Luna

Well, this was awkward. I was locked in the bathroom, and I could never come out. I’d attached myself to him like a baby monkey, and he’d reacted in his sleep, thinking I was Claire, his long-lost love.

A knock on the door broke through my spiraling thoughts.

“Luna, it’s me, Connor.”

I didn’t want to answer. I tried to stay hidden in this small space where the world couldn’t see me. But I couldn’t hide forever.

“Yes?” My voice sounded smaller than I intended.

“Please, come out. Ash has gone upstairs. We can have some coffee and breakfast.”

I hesitated, my hand hovering over the doorknob.

Finally, I unlocked the door. It creaked open, and I winced as it brushed against my ribs.

Connor stood there, looking like a sleepy god backlit by the soft morning light.

His tousled hair and warm expression made him seem both distant and close at the same time.

He turned and walked to the kitchen, and I followed, still processing everything that had just happened. The space felt suffocating. I wasn’t sure where I fit into this scene. Into their lives.

Connor made me coffee. I sat at the kitchen counter, watching him cook bacon and eggs with an ease that almost felt comforting. Something about the rhythm of his movements, the way his hands worked without thinking, calmed me.

“We need your grace, Luna,” he said, his back to me as he flipped the eggs. “Losing a mate is… brutal.” He turned to look at me then, his eyes burning with something I couldn’t quite place. “We didn’t really deal with it well. And so a lot is resurfacing, especially for Ash.”

I nodded, feeling the weight of his words settle over me.

I couldn’t imagine what it must have been like for Ash, losing the one person who meant everything to him.

And now, I was taking up a space I didn’t know if I should occupy.

I sipped the coffee, letting the familiar taste and scent soothe me.

The sound of paws hitting the floor broke my thoughts. A giant black wolf entered, and my heart skipped a beat. I knew those eyes—I knew this animal.

The wolf stared at me intently, its gaze piercing, almost judging.

“Ash, you were meant to stay away in that form,” Connor said, stepping in front of me protectively.

The wolf growled lightly, low and warning.

I touched Connor’s arm, feeling the muscle beneath his skin tense with power. “He won’t hurt me,” I said softly.

“That’s not what I’m worried about,” Connor said, but he moved back to the other side of the counter, overseeing Ash.

I watched in awe as the wolf began to shift, its massive form contorting, muscles bulging, until Ash stood before me in all his naked glory.

His body was powerful, like something carved from stone, and the energy in the room shifted.

The bond between us hummed so loudly I was sure he could hear it too.

“Ash,” I whispered, unsure if I should look away, but my eyes were glued to him. His presence was overwhelming, drowning me in his scent and heat. I felt trapped between wanting to run and wanting to stay. I reached my hand toward him. He stepped closer.

“I’m sorry about this morning,” he said, his voice rough, filled with a depth I hadn’t expected. “I’ve spent three years grieving my mate. And then you suddenly come into our lives, and all the things I buried deep down are rising to the surface.”

His fingers twirled a strand of my hair around his finger, the motion both tender and possessive. His touch set something inside me ablaze, a flame that I couldn’t understand but felt so clearly. “But it’s you I want now.”

“Need or want?” I whispered, my voice barely a breath. My heart pounded in my chest, but a question lingered in my mind—Can I trust myself here?

“Both,” he growled softly, his thumb lifting my chin. His eyes were glowing, fierce and intense, making my stomach drop.

Before I could process the change in the air, his lips were on mine.

The kiss was slow at first, like a tentative apology, gentle, almost as if he was waiting for me to pull away. But then it deepened, and my body betrayed me. I moaned softly, unable to stop it. It felt so right, even with the moment's weight pressing down on me and Connor standing nearby.

I should have pulled away. I should have stopped. But I couldn’t.

His hands slid around my waist, fingers pressing into my skin, sending heat shocks straight to my core. It was like I was on fire, consumed by a need I couldn’t understand.

But then his hand brushed against my bruise, the sensitive area on my side, and I winced, the pain snapping me back to reality.

He pulled back immediately, his breath ragged. “Your injuries haven’t healed,” he said, voice thick with frustration. “I’ve got to —” He broke off, stepping away from me as though he couldn’t bear to stay close.

He turned and walked up the stairs without another word, leaving me breathless, my heart pounding in my chest.

I slowly turned to see Connor staring after him, his face unreadable. The tension between us was thick, but neither said anything at first.

“That was intense,” Connor said, his voice light, but his eyes were tormented. He was hiding something, and I wasn’t sure if it was for my benefit or his own.

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.

Connor met my gaze, his eyes flickering with something that looked like guilt. “We don’t want to scare you off,” he said, his tone soft but laden with uncertainty.

I looked down at my hands, trying to collect myself. I wasn’t sure where to go from here, but the question weighed on me. “If I can’t make an active choice, am I really here?” The words slipped out before I could stop them, and I immediately regretted asking them.

Connor’s gaze softened, but he didn’t answer. Instead, he gently placed a hand on my shoulder, grounding me. “You’re here, Luna. And you’re not going anywhere—not until you’re ready.”

I wasn’t so sure about that.