No Longer His Luna

On the eve of our wedding, Chloe Whitmore posted a photo. A bead of blood clung to her slender fingertip. Her caption read: I wanted to make a strawberry tart as a surprise for the happy couple tomorrow. Lucas, I think I messed up... By the time I called, Lucas was already on his way to the hospital. "I'm driving. Whatever it is, can't it wait?" "Tomorrow is our—" "Lucas, am I going to die?" Chloe cut me off with a sob. His voice immediately softened as he comforted her. Then he hung up. Mia Carter leaned over to look at the photo and laughed in disbelief. "She's a werewolf too. A cut that small will heal before they even reach the clinic!" I stared at the screen, my fingers suddenly cold. Chloe had returned from Westbridge two years ago. That day was supposed to be our first wedding, but Lucas went to the airport instead. He arrived five hours late, carrying her neck pillow and coat. When he saw me crying, he quickly set them down and wiped my tears. "She's been away for so long. I lost track of time. We'll do it next week, I promise." One winter night during the second year of our relationship, I called him and said I couldn't sleep. He drove three hours to my building. He told me not to come out into the cold, then stayed on the phone until my eyelids grew heavy. He didn't leave until he saw my light go out. I remembered the man who couldn't bear to let me spend a sleepless night alone. So whenever he promised next week, I waited all over again. Later, the grand reception became a small ceremony, and a hall full of family and friends dwindled to a handful of acquaintances. Every time he promised we'd try again the following week, months passed instead. In two years, across seven wedding dates, not once had he stood beside me on time. If the rain was too heavy, Chloe needed someone to pick her up. If she wanted lobster, Lucas personally drove to the harbor to get it. The last time, she twisted her ankle outside the chapel. Lucas had already changed into his formal suit, but he carried her away in front of everyone. I ran after them, dragging my veil behind me. Over his shoulder, she smiled and silently mouthed, "No matter how long you wait, he'll still choose me." That time, I argued with him through my tears. He only frowned. "Her parents are both in Westbridge. I'm all she has here. If you can't even tolerate one of my friends, how are you supposed to be Luna someday?" My shoes had rubbed my feet raw, but he told me to keep my voice down so I wouldn't upset Chloe. The wounds healed quickly once I took off my shoes. His words hurt for far longer. At dawn, with only one hour left before the ceremony, he finally answered his phone. Before we booked this date, he had sworn to the Moon Goddess that he'd never leave me standing at the altar alone again. "Cancel it. Chloe didn't sleep well. She needs to stay for observation." "There's still time if you come back now." I heard the near-pleading note in my own voice. He grew impatient. "We've canceled so many times already. Why does it have to be today? She's my most important friend. I don't want her to miss my wedding." I gripped the phone, unable to find the words. If she couldn't attend, then my wedding couldn't take place. "Next week. Stop calling." When I tried again, his phone was off. Mia passed the doorway supporting Martha and gestured that all the guests had arrived. Martha hated the cold, so I'd reserved her a seat beside the heater. When she saw me, she looked as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she only patted my hand. For the past two years, I'd managed the Blackpine pack members' winter clothing and hospital visits. They called me Luna, and I'd always smile and tell them to wait until after the wedding. Mia showed her to her seat, then returned and asked softly, "Should I tell everyone to go home?" I looked down at my bouquet. Tears fell onto the flowers. After a long while, I shook my head. "No. There will be a wedding today." My mother was the first to try to change my mind. "Lucas has an emergency. Don't be childish. If you're going to marry an Alpha, you should at least have that much grace." Outside the door, my father was on the phone with Mrs. Hale, apologizing profusely. "Ivy chose a bad date... Of course this isn't Lucas's fault. We'll take her to visit Chloe in a little while." The Bennett family's timber business was steadily worsening, and they needed Lucas's shipping routes. Even the Hales, traveling overseas, sent messages telling me not to make a scene. They were all afraid of making Lucas angry. My phone vibrated softly with a message: Noah: On my way. Wait for me. I looked at Noah's name and thought of the call I had made a few minutes earlier. I had asked if he remembered saying that no matter when it was, if I ever needed him, he would come. "Even if I ask you to marry me?" He paused for only a second. "As long as that's what you want."