Lunar Legacy: Rise Of The Beastlord-Chapter 284: Hunger*

Jayden’s anger evaporated, replaced by a wave of guilt and sympathy. He sat down on the bed beside her, no longer trying to take the bottle.

"Jess," he said quietly. "Don’t talk about your mom like that."

"Why not?" Tears were streaming down her face now. "It’s true. She’s dead. She left us. Left me when I was just a kid and I—" her voice cracked, "—I can barely remember her face anymore."

"It wasn’t her fault," Jayden said firmly. "You know that. The beast that killed her—that wasn’t her choice. She didn’t leave you. She was taken from you. There’s a difference."

"It was my fault," Jessica whispered.

Jayden furrowed his brows. "What?"

"It’s my fault she died." Jessica repeated. The words came out in a rush, like she’d been holding them in for years. "When mum got called in for a mission that night, I thought she wouldn’t go because it was Christmas eve and she promised we’d spend some time together. But she wanted to go, and so I got mad, and I told her..." she paused, sobbing softly. "I told her to just go and not bother coming back that night. And... she didn’t. Instead she died that night, and it was all my fault." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Jessica was crying profusely now. "If I hadn’t been so stupid, if I hadn’t been so selfish, if I hadn’t said what I said, then maybe... maybe she’d still be—"

"Stop." Jayden’s voice was gentle but firm. He turned to face her fully. "Jessica, listen to me. It wasn’t your fault. You were just a child who wanted to spend some time with her mum. That’s normal. And your mother wanted to go because that’s what mothers do," he explained. "Because she knew going out to fight the beasts will secure a safe life for you. But her death—the beast that killed her—that wasn’t because of anything you did. And it wasn’t her fault either. It was random, cruel, and unfair. But not your fault."

Jessica shook her head, tears still falling. "You don’t understand—"

"I do understand." Jayden cut in, the pain in his eyes reflecting hers. He knew the guilt of feeling responsible for a parent’s death. He carried that same weight with his own mother.

"Survivor’s guilt is real. It makes you twist everything, makes you take blame for things that were never your responsibility. But Jessica—" he reached out and gently took her hand, "—your mother wouldn’t want you to carry this. She’d want you to live. To be happy. Not to destroy yourself trying to forget."

"I miss her so much," Jessica sobbed, her composure finally crumbling completely. "Every day. Every single day for fifteen years and it never stops hurting."

"I know," Jayden said softly. He carefully pried the whiskey bottle from her grip... this time she didn’t resist—and set it on the floor. "I know it hurts. But this—" he gestured to the bottle, "—this isn’t the answer. It won’t bring her back. It won’t ease the pain, not really. It’ll just make you feel worse tomorrow."

Jessica turned into him, burying her face in his chest, and broke down completely. Her body shook with sobs, years of repressed grief pouring out all at once.

Jayden wrapped his arms around her, holding her as she cried. He didn’t try to shush her or tell her it would be okay. He just held her, let her get it all out, let her feel everything she’d been pushing down for so long.

They sat like that for a long time. Ten minutes. Fifteen. Until Jessica’s sobs finally quieted to hiccups, and then to shaky breaths.

She pulled back slightly, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. Her face was blotchy and red, mascara streaked down her cheeks.

"I’m sorry," she whispered. "I’m such a mess."

"You’re not," Jayden smiled. "Even now you still look beautiful."

Jessica looked up at him, her eyes still glistening but clearer now. "Jayden?"

"Yeah?" He responded.

Jessica swallowed. She was quiet for a moment, her gaze searching his face. "I want to be with you."

Jayden gave her a small, sad smile. "You are with me, Jessica," he said gently. "I’m right here. And I’m not going anywhere."

"No." Jessica shook her head, her hand coming up to rest on his bare chest. Her touch sent electricity through him. "That’s not what I mean," she whispered. "I want you, Jayden."

Jayden blinked, confused. "Want me to do what?"

Jessica bit her lip, a spark of frustration and hunger flashing in her eyes. "I want you to have sex with me."

The words hung in the air like a thunderclap.

Jayden’s eyes widened. His heart hammered against his ribs. "Jess... you’re drunk. And you’re upset. You don’t really mean that." He tried to pull back, to put some distance between them for her own sake. "And we’re not doing this while you’re—"

"Mmhnn..."

Jessica cut him off, surging forward to press her lips against his in a fierce, desperate kiss. It was messy at first, tasting of whiskey and salt from her tears, but heat ignited instantly.

Jayden’s resistance crumbled as her hands roamed his bare chest, nails grazing his skin. Before he could pull away, she stood, their lips still locked, and shoved him back onto the bed with surprising strength.

She climbed atop him, straddling his waist, her nightgown riding up completely now. Jayden’s arousal surged, his dick throbbing under the towel, undeniably aching to feel her.

Jessica’s kisses grew deeper, more insistent, hands exploring as she ground against him.

Jayden’s hands hovered over her waist, his resolve shattering under the weight of her need and his own burying desire.

"Jessica..." he groaned, a warning that was rapidly turning into a surrender. "Wait..."

But she didn’t listen, her mind was already consumed with a lustful hunger.

Jayden was conflicted. "This is wrong," a distant part of his mind whispered. She was drunk and vulnerable. It felt like he was taking advantage of her. He needed to stop her, to stop this before it was too late.

But then Jessica’s hand slid down his chest, heading lower, and his resolve shattered instantly.

Things were about to get very heated.