Lunar Legacy: Rise Of The Beastlord-Chapter 84: Making out

Jayden nodded. "Yeah. It wasn’t easy. But i did. It’s not a threat anymore."

A flicker of emotion passed through her expression. Relief. Worry. Maybe something deeper.

"I’m glad you’re okay," she whispered, her tone softer now. "I was... I was really worried, Jayden. After you left that day, I couldn’t sleep. I saw you go in the night. I figured you went looking for it. And I thought... it was my fault. That I pushed you too hard. That I said too much."

Jayden looked at her, surprised. "You saw me?"

"Damn.. she sees everything," he thought.

Jessica exhaled, looking down. "I felt guilty. And selfish. And scared. I thought maybe I’d driven you into something you couldn’t handle."

Jayden took a slow step closer. "You didn’t force me, Jessica. I was going to face it eventually. It threatened you.. and I couldn’t let that happen."

His voice dropped. Gentle. Honest.

"I love you, Jessica. And I’d never let anything hurt you."

She froze.

The hallway fell silent.

"You... love me?" she whispered, barely audible.

"I do," he said. "I really do."

Jessica looked up, her eyes glassy, something raw flickering in them—then it all shattered.

"No," she said, voice breaking. "No, I don’t believe you."

She took a step back, her fists clenched at her sides.

"If you loved me, you wouldn’t have broken your promise. If you loved me, you wouldn’t have shattered my heart. If you really loved me... you wouldn’t have... been with her that night."

Jayden winced, pain sharp behind his eyes. "Jessica, I—"

"Tell me something," she cut in. Her voice trembled. "Do you love her? Or are you just playing her too, like you did with me?"

Jayden shook his head. "I’m not playing her. I... I do love Tasha. But I love you too."

She stared at him like he’d just spoken in a foreign language.

Then she laughed.. bitter and broken. "You can’t be serious."

Jayden opened his mouth, but she kept going.

"You don’t get to say that. Love isn’t some... game you play with two hands. It’s supposed to be sacred. It’s supposed to be just one person."

"I know," Jayden said quietly. "And maybe I’m wrong. But what I feel for you is real, Jessica. What I feel for her is real too. I don’t understand it. But I don’t want to erase either of you. Because loving you both... it’s the only thing keeping me going."

Jessica looked away, blinking back tears.

"Listen to yourself, Jayden. You sound insane," she whispered. "Like someone who doesn’t even know what love is."

"Maybe," Jayden said, voice soft. "But I know what it means to want someone so badly it hurts. I know what it means to lie awake wondering if they’re okay. To want to make them smile even when I’m breaking inside. That’s what I feel for you. And for her."

Jessica clenched her jaw. "How can you love me and still love her at the same time?"

"I.. I don’t know." Jayden said. "But does it really matter?"

"It matters to me, Jayden. Because I can’t give my heart to someone who’s asking me to share his. I can’t be one half of a love triangle." she muttered. "I want something whole. Something mine. Something special."

Jayden took a breath. "So what do you want me to do? Break your sister’s heart so I can be with you?"

Jessica flinched. "I... I didn’t say that."

"Then what do you want?" he asked softly.

"I don’t know," she said, her voice breaking again. "I just... I just want to be happy... with you."

They stared at each other.

No more walls.

No more games.

Just two hearts, damaged and desperate.

Jayden reached forward, cupping her chin with gentle fingers. She didn’t pull away.

And then... he kissed her.

Softly. Tenderly. Like it was the only thing anchoring him to the world.

Jessica’s eyes went wide. Her body tensed—but only for a moment.

Then she leaned into it.

She melted.

Her fingers gripped his shirt.

Her eyes fluttered shut.

A small, helpless moan escaped her lips.

For those few seconds, nothing else mattered. Not the party. Not Tasha. Not the pain.

Just this.

Just them.

Jayden pulled back slightly, eyes locked on hers.

"Let me make you happy," he whispered.

Jessica stood still, breathless, her heart racing in her chest like a drumline.

The world felt hot and heavy. Every nerve in her body alive. Her insides were burning up and she felt euphoric.

The kiss was her first. And it was the best thing she’d ever felt. It was like a jolt of electricity coursing through her body. And she wanted to feel it again.

But then the reality hit as she regained clarity.

The kiss. The moan. The ache in her chest.

Her face turned bright red.

She stumbled back suddenly, eyes wide in horror at what she’d let happen.

"I..." she stammered, "I shouldn’t have—"

She shoved past him and ran, disappearing down the hallway without looking back.

Jayden stood there, stunned.

Her warmth still lingered on his lips.

Her scent still clung to his skin.

And her absence carved a hollow space into his chest.

Then a smile formed on his lips. "I think I’m making progress."

Jayden sat at the far end of the classroom, chin resting on his palm as he watched the sunlight filter through the windows in lazy strips. His eyes were half-lidded, the voices of teachers and students blending into a dull, background hum. Whatever excitement the others felt about the victory of the sport competition didn’t rub on him.

He thought about the kiss with Jessica, and a smile subconsciously grew on his face. But that thought was quickly replaced with another past event. One that almost got him partially dead. The fight with the Winter wolf.

His body still ached from the transformation, the fight, the blows, and the emotional whiplash that had come with it. But the craziest part was... he wanted more.

He’d never had a fight like that in his entire life... the exchanged blow, the passion, the almost dying. It was exhilarating. He wanted to feel that kind of excitement once again... he wanted to hunt... no, not hunt. He wanted to fight.

It was like a hunger building up in him... the urge to spar with someone. Anyone.

He chuckled. "I think I’m becoming a battle monger... like Goku."

Jayden remained in the class, thinking of how he could get stronger beast abilities before the upcoming interschool tournament. He also needed to Integrate three beast genes to complete the seasonal quest. But he needed two more Integration slots to do that.

Jacob finally pulled up outside the school gates in that familiar black car, Jayden didn’t argue. He just grabbed his bag, gave a half-wave to whoever was watching, and slid into the backseat like a shadow.

The girls joined him later and Jacob drove them away.

They got home.

Jayden didn’t say much.

Lunch was quiet. Dinner, quieter.

And before the stars had fully taken their seats in the night sky, Jayden was already in bed.. drifting into sleep like a leaf sinking beneath still water.