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Chapter 13: After the Contract

Ava woke up to cameras.

Not in room. Outside. 20 stories down, flashes, shouting. But Ethan's phone had been buzzing for an hour.

She was tangled in him. Real tangled. No pillow wall. His arm over her waist, her head on his chest, his heartbeat slow under her ear. Her neck mark - his bite now, real one, from last night after kiss, gentle, claiming - glowed faint gold.

"Morning, Luna," Ethan murmured, eyes still closed, hand in her hair.

"Morning, Alpha," Ava whispered back, liking how it felt now. Not scary. Hers.

He opened eyes, amber bright.

"You okay? I - last night - "

"I'm perfect," she said, touching his cheek. "You asked. You were gentle. Well, mostly gentle. You growled a lot."

"I always growl when you're - " He stopped, grinned. "Never mind."

His phone buzzed again. Marcus.

Ethan answered on speaker.

"Alpha, sorry, but - press is outside tower. Someone leaked video from Chen's coffee shop. Of you kissing Luna's hand. And forehead kiss at hospital. And... Boston pack kids posted t****k of Luna riding you. Wolf you. 12 million views."

Ava sat up, sheet around her. "12 million?"

"And council is here," Marcus added. "Old council. In lobby. They want to see Goddess mark. And... they brought engagement papers."

Ethan went still. "Engagement papers?"

"Traditional pack engagement. For true Luna. If mark is real, they want to register."

Ava looked at Ethan, panicked. "Engagement? We just - we just had first kiss last night!"

"I know," Ethan said, hanging up, pulling her back down. "We don't have to. We can tell them to leave. We can tell press - "

"No," Ava said, surprising herself. "Let's go down."

Ethan blinked. "Ava, council is scary. Old wolves. They will sniff, test - "

"Let them," Ava said, getting up, grabbing his shirt, huge on her. "I chose you in front of Boston pack. I can choose you in front of old pack. And press. I'm done hiding."

Ethan stared at her, this human girl in his shirt, bare legs, gold mark blazing now, no makeup, ready to fight old wolves.

"Goddess," he whispered. "I love you."

"Come on, Alpha King. Let's make it official."

Downstairs, lobby was chaos.

Council - five old men and women in suits, eyes silver with age - stood. Press behind glass, shouting. Marcus and pack security holding line.

Ava walked out holding Ethan's hand, wearing yesterday's Chanel dress, hair messy, no shoes because she forgot, but head high.

Council elder woman, silver hair, stepped forward, sniffed air, eyes landing on Ava's neck.

"Goddess mark," she whispered. "True."

She bowed. All five bowed. To Ava.

"Luna," they said together.

Press screamed louder, cameras flashing through glass.

Elder held out old paper, wax seal.

"By old law, Alpha King Ethan Blackstone, do you claim this human girl Ava Miller as true fated Luna, to be registered as Luna of Blackstone pack, with all rights, protection, forever?"

Ethan looked at Ava, not paper.

"Ava?" he asked softly, so only she heard. "Forever? For real? No contract?"

Ava looked at press, at council, at Marcus filming with tears, at Ethan.

"Forever," she said. "For real."

Ethan took paper, signed with claw - literal claw, nail extended, cutting - then handed to Ava.

She signed with pen he gave, hand shaking: AVA MILLER.

Gold light exploded from both marks, filling lobby, so bright press cameras whited out.

When light faded, on Ava's finger, where no ring was before, was thin gold band. Not from Ethan. From Goddess.

"Goddess ring," council woman whispered, crying now. "She approves. She made ring."

Ethan slid it properly on finger, then kissed it, then kissed her mouth in front of council, pack, press.

Loud, real, forever kiss.

Cheers erupted.

Then Ava's phone rang. Loud, old ringtone. DAD.

She answered, still in Ethan's arms.

"Ava? Baby? Are you on TV? Your mom and I see - is that Ethan Blackstone? Are you engaged? Are you okay? That mark - "

Ava laughed, crying.

"Dad, I'm okay. I'm more than okay. I'm Luna. And I'm coming home soon to explain. Bring Ethan. He pays hospital bills."

Ethan took phone gently. "Mr. Miller, this is Ethan. Thank you for raising Luna. I will take care of her. Forever. And... I'll pay off house. Already did."

On other end, Ava's dad fainted. Mom screamed.

Ava looked at Ethan, at ring, at pack bowing again.

Day 28. Contract burned. 30 days didn't matter anymore.

She was Luna. Real.