The Alpha Wants His Curvy Luna Back

EVELYN I had just donated my kidney to my boyfriend's mother, and I didn't think I'd ever been this happy. It hurts to breathe. Every breath I took dragged against the stitches in my side until tears gathered in my eyes, but I couldn't stop smiling. The pain didn't matter, not today. Mrs. Blackwood was alive, that was all that mattered more. Eight years ago, when I first met Damien Blackwood, he told me his mother was all he had left. His father had died when he was young, and from that day onward, she became my family too. She was the one who taught me how to bake cinnamon bread. She always pinched my cheeks and called me her "little sunshine," even after I gained weight. When her kidneys failed six months ago, I watched the strongest woman I knew become too weak to climb the stairs. I couldn't bear it, so I got tested. Again, and again. Until one morning, the doctor smiled and said, "You're a perfect match." I don't think I'd ever cried so hard in my life. Not because I was afraid, because I finally had a way to give back to the woman who had loved me like her own daughter. The surgery happened yesterday. When I woke up, Damien wasn't there. The nurse had noticed me looking toward the door every few minutes. "Your boyfriend has been running around handling paperwork," she explained kindly. "He barely left the hospital." My heart had swelled, that sounded exactly like Damien. Always responsible, always trying to carry everything by himself. I reached for my phone on the bedside table, smiling when I saw over twenty unread messages from him. I'm sorry I couldn't stay beside you. 'Mom just woke up. She's asking for you. Thank you, Eve. I love you.' I read that last message at least ten times. 'I love you.' Eight years. Eight years of loving the same man. Eight years of believing every promise he whispered to me. "When I become Alpha, you'll stand beside me as my Luna." "You're the only woman I'll ever want." "Ignore what everyone says about your body. I love every inch of you." I believed every word, and even till now, I still do. Maybe that made me foolish, or maybe love simply made people blind. A soft knock interrupted my thoughts. A nurse stepped inside carrying my discharge papers. "You'll be going home today." Home? My chest fluttered with excitement. It wasn't about the fact that I was going home, it was the fact that I was leaving her to spend the rest of my lives staring into the eyes of the man I love. Besides, he had insisted on picking me up himself. He said he had a surprise waiting. I bit my lip, unable to stop the ridiculous smile spreading across my face. Could this finally be it? Eight years of being together, his mother was healthy again, and most of all, the Blood Moon Festival was tonight. Maybe, he'd finally ask me to become his Luna. The thought made my cheeks warm, I was so sure it had even reddened. I carefully sat up, immediately regretting it as agony tore through my side. "Oh..." I gasped. The nurse hurried over. "Easy." "I'm okay," I laughed through the pain. "I just... forgot I only have one kidney now." She looked at me with something between admiration and pity. "You're very brave." "No." I shook my head. "I'm just in love." An hour later, I changed into the pale blue dress Damien bought me last month. It hugged my body that one could clearly see my curves. Normally, I'd pull at the fabric, trying to hide my stomach. Today, I didn't. Damien always scolded me whenever I did. "Stop hiding yourself, Evelyn," he'd say. "You're beautiful." His voice echoed in my head so clearly that I smiled again. Maybe today I'd finally believe him. I brushed my hair, added a little lip gloss, then stared at my reflection. I looked pale. The surgery had stolen the color from my face. There were dark circles around my eyes, but I was happy regardless. For once, happiness felt bigger than insecurity. The nurse returned with a wheelchair. "I can walk." She raised an eyebrow. "You just had major surgery." I sighed dramatically. "Fine." She laughed. By the time she wheeled me toward the hospital entrance, my heart was beating so hard I thought everyone could hear it. I searched every face, hoping to see Damien. Silently, I was praying he was here, that he would keep to his promise at the veryoment I needed him the most. "There he was," the nurse said, as though she was happy to see him too." My eyes darted to the direction she was pointing at, and then I saw him. Damien stood there in his perfectly tailored black suit. God. He looked so handsome. His dark hair was neatly styled, and his broad shoulders seemed even broader in formal clothes. The moment he saw me, his eyes softened. "There you are." He crossed the distance in long strides before kneeling beside my wheelchair. "How are you feeling?" "A little sore." His fingers brushed a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "I'm sorry." I let out a soft chuckle. "For what?" "For letting you do something so huge for us." I smiled. "There was never another choice." He was quiet. And for a second, he looked like he wanted to say something. Instead, he kissed my forehead. "Come on," he said. "I have somewhere to take you." My heartbeat quickened. "The surprise?" A small smile tugged at his lips. "You'll see." He helped me into the passenger seat with unbelievable care, making sure I didn't hurt my stitches. The drive felt longer than usual. I spent most of it staring out the window, imagining every possible surprise. A proposal? A celebration dinner? A small gathering with his family? Or maybe all three. I was so lost in my dreams that I didn't notice we'd driven past our usual road. "Damien?" "Hm?" "Where are we going?" "You'll know soon." His answer was strangely short. I frowned but let it go. Maybe he wanted everything to remain a surprise. Twenty minutes later, the car slowed. I could hear the sound of music playing, the applause and laughter that followed. My eyebrows knitted together, and I couldn't help but wonder why there were so many people here. Damien parked the car outside the Blackwood Pack Hall. The building was covered in white flowers, making the entire courtyard look more beautiful than I had ever seen. It looked like a celebration. I smiled. "Oh my God..." He really did it, I thought. Tears filled my eyes before I could stop them. Finally, he was going to ask. After eight years... After everything... He was finally going to make me his Luna. I reached for the door, my hands trembling with excitement. I had never been happier in my entire life. Not even for a second did I imagine that I had just walked into the day my heart would be shattered forever.