The Engima's Luna

Chapter Nine : When the Wolves Speak

Rhydian was still standing a few feet away from her.

Seraphina could feel his eyes on her.

She should say something.

Anything.

Instead, her mind went completely blank.

"Hi," she finally whispered.

Rhydian smiled.

"Hi."

Silence.

Seraphina looked at the flower in her hand.

Then at the grass.

Then somewhere over his shoulder.

Anywhere except his eyes.

Luneth sighed inside her head.

You're doing it again.

Doing what?

Being shy.

I'm not shy.

*You haven't looked at him for ten seconds.

That's because I don't know what to say!

Then I'll say it.

Seraphina's eyes widened.

Don't you dare.

Too late.

Suddenly, something inside her shifted.

Seraphina felt herself being pushed gently backward.

Not physically.

It was more like her consciousness had been moved into the passenger seat of her own mind.

"Luneth!"

Relax.

Give me control back.

No.

Luneth!

You are terrible at this.

I am not!

*You said hello and then stared at a flower.

It's a very nice flower.

Seraphina.

Fine.

She tried to take control again.

Nothing happened.

"Luneth!"

Quiet.

Seraphina's mental protest died immediately.

Her wolf stepped forward.

The change was subtle.

But Rhydian noticed.

His smile slowly disappeared.

The woman standing before him was still Seraphina.

Same face.

Same body.

Same scent.

But something about her eyes had changed.

They were brighter now.

More confident.

Curious.

Almost playful.

Rhydian's wolf immediately woke.

Mate.

He felt the familiar pressure rising inside his mind.

His wolf wanted control.

Wanted to step forward.

Wanted to close the distance between them.

Rhydian took a slow breath.

"Easy."

His wolf growled impatiently.

She's ours.

"I know."

Then let me speak to her.

Rhydian hesitated.

Normally, he would never surrender complete control so easily.

Not even to his wolf.

But something told him that this was different.

He didn't want to disappear completely.

He wanted to experience this himself.

So instead of giving his wolf the reins, he opened part of his mind.

A shared space.

Half him.

Half his wolf.

The change came instantly.

His senses sharpened.

Her scent became stronger.

The sound of her heartbeat became clearer.

And his wolf's excitement rushed through him.

Rhydian smiled.

"Better?"

Much.

Across from him, Luneth suddenly grinned.

"You're Rhydian."

Rhydian blinked.

"I am."

"You really are."

He laughed.

"Was there any doubt?"

"No."

Luneth stepped slightly closer.

Seraphina internally panicked.

Luneth! What are you doing?

Talking.

You're embarrassing me.

You were embarrassing yourself.

I hate you.

No, you don't.

Rhydian tilted his head.

"You're different."

Luneth smiled.

"Seraphina is shy."

Rhydian's eyes widened slightly.

"You can hear her?"

"Of course."

LUNETH.

Quiet.

Seraphina mentally groaned.

Rhydian laughed.

"Does she always argue with you?"

"All the time."

I am right here.

Luneth ignored her.

"She's worried you don't want her."

The smile disappeared from Rhydian's face.

His wolf immediately growled.

She thinks we don't want her?

Rhydian's expression softened.

"Is that what she's been thinking?"

Luneth nodded.

"She thinks the bond might be something you regret."

Rhydian stared at her.

Then he took another careful step forward.

"Tell her something for me."

Luneth waited.

"I don't regret finding her."

Seraphina's heart jumped.

Luneth smiled.

"I'll tell her."

"You don't have to."

Seraphina suddenly pushed forward in their shared mind.

I'll hear it myself.

Luneth finally loosened her hold.

Seraphina regained control.

Her eyes widened.

Rhydian was watching her.

She knew exactly what he had said.

Her cheeks immediately turned warm.

"You... don't regret it?"

Rhydian's expression became gentle.

"Not even for a second."

Seraphina looked down.

Her fingers twisted nervously around the flower.

"Even though there are three of us?"

Rhydian smiled.

"Especially because there are three of us."

Her heart fluttered.

Inside her mind, Luneth practically bounced with excitement.

See?

Don't say anything.

*I told you.

Luneth.

*You're welcome.

Seraphina tried very hard not to smile.

She failed.

Rhydian noticed.

"There she is."

She looked up.

"What?"

"That smile."

Seraphina's cheeks warmed again.

"You've barely known me."

"True."

"And you're already noticing things?"

"I notice everything about you."

She stared at him.

That answer left her completely speechless.

Luneth immediately took advantage.

Ask him.

No.

*Ask him.

Ask what?

*The forest.

Seraphina hesitated.

Then Luneth suddenly pushed forward again.

This time, Seraphina didn't resist completely.

Her wolf's excitement spilled into her expression.

"Can we run?"

Rhydian blinked.

"What?"

"The forest."

Her eyes lit up.

"Can we run through the forest?"

Rhydian stared at her for a second.

Then his lips curved into a grin.

"You want to run?"

"Yes."

She suddenly looked completely different.

No hesitation.

No nervousness.

No awkward pauses.

Just excitement.

"I haven't run properly in so long."

Rhydian laughed.

"You're serious."

"Of course I'm serious."

Her eyes sparkled.

"Please?"

His wolf practically howled inside him.

YES.

Rhydian almost laughed at the enthusiasm.

"I thought you were shy."

Seraphina's expression immediately changed.

"I'm not—"

Luneth interrupted inside her mind.

We are not shy.

Seraphina glared inwardly.

You are going to get me into trouble.

Probably.

Rhydian extended his hand.

"Then come on."

Seraphina stared at his hand.

Her heart fluttered.

She slowly placed her hand in his.

The instant their palms touched, both wolves reacted.

Warmth rushed through the bond.

Rhydian's fingers curled gently around hers.

His wolf settled.

Not completely.

But enough.

Seraphina smiled.

"Race you."

Rhydian raised an eyebrow.

"You?"

"Me."

"You realize I'm an Alpha, right?"

She grinned.

"I know."

"And you're an Omega."

"I know that too."

His grin widened.

"You're challenging an Alpha?"

Seraphina squeezed his hand.

"I thought you weren't afraid of losing."

Rhydian stared at her.

Then laughed.

"Now that's interesting."

Inside Seraphina's mind, Luneth was practically celebrating.

Run, mate.

And for the first time since the Moon Ceremony, Seraphina didn't feel like the frightened Omega who had run away from her awakening.

She felt free.

Rhydian looked toward the forest.

"Ready?"

Seraphina nodded.

"Ready."

Neither of them knew that this simple run would become the first moment Seraphina truly began to understand her wolf.

And neither realized that somewhere inside Rhydian, his wolf had already accepted something important.

Luneth wasn't merely Seraphina's wolf.

She was part of the bond.

And he wanted to know her too.