The Rejected Luna

Chapter 11

_Avery's POV_

The day of our flight came quickly. I couldn’t help feeling nervous as we arrived at the airport. Flying wasn’t something I was used to, and the idea of getting on a plane to go back to the pack—back to Kaden—filled me with a mix of nerves and anxiety.

Liam seemed to notice right away, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. “Hey, don’t worry. I am right here,” he said, his voice warm and steady. I smiled up at him. I was grateful for his calm energy.

As we boarded the plane, Liam noticed me fumbling with the seat belt. I hadn’t flown in years, and even something as simple as that felt strange. Gently, he reached over, clicking it into place for me. “There you go. Safe and secure,” he said with a soft smile.

“Thanks.” I tried to relax but still felt a little tense.

He leaned closer, his shoulder brushing mine. “If you’re nervous, you can hold my hand during takeoff,” he offered, his voice playful but sincere.

I hesitated, glancing at his hand, then back at him. “Maybe I will,” I said. I was a little embarrassed but glad that he was there.

When the plane started moving, my grip tightened around the armrest. But, true to his word, Liam took my hand, his thumb brushing across my knuckles in soft, soothing circles.

“You’re okay,” he murmured. “Just close your eyes if you need to.”

I nodded, squeezing his hand as the plane lifted off the ground. There was a weird, weightless feeling in my stomach, and I bit my lip, hoping it would settle soon.

Liam leaned in close, his voice comforting. “It will get easier once we’re in the air,” he said, his thumb still moving in calming circles. “And I promise, I will be here the whole time.”

After a few minutes, the plane leveled out, and I finally felt myself relax a little. “Thanks, Liam,” I said, exhaling a sigh of relief. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”

He chuckled. “Well, I’m glad I’m here. Besides, I get to spend all this time with my amazing girlfriend,” he said, giving me a wink.

I laughed, feeling my cheeks warm. “You are so cheesy,” I teased.

He shrugged, grinning. “Guilty as charged. Just wait till we land—I have got plenty more cheesy lines ready.”

The flight attendant soon came by with our food, but when she handed me my tray, I noticed that everything was cold. I frowned, poking at the lukewarm food.

“Problem?” Liam asked, raising an eyebrow.

“It’s… cold,” I said, unsure what to do. I didn’t want to cause trouble, but the thought of eating it like that didn’t seem appealing.

Liam waved over the flight attendant with a charming smile. “Excuse me, do you think you could heat this up for her? She is not a fan of cold pasta.”

The attendant nodded, smiling back. “Of course, I’ll be right back with it.”

I looked at him, surprised. “You didn’t have to do that.”

He shrugged, still smiling. “Hey, I want you to have a good flight. If that means heated pasta, then heated pasta it is.”

When the food came back warm, I dug in gratefully, feeling a rush of warmth that wasn’t just from the pasta. “Thank you,” I said, looking at him with a smile. “You’re really… thoughtful.”

He just smiled, brushing it off. “Hey, I’m just doing what any good boyfriend would do.”

As we ate, he kept up an easy conversation, making me laugh and telling me about his own travel experiences. “One thing I learned,” he said, “is to avoid jet lag, you need to drink plenty of water and try to adjust to the new time zone as soon as you land.”

I nodded, listening intently. “I’ll try to remember that.”

“And, if you feel tired on the plane, try to take a nap,” he added, glancing at my seat. “I brought a neck pillow if you need it.”

I smiled, touched by his thoughtfulness. “You’re really prepared, aren’t you?”

He grinned. “I had to make sure you were comfortable, didn’t I?”

I settled back in my seat, feeling a sense of calm wash over me. With Liam here, everything felt easier. I wasn’t sure how I would ever face going back to the pack alone, but with him beside me, it didn’t feel so terrifying.

A little while later, as the lights dimmed for people to rest, Liam gently took my hand again. “Try to sleep for a bit,” he whispered. “I’ll be here when you wake up.”

I nodded, leaning my head back and closing my eyes, his hand warm and steady in mine. His presence was so comforting that, before long, I drifted off to sleep.

When I woke up, the plane was quiet, and Liam was still holding my hand, his head resting back with his eyes closed. I watched him for a moment, feeling a soft warmth bloom in my chest. He was always looking out for me, taking care of me in ways I didn’t even know I needed.

As he stirred, his eyes opened, meeting mine with a sleepy smile. “Hey, sleepyhead,” he said softly.

“Hey yourself,” I murmured back, squeezing his hand. “Thank you… for everything.”

He smiled, his eyes full of warmth. “Always, Avery. I told you, I’m here for you. No matter what.”

For the first time in a long while, I felt like I wasn’t alone. With Liam by my side, maybe I could face the past I had been so afraid of.