Chapter 6

Evelyn paced around the small living room, her hands wringing the corner of her apron. Gerald sat at the table, his fingers drumming impatiently on the wood, but the tension in his face betrayed his unease. The house felt unusually quiet despite the looming presence of the decision they'd made. Arlo would arrive soon, and with him, the final steps of their daughter's future would be cemented.

"I just don't know if we made the right choice," Evelyn murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. She stopped by the window, peering out as if expecting Arlo’s shadowy figure to appear any moment.

Gerald sighed, leaning back in his chair. "We had no choice, Evelyn. Our debts... Lune will be secure, and that's all that matters now."

"But we barely know him! And Lune..." She trailed off, her heart aching at the memory of her daughter’s sullen silence, the distance she’d created between them ever since they had accepted Arlo’s offer.

"I know," Gerald replied, his voice quieter now. "But Arlo is impatient, and if he’s kept waiting much longer, we might lose everything."

Evelyn turned away from the window, biting her lip. “Do you think Lune will ever forgive us?”

Gerald’s face hardened as he rose from his seat. “She’ll have to understand someday. We did what we thought was best.”

A heavy silence fell between them. Evelyn nodded slowly, but the weight of their decision pressed down harder than ever. The sound of hooves on gravel echoed faintly outside, and Evelyn’s stomach clenched.

“He’s here,” Gerald muttered, straightening his shirt and offering his wife a steadying look.

They both knew that nothing would be the same after today.

The soft knock on the door sent a ripple of tension through the room. Evelyn exchanged a glance with Gerald, her heart racing as she smoothed down her apron. Gerald walked toward the door with deliberate steps, trying to maintain his composure, though the weight of the moment was clear on his face.

When the door swung open, there stood Arlo—tall, imposing, and eerily calm. His dark eyes scanned the room briefly before they landed on Gerald with an expectant look. Gerald forced a smile and extended his hand.

“Arlo,” Gerald greeted him, his voice steady despite the nervous flutter in his chest. “Come in.”

Arlo shook Gerald’s hand firmly, his grip conveying a quiet authority. "Thank you for having me."

As Arlo stepped inside, Evelyn moved forward, offering a polite but strained smile. “Welcome, Arlo. Please, make yourself comfortable.”

Arlo nodded, his eyes surveying the modest surroundings before he took a seat at the table. His movements were controlled, almost too measured, as if every gesture had been rehearsed. Evelyn felt a shiver crawl up her spine, but she quickly dismissed it, focusing on being a gracious host.

Once they were all seated, Gerald cleared his throat. "We’re glad you could come. We thought it was time we discussed... the wedding plans."

"Yes," Arlo said with a faint smile, his sharp gaze never wavering. "I’ve waited a long time for this. I’m eager for things to move forward."

Evelyn swallowed, trying to calm the unease rising within her. "Of course," she said softly, "we want what’s best for Lune. We were thinking something small, intimate—just close family."

Arlo’s expression tightened briefly. “I’m fine with whatever pleases Lune,” he said, his voice low and controlled, though there was an edge to his words. “But the sooner, the better.”

Gerald nodded, not wanting to push Arlo on the matter. “We can start making arrangements. The local chapel—”

“Two weeks,” Arlo interrupted, his tone final. “That should be enough time, don’t you think?”

Evelyn glanced at Gerald in alarm. Two weeks? It seemed so rushed, but she could see that there was no room for negotiation. She forced a smile and nodded. "We’ll do our best to make it happen."

Silence hung in the air for a moment before Evelyn, trying to ease the tension, offered a softer question. “Arlo, we’ve never heard much about your family. Will anyone from your side be attending?”

A flicker of something unreadable passed through Arlo’s eyes. His jaw clenched slightly before he answered, his voice flat. “My parents are dead.”

The room fell into a strained silence as the weight of his words lingered in the air. Evelyn’s heart sank at her ill-chosen question. "Oh… I’m so sorry to hear that," she whispered, feeling a pang of guilt for asking.

“It was a long time ago,” Arlo said, his tone detached, though his eyes had darkened. “I’m the only family I need.”

Evelyn shifted uncomfortably in her seat, sensing the finality in his words. Gerald cleared his throat again, attempting to break the tension. “Well, it looks like everything is set. We’ll begin preparations right away.”

Arlo nodded, his expression unreadable once again. "Good. I’ll take care of the rest."

The meeting was brief, the air heavy with unsaid words. Arlo’s presence lingered long after he left the house, leaving Evelyn and Gerald sitting in uneasy silence. The wedding was now a certainty, but the questions in their hearts remained unanswered.

Arlo stepped out of Lune’s home, the tension from the meeting still clinging to him. The air outside felt lighter, though the weight of his plans pressed down more than ever. He walked toward the sleek black car waiting at the edge of the road, his expression hardening as he approached. His Beta, Marcus, stood by the car, opening the door for him with a silent nod.

Once inside, the door shut with a soft thud, sealing Arlo in the quiet comfort of the car’s interior. He exhaled sharply, his mind running over the meeting with Lune’s parents, calculating every detail. Everything was moving according to plan. But still, Lune’s reluctance gnawed at him, a subtle irritation that he’d soon fix.

Marcus into the driver’s seat, glancing at Arlo through the rearview mirror. “How did it go?”

“As expected,” Arlo replied, his voice cold. “The wedding will be in two weeks. There’s no turning back now.”

Marcus nodded, starting the engine. "Good. Should I proceed with the media announcement?"

Arlo stared out the window for a moment, his eyes narrowing as the trees blurred past. “Yes,” he said slowly, “but keep her identity a secret. I don’t want anyone to know who she is until the time is right.”

Marcus raised an eyebrow but didn’t question him further. “Understood. I’ll release the statement. Something vague, just enough to stir interest.”

“Exactly,” Arlo replied, his tone sharp. “I want the world to know I’m getting married, but no one touches Lune. Not yet.”

Marcus glanced briefly at Arlo through the mirror again, sensing the possessiveness in his words. “Anything else?”

Arlo’s lips curled into a faint smirk. “Make sure it’s done discreetly. I don’t want any unnecessary attention before the wedding.”

Marcus nodded once more, understanding the gravity of Arlo’s request. “Consider it done.”

The rest of the drive was spent in silence, the only sound being the hum of the engine as Arlo’s mind worked through the final pieces of his plan. Soon, everything would fall into place, just as he had always intended. And Lune? She would be his, fully and completely, whether she liked it or not.