Avenging Luna
Chapter 139: Imprinting On Ash

Chapter 139: Imprinting On Ash

CHASE POV

The smell of sizzling bacon must have woken them, because not long after, I heard the soft patter of little feet. Ash appeared in the doorway, his hair tousled and his pajamas slightly rumpled.

"Wow," he said, his voice still heavy with sleep. His wide eyes darted to the stove. "You can cook, Uncle Chase?"

I chuckled, flipping a strip of bacon onto a plate. "I can do a lot of things, kid. Cooking is just one of them."

He wandered over, dragging a chair closer to the counter so he could climb up and watch me. "Mom says cooking is hard," he said, resting his chin in his hands. "She burns toast sometimes."

I couldn’t help but laugh at that, imagining Leila cursing at a stubborn toaster. "Well, everyone has their talents. Your mom’s good at other things."

"Like running fast!" Ash offered brightly. "She’s really good at running. She runs faster than all the kids’ moms."

My smile faltered for a moment. Running. Yes, that seemed to be her default. From Ash’s father, from her past, from me.

"Well," I said, shaking off the heaviness threatening to creep in, "you can tell her I’m good at cooking. Maybe she’ll let me teach her."

"Yeah!" Ash grinned, already bouncing on the chair with excitement.

It wasn’t long before Leila joined us, drawn by the smell of food and the sound of Ash’s chatter. She appeared in the doorway, her hair slightly messy but still effortlessly beautiful. The moment her eyes met mine, I felt that familiar tug in my chest, the one that reminded me she was my mate, my future.

"You’re cooking?" she asked, her voice tinged with surprise.

"Is that so hard to believe?" I teased, sliding an omelet onto a plate and holding it out to her.

"Honestly? A little," she admitted, but she took the plate anyway, her lips quirking into a reluctant smile. "Thanks."

Ash was already digging into his plate, his face lighting up with every bite. "This is so good, Mom! Uncle Chase makes the best food!"

Leila shot me a look, one that was a mix of amusement and something else I couldn’t quite place. "Well, I guess I owe you one," she said, taking a seat across from me.

I shook my head, sitting down beside Ash. "You don’t owe me anything, Leila. This is just... something I wanted to do. For both of you."

For a moment, the three of us sat there, eating in a comfortable silence. It wasn’t quite a family breakfast, but it felt close. Close enough to make me hope that, one day, it could be.

As the morning light grew brighter, I couldn’t help but think about the challenges ahead. Convincing Leila to come with me to the kingdom wasn’t going to be easy. She was fiercely independent, and I knew she wouldn’t take kindly to the idea of being uprooted again. But it was the only way to keep her and Ash safe.

I glanced at her, watching as she helped Ash wipe syrup from his cheek. She was strong, capable, and endlessly stubborn. But she was also my mate, and I would do whatever it took to protect her—even if it meant fighting her every step of the way.

I didn’t know how I was going to convince her to trust me fully, to see me as more than just a vampire or a stranger who had invaded her life. But I had to try. Because if there was one thing I was certain of, it was this:

I wasn’t letting her go again.

I needed to start small. The truth about imprinting on Ash seemed like the best way to begin building trust. If I could show Leila that I wasn’t just here for her—that I was all in for Ash too—it might ease her doubts. Maybe then she would stop blocking every effort I made to get close to her. She was fiercely protective of her son, which I admired, even if it complicated things between us. But it also made me believe that if she understood the depth of my bond with Ash, she might finally see that I wasn’t a threat.

The problem was how to bring it up. It wasn’t exactly the kind of thing you casually drop into conversation. "Oh, by the way, I’m bound by an eternal, unshakable instinct to protect your child." Yeah, that would go over well.

As I glanced at Ash, who was finishing the last bites of his breakfast with the single-minded focus only a child could muster, I realized this was as good a time as any. I cleared my throat. "Ash, why don’t you go find something to watch on TV for a little while? I need to talk to your mom."

Ash perked up immediately, his face lighting with excitement. "Really? I can watch cartoons?"

"Anything you want," I said with a small smile, ruffling his already-messy hair.

"Sweet!" He darted from the table, his small feet thudding against the polished floor as he made a beeline for the living room.

Leila stood and began clearing the plates, but I reached out to stop her. "Leave it," I said softly. "We need to talk."

Her brow furrowed, and she leaned against the counter, crossing her arms defensively. "About what?"

"About you. About Ash. And about why I think you should reconsider staying here with me."

Her shoulders tensed. "We’ve been through this, Chase. I’m not staying here indefinitely. I need to get back to my place."

"You mean the house in witch territory?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

She nodded. "Yes, exactly. It’s safe there. No vampire or wolf would dare step foot into that area."

I exhaled, running a hand through my hair. "Leila, I know why you chose to live there, but it’s not foolproof. Someone—or something—is already hunting you. Do you really think the witches’ wards will hold against whatever is coming?"

Her eyes narrowed. "That’s why I chose that place. It’s neutral ground. It’s protected."

"And yet here we are," I said, my voice dropping. "Something already found you, Leila. The roller rink, remember? I’m not saying you have to trust me, but at least trust that the danger is real."

She flinched, and her gaze darted toward the living room where Ash was chattering at the TV. Her expression softened, worry creeping into her features. "I’m not running, Chase," she said after a moment. "I’m looking out for Ash. That’s all I’ve ever done."

And there it was—my opening. Her devotion to Ash was the key. If I could show her that my devotion matched hers, that I wasn’t just her mate but also bound to her son, it might change everything.

"I know you’re protecting him," I said gently. "That’s why I need to tell you something. Something important."

Her eyes snapped back to mine, suspicion flashing in their depths. "What now?" she asked warily.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself. "Leila, I’ve imprinted on Ash."

Her confusion was immediate. "What?" she asked, blinking at me like I’d just spoken a foreign language. "What does that even mean?"

I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "It means... it’s a bond. A rare one. Vampires don’t imprint often, but when we do, it’s unbreakable. It ties us to someone—not romantically, like a mate bond, but in a way that makes us utterly devoted to their safety and well-being."

She stared at me, her expression unreadable. Then, alarm flared in her eyes. "What does that mean for Ash?"

"It means," I said carefully, "that I will dedicate my entire existence to protecting him. If he’s ever in danger, he can summon me, no matter where I am. I will always come for him. Always."

Her lips parted, but no words came out at first. Then, shaking her head, she said, "But he’s a wolf, and you’re a vampire. Is this... normal?"

I hesitated. This was the tricky part. "No," I admitted. "It’s not normal. It’s unheard of, actually. But then, so is everything about us. Our connection. Us being mates. It’s... unique."

Her gaze turned skeptical, and I could see her inner wolf, her protective instincts, rising to the surface. "So what you’re saying is, you’re bound to my son in some... supernatural way, and that’s supposed to make me feel better?"

"It’s not about making you feel better," I said softly. "It’s about the truth. I want you to know that this isn’t just about you and me. I’m all in, Leila. For both of you. Ash isn’t just your son anymore. He’s my imprint. And that means I will die before I let anything happen to him."

She swallowed hard, her arms tightening around herself as she processed my words. I could see the war raging inside her—the instinct to protect her child versus the mistrust she still held toward me.

Finally, she spoke, her voice laced with uncertainty. "Why Ash? Why not me?"

I gave her a sad smile. "I don’t know. Imprinting isn’t something we choose. It’s instinctive, like the mate bond. But I think... it’s because he’s part of you. Protecting him is like protecting a piece of you. And you’re my mate, Leila. My beloved. Everything that matters to you matters to me."

Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she looked away, her eyes misty with emotion she didn’t want to show. "I don’t know if I can believe you," she said quietly.

"You don’t have to believe me," I replied. "Not yet. Just... give me time. Let me prove it to you."

For a long moment, she didn’t say anything. Then, with a shaky breath, she nodded. "Fine. But don’t think this changes anything, Chase. I’m still not staying here."

I clenched my jaw, holding back the frustration that threatened to boil over. At least it was a start. For now, I would take what I could get.

But I would convince her. One way or another, I would show her that we were stronger together. That I was here for her and Ash—for as long as they’d have me.