Chapter 21

As Arlo watched Lune smile, a sense of relief washed over him. He had been waiting for this moment, unsure if it would ever come. The past few days had been a whirlwind of emotions for both of them, and he had worried that the bond between them would feel like a chain to her—a burden she never wanted. But now, as he saw her ease into his presence, speaking freely and laughing at their shared moments, his heart swelled with happiness.

Lune was finally starting to like him, truly like him—not because she was forced to as his mate, but because she wanted to. It was in the way she looked at him now, not with the guarded distance she had before, but with curiosity and, dare he hope, affection. Her initial resistance had been understandable; he had thrust her into a world she didn’t understand, and his silence about important things, like the second wedding and their bond, hadn’t made it easier.

But here they were now, sharing not just a space but a connection, and it made Arlo’s heart soar. He had been careful, patient, never wanting to push her too far, but also desperate for her to see him for who he really was—a man who wanted to love her, protect her, and cherish her in every way.

He had spent years watching her from afar, knowing she was his mate, but waiting until the right moment to bring her into his life. Now that she was here, it was everything he had hoped for and more. Still, there had been moments of doubt. Would she ever accept him, knowing what he was? Would she see past the traditions and the werewolf bond to the man underneath?

Today, he felt like the answers to those questions were finally coming to light. Lune wasn’t just tolerating him anymore. She was starting to open up, to trust him. And that trust meant the world to him.

As they cleaned up from breakfast, he couldn’t help but steal glances at her. Every little thing she did made him more certain that they were meant to be together. Her quiet determination, her curiosity about his world, and her willingness to learn—all of it made him fall even harder for her.

“You look happy,” Lune said suddenly, catching him off guard.

Arlo blinked, realizing he had been staring at her with a goofy smile on his face. He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “I am. I’m just… glad to see you like this. Comfortable. With me.”

Lune’s eyes softened, and she set the dish she had been holding aside. “I guess I am. You’re not so bad after all,” she teased lightly, but there was a sincerity in her voice that made Arlo’s chest tighten with emotion.

“You have no idea how much that means to me,” he said earnestly, stepping closer to her. “I’ve been wanting you to feel comfortable since the day we met. I know this hasn’t been easy for you—being thrown into my world, learning about werewolves and mating bonds… I never wanted you to feel trapped.”

She shook her head, smiling softly. “I don’t feel trapped, Arlo. At least, not anymore. I’ll admit, in the beginning, I was scared. I didn’t understand any of this, and it felt like I had no control over my life. But now… now I see that you’re not trying to control me. You’re trying to make this work for both of us.”

His heart raced at her words. “I want you to be happy, Lune. More than anything. I know I haven’t told you everything yet, but I’ll be honest with you from here on out. I don’t want any more secrets between us.”

She nodded, her gaze steady as she met his eyes. “I appreciate that. I really do.”

There was a pause, a comfortable silence between them. Arlo felt the weight of her words settle over him like a warm blanket, filling him with a deep sense of gratitude. She was giving him a chance, a real chance, and that was all he had ever wanted.

“You’re really happy I’m not running away screaming, huh?” Lune teased, breaking the silence with a playful grin.

Arlo laughed, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “A little, yeah. I was worried for a while there.”

“Well, I’m not going anywhere,” she said softly, her voice more serious now. “I’m here. And I’m willing to learn more about you, about this life. It’s all still new to me, but I think… I think I can get used to it.”

Hearing those words from her lips was everything he had hoped for. Arlo took a deep breath, his happiness bubbling over as he pulled her into a gentle embrace. He didn’t want to rush things, but the fact that she was opening up, that she was starting to like him—it was more than he could have dreamed of.

“I’ll take things at your pace,” he murmured into her hair, holding her close. “No pressure, no rushing. I just want you to feel comfortable with me. We’ll figure this out together.”

Lune leaned into his embrace, her arms wrapping around him in return. “That sounds good,” she whispered, her voice soft but steady. “We’ll figure it out.”

Arlo smiled, his heart light with joy. He had waited so long for her, and now that she was here, now that she was finally seeing him for who he was, he felt a sense of peace he hadn’t felt in years. This was just the beginning, but it was a good one. And he couldn’t wait to see where their journey would take them next.

After dinner, Lune retreated to her room, feeling both full and emotionally spent from the day's conversations with Arlo. So much had happened in such a short amount of time, and she found herself needing a few moments of solitude to process it all. As she closed the door behind her, her eyes landed on the neatly wrapped box on her dresser—the phone Arlo had gotten for her.

Lune smiled to herself, remembering how he had nervously asked if she liked his gift earlier. At the time, she had been overwhelmed by the sheer amount of expensive items he had lavished on her, but now, with a bit of space from the moment, she felt curious. She walked over to the box and carefully unwrapped it, pulling the sleek white box from its packaging.

When she saw the model on the front, her eyes widened in surprise. “An iPhone 16?” she whispered in awe. She didn’t even know the 16 series had been released yet. The last time she checked, most people were still talking about the iPhone 15. She couldn’t help but be impressed.

She unboxed the phone, taking in the smooth, modern design. The shiny black finish gleamed under her room’s soft lighting, and the device felt luxurious in her hands. Lune turned it on, watching as the Apple logo flashed on the screen before the phone prompted her to set it up. She went through the motions, transferring her data and setting up her account.

Lune lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling. The events of the past few days kept swirling in her mind, especially her growing feelings toward Arlo. She had been so unsure at first, but now, things felt different. Arlo wasn’t just a stranger or a domineering force in her life—he was kind, thoughtful, and genuinely cared about her comfort. The change was unexpected, but she found herself starting to enjoy his company, more than she thought she ever would.

She glanced at her new phone sitting on the nightstand. She hadn’t had a chance to call Valerie yet, and now that she had a moment to herself, she knew she had to talk to her best friend. Valerie had been there through it all, convincing her that maybe this marriage wouldn’t be as terrible as it seemed. At the time, Lune had her doubts, but now… she needed to tell Valerie how things were turning out.

She picked up the phone, dialing Valerie’s number. It rang a couple of times before Valerie answered, her voice as lively as ever.

“Lune! Finally, I’ve been waiting for you to call. How’s it going over there? You haven’t run away yet, right?” she joked, but Lune could hear the underlying concern in her tone.

Lune smiled, feeling a bit sheepish. “No, I haven’t run away. Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that.”

“Oh?” Valerie’s voice perked up with interest. “What’s going on? You sound… I don’t know, different.”

Lune sighed, sitting up and leaning against her headboard. “Yeah, I guess I feel different too. It’s about Arlo. I… I think I’m starting to like him.”

There was a brief silence on the other end before Valerie laughed. “Wait, seriously? You? Liking him? Wow, I did not see that coming.”

“I know, right?” Lune said with a laugh of her own. “I didn’t either. I was so set on hating everything about this, but he’s… he’s actually a good guy, Val. He’s been really patient with me, trying to make sure I’m comfortable, and he’s not as overbearing as I thought he’d be.”

“Wow,” Valerie repeated, sounding impressed. “So, what changed? Did something happen?”

Lune thought for a moment, remembering all the little moments she and Arlo had shared. “I think it’s just… getting to know him better. I was so freaked out by the idea of being mated to a werewolf, and he didn’t tell me everything at first, which made me feel out of control. But the more time we spend together, the more I see that he’s not just some Alpha—he’s caring, thoughtful, and he actually listens to me.”

“That’s great, Lune,” Valerie said, her voice warm with encouragement. “I told you this might not be the worst thing ever. I’m glad you’re starting to feel better about it.”

Lune smiled, feeling a bit more at ease now that she had shared her thoughts. “Yeah, you were right. I’m just glad I didn’t push him away.”

“So, what’s next?” Valerie asked. “I mean, are you going to tell him how you feel?”

Lune bit her lip, unsure. “I don’t know yet. It’s still early, and I’m still figuring things out. But I think I’ll take it one step at a time. I’m not in a rush. He’s given me space, and I think that’s what’s helping the most.”

“Sounds like he’s doing everything right,” Valerie said. “Just take your time. And hey, if you ever need to talk, I’m here.”

“Thanks, Val. I knew you’d understand.”

“Of course! I’m just happy you’re not miserable,” Valerie teased. “You’ll have to tell me more when we catch up in person.”

“Definitely,” Lune agreed. “I’ll keep you updated.”

After they said their goodbyes, Lune set the phone down and felt a sense of calm wash over her. Valerie’s support meant the world to her, and now that she had shared her thoughts, she felt more at peace with the situation. Maybe this path she was on with Arlo wasn’t so strange after all.