Chasing My Rejected Luna
Chapter 68

TEGAN'S P.O.V

We stopped a few more times before finally passing the 'Welcome to Texas' sign. The car ride hadn't been as miserable as I had expected. We managed to make small talk. He was opening up about his work and the dilemmas he was facing with it. He was also asking for my unbiased opinions. Which was nothing like before when he basically told me that my role was finances and party planning. We talked about the possible outcomes of his situations and how he could get around any issues. Luckily, he didn't bring up chasing me back the rest of the ride. Which made me relieved but also a little sad. I kind of liked being showered with his verbal affection. But I also knew that desiring that kind of attention was a dangerous game.

"We are almost there." Ezra said as the GPS told him to merge onto a dirt road.

The familiar dirt road I never longed to see again as I left this place.

"Great." I answered sarcastically. I wasn't sure he picked up on the sarcasm but yet again he surprised me.

"Do you want me to pull over so you can have a minute?" He asked as he slowed the car drastically to 5 miles an hour.

"No, might as well rip the Band-Aid off. Right?"

"You know that I am here. They won't hurt you." He stated.

I knew he meant what he said but that didn't stop the overwhelming thoughts about what was to come. Nobody back home knew I was gifted, nor did they know that I had a wolf and could hear now. I was literally returning, now a completely different person than when I left. However, I was not going to tell any of these asshats about my gifts. None deserved to know that.

It is now winter here in Texas, but I am used to the cold since living in Colorado for the last 5 months. When we pulled in the driveway, I put the scarf Imagen had handmade me tightly around my neck. I pulled my coat on before stepping out into the winter breeze. I made my way around the car before Ezra beat me to it.

"Don't worry about it, little red, they can get the bags and I will get Elias."

"They aren't servants, Ezra."

"No, but they are paid wages to do it so why not utilize it. Plus, wouldn't it make you happy seeing someone who treated you badly serving you?"

"I do not wish to make people feel inferior to me. I will not demand their respect; I will not make them feel like they made me feel. I know growing up a royal it was an honor to make people serve you, but that is not how I would ever be. Nor will Elias." I stated bluntly.

"I only take pride in the ones that deserve it. And from what I have heard, all of these goddess forsaken people here do."

"Did Imagen deserve it when you were bossing her around my first day?" I asked seriously. His face flinched as I brought up him pulling his Alpha King status over her for hardly any reason other than to feel superior.

"Exactly. That is a quality that makes a king not be respected when he is not around. If you want real respect and not demanded respect, you must earn it. These people may have treated me poorly, but I refuse to stoop to their level. I will rise above and get the deserved respect the right way." I said before grabbing my bag from the trunk.

Just then a paid employee rushes out to help.

"Sorry Alpha King, we had not been expecting you so early. Let me gather your belongings." He then said as he ran to the trunk.

"It's okay boy, I can get it." Ezra then said.

"But sir, if I do not help then I don't get my wages." The boy then said.

"No problem, here." Ezra said, handing him a wade of cash.

"But if I do not work, then I did not earn this." He said as he looked at the money in Ezra's hand.

"Think of it as a token of gratitude for your kind spirit." Ezra replied, shocking me.

"Alpha King sir, not to overstep but if I don't help you in particular, I will be punished." The boy stated his eyes now looking at the ground.

Ezra looked over to me, making me shrug in response. I'm sure my father said some shit that scared the poor boy.

"Okay, then how about you take this bag here and I will get the rest?" Ezra said, handing him Elias's bag, the smallest one there.

The boy's eyes lighting up for finally getting to help as he pranced inside telling us to follow him so that he could escort us to our room. Ezra grabbed Elias's car seat and a few bags before walking up to me.

"I tried." He whispered in my ear as he placed his hand on my lower back. His hot breath sent goose bumps down my body.

"I know." I replied as I picked up my pace to get away from his closeness.

"Be careful there Red, Kingston loves a good chase." He said with a smirk across his face.

We then entered the house; I looked around noticing nothing had changed. I wondered if my room remained the same. Before I could get to the stairs the annoying high-pitched voice of Jessie, my step monster echoed off the walls.

"Alpha King, what a lovely surprise! It is such an honor that you were able to bless us with your presence for such a special event. I know you can't attend many of these events with how busy you must be." She said in a sultry voice making me cringe. "Well, it is my wife's biological family after all." He said, placing his hand on my back once more. Jessie's eyes meeting mine for the first time as she registered, I was there.

"Right. Of course, how had I forgotten? Welcome back daughter!" She said a little too friendly as she pulled me into her arms.

"Gosh where are my manners? You must meet everyone. Please follow me."

"I should put these away first if you don't mind." Ezra said as he lifted the bags to show her.

"Don't be silly, we have help for that..." Jessies said trailing off before yelling at the boy.

"HEY KID, yeah you... Take the King's bags to the room like you were supposed to do!" She said with anger laced in her tone.

"I had opted to do it myself actually... Follow the way young man." Ezra said, stepping around Jessie. "We will be down once we settle in. Dinner starts when?" He asked over his shoulder. "7pm."

"Perfect. We will see you at 7pm Luna Jessie."

"I can send an escort... -"

"Nonsense. I have the perfect escort who knows her way around." Ezra said, turning her down, making me even more happy as we walked away.