Page 44 of The Alpha's Lunar Crown

Ronan, oblivious to the tension in the room, dashes toward the dining table, already drawn to the spread of food. "Mom, look! My favorite!" He points at the plate of grilled chicken and mashed potatoes, bouncing on the heels of his feet.

My breath hitches. Next to the spread were my favorite spaghetti and meatballs with extra tomato sauce, making the pasta extra juicy. It's just the way I love it. But that isn't what causes the tightness in my throat. He has known me long enough to know and possibly recall my favorite food. It's Ronan's that has me in awe.

Lucien remembered every detail. I can vaguely recall Ronan yapping about his love for chicken and mashed potatoes and how he thinks mashed potatoes are much better than ice cream. Lucien laughed for most of the conversation, and I figured he might chalk it up as a kid's mindless ramble, but he didn't. He listened, and not only did he listen, he made good use of the information.

I force my expression to remain neutral as I take a seat beside Ronan. Lucien sits across from us, his gaze never straying too far from mine. The first few bites are eaten in silence, the only sounds coming from Ronan's delighted hums as he shovels food into his mouth.

"You're a good cook," I finally admit, my voice quieter than I intended.

Lucien's lips twitch, his fork hovering mid-air. "I had a good reason to learn." His eyes meet mine, and the weight of those words settles between us like a tangible force.

Averting my gaze, I focus on my plate, unsure of how to navigate this fragile truce we had found ourselves in. While I've become moderately civil to him—I don't want Ronan to find us arguing and bickering—I still haven't warmed up to him, and these gestures make me uncomfortable.

"So, Ronan," Lucien says, shifting the conversation. "Did you enjoy spending time with the pack today?"

Ronan nods enthusiastically, his curls bouncing with the movement. "Yeah! Uncle Liam showed me the training grounds. I saw warriors shifting! It was so cool."

Lucien chuckles. "Maybe one day, you'll train with them."

Ronan's eyes sparkle. "Really?"

"If that's what you want."

I press my lips together, watching the way Lucien interacts with our son. It was natural, effortless even. But that was the cruelest part, wasn't it? The promises and the hope.

While I cannot deny the efforts he's making, I also can't ignore the part of me that remains on guard. I'm worried about Ronan. I'm worried that Lucien is going to waltz into his life, give him a taste of his signature charm and sweetness, and leave just when he needs him.

I've spent the past years raising him in the best way I could. It hasn't been easy, but I made sure he has never lacked anything. If I'm to ever officially bring a man into our lives, I have to make sure it'll be someone who can stay. Someone dependable, someone who will make him a priority and choose him over anything. I am not sure Lucien can be that man.

And there's the case of Selene. We haven't spoken about her, partly because I've not asked, but she hangs over us like a grey cloud.I gathered from the healer that she is on a condolence visit to Ironclaw. Something about them losing their alpha to Silver Pack, but she will be back, and she'll assume her position as his Luna.

It's part of the reason I find it difficult to trust him. He claims he wants to be a part of my life, but he already has one here, and as ruthless as Lucien might be, he'll not abandon his wife. I won't let him do that. I refuse to subject another woman to the pain I endured.

The past claws at the edges of my resolve, but before I can succumb to it, Ronan yawns, rubbing at his eyes.

"I think it's bedtime," I say softly, pushing my chair back.

Lucien's expression flickers, just for a moment, before he nods. "I'll take him."

Before I could object, lifts Ronan into his arms with the kind of familiarity that made my heart ache. Ronan barely protests, already half-asleep against Lucien's shoulder.I follow them down the hall, stopping at the doorway as Lucien lays Ronan down, tucking the blankets around him. He hesitates, then brushes a hand over Ronan's curls, his thumb lingering on his cheek.

The sight was almost too much to bear.

Lucien turned, his expression unreadable. "Can we talk?"

I should say no. I should bid him farewell and insist on returning to my home and letting the past stay buried. But something in his voice, something raw and unguarded, makes me nod.

He leads us to the back porch, the cool night air wrapping around us. The moon hangs heavy in the sky, casting silver light across the landscape. For a while, neither of us spoke. We bask in the silence, soaking up the glow of the moon while crickets and other creatures of the night serenade us with their chaotic harmony.

"I never stopped looking for you," Lucien finally says. His voice was quiet, rough.

I cross my arms, bracing myself. "You didn't look hard enough."

His jaw clenches. "Aurora—"

"You chose Selene," I cut in, the old wounds splitting open despite my best efforts to keep them closed. "You didn't fight for me. You didn't believe in us."

Regret darkened his expression. "I was young and reckless, and I thought I was doing what was best for the pack."

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