Caged Between the beta and alpha novel Chapter 33

33. A Luna’s Opinion
RAVEN
“This isn’t what it looks like!” I squeaked, pushing Liam off roughly, my eyes falling to his hard-on.
Goddess, kill me now! Let the earth open up and swallow me whole!
Is this karma for all the times I’ve seen Uncle El and Aunty Red making out and made fun of them!
We both got to our feet and Liam quickly sat down on the bed, grabbing the duvet and pulling it onto the bed before very smoothly draping it over his lap.
I stood there staring at Aunty Red, who was smirking despite the clear confusion in her eyes. She crossed her arms under her big plushies and looked between us. I knew she could smell Liam in my room, which meant she knew he had been here for a while…
“So… I guess I disturbed you guys.” She said, clearing her throat.
No matter how smooth she was behaving, she was clearly surprised. She now looked at her son, who was running his fingers through his messy locks. That just made him look so sexy… His chiselled body was drool-worthy but now was not the time. He hadn’t spoken a word, so I nudged his ankle sharply.
“Not really, we were just messing around.” Liam said with a shrug.
Aunty Red cocked a brow, and I felt my cheeks burn.
“Not in that way, we were just… Liam was being annoying.” I stated lamely
Aunty Red nodded, her lips pressed together in a pout and I noticed she was staring at Liam’s tattoo.
“Alright, now how about you tell me exactly what’s happening? I know there was something going on between you two… and Damon. And if this is what I think it is then-”
“What do you think it is?” Liam asked coldly.
Aunty Red entered the room, shutting the door behind her.
“My assumption from the start was that Raven and Damon ended up as mates, and since you always loved her… You couldn’t take it and left.”
Ok, I was not expecting that!
Liam frowned, glaring at the floor.
“But then Raven left, and I wondered if she couldn’t choose between you or her mate.”
My heart skipped a beat thinking Aunty Red was wrong, yet she had the gist of it…
“Clearly, I wasn’t enough, with or without the bond. You’re wrong about whatever’s going on Mom. We aren’t kids, so whether we were messing around or not, it really should have nothing to do with you.” Liam said standing up..
“No, it shouldn’t, but when I know it’s affecting you and your friends-”
“Is still none of your business.” Liam cut in, curtly brushing past her and leaving the room, slamming the door behind himself.
Nice move. Leave me alone to deal with this. I felt a little hurt until his voice rang in my head.
‘I don’t want to share anything. If you want to, then go for it, but tell her I don’t want her harassing me. I’m sorry for coming to your room like that to begin with, I shouldn’t have, I just couldn’t sleep last night.’
My heart skipped a beat and I hid my smile.
‘That’s ok, but next time at least wake me up and let me know your sneaking in. Waking up to see someone in my bed nearly gave me a heart attack.’
‘Sure. Expect me tonight then.’
I rolled my eyes. Was he always so cocky?
I looked at Aunty Red, who was looking around the room, I saw her examining the edge of the door frame.
“They did a decent job with the paint.” She said, now turning her sage green eyes on me.
“Yeah.” I said, brushing my hair back awkwardly.
“Want to tell me what’s going on with you all?” She asked.

I looked at her. With everything going on, I could use a proper adult’s advice. I fixed the bedding, my stomach fluttering realising I had spent the night with Liam. It had felt good and I had slept well too.
“It’s a long story.” I said.
“Well then, how about you go get dressed and I’ll go grab us some breakfast?”
I didn’t get to reply when Aunty Red turned, leaving me alone i n my room. I quickly grabbed some clothes and left my roomt o use one of the bathrooms.
Mind linking Damon in the process.
‘Morning!
‘Good Morning, you alright?’ His deep, sexy voice came.
A sliver of guilt filled me, thinking how I seemed to forget him when Liam was around. Knowing that he was fighting his own. emotions just so this could work…
‘I am. Can we meet later? I want to talk to you about something.’
‘Sure, I’d like that.’
‘Me too.’ I replied softly.
I finished showering, pulling on my purple lingerie, grey denim shorts and oversized black hoodie. I returned to my room to see Aunty Red sitting on the edge of the bed, a tray of toast, croissants and pastries with two steaming mugs of hot chocolate.
I went over and sat on the bed cross-legged.
“So shoot.”
I looked at her, thinking this was more awkward than I thought it would be.
“Ok so, three years ago, Liam and Damon both found their mate.” I said quietly.
Aunty Red frowned deeply but said nothing.
“Both of them were mated to me.” I continued, not missing the way her eyes widened. Yep, she was not expecting that, but she didn’t speak and I appreciated it. “Liam couldn’t accept it, saying an Alpha doesn’t share… and I get that. Damon wanted t o make it work, but he didn’t want to make a move with me until Liam was ok with it. I get that too…”
I stared at the plate, picking up a toast slice.
“And what did you want?”
“I don’t know, I just wanted everyone to be happy.”
“Understandable, but I mean, what did you want?”
“I don’t understand.” I asked, confused.
Aunty Red picked up a cinnamon bun and crossed her legs.
“I’m asking what you want without even thinking of anyone else’s feelings. Forget the boys, what do you want?”
“I…”
I fell silent, pondering on it. In an ideal world, I’d just want a mate who would love me unconditionally, I didn’t want
anyone to be in pain. I didn’t want a complicated dynamic.
“I want to be happy; I didn’t want such a complicated relationship.” I said, shrugging.
“What about the two mates? Not considering their emotions, what was your take on it?”
I never really thought of that, in that way.
“Honestly, it threw me off. I don’t get how you can have feelings for two people. A mate bond is ideally between two people, and here I’m paired with two separate people, its not even a three-way bond. It’s them two tied to me, but I’ve always liked Liam…”
“I know.”
I blushed. Was I that obvious?
“But after Uncle Aaron died and I was there for Damon, things changed. Before that, he always seemed to have eyes for Kiara, so I don’t know…”
I carried on, telling her a little bit more about the situation and what we had discussed last night.
She sighed, leaning back on one hand.
“I can’t believe none of you even talked this out, three years of absolutely wasting time. A complete waste of time and still stuck with clearly nothing sorted out. It didn’t do any good for anyone.” She said. “I am going to give my honest opinion.”
“Please do.” I said, ready to hear it.
Aunty Red did not sugar-coat anything and I think I needed this.