Chapter 17

Later that evening, as the sky darkened into night, Lune heard the sound of footsteps approaching her room. She stood by the window, her thoughts still tangled with the weight of everything that had happened that day. The gifts, the second wedding, and the unresolved emotions swirling around her left her feeling overwhelmed. A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts.

“Lune? May I come in?” Arlo’s voice was gentle but carried a weight of expectation.

She hesitated for a moment, then crossed the room to open the door. Arlo stepped inside, his eyes immediately scanning the room, taking in the lavish gifts now spread across the bed and the table. His gaze landed on Lune, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his lips as if he was eager for her reaction.

“I see the gifts were delivered,” he said, his tone soft but filled with anticipation. “I wanted to check on you... to see if you liked them.”

Lune stood there, her fingers still lightly brushing the phone in her hand, unsure how to respond. She could feel his eyes on her, waiting for some sign of approval or appreciation. He had gone out of his way to give her the best of everything, and in a different world, maybe she would have been excited, overwhelmed with gratitude.

But instead, she felt conflicted. The gifts, though beautiful and thoughtful, didn’t address what she really needed. She looked down at the phone, then back up at Arlo, her expression unsure. “They’re… nice,” she said carefully, her voice soft. “Very generous.”

Arlo’s smile faltered for a brief second, sensing the hesitation in her tone. He stepped closer, his brows knitting slightly in concern. “But?” he asked gently, clearly picking up on the undercurrent of doubt in her words.

Lune shifted uncomfortably, unsure how to articulate her feelings without sounding ungrateful. She didn’t want to hurt him, but she couldn’t pretend the gifts were enough to soothe the deeper issues between them.

“I appreciate the thought, truly,” she began, choosing her words carefully. “It’s just… these things are beautiful, but they don’t fix everything. I’m still trying to adjust to all of this—being here, being married. And I didn’t even know about the second wedding until Sybil told me today.”

Arlo’s face softened, and for a moment, he looked guilty, the weight of her words hitting him. He let out a slow breath, running a hand through his hair. “I wanted to tell you… I just didn’t know how,” he admitted quietly. “I thought easing you into everything would be better, but I see now that I should’ve been more open.”

Lune’s heart softened slightly at his honesty. At least he wasn’t pretending he hadn’t made a mistake. Still, it didn’t erase the feeling of being kept in the dark.

“I just want to feel like I have a say in what’s happening to me,” she said, her voice small but firm. “These gifts—they’re nice, but they don’t change the fact that I’m struggling to find my place in all of this.”

Arlo stepped closer, his eyes filled with regret. “I didn’t mean for the gifts to be a replacement for that,” he said gently. “I thought they might make things easier for you, even just a little. But I see now that I’ve been focused on what I could give you instead of what you need from me.”

Lune looked at him, her eyes softening as she saw the sincerity in his expression. It was clear he hadn’t meant to hurt her, but his actions, no matter how well-intentioned, had left her feeling even more isolated.

“I don’t need more things, Arlo,” she said softly. “I need honesty. And I need to feel like I’m not just going through the motions, that I have some control over what happens next.”

Arlo nodded, stepping closer until he was standing right in front of her. “You’re right,” he said quietly, his voice thick with remorse. “I should have told you about the second wedding. I should’ve been more open with you about everything. I’m sorry, Lune. I’ll do better. I want you to feel like you’re a part of this, not just someone following along.”

Lune looked into his eyes, searching for the truth in his words. For the first time since the wedding, she felt a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, they could find a way to make this work.

Arlo reached out, gently taking her hand. “Let me try again,” he said softly. “Not with gifts or grand gestures, but with real conversations. I want to know what you need, Lune. I want to get this right.”

For the first time that evening, Lune felt a small sense of relief. It wasn’t perfect, and there was still a long way to go, but at least Arlo was willing to try. And that, more than any gift, was what she needed.

As Arlo stood in front of Lune, watching the mixed emotions on her face, a heavy sense of guilt settled over him. He hadn’t meant for things to unfold this way. He had wanted to ease her into their life together, to let her grow comfortable with him before overwhelming her with the complexities of his world. But now, everything was spiraling faster than he had planned, and he could see the confusion and uncertainty in her eyes.

The second wedding was supposed to be a grand moment, a ceremonial event to solidify their bond in the eyes of his family and their entire pack. It wasn’t just about tradition—it was a public declaration. Once the ceremony took place, Lune would be recognized as his Luna by all the werewolves in their world, not just in name, but in status. It would happen after they had mated and after he had fully claimed her as his. That moment would mark her official role at his side, as his equal in the pack, with all the power and responsibilities that came with it.

But how could she embrace that if he hadn’t even told her about it? How could she feel comfortable, or even remotely ready, if he had kept such a monumental part of their future hidden?

Arlo rubbed a hand across the back of his neck, feeling the weight of his mistake. He had wanted to give her time, to let her settle in, but now he realized that withholding information—trying to protect her from the reality of their lives—had only made things harder. And his aunt, well-meaning as she was, had complicated everything by revealing the second wedding before he had the chance to explain it properly.

“I never meant for you to find out like this,” Arlo said, his voice low, as he met Lune’s gaze. “I wanted to tell you about the second wedding, about everything, but I thought I could wait until we were both more… settled. I thought if I gave you time, it would be easier.”

He sighed, the frustration clear in his expression. “But I see now that I should have told you from the beginning. I didn’t want to overwhelm you, and I thought that if I could make you feel comfortable with me first, then we could tackle everything together. I wanted to build trust before I laid out all the expectations and traditions.”

He glanced away, his chest tightening with guilt. “But I didn’t handle it the way I should have. I didn’t trust you enough to know that you could handle the truth, and that was wrong.”

Lune’s silence was enough to remind him how much he had failed in that regard. The second wedding wasn’t just a celebration—it was a binding contract in the eyes of the werewolves, a formal recognition of her as his Luna, the leader alongside him. It was everything that would define their future together. And he hadn’t given her the respect of preparing her for that responsibility.

His aunt had been right about one thing: the second wedding was coming, and it would be a massive event, one that would solidify Lune’s place in their world. But his aunt had revealed it too soon, before he had the chance to explain the weight and importance of it to Lune. Now, instead of being something she could approach with understanding and readiness, it was just another burden he had failed to prepare her for.

“I wanted to tell you everything,” Arlo continued, his voice filled with regret. “I wanted to make sure you felt ready, and that we had enough time to talk about what it means to be Luna. This second wedding isn’t just about tradition—it’s about you being recognized by all werewolves, across the pack and beyond. It’s about you being acknowledged as my mate and as their Luna.”

He looked at her, his heart heavy. “I wanted you to feel comfortable with me first, to know that this isn’t just about the pack or the expectations placed on us. It’s about us building something real together. But now, I see I’ve made things harder for you, and I’m sorry. I should’ve trusted you to handle the truth from the beginning.”

Arlo stepped closer to her, his expression sincere, filled with remorse. “I don’t want to keep things from you anymore. No more secrets, no more half-truths. You deserve better, Lune. From here on out, I’ll tell you everything, and I’ll make sure you’re prepared for what’s to come.”

The silence between them lingered, heavy with the weight of all that had been unsaid. Arlo felt the burden of his decisions settling deeper on his shoulders, but he was determined to make things right. He just hoped that Lune could trust him enough to let him try.