CHAPTER 10 — What the Moon Wants
895 Words
When Mirabel woke, her body felt strangely light… softer… different.
Her head rested on something warm and firm.
A chest.
Lucian’s chest.
His arm was wrapped around her waist protectively, his body curved around hers as if he’d spent the entire night guarding her.
Mirabel’s breath caught.
For someone feared by entire territories, he held her with a tenderness she didn’t understand.
Her gaze drifted to his face—
the rough jawline shadowed with stubble,
the soft rise and fall of his chest,
the faint stress crease between his brows even in sleep.
He looked… peaceful.
And it terrified her.
She shifted slightly.
Lucian’s arm tightened instantly.
“Don’t move,” he murmured without opening his eyes.
Mirabel froze.
“How did you know I was awake?”
“I always know.”
His voice was low, rough, still touched with sleep.
It sent a shiver down her spine.
Mirabel swallowed.
“Lucian… what happened last night—”
“You shifted,” he said gently, his lips brushing her hair. “Your wolf woke up.”
Her heartbeat quickened.
“I… I remember the pain. And your voice. You held me…”
“You almost died,” he murmured. “I wasn’t letting you face that alone.”
Mirabel stared at him, stunned.
“Why?” she whispered.
His eyes finally opened—silver and intense, locking onto hers.
“Because you’re mine.”
Her breath caught.
“Lucian… you can’t keep saying that.”
“I’ll keep saying it until you believe it.”
Mirabel shook her head, pushing herself upright.
“I’m not ready for this. I didn’t ask for this bond. I don’t even know what it means.”
Lucian sat up too, his movements slow, controlled.
“It means you’re connected to me,” he said. “Body, mind, and instinct. You feel what I feel. I feel what you feel.”
Her eyes widened. “You can… feel my emotions?”
“Not all,” he said. “But the strong ones. Fear. Anger. Desire.”
Mirabel choked. “Desire?!”
Lucian’s lips curved slightly.
“It’s not my fault, Mirabel. Your emotions hit the bond like a storm.”
She flushed, hugging her knees.
“I don’t desire you.”
His smirk deepened. “Your heartbeat says otherwise.”
She glared at him, color flooding her cheeks.
“This is humiliating.”
Lucian moved closer, gently brushing a loose strand of hair from her face.
“It’s not,” he whispered. “It’s natural.”
Mirabel swallowed hard.
“Natural for you. Not for me.”
He paused, studying her.
“What scares you more?” he asked quietly.
“The bond itself… or the fact that a part of you doesn’t hate it?”
Her lips parted—no words came out.
Lucian leaned in, his forehead touching hers lightly.
“I won’t force anything,” he said softly. “But you need to accept one truth.”
His hand cupped her cheek, thumb brushing her skin in slow circles.
“Your wolf chose me.”
Mirabel closed her eyes.
“And what if the human part of me didn’t?”
Lucian’s thumb froze.
He lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.
“Then I’ll wait,” he said gently. “I’ll wait until the human part wants me too.”
Mirabel’s breath trembled.
“Lucian…”
She hated how fragile her voice sounded.
He leaned in—so close her lips tingled—but he didn’t kiss her.
Instead, he whispered:
“You scared me last night.”
Mirabel blinked.
“Huh?”
His voice dropped, raw and vulnerable.
“When you screamed, when your body went still—”
He swallowed hard.
“I thought I lost you.”
Her chest tightened painfully.
“Lucian…”
He looked away, jaw clenched.
“I don’t fear anything,” he murmured. “Nothing. Except losing you.”
Mirabel’s heart pounded.
“Why?” she whispered.
Lucian met her gaze, and the answer poured out like a truth he could no longer hold.
“Because you’re the only thing that feels right in my world.”
Her breath shook.
Before she could respond, a sharp knock shattered the moment.
Lucian stiffened immediately, his expression turning cold, Alpha-like.
“Stay behind me,” he commanded.
“Who is it?”
Lucian didn’t answer.
Another knock—louder, impatient.
Lucian opened the door—
And a tall woman with raven-black hair and piercing blue eyes walked in.
Elegant.
Confident.
Dangerously beautiful.
She wore a long coat embroidered with symbols Mirabel didn’t recognize.
But Lucian did.
His entire body tensed.
“Selene,” he growled.
The woman smiled.
“Hello, Lucian.”
Her gaze slid to Mirabel.
“So… this is the human girl causing all the chaos.”
Mirabel stiffened under that icy stare.
Selene smirked, crossing her arms.
“How interesting…” she said.
“The Moon Council wants her head.”
Lucian moved so fast Mirabel didn’t see it happen.
One second Selene was smirking—
the next, Lucian had her pinned to the wall by the throat.
“Over my dead body.”
Selene’s eyes gleamed with amusement, not fear.
“Oh, Alpha,” she purred.
“Exactly what they’re counting on.”
Mirabel’s heart dropped.
Her problems had just gotten much, much bigger.
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- Writer
