ASH

Luna walked back in and did a double-take when she saw us at the kitchen counter. Her gaze flicked toward her bedroom door—still closed—then back to us. She crossed the room slowly, fidgeting with the sleeve of her sweatshirt like she didn’t know what to do with her hands.

“You came back,” I said.

She blinked at me. “Of course I did.”

I swallowed. Something about the way she said it—like it was apparent—sent heat to my face.

“We’ve felt like you were one breath away from leaving since day one,” My voice came out sharp, more brittle than I intended. “So forgive us for not knowing what to expect.”

“Ash,” Connor murmured, a quiet reminder.

I looked at her fully then. She was pale, with dark smudges under her eyes. Had she slept at all? She looked like someone who’d spent the whole night thinking. Overthinking.

“Are you alright?” Connor asked gently.

“I said goodbye to Jessica,” she said, voice cracking.

That broke me. I stepped forward and took her hand, guiding her to the couch like she might float away if I let go.

“And the rest?” I asked, settling beside her.

She didn’t answer. Instead, she burst into tears.

I shot a look at Connor. He didn’t hesitate—he sat on her other side and rubbed her back in slow, steady circles. She curled inward, trying to wipe her face, trying to breathe.

“We’ve been worried about the mate bond,” she said finally, voice wet with tears. “And whether I’m safe. But those aren’t the only questions.”

We waited. I retook her hand, kissed her fingers, and tasted salt. Her sadness was physical, like the air had thickened around her.

“What does ‘family’ mean?” she asked, voice shaky. “What do you expect from me? Am I just meant to… slip into Claire’s vacated role and pretend it fits? And if it did work out that way, do we get married? Do we raise kids here? Are we even safe?”

Each word hit harder than the last.

That was a lot. Too much for this early in the morning. But all of it was fair.

I exhaled, my chest tight. “What does family mean to you?”

I wanted to pull her into my arms. My whole body ached with the need to comfort her. But we needed to do this the right way.

“A husband. Children,” she said after a beat.

I nodded, but I could hear what was missing. “I think there’s something more you want than just that.”

She hesitated. “A home. Safety. Belonging.”

“That,” I said, my voice low. “That, we can give you. We don’t expect you to step into anyone’s place. I’m sorry if I made it seem that way. Claire’s gone. We’re not trying to recreate something we lost. But we can offer a new start. A new kind of family. With you in it.”

Connor nodded beside her. “I care about you, Luna. I think you care about me, too. But no one expects you to rush into anything you’re not ready for. If you need a definition, maybe think of me as a very close friend. Chosen family.”

She looked at him, and for a moment, her shoulders relaxed.

We weren’t going to solve everything today. But maybe we could find solid ground.

The Bond was clawing at me now, worse than usual. Like I was being pulled in two directions—one of them burning. I stood, trying to walk it off, pacing behind the couch.

“The community down there might be harder to win over,” I said, voice strained. “But up here, within the pack… they’ll get to know you. Accept you. Our neighbour is our age—widowed last year. She has a young son. We’ll introduce you. Could be good company.”

I was gripping the back of the couch now, fingers tight on the fabric. The Bond roared under my skin like wildfire. I looked at Connor, pleading silently.

He picked up the thread without missing a beat. “We want you to feel safe here. To feel like you belong. Suppose that means marrying Ash and having ten kids, great. If that means staying in your room and reading books for the next year while you figure things out, also great. Whatever you need.”

She let out a short laugh—more breath than sound.

“And we want you in our family trust,” he added. “So even if something happened to us, you’d be protected.”

Luna stilled. “Is it that dangerous?” she whispered, gripping his forearm. “Are you in danger?”

“No,” he said firmly. “We’re careful. We’re strong.”

“But the neighbor’s husband—”

“An anomaly,” he said, voice soft. He didn’t mention his parents, and I was glad. She didn’t need that right now.

I felt like I was vibrating with heat. The Bond was pulsing, relentless. Connor caught my eye again and nodded toward the couch, like a command. Sit. You’re not helping.

I obeyed, slumping into the far corner and leaning back. Breathing.

“Okay,” she said at last. She took a deep breath, hands folded tightly in her lap. “Okay. Everything’s alright.”

Connor smiled gently. “We’ll figure it out. Together.”

He stood and stretched. “Shall I make some breakfast?”

“I’m not hungry,” Luna said.

“Me either,” I echoed.

He gave a little nod. “Alright. I’m going to shower.”

He leaned down and kissed Luna’s forehead with care, which made my throat tighten, and then disappeared up the stairs.

She turned to me, eyes big and searching. “I’m sorry.”

Just looking at her softened something in me. The Bond stopped its screaming the moment she leaned into me.

She climbed into my lap, and I caught her like I’d never let go.

I buried my face in her neck, breathing her in. Everything inside me settled.

She was here.

We could figure out the rest later.