Luna POV
Luna's heart stopped.
She knew who was at the border before Elena even spoke the name. Her body recognized him before her mind caught up. Before she could prepare. Before she could build her walls back up.
Grayson.
He came back. Exactly seven days. Like he'd counted every hour the same way she had.
Luna told herself to stay composed. Told herself this didn't mean anything. He was here for political reasons. For border strategies and pack alliances and all the polite lies that wolves told when they wanted something.
But her wolf was singing.
It was a sound of joy and recognition. A sound that said he was here. He was alive. He'd crossed territories to get back to her.
Elena was still standing there waiting for some response. Luna forced her face into professional blankness and nodded.
"Thank you for the information," Luna said. Her voice sounded normal. Controlled. Perfect.
But her hands were not steady as she moved.
She walked to the border with her Beta mask firmly in place. The one that showed no emotion. The one that made people trust her. The one that had been protecting her for five years.
And there he was.
Grayson stood at the edge of Silverwood territory looking like he owned it. He was carrying gifts. Furs from Dark Moon territory. Weapons that glinted in the sunlight. Things meant to smooth the way for a peaceful delegation.
He was smiling at her like he'd already won.
Luna knew better than to think this was about winning. This was about showing up. About proving that one week apart didn't change anything. About proving that he'd meant every word.
He turned to Marcus and extended his hand in greeting.
"Marcus," Grayson said. His voice was steady and respectful. "I came to discuss border patrol strategies. Dark Moon has concerns about the territories between our packs. I thought a personal discussion might help."
It was a complete lie.
Everyone in Silverwood knew it was a lie. The way Grayson's eyes kept cutting toward Luna. The way his shoulders relaxed when she was in his line of sight. The way he was clearly here for one reason and one reason only.
But Marcus couldn't reject a peaceful delegation. Couldn't turn away a wolf offering gifts and requesting negotiation. Pack protocol wouldn't allow it.
So Grayson got to stay.
So he got to sit across from Luna at meals again. So he got to look at her like she was already his. So he got to spend the day in Silverwood territory breathing the same air she breathed.
Marcus studied Grayson for a long moment. Then he nodded.
"Fine," Marcus said. His voice gave nothing away. "We can discuss border strategy. You're welcome to stay as long as the negotiations require."
Luna's entire body went cold then burning hot.
Grayson had won. Not through force or coercion but through sheer determination. He'd come back. He'd faced the risk of entering enemy territory. He'd walked up to Silverwood's Alpha and asked to stay.
And Marcus had said yes.
During dinner, Grayson sat at the same long table as before. He wasn't being obvious about watching her. But she felt it anyway. Felt it in the way he moved when she was near. Felt it in the way his energy changed when she entered a room.
The other warriors noticed. Elena kept glancing between them like she was trying to solve a puzzle. The male fighters watched Grayson like they were waiting for an excuse to challenge him.
But nobody moved.
Nobody said anything.
They just watched and waited and understood that something significant was happening.
By the time dinner ended, Luna's carefully constructed control was developing serious cracks. One week apart had been agony. Hours where she'd felt like her chest was going to collapse under the weight of missing him. Hours where she'd trained until she bled just to feel something other than emptiness.
A lifetime without him would be hell.
She understood that now with crystal clarity. She could no longer pretend that this was a passing attraction. This wasn't something that would fade with time. This was something that would consume her if she let it.
And she was terrified that she was already letting it.
After dinner, she escaped to the library. The one place in Silverwood where she could breathe. Where the books and silence could provide cover for the storm happening inside her.
Grayson found her there exactly eight minutes later.
He'd timed it. She realized that immediately. He'd waited long enough that it wouldn't look obvious. Long enough that everyone else had dispersed. Long enough that they could talk without being overheard.
"Hi," he said.
The word was so simple. So human. So devastatingly him.
Luna couldn't speak. Couldn't move. Couldn't do anything except stand there and acknowledge that her week of survival had been built on a fragile lie. That she'd been waiting for this moment. That seeing him had made her realize how much she'd been dying inside.
"You came back," she finally said. Her voice was barely a whisper.
"I told you I would," Grayson said. He was moving toward her now. Slow. Like she was something wild that might run if he moved too fast.
"You shouldn't have come alone," Luna said. "It's dangerous. If Kade finds out you left the pack to come here..."
"Kade knows," Grayson interrupted. "I told him before I left. I told him I was coming to Silverwood. I told him I was coming back to you."
Luna's breath caught. He'd put himself in danger. Had faced his Alpha and told him the truth. Had risked everything just for a chance to be here.
"What did he say?" Luna asked.
"He said I was a fool," Grayson replied. "He said that choosing a mating bond over pack loyalty would destroy me. He said I'd regret this decision."
"Is he right?" Luna whispered.
"No," Grayson said simply. "The only thing I regret is leaving you for seven days."
He reached out and took her hand. This time, Luna didn't pull away. This time, she held on.
"I'm not leaving without you eventually," Grayson said. "That's not a threat. That's not a promise. That's just a fact. I'm done pretending that this is temporary. I'm done pretending that we can fight this bond. I'm done living like you're not the most important thing in my entire world."
Luna wanted to tell him that he couldn't stay. That she couldn't choose him. That the pack needed her and she couldn't abandon them.
But none of those words came out.
Instead, she felt her hand tighten on his. Felt her body lean toward him. Felt her wolf recognize something ancient and necessary in his words.
"Not tonight," Luna said. "I can't make that choice tonight."
"I know," Grayson said. "But you will make it. And when you do, I'll be here waiting."
He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her palm. Soft. Reverent. Like she was something precious.
Luna realized then that she was already his. Had been since the moment their eyes met across that council room. The only question left was whether she was brave enough to admit it.
Outside the library window, the forest was dark. Inside, the only light came from the oil lamps. And in that warm, private space, Luna stopped pretending.
She stopped pretending that she didn't love him.
She stopped pretending that she wanted to send him away.
She stopped pretending that she could choose the pack over her own heart.
All she had to do now was actually make the choice out loud.