Lunar Legacy: Rise Of The Beastlord-Chapter 85: Obsessed

The next morning...

Jayden woke before the sun had fully stretched its arms across the skyline. The light was soft and golden, painting the room in a warm haze.

He didn’t waste time.

Track pants. Running shoes. Hoodie over his tee.

He hit the park trail with the kind of focus only beast-blooded instincts could forge. He arrived at the park, completed his daily quest, and received the expected reward.

But like he planned, he didn’t allocate the given stat points. He kept them for future purposes.

By the time he got back, the sun was stretching higher. He stripped off his sweat-drenched hoodie, hopped into a long, cold shower, and let the water wash away whatever tension hadn’t been burned off by the workout.

After toweling off, he made himself a decent breakfast... toast, eggs, and beast jerky that he swore was growing on him, and scarfed it down while scrolling his holo-tab.

It was Saturday. No school. Harleen and Jacob were out. Tasha had gone in early to help prep for the upcoming tournament.

Which meant it was just him and Jessica left in the house.

The house was unusually quiet. The kind of quiet that pressed against your eardrums, made you feel like something was about to happen. Jayden returned to his room, flopped on the bed, and let the holo-tab hover above his chest, its blue light flickering with data.

He’d been digging deeper into the Chthonix, trying to find relevant info on how to hunt one. But all he found where unhelpful tips and fake articles.

He sighed. But not out of frustration of not getting the information he was looking for, but rather out of.. boredom.

"I’m bored," he mumbled, tossing the holo-tab onto the pillow beside him. That’s what has been bothering him since after the basketball tournament. Apathy.

He had suddenly lost interest in doing anything and everything. It was if there’s was just one particular thing that could make him excited again. But he didn’t know what it was. And he was too bored to figure it out.

At first, he thought it was hunting. But he wasn’t even feeling the zeal to hunt beasts anymore.

Luna’s voice popped up like static in his mind, dry and unimpressed. [Well... watch a movie or something?]

Jayden rolled over and groaned. "Nah. I don’t feel like watching anything. I think... I’ll just go hunting."

Without another thought, he swung his legs off the bed, reached for his jacket, and shoved his feet into his sneakers.

Luna sighed in his head, her voice full of mock concern. [I think you’re obsessed with hunting. Do you even know if there are any beasts roaming around at this hour?]

Jayden zipped his jacket halfway, smirking as he walked towards the door. "If they’re hiding, I’ll find them. Hunting is more fun that way."

[Wow. That’s very... petty] Luna scoffed.

Jayden shrugged. "It’s better than lying around doing nothing," he muttered.

"Besides, I’m not really in the mood to hunt... But I have no choice. I need more EXP if I’m gonna get to the next level." he added.

But as he opened the door to reveal the hallway, he stopped short.

Jessica was standing there.

Right in front of his room. Like she’d been frozen mid-thought. Like she’d been debating whether to knock, or maybe walk away.

Her eyes wide, uncertain. She looked like a kitten caught in a storm, half-lost and too proud to admit it.

Jayden blinked. "Hey, Jessica."

Jessica looked up at him, her lips parting as if the words had only just reached her throat. "Are you headed out?"

Jayden paused. Her expression... it was vulnerable. Her aura didn’t match the casual tone of her question. freewebnσvel.cѳm

He glanced down at himself.. jacket on, sneakers laced. Clearly not subtle.

"Uh... no," he said, fumbling for something less obvious. "Did you me for something?"

Jessica nodded slowly, biting her lip. "Actually... yeah. We need to talk."

Jayden blinked, his hand still wrapped around the doorknob, the soft spill of hallway sunlight pouring in behind him. But all he saw was her, Jessica, standing there like a fragile flame flickering in the breeze, struggling not to go out.

Her hair was down, a soft hoodie draped over her tank top, and fuzzy socks on her feet like she hadn’t planned on leaving her room at all. But her eyes... her eyes held a storm.

"Yeah. Of course," Jayden said quietly, stepping away from the door. "Wanna come in?"

Jessica gave a small, hesitant nod and followed him inside. He shut the door gently, as if the moment might shatter from too much noise.

The room was quiet, just the low hum of the air conditioner filling the silence. Jayden sat back on the edge of his bed while Jessica remained standing, wringing her hands like she was trying to squeeze the courage out of her own fingers.

He looked up, his voice soft. "What’s on your mind?"

Jessica exhaled and finally sat beside him, but not too close. "About yesterday," she began. "I... I didn’t mean to run away like that. I’m sorry."

Jayden offered a sad smile. "You don’t have to apologize. I kissed you out of nowhere. I should be the one saying sorry."

Jessica looked at him, her eyes deep and searching. "I didn’t hate it," she whispered.

Jayden’s heart stuttered.

She kept going, her voice shaky. "And that’s the problem, Jayden. I didn’t hate it. I liked it. I wanted it. But the moment it happened, I felt like I betrayed myself. Like I betrayed Tasha."

Jayden swallowed hard. "I get it. I’ve... been feeling that way too."

She looked down. "Do you really love her?"

He hesitated for a beat. "Yes. I do."

Jessica nodded slowly. "Then what about me?"

Jayden turned to her. "You? I need you. I’ve loved you since day one. But I never let myself act on it... not really, not the way I should’ve. And that’s on me. I should’ve been honest. But instead I ended up hurting you."

Jessica bit her lip. "I still want you, Jayden."