No More Waiting

Flames crackled softly in the living room fireplace.

Damon Clark wrapped his arms around my waist, leaning down to kiss me. But as our lips met, he felt me pulling away in my head and paused, drawing back just a fraction.

"What’s wrong?"

The warm firelight flickered across the sharp angles of his face.

I looked away, catching my reflection in the floor-to-ceiling window—specifically, my bare neck.

"Nothing," I said, shaking my head softly.

Damon let out a sigh and tried to pick up where he left off, but I tilted my head to the side and avoided him.

He froze, pulling back a bit further to look at me, a flicker of annoyance breaking through his mood. "Are you really still throwing a fit over that moonstone necklace?"

His voice took on a coaxing tone, like he was trying to smooth over a temper tantrum from an unruly pup. "You know how Elder Sam is. He places a lot of weight on bloodlines. Besides, Elena grew up with us in the pack, so naturally, he’s always favored her."

Seeing that I stayed silent, his patience ran out even faster. "Look, it’s just a necklace. So what if she got it? Did you really have to give everyone such an attitude during the ceremony?"

It was almost laughable. I hadn't said or done anything, and I had just stood there in complete silence, watching the entire ceremony play out. But in his eyes, simply failing to smile and celebrate Elena Allen's bragging made me unreasonable.

"Damon," I called out, my voice flat.

"Yeah?"

"The moonstone necklace is the symbol of the Luna. You know that better than anyone."

Silence settled over the living room for a second, punctuated only by the snap of a spark in the fireplace.

Damon let out a light laugh, casually ruffling my hair with the same gentle yet dismissive affection he always used. "It’s just a title with a symbolic trinket attached to it. In my heart, you’ve always been my one and only Luna. You have me, which means you have the whole pack. Why do you even care about a silly necklace?

"Tell you what, next time I head out on patrol, I’ll bring you back an even rarer gift. Something way nicer than that necklace. So be good, okay? Don't keep clinging to such a trivial thing."

He was always like this—using that low, velvety voice to sweep away every single expectation I had ever built up.

Five years ago, while patrolling outside our territory, Damon had picked up a rough fragment of a moonstone and polished it into a crude little bracelet. With bright, hopeful eyes, he had tied it around my wrist and made a promise.

"Aria, once I become the Alpha, I’ll give you the ultimate sacred heirloom of our pack, the moonstone necklace. I’m going to make you my official Luna."

That very moonstone bracelet was still on my wrist today, its surface long dulled and worn down by time.

Damon reached out again, wanting to pull me back into his arms. "Our five-year anniversary is the day after tomorrow. Where do you want to go celebrate?"

The fire in the hearth kept crackling, sending waves of heat against my skin, yet it couldn't warm the coldness settling deep in my chest.

I took half a step backward, putting distance between us as I turned my back to him. "Forget it."

His hands paused in the air.

A second later, he wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, resting his chin lazily on my shoulder.

"Are you really mad at me?

"Elena asked if I could take her out for some fresh air tomorrow. She hasn't been feeling well lately. And you know how dangerous the deep forest can get.

"She’s always had such a gentle, timid personality, so I just don't feel safe letting her go in there alone. I'll just keep her company for the trip and come back tomorrow afternoon to spend the rest of the day with you, alright?"

"Alright," I agreed, my face completely expressionless.

Damon visibly relaxed, thoroughly satisfied as he dropped a quick kiss on the corner of my lips. "I knew you were always the reasonable one."

What he didn't realize was that my "reasonableness" this time wasn't a compromise. It was me giving up on him entirely.

Damon let go of me and walked straight into the bathroom.

I walked over to my half-packed suitcase, opening it to reveal a ring carved with the crest of the Northern Pack. It was a token of acceptance from them, signaling that I was officially welcomed into their pack.

The sound of running water soon filled the room, drowning out everything else.

I put the ring on, pulled out a piece of paper and a pen, and began writing my reply.

[I’ve made up my mind. I’ll be leaving with you guys the night after tomorrow.]

Outside the window, a raven had been patiently waiting for my response. I tied the note to its leg and watched as it spread its wings and disappeared into the night, a faint smile touching my lips.