Rhydian's POV
***
The morning was quiet.
For the first time in what felt like a lifetime, there were no urgent summons, no threats lurking in the shadows, no war waiting to tear us apart. Just the soft rhythm of Luna's breath and the distant rustling of the trees outside.
I lay still, watching her. The early light streamed through the wooden shutters, casting a golden glow over her bare shoulder where the blanket had slipped. Her dark hair fanned across the pillow, loose and tangled from the night before. She looked peaceful, and I let myself savor the moment—because gods knew how many times I had feared I would never have this.
She shifted slightly, murmuring something in her sleep. Her scent—wildflowers and something uniquely her—curled around me, pulling me closer. I resisted the urge to run my fingers through her hair, knowing she deserved every bit of rest she could get.
The war had taken so much from us. Time. Safety. The simple pleasure of waking up next to the person you love without wondering if this would be the last time. But now, here we were. A cabin hidden deep in the forest, far from duty, far from anything but the sound of the wind through the trees and the promise of something new.
A life together.
My fingers grazed over the ring tucked safely in my pocket. A gift for her. Something I had spent months searching for, even before I was certain we would make it out alive. A symbol of our bond, not just as mates, but as something deeper. Something unbreakable.
I let out a quiet breath and shifted, the mattress dipping beneath me as I moved to sit up. But before I could rise, a warm hand wrapped around my wrist.
"Stay," Luna's voice was thick with sleep, but her grip was firm.
I glanced down, meeting her half-lidded gaze. "I thought you were still asleep."
"I was," she murmured, tugging me back down beside her. "But you were staring at me, and I could feel it."
I huffed a quiet laugh, letting her pull me close. She pressed her forehead against my chest, her body curling into mine like it belonged there. And it did.
For a while, we stayed like that, wrapped in the warmth of each other, with no need for words.
But eventually, the world called to us.
Luna had always been wild at heart, even if she hadn't always allowed herself to be. And now, with no kingdom walls surrounding us, no court watching her every move, she was free in a way I had never seen before.
We spent the morning walking through the woods, following winding paths that led to nowhere in particular. She moved through the trees like she belonged to them, her fingers trailing over the bark, her laughter light as she tilted her head back to feel the sunlight on her face.
I followed behind, watching, memorizing.
There had been so many times when I thought I would lose her. When I had prepared myself for the possibility that she would slip through my fingers like smoke. Yet here she was. Real. Tangible. Standing before me with the golden light dancing in her eyes.
She turned suddenly, catching me staring. "What?"
"Nothing," I smirked. "Just admiring the view."
She rolled her eyes but grinned. "Come on. There's a river up ahead. Race you?"
Before I could respond, she was already running.
By the time the sun began to dip below the horizon, we had made our way back to the cabin, our clothes damp from the river, our skin flushed from the chase. I had let her win, of course, though she would never believe me if I said so.
She was stretched out on the porch now, her bare feet propped up against the railing, her hair still slightly damp. I watched her from where I stood inside, leaning against the doorframe, the ring in my palm.
I had never been one for grand gestures, and I knew Luna didn't need them. But this… this was important.
Taking a breath, I stepped forward.
She looked up as I approached, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "What is it?"
I sat beside her, taking her hand in mine. "I have something for you."
Her brows lifted slightly, but she didn't pull away. "Is it another challenge? Because if so, I should warn you—I plan on winning again."
I smirked but didn't rise to the bait. Instead, I opened my palm, revealing the ring.
It wasn't a typical piece of jewelry. No polished gold or encrusted jewels. Instead, the band was made of dark metal, woven with tiny streaks of silver, as if capturing the light of the moon itself. At its center was a small, rough-cut stone—the same shade as her eyes when they glowed with power. It wasn't perfect. But neither were we.
Luna inhaled sharply, her fingers hovering over it. "Rhydian…"
"I found it months ago," I said quietly, rubbing my thumb over her knuckles. "Before the war ended. Before I even knew if we'd survive. I wasn't sure what the future would look like, but I knew one thing—I wanted it to be with you."
Her lips parted slightly, her eyes flicking from the ring to my face.
"This isn't just about being mates," I continued, voice rough. "It's about choice. My choice. No matter what happens, no matter where life takes us, I will always choose you."
For the first time since I met her, Luna was speechless.
She blinked rapidly, her throat working around words that didn't seem to come. Then, finally, she exhaled a soft, breathless laugh and reached for the ring.
"It's perfect," she whispered.
I slid it onto her finger, where it fit as if it had always belonged there. And maybe it had.
Her gaze lifted to mine, something unreadable in her expression. Then, in one swift motion, she surged forward, capturing my mouth with hers.
I responded instantly, my hands finding her waist, pulling her closer. She tasted like wild honey and river air, like something untamed, something I could never hope to control—and would never want to.
When we finally pulled away, her forehead rested against mine. "I choose you too," she murmured.
A warmth spread through my chest, something steady, something unshakable.
We sat there as the stars blinked to life above us, her fingers laced through mine, her new ring glinting in the moonlight.
Later that night, as the fire crackled inside, I pulled her onto the small clearing outside our cabin. The sky stretched endless above us, thick with stars, the moon full and bright.
"Dance with me," I murmured.
Luna arched a brow. "There's no music."
"Who needs music?"
She laughed, but I could see the warmth in her eyes as she stepped into my arms.
I held her close, swaying gently, our bare feet brushing against the cool grass. She rested her head against my chest, her breath warm against my skin.
For so long, we had fought for this. For peace. For each other.
Now, under the watchful eye of the moon, we had it.
And I would never let it go.
***
To be continued...