Ariella’s POV
The days that followed the senate meeting were a whirlwind of emotions and changes. I had made a promise to myself to earn my place as Luna, and I was determined to keep it. What surprised me most, though, was how much Francis seemed to be on board with that goal. He wasn’t just standing in the background, watching from afar—he was right there beside me, supporting me in ways I hadn’t expected.
Our relationship, once fraught with tension and misunderstandings, began to change. The walls we had both built were slowly coming down, and I started to see Francis in a different light. He wasn’t as cold or stubborn as I had once thought; there was warmth beneath that tough exterior, a kindness that I had overlooked in my frustration.
One afternoon, not long after the senate meeti
