Chapter 28

It was dark by the time we returned to Kieran's residence. The house was quiet as we entered, but a light shone from beneath the door of his office.

"I think I'll head to bed," Mia said, yawning. "The guest room here is nicer than my apartment back home!"

After bidding her goodnight, I found myself drawn to Kieran's office. As I approached, I could hear his voice—low and intense, clearly arguing with someone on the phone.

"That's not acceptable," he was saying, his tone razor-sharp. "I don't care what precedent you think you're following. This territory is under my protection now, and I won't allow—"

He broke off abruptly as I knocked and pushed the door open slightly. His expression was thunderous for a split second before it softened upon seeing me.

"I'll call you back tomorrow," he said into the phone before ending the call and setting it down with careful control. "I'm sorry you had to hear that. Politics can be... complicated."

"Is everything okay?" I asked, stepping fully into the office.

He ran a hand through his hair, disheveling it slightly. "Just a territorial dispute with a neighboring pack. Nothing for you to worry about."

I nodded, accepting his deflection for now. "Did you eat dinner?"

A small smile touched his lips. "I had something brought in. How was your outing with Mia?"

"Good," I replied, settling into what I was already thinking of as 'my' chair across from his desk. "It was nice to see more of the territory."

Kieran leaned forward, his expression becoming more animated. "Speaking of which, I've been meaning to discuss something with you. I've been looking into acquiring a property in the village center—a beautiful old building that would make a perfect restaurant."

My interest piqued. "A restaurant?"

"Yes," he nodded. "I know from our conversations that you studied culinary arts before..." he gestured vaguely, "all of this. I thought you might want to run it. Create a space that's truly yours within the pack."

I stared at him, genuinely surprised by the thoughtfulness of the gesture. "You'd do that?"

His eyes softened. "Being Luna doesn't mean giving up your own passions and interests. If anything, it gives you a platform to pursue them on a larger scale."

Something warm bloomed in my chest. "I'd love that," I said honestly. "Thank you for thinking of it."

His smile made my heart skip a beat. "We can look at the space tomorrow if you'd like."

We spent the next hour going over the coronation schedule in detail—the ceremony itself, the formal introductions, the feast afterward, and the traditional dances that would follow. With each item we discussed, the reality of my new position became more concrete, more inevitable.

"And here," Kieran said, pointing to an entry on the schedule just before the formal feast, "is where the marking takes place. It's the culmination of the ceremony—the moment when the mate bond is completed and you officially become Luna."

Though his tone was matter-of-fact, I could sense the tension beneath his words, the way his body had stiffened slightly as he mentioned the marking.

"About that," I began, my voice smaller than I intended. "I'm still not sure I'm ready."

Kieran looked up, his amber eyes meeting mine. "I understand your concerns, Lena. And I meant what I said—I won't force you." His expression was sincere, almost vulnerable. "But I hope you'll consider what it means, not just for us, but for the pack. For the future we could build together."

He reached across the desk, his hand covering mine. "Whatever you decide, I will respect it. Even if it means facing the disapproval of every allied pack in the territory."

The intensity of his gaze, the warmth of his hand on mine, the absolute sincerity in his voice—all of it combined to create a flutter of something new in my chest. For the first time, I found myself not just anxious about the marking, but curious. Even... excited.

What would it feel like to be claimed by him? To complete the bond our wolves clearly yearned for? To truly belong to him, and he to me?

The thought sent a wave of heat through my body that had nothing to do with fear. As I watched Kieran's eyes darken slightly, as if he could sense the direction of my thoughts, I realized that part of me—a growing part—was beginning to want the marking.