder when you have no one to lean on at all.”I don’t answer. What could I say? That I’m the Alpha’s disgraced daughter, reject

VELARA’S POV“I-I beg your pardon… It was Beta Dante who informed me, or rather misled me, I believe-” My chest rises and falls too fast, heart pounding with confusion and dread. I try to explain, to justify my presence, but the door suddenly bursts open with a violent swing, slamming against the wall with a thunderous crack. A figure steps inside. No, he storms in.Not just any man.The Blood Alpha.And he reeks of whiskey.The stench is overpowering, biting at my nose, thick and sharp like vinegar and fire. I instinctively take a step back, but my eyes lock onto his, and I find myself frozen. Those amber eyes seem to blaze, vivid and warm like flickering autumn flames. He's mesmerizing, even while barely able to remain upright. His dark hair is disheveled, jaw rough with a shadow of stubble, and his broad frame looks even more formidable than I remember. He towers in the doorway, presence dark and heavy.He’s beautiful.Terrifying.And mine.My head spins, vision hazy with realizati

VELARA'S POVThe moment my father barged into the room, his fierce gaze locked onto me like a predator spotting its prey. The air thickened with tension, and from deep within his chest, a guttural growl tore free, raw and menacing. I shrank back instinctively, curling protectively around my son, cradling him close to my chest as if my arms could shield him from the storm that was about to erupt. Astrid, ever the shield between us, stepped forward without hesitation, planting herself firmly in front of me as though her very presence could repel my father’s rage. But his fury was merciless. With a forceful shove, he threw Astrid aside like a mere obstacle, and without breaking his stride, he advanced toward me.“Dad, please,” my voice trembled, barely more than a desperate whisper laced with terror. “Please, don’t-”Before I could finish, his fingers snapped through the air and seized a handful of my hair. Pain exploded at my scalp, sharp and stinging as if fire licked my skin. A scream

VELARA’S POVI never imagined shame could have deeper layers, that it could sink so low inside me and still find a way to crush what little dignity I had left. But there I was, pressed up against the cold glass window, my breath fogging up the pane as a sudden crack of thunder split the heavy sky. The sound startled him awake, his small body stirring inside. My heart clenched with a mix of sorrow and helplessness. I could hear the slow footsteps of my father retreating down the hallway, the soft echo of his departure marking the distance growing between us.My mother, after a pause, drew the curtain aside just enough to peer in. Then she settled herself on the couch, cradling my son close in her arms. I stood outside, staring through the wet window, aching with a fierce longing to reach him, to soothe away the chill and the fear I knew he must be feeling. But even though it tore at me, I understood that this was the safest place for him,F warm, dry, and protected from the storm outsid