A Love Confession Under MoonlightThe Confession“Elena.”She heard her name through the soft ripples of water, but she wasn’t sure if she had imagined it. The moonlight shimmered on the river’s surface, casting a glow over Asher’s face, highlighting the intensity in his hazel eyes.“What?” she breathed, her heart hammering against her ribs.“I love you.” His voice was steady, unwavering.Elena froze. The words hit her like a tidal wave, knocking the air from her lungs. She stared at him, sure she had misheard, blaming the gentle rush of water distorting his words.“You… what?” she whispered, her pulse roaring in her ears.Asher didn’t hesitate. He cupped her face, his wet fingers grazing her cheeks. “I love you, Elena. I’ve loved you for longer than I even realized. And I don’t want to wait anymore.”Her breath hitched. This was unreal—impossible. No one had ever said those words to her. No one had ever meant them.“Asher…” she started, but she had no idea what to say. She could only
Then, suddenly, he lowered her onto a smooth, flat rock near the water’s edge. Elena barely had a second to process before Asher leaned over her, his hazel eyes dark with something unreadable. “I’ve never wanted anything the way I want you,” he murmured, his hand brushing along her jaw. Her breath caught. “Asher…” His lips hovered over hers, their breaths mingling. “Tell me to stop,” he whispered, his voice hoarse. “And I will.” But Elena didn’t want him to stop. Instead, she reached up, her fingers tracing the sharp lines of his jaw. “Don’t stop.” That was all he needed. Asher kissed her again, slow and deep, his hands roaming her body with reverence. Elena knew she was lost. But for once, she didn’t want to be found. For once, she wanted to let herself drown in him.Elena gasped as Asher’s lips trailed down her neck, his warm breath sending shivers through her. His kisses slowed, lingering on the sensitive spot where his mark should one day be. Her body tense
Without a word, he turned, grabbed his discarded shirt from the riverbank, and draped it over her shoulders. The fabric was still warm from his body, carrying his scent. “Mine,” he murmured, voice deep and possessive. Elena shivered, though not from the cool night air. A flicker of amusement danced in her eyes as she looked up at him. “Possessive, aren’t you?” Asher smirked but didn’t deny it. Instead, he ran his fingers along the edge of the shirt, adjusting it so it covered more of her. “Damn right,” he said, voice husky. “And you love it.” Elena flushed, but she couldn’t deny the way her heart raced at his words. He reached down, grabbing her pants from where she had left them on the rock. Before she could protest, he crouched slightly and helped her step into them, his fingers grazing her thighs as he pulled them up.The simple act sent a thrill through her—not from lust, but from the intimacy of it.Once she was dressed, Asher cupped her face, running his thumb alon
Awakening in Love:“Asher,” Elena whispered groggily, her voice a soft rasp in the quiet morning air. “Are you staring at me again?”Asher smirked, brushing a strand of hair away from her cheek. “Guilty. You make it hard not to.”She peeked one eye open, still nestled against his chest. “That’s creepy, you know.”“Is it creepy if I’m admiring the woman I love?” he murmured, pressing a light kiss to her forehead.Elena’s eyes fluttered open fully this time. She smiled—lazy, content. “You’re lucky I love you back.”“I know,” he said, grinning. His hand slid down to trace the outline of her mark, his thumb moving gently over the sensitive skin. “I’m really damn lucky.”She sighed and nuzzled into his chest. “It’s cold.”Without hesitation, Asher tugged her even closer, wrapping his arms around her bare body. “Better?”“Mmm,” she hummed, her eyes closing again.He chuckled softly, the vibrations rumbling through his chest. "You always do this."Elena peeked up at him, brow arched. "Do wh
Elena watched Asher disappear down the stairs, the warmth of his body still lingering on her skin. But something gnawed at her chest—a flicker of unease. The moment he’d sat up, she’d seen it in his face. That storm behind his eyes. And now, alone in the quiet room, that image refused to leave her.She sat up slowly, wrapping the blanket around herself tighter. Her fingers brushed the mark on her shoulder, still tingling faintly from his touch, but her thoughts were no longer anchored in the bliss of their morning.___________ Elena’s Concern“Asher?” she had murmured earlier, when his expression had shifted—when the relaxed man she woke up with suddenly seemed a thousand miles away.“I’m fine,” he’d said too quickly. Too flatly.She’d reached for his hand then, but he’d gently pulled away, avoiding her gaze.“I’ll go make breakfast,” he’d mumbled, already halfway off the bed before she could press further.Elena wasn’t naive. Something had rattled him. And she hated the distance it
Asher’s footsteps echoed back up the stairs, his mother’s words still bouncing around in his chest. Don’t let the past steal what you’ve built.But it wasn’t that simple.His jaw clenched as he reentered the room, only to find Elena already sitting on the edge of the bed, fully dressed, brushing her fingers through her slightly damp hair.She looked up the moment he stepped in. “You okay?”“I will be,” he said, crossing to her. He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. “Come on. Breakfast is ready.”They descended together, hand in hand, and Elena immediately noticed the scent of bacon and coffee in the air.Asher’s mother was setting plates on the table, a faint smile touching her lips. “I made enough for three.”____________Emotional ConflictAsher pulled out a chair for Elena, but his own movements were stiff, controlled. Tension still rippled under his skin.He sat down last, watching his mother closely. The way she moved. The calmness she carried. It was familiar—b
Elena leaned into Asher’s side as they stood quietly by the stairs, her fingers still laced with his. She could feel the tension lingering in his frame, the way his jaw clenched, the way his eyes drifted back upstairs again and again. Though his mother’s strength had surprised him, the storm inside him hadn’t yet settled.She tilted her head, eyes soft. “You’re still thinking about it.”Asher gave a small, almost sheepish smile, not meeting her gaze. “Yeah.”__________Love and Understanding“You didn’t really answer me earlier,” she said gently. “What’s really bothering you, Asher?”He sighed and leaned back against the wall, running a hand through his hair. “It’s… the way I reacted to her. I let my fear speak instead of my trust in her. I told myself I was protecting her, but really, I just panicked. And now I can’t stop thinking about the look in her eyes when I snapped.”Elena’s gaze didn’t waver. “You’re human, Asher. You’re allowed to feel scared. But you did the right thing in
"You're sure you're ready for this?" Asher's voice was low, steady, but his eyes betrayed his concern.Elena tightened her grip on his hand, her knuckles turning white. "No," she whispered, then added, louder, "but I have to be. For myself. For all the nights I stayed awake wishing for this moment."Asher gave her a small nod, then leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Then I'm with you. Every step of the way."She exhaled slowly, grounding herself in his presence. The hallway was dimly lit, the air heavy with tension. Every step toward the cellblock felt like dragging chains behind her, weighted with the memories of pain and fear.Her heart thundered in her chest as they reached the steel doors. The guard glanced at her, then nodded to Asher. "They're inside. You have ten minutes."Asher gave a curt nod. "We won’t need more than that."The door creaked open. The stench of damp concrete and old regret hit Elena like a punch. Her breath caught as her gaze landed on the four figures within
Elena let herself sink into the moment, feeling the soothing weight of Asher’s arms around her. But soon, a mischievous spark lit in her chest, refusing to let the peace stay too serious.“Sit over there,” Elena said suddenly, nudging Asher’s chest with a grin.He blinked, confused but amused. “Bossy,” he teased, but obediently shifted across the bed, sitting up against the pillows.Elena scrambled off the bed and found a battered old sketchbook and a pencil from her nightstand drawer. “Don’t move,” she said with exaggerated sternness, tossing a wink over her shoulder.“Am I about to be immortalized?” Asher smirked, lounging dramatically as if he were about to pose for a royal painting.Elena giggled. “Yes, but if you keep moving like that, it’s going to be a disaster.”He puffed out his chest, then instantly ruined the serious pose by grinning mischievously. “Paint me like one of your French wolves, my Queen.”She burst into laughter, tossing a handful of popcorn from the bowl on the
The room hummed with the quiet sounds of their breathing, the world outside forgotten. Elena shifted slightly against Asher, feeling the warmth of his body wrap around her like a living shield. For a long, blissful moment, they simply held each other, their hearts beating in lazy tandem.Eventually, Asher stirred, brushing his lips lazily across her temple. “Come on, beautiful. Let’s get cleaned up,” he whispered, his voice rough with exhaustion and lingering tenderness.Without letting go of her hand, he guided her toward the large bathtub tucked in the corner of the room. Elena chuckled sleepily as the warm water filled, steam curling up around them like a cocoon.“Lazy wolf,” she teased as he lifted her effortlessly into the bath with him, settling her between his legs, her back resting comfortably against his chest.“You’re one to talk,” Asher murmured, pressing a playful kiss to her wet shoulder, making her giggle.The water enveloped them in heat and comfort. Elena sighed in con
The world outside their little cocoon faded into nothing but heartbeats and whispered breaths.Asher's fingers brushed slow, teasing circles along Elena’s bare hip, drawing a soft gasp from her lips. His touch grew bolder, more deliberate, tracing the sensitive line of her waist, then venturing lower, making her body arch into him instinctively."Asher..." she whispered, breathless, her nails digging lightly into his shoulders.He chuckled against her skin, low and teasing. "What is it, beautiful?" he murmured, nipping playfully at the curve of her neck."You’re... you're teasing me," she said, half-laughing, half-whimpering, the sound laced with undeniable need.He lifted his head, eyes dark and full of wicked affection. "Maybe I am," he said, his voice rough with desire. "You drive me crazy... it’s only fair."Elena whined softly, bucking her hips up to him. "Please," she whispered, her voice cracking with longing.The simple word made Asher growl low in his throat, his restraint cr
A Love That Feels Like Home:"Asher, stop squirming," Elena giggled, trying to peel his shirt over his head as he wrestled with it like it was some wild animal."I'm trying!" he laughed, arms trapped above his head. "This thing’s possessed, I swear."She tugged harder, finally yanking it off with a victorious huff. His hair was a mess, cheeks flushed, eyes crinkling at the corners from laughter. Elena burst out laughing, dropping the shirt to the floor."You look ridiculous," she teased, running her fingers through his tousled hair, smoothing it down."You love it," he said, grinning crookedly, catching her wrists and pulling her closer."Maybe," she whispered, just as he ducked his head to kiss her neck. His lips brushed her mark tenderly, sending a shiver racing down her spine."You definitely do," he murmured against her skin, his voice low and teasing.Elena hummed, threading her fingers into his hair again, tugging playfully as he trailed slow kisses up her jawline. The air betwe
The door creaked open again.Elena turned, expecting Genevieve or maybe Dawn—but it wasn’t either.It was Asher.And he froze in the doorway.Time, breath, and sound—all of it stilled.He didn’t move.Didn’t speak.Just… stared.His eyes drank her in from head to toe. The white dress that floated around her like morning mist. The soft fall of her hair. The quiet strength in her posture. The way her lips curved just barely, nervous but glowing.“Elena,” he finally whispered, voice low and awestruck.Her heart stuttered.He stepped in slowly, reverently, like approaching something sacred. His gaze never left her face, as though he was afraid she’d vanish if he blinked.“Say something,” she breathed, voice barely above a whisper.“I would,” he said, his throat tight, “if I could remember how to speak.”That made her laugh, soft and breathy.He reached her then, his hands lifting but not yet touching—as if still trying to believe she was real. “You look like a dream I’ve had my whole life
Elena stood in front of the mirror, still and breathless. The ceremony was just hours away, but her stomach churned like she’d swallowed a storm.The room was quiet now. Genevieve had left to help with final touches. Dawn had skipped off with her flower crown. Even the hum of chatter downstairs felt far away.It was just her and the mirror.And fear.Her fingers trembled as she traced the edge of the white dress—soft chiffon with intricate embroidery along the neckline. The fabric hugged her lightly, flowing around her like mist. She should have felt like a vision.Instead, all she could see were memories pressing through the glass.The echoes of bruises that had once marred her skin. The hollow eyes she used to avoid in her reflection. The voice in her head that still whispered: You’re not enough. You never were.Her breath hitched.What if they see the truth beneath the silk? What if they see the scared girl still hiding under the skin of a Luna?She turned from the mirror, pressing
Elena stirred the next morning to the soft chirping of birds and the golden warmth pouring through the trees. Asher had wrapped himself around her during the night, their bodies curled together beneath a blanket of moss and dappled sunlight. For the first time in her life, she didn’t wake up flinching.Instead, she smiled.“Morning, Luna,” Asher whispered against her shoulder, his voice still thick with sleep.Her heart flipped. That title… it used to scare her. Now it sounded like a crown placed gently on her head, not one she had to earn by pain—but by love.Asher kissed her cheek before pulling himself up. “We should head back soon. Your ceremony's tonight.”Her breath caught. Nerves fluttered in her chest. Ceremony. People. Attention. Things she’d never felt comfortable with.And yet—she wanted it. For herself. For them.By the time they returned to the house, the buzz had already begun. Pack members moved in and out, carrying decorations, trays of food, and fabric-draped poles fo
"I think this is my favorite kind of silence," Elena whispered, her voice barely louder than the breeze.Asher turned his head slowly, his eyes glowing amber in the waning light. “The kind where we don’t have to say anything… but everything’s already understood?”She smiled faintly, eyes fixed on the sunset bleeding across the sky. “Exactly that.”The horizon was a watercolor of gold and soft lavender, bleeding into a dusky crimson that painted the clouds with fire. The lake mirrored it all—still, soft, endless. A hush had fallen over the world, as if nature itself paused to breathe beside them.“I used to hate sunsets,” Elena confessed, her fingers playing with a blade of grass. “They reminded me the day was over, and it meant going back into a night I couldn’t escape.”Asher’s brows furrowed, but he didn’t interrupt.“But now,” she continued, “I love them. Because I know what the night holds. You.”He reached for her hand gently, threading his fingers between hers. “The night belong
The forest began to thin, the trees spreading wider apart as the scent of water drifted to him—fresh, clear, kissed by wind. Asher slowed his stride, dark paws sinking into moss and damp soil as he followed the trail of delicate pawprints that shimmered faintly in the sunlight.Then he saw it.The lake.Still. Silent. Sacred.The water lay like glass, mirroring the golden sky overhead. Morning mist curled above its surface like a soft veil, and tall reeds swayed at the edges where dragonflies danced between blades.It hit him like a memory. One he hadn’t thought about in years.This lake—this exact lake—was where his father used to take him as a pup. Before the war. Before the loss. They would lie beneath the oaks and count the stars. His father had called it the heart of the forest, a place where the world stood still, where the bond between wolf and nature hummed the loudest.Now it whispered something else.Peace.And at its center—was her.Elena.She stood at the water’s edge, one