Chapter 18

Lune stood still, taking in everything Arlo was saying, but it was all happening so fast. Words like “second wedding,” “Luna,” and “recognized by all werewolves” swirled around her mind, making her feel disoriented. She watched as Arlo paced, clearly frustrated and weighed down by his guilt, but the more he said, the more confused she felt.

When he finally paused, looking at her with those deep, regret-filled eyes, Lune took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts. Everything about this new life was so foreign to her, and now Arlo was throwing more information at her that she hadn’t even begun to process. She knew he was trying to explain, trying to make things right, but it was too much all at once.

“Arlo,” she said gently, her voice calm but firm. She reached out and placed a hand on his arm, stopping his pacing. “Please, slow down. I… I don’t fully understand what you’re trying to say.”

He looked at her, his expression a mix of concern and guilt.

“I know you’re upset, and I get that there’s a lot at stake, but you’re overwhelming me,” she continued, her voice soft but steady. “I need you to calm down for a moment and explain it better. Start from the beginning. What does this second wedding mean? What does it mean to be Luna? I’m listening, I promise, but I need you to make it clearer.”

Arlo blinked, seeming to realize how much he had been unloading on her all at once. He sighed deeply, visibly trying to rein in his emotions. He nodded, appreciating her patience even in the face of all the confusion.

“Okay,” he said softly, taking a step back and running a hand through his hair. “You’re right. I’ve been dumping everything on you without explaining it properly.”

He took a deep breath, calming himself. “Let me start over.”

Lune nodded, watching him closely, grateful that he was finally slowing down. Her heart was still racing with all the information, but she could see that Arlo was trying to explain things properly now, and that gave her a small sense of relief.

Arlo met her eyes, his voice gentler now. “The second wedding—it’s not just a ceremony for us. It’s a formal tradition in our pack. The first wedding was for your family, a private union between us. But this second wedding is for my family, for the pack. It’s where you’ll be publicly recognized as my mate and as the Luna of our people.”

He paused, searching for the right words. “Being Luna isn’t just a title. It means that you’ll be seen as a leader alongside me, respected and followed by the entire pack. The second wedding will mark that moment when the whole werewolf community acknowledges you as part of us. It’s a lot of responsibility, but it’s also an honor.”

Lune processed his words, her confusion still lingering but beginning to clear up. “So, this second wedding is more like… a public declaration? And the Luna role… it’s like being a queen but for werewolves?”

Arlo nodded. “Exactly. I should have explained it better, but I wanted to give you time to adjust before bringing it up. I didn’t want to overwhelm you, but I realize now that keeping it from you made things worse.”

Lune bit her lip, absorbing everything. The idea of being a Luna, of standing next to Arlo as a leader of an entire pack, felt immense. It wasn’t just about her and Arlo anymore—this was about a whole community of people. It was a responsibility she hadn’t anticipated, and she wasn’t sure she was ready for it. But at least now, she had a clearer picture.

She sighed softly, meeting his gaze. “I appreciate you explaining it better,” she said gently. “I just need time to understand all of this. It’s a lot, and I’m still figuring out how I fit into this world.”

Arlo gave her a small, understanding nod. “I know. And I’ll give you that time. Just know that I’ll be here, every step of the way, and I’ll tell you everything from now on. No more surprises.”

Lune felt a little more at ease, though the weight of what was coming still pressed down on her. But at least now, she had a clearer sense of what was ahead—and for the first time, she felt like Arlo was truly trying to be open with her. It was a start, and for now, that was enough.

Lune sat down on the edge of the bed, still trying to absorb everything Arlo had said. The idea of being a Luna, the responsibility that came with it, and the second wedding—it was all daunting, but one thing still lingered in her mind: the reality of Arlo being a werewolf. It was something she had barely come to terms with, and now, with all the talk of pack leadership and traditions, she realized how little she knew about what it meant for him and her future.

After a long pause, she looked up at him, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "Arlo, I know this might sound strange, but... can you tell me more about being a werewolf? I mean, what it’s really like."

Arlo’s brow furrowed slightly as if he hadn’t expected the question, but he nodded, taking a seat beside her. “I can tell you anything you want to know,” he said softly. “It’s part of who I am, and now it’s part of your world too.”

Lune hesitated for a moment, then voiced what had been on her mind since she found out about his true nature. “I’ve never actually seen you shift,” she said quietly. “I mean, I know you’re a werewolf, and I’ve heard stories… but I haven’t seen it with my own eyes. What’s it like?”

Arlo’s expression softened as he realized what she was asking. “Shifting,” he repeated thoughtfully. “It’s… hard to explain. It’s not painful, at least not for me. It’s like letting go of one part of myself to become something else. My wolf is always there, inside me, but when I shift, I give it control. It’s instinctual, powerful… freeing.”

Lune bit her lip, considering his words. Part of her had been curious, but another part had been scared to ask. Now, standing at the edge of a new life, with all these responsibilities and expectations looming over her, she felt the need to understand Arlo fully—both the man and the wolf. She wanted to see the side of him that she hadn’t yet seen, the side that was a mystery to her.

“Could you… shift in front of me?” Lune asked softly, her eyes meeting his. There was no fear in her voice, only a genuine desire to understand this part of him.

Arlo’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. He hadn’t expected her to ask that, not so soon. Shifting in front of someone was an intimate act, especially with someone who wasn’t used to it. But as he looked at Lune, he saw the sincerity in her gaze, the quiet determination to truly understand him, and he couldn’t say no.

“Are you sure?” he asked, his voice gentle. “I don’t want to scare you.”

Lune nodded, her heart racing a little, but she was firm in her decision. “I’m sure. I want to see all of you, Arlo. I want to understand this part of who you are.”

Arlo stood up slowly, taking a step back from her, his gaze never leaving hers. “Alright,” he said quietly, his voice steady but laced with a hint of caution. “I’ll shift, but I need you to stay calm. It’s still me, even when I’m in my wolf form.”

Lune swallowed, her heart pounding in her chest, but she gave him a nod of reassurance. “I trust you.”

Arlo’s expression softened, and without another word, he began to focus inward, calling on his wolf. His body tensed for a moment, and then the shift began. Lune watched in awe as his skin rippled, the transformation happening before her eyes. His form elongated, muscles shifting and contorting as dark fur began to sprout across his skin. His face changed, his eyes glowing an intense amber as his jaw extended into a powerful muzzle.

It happened quickly, faster than Lune had expected, and soon, where Arlo had stood, a massive wolf now towered before her. He was majestic, his fur thick and dark, his eyes piercing but still carrying that same softness she knew so well. The room suddenly felt smaller with his imposing presence, but despite his size and the raw power emanating from him, Lune didn’t feel afraid.

She stared, mesmerized, taking in every detail. His wolf form was both beautiful and terrifying, a creature of strength and grace. But as she met his glowing eyes, she saw Arlo there—the same man she had married, the same person who had been trying so hard to make her feel comfortable in this world.

Slowly, Lune took a step forward, her hand trembling slightly as she reached out to touch him. Arlo’s wolf didn’t move, his intense gaze watching her carefully, waiting to see if she would hesitate. But she didn’t. Her fingers grazed the thick fur on his side, and she let out a breath she didn’t realize she had been holding.

“You’re still you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible, but filled with awe. She ran her hand through his fur, feeling the warmth of his body, the solidness of his presence.

Arlo’s wolf let out a low, gentle rumble, almost like a purr, as he leaned into her touch. He lowered his head slightly, brushing his muzzle against her arm in a gesture of trust and affection.

Lune smiled softly, her heart still racing, but in that moment, she felt connected to him in a way she hadn’t before. Seeing him like this, in his truest form, erased some of the distance she had felt between them. It was still overwhelming, but now she understood more about who he was—both the man and the wolf.

As she continued to stroke his fur, she whispered, “Thank you for showing me this. I needed to see it… to understand you better.”

Arlo’s wolf huffed softly, a warm, comforting sound, and at that moment, Lune knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together—human and wolf, bonded in ways she was only just beginning to comprehend.

Lune sat back down on the bed, her mind spinning as she processed what she had just witnessed. She had touched a werewolf—her husband—and it still felt surreal. The massive creature in front of her was both familiar and completely foreign. As Arlo’s wolf form shifted back into the man she had married, she couldn’t help but think back to all the stories she had heard growing up, all the myths and legends that had seemed so far removed from her reality.

She had only ever heard about werewolves in stories told around campfires or read about them in old, dusty books. There had been tales of wolves living in secret packs, hidden away from human society, only emerging during times of war or great conflict. Some people believed in them, others scoffed, treating it all as fantasy. Lune had always fallen somewhere in the middle—curious, but never fully convinced that such creatures could exist. It had always seemed like ancient history, like a storybook world that had nothing to do with her life.

But now, here she was, married to a werewolf, standing in a house that belonged to one of the most powerful packs. Everything she had thought was myth was suddenly real, and not just real—her reality. The wars between humans and wolves, the tension that had existed between their worlds, had always felt like something from another era, a past that was distant and irrelevant to her quiet life. Now she was standing in the middle of it, tied to the very creatures she had once thought were figments of imagination.

Lune rubbed her temples, trying to make sense of it all. “This is unbelievable,” she muttered, more to herself than to Arlo. Her voice was filled with a mix of wonder and disbelief. She looked at him, still reeling from the fact that he could shift so seamlessly between human and wolf. “I’ve only ever heard stories about wolves and packs. I’ve read about them in history books—the wars with humans, the secret packs hidden away from the world. I thought it was all just… myth. A part of history that people exaggerated or romanticized.”

Arlo, now back in his human form, sat down beside her, his expression calm but understanding. He had expected this reaction—it was only natural. “Most humans do think it’s just a myth,” he said gently. “We’ve spent centuries making sure it stays that way. It’s safer for both sides if humans believe werewolves are just a story.”

Lune shook her head, still in disbelief. “But it’s real. You’re real. All of this… the packs, the wars… it actually happened?”

Arlo nodded slowly, his gaze steady. “Yes. The wars were real. There was a time when humans and werewolves lived in constant conflict, fighting for territory and survival. But that was a long time ago. Now, most werewolves live in peace, keeping to ourselves, protecting our lands while staying hidden from humans.”

Lune’s mind raced as she recalled the bits of history she had read, the tales of ancient battles between humans and wolves, stories of betrayal and bloodshed that had seemed too far-fetched to be true. And yet, here she was, living among those very creatures, married to one of them.

“It’s just… I never thought any of it was real,” she whispered. “I always thought it was something people made up to explain strange events, or just a way to scare children. But now I’m living in it.” She glanced at Arlo, her eyes wide with a mix of amazement and uncertainty. “How am I supposed to wrap my head around all this? Everything I thought I knew feels… small now.”

Arlo reached for her hand, his touch warm and reassuring. “I know it’s a lot to take in,” he said softly. “But you’re stronger than you think, Lune. You’ve stepped into a world that most people don’t even know exists, and you’re handling it better than you realize.”

Lune looked down at their joined hands, still trying to process everything. The stories she had read and the myths she had heard all seemed so far away, yet they were now woven into the fabric of her life. The idea of packs living in secret, the ancient wars between wolves and humans—it was all real, and she was part of it.

A part of her wanted to panic, to pull back and hide from this overwhelming new reality. But another part of her—stronger, more curious—wanted to understand it, to learn more about this world that had always been just out of reach.

She met Arlo’s gaze again, her confusion still there but mixed with a growing resolve. “I never thought I’d be part of something like this,” she admitted. “But I want to learn. I need to know more about this world you come from—our world now. I don’t want to be left in the dark anymore.”

Arlo smiled softly, a hint of relief in his expression. “And I’ll tell you everything,” he promised. “There’s a lot to learn, but you’re not alone in this. I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

Lune nodded, her mind still racing, but she felt a little more grounded now. The world she had once thought was myth was her new reality, and though it scared her, she was determined to face it head-on.