Page 47 of The Alpha's Lunar Crown

Her eyes jump to my face, and her hand hovers over her belly. "I hope I do."

"I know you will."

"I really hope I do." She let out an uneasy laugh. "While I'm glad I was blessed to keep a part of him, I can't help the idea that I might get this wrong. I've never been a mother before, and it might sound crazy, but I get scared sometimes."

The confession is definitely not one I saw coming, but it got me thinking about Aurora. If Selene, with all the love and support she has, can be scared of doing this alone, how scared was Aurora when she found out she was pregnant?

How scared was she to realize she was going to have to do this on her own, alone and with no support whatsoever? Not even from the person who got her pregnant. I drag a fist through my hair, tugging harshly at the strands to give my pain somewhere to focus. I failed her.

And while I remain grateful to her for keeping our son and fighting her way through all of it, I hate myself for not being there. I missed out on the crucial parts of my son's life because I was stupid.

I'm certain there's a catalog somewhere in her house with endless pictures of the memories they've built together and all of Ronan's milestones. His first step, his first day at school, and every important event, and I'm not on any page of it.

As if summoned by my thoughts, the door creaks open, and the atmosphere shifts from light to heavy and intense. Aurora.

She stood awkwardly at the door, offering a small greeting to Selene and me.

Selene takes her presence as her clue to leave, rising gracefully from the chair and offering Aurora a smile and a soft pat on her way out.

"Come on in," I say, ushering her into my office.

"It's a nice space," she says as her eyes soak in the woody interior. I hate that my space is still foreign to her and that she has to hover around me, but I can't help it. She'll need some time.

"Thank you," I reply, gently observing her. This is the first time she has sought me out during her stay here, and I don't know what to make out of it.

"She was here for pack business. War strategies and all, nothing personal." I find myself filling her in on the situation without being asked.

I don't know why I'm suddenly nervous, but I guess it's the fragile nature of our relationship. I wouldn't want her to misunderstand anything.

Aurora's lips quirk, and her eyes finally bounce from observing my office to my face. "I know. I overheard your conversation. I wasn't eavesdropping or anything," she hurriedly adds, a pink tinge dusting her cheeks.

"It's alright. I wouldn't mind if you did. You are right to have your questions and suspicions."

She takes a moment, almost as if she is thinking of her next words. "She is right, you know." She takes a step further into the office. "The duty with your wolf needs to be fixed."

"Aurora—"

"Yes, Lucien. The situation demands it."

"I don't give a fuck if the situation demands it or if the balance of the universe is hanging on its thread. What I care about is you and your forgiveness. I will not let you do anything out of obligation. The pack will be fine with or without my wolf, but I need you to want this, too."

My words come out a bit too strong, and my chest is heaving by the time I'm done. Aurora stares at me with parted lips before blinking twice, as if she wanted to make sure it is me before her.

"Okay," she finally says, her tone almost as breathless as mine.She clears her throat. "I wanted to thank you for your hospitality and to inform you that Ronan and I will be leaving soon."

My heart drops following her words. I knew this day was coming. Ronan fully recovered a while ago and has been up and doing for quite some time, yet hearing it from her feels like the onset of doom.

Her eyes don't leave mine, and for a moment, I could delude myself into thinking that she wanted me to ask her to stay, but I don't.

The old me would've done just that. Gone to every measure to make sure things work out exactly how I want it to, but I'm not that man anymore.

I won't push her into succumbing to my every whim. I'll show her she has full control of the situation and can make whatever decision she wants to make.

All I can promise is to always be by her side, never give her a reason to doubt my love or loyalty to her, and prove to her she can depend on me.

So instead, I say, "Okay." The word tastes like sawdust in my mouth. It's not what I want. I want to give her all the reasons to stay and show her the good time we could have together, but I sit tight in my chair, gripping the arm to keep myself from getting up and showing her why she should stay.

Something that looks eerily close to disappointment haunts her features, but it's gone before I can register it, replaced by the stoic expression she seems to carry around me. "Thank you," she mutters before turning and fleeing the scene.

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