Chapter 16: Sixteen

SOLANA

I waited anxiously the next morning. My husband wasn't in bed when I awoke. Naturally, I quickly got ready, thinking he would come over to ask me to follow him to the trial. I was terrified out of my mind, going through a thousand possibilities in my head.

"You've been staring at the clock for quite a while now, Luna. Is there something you're waiting for?" Anna asked me.

We were in the sitting room, and she was sitting on a rocking chair, working on an embroidery.

I shifted in my chair, unsure if it was okay to tell her about my concerns.

She leaned towards me with a smile. "Or...are you waiting for a certain someone?"

"N-no, it's not like that," I spluttered, and she chuckled.

"Tell that to your red ears," she said, and I brought my hands to my ears, biting my lower lip.

Deciding to pick up my courage, I inched towards her.

"Do you know where Alpha Roman went?" I asked.

Her eyes sparkled. "You should've just said so instead of looking so worried. He's in the gym."

I gaped at her. Gym?

The time was 10:30AM already. Wouldn't he attend the trial?

"Thank you, Anna," I said, rising to my feet.

"Won't you need directions? The gym is a little distance away from the hall," she told me, and I thanked her once more before hurrying away.

By the time I found the gym, I was breathless. I took a moment to pause outside the entrance to catch my breath. Then I reached for the door. I could hear loud, upbeat music coming from inside.

Swallowing hard, I opened the door and stepped in. I froze at the sight of my husband hanging off a high pull-up bar, every muscle in his back flexing.

My jaw practically slackened.

His skin glistened with sweat, with a pair of black sweatpants on his lower body. His feet were bare, his hair pulled back in a messy bun.

I was tempted to just sit and watch the work of art before me.

But that wasn't why I was there. So I walked up to the bar and moved to stand in front of him.

"Hey," I breathed, and his gaze softened.

"Morning," he said, slowly lowering himself to his feet seamlessly. He grabbed a towel and a water bottle, lowering the music before cocking his head at me.

"Did you sleep well?"

"I did," I replied, watching him empty his bottle at a go.

"You look worried," he said, finally lowering the bottle. I blinked, surprised. Was I being that obvious?

"Solana, do you know how to dance?" He suddenly asked, and my eyes went wide.

Sure, Roman was the epitome of randomness. But this was still jarring.

He wasn't going to ask me to dance, was he?

"N-not really," I stuttered.

He nodded, wiping off sweat from his face and neck with the towel.

"It's okay, I'll teach you."

What?

"Give me your hand," he uttered, and I swallowed hard, slowly placing my hand in his larger one.

His fingers were warm around mine. I couldn't look away from them. For someone rumored to be a psychopath and a bloodthirsty monster, he had such beautiful hands.

It felt strange that something so simple, so gentle, could make my pulse stumble like that.

Without a word, he walked us to a small panel near the wall. The upbeat music faded, replaced by something slower and softer. A waltz.

My stomach twisted. Oh Moon above. He was serious.

"I haven't danced in years," I mumbled, my eyes glued to his bare feet as he moved closer.

"Then it's about time you remembered how," he murmured, setting one hand on my waist, the other still holding mine.

I stiffened. "Alpha, I—I don't even know the steps—"

"Then follow my lead," he responded.

And so I did.

The first few movements were awkward, my flip-flops brushing over the mats as I tried not to step on him.

But he was patient. So impossibly patient. He moved with an unhurried grace, as if the world outside the walls didn't exist.

Slowly, my body began to follow his rhythm. Our breathing synced. The hum of the music filled the air, mingling with the faint sound of our feet against the floor.

I hadn't realized how close we were until my nose brushed his chest. I tilted my head back to look up at him, heat crawling up my neck.

That's when he said it.

"You snore at night."

My mouth fell open. "I—what?! No, I don't!"

His lips curved slightly, but it was enough to make my heart skip.

"You do," he said, his voice calm but teasing.

"I—wait, seriously?!"

He stopped, leaning close enough that I could see the tiny flecks of gold in his eyes. The corner of his mouth twitched.

"I'm kidding," he murmured.

I blinked at him, utterly mortified, burying my face against his chest. "That's not funny!"

"Actually," he said, still holding my hand, "it's one of the funniest things I've said all week."

I grinned despite myself. "You're impossible, husband."

"Only to those who underestimate me."

The shift in his tone was subtle but unmistakable. The teasing warmth cooled into something steadier.

I swallowed hard. "Are you... not going to the trial?"

His gaze didn't waver. "Do you really think," he said slowly, "that I'd walk into a trial designed to condemn you?"

I froze, stunned.

He went on, his hand brushing up my spine as we turned in the slow rhythm of the waltz. "If I go, it legitimizes their accusation. I don't entertain foolishness, Solana."

There was no arrogance in his tone, only a pure conviction.

"But...won't they—"

"They can hold their mock trial," he said, his voice dropping by an octave. "I'll be here, with my Luna."

My throat tightened. For the first time since I'd woken up, the fear that had coiled so tightly in my chest began to unravel.

The music swelled around us, and he guided me into another turn. His hand was still at my waist, his eyes never leaving mine.

He didn't care what they said. Not about the rumors. Not about the trial. Not about what it would look like to defy them.

Did I really...deserve him?

"B-but, don't you have work or—"

"Is my Luna calling me lazy because I chose to stay with her?" He asked, and I panicked.

"No! That's not what I meant!" I blurted out, and he tsksed.

"I guess you're no fun."

No fun?

I let out a laugh, amused.

What do I do with this overgrown puppy?

"Solana," he said, and I looked up into his green eyes.

"If you really get me to fall in love with you, what will you ask for?" He asked.

I realized then that I hadn't really thought deeply about it at all. Why? I'd always believed that I probably wouldn't live long enough for that.

"It's okay, you don't have to answer me right now," my husband told me, and I nodded.

I wanted to stay like this forever with just him, secluded from the outside world.

I frowned when I noticed that he was suddenly burning up. Worried, I leaned up to reach for his forehead. He blinked at me, puzzled, and lowered his head, allowing me to feel for his temperature.

"You're feverish. Are you feeling unwell?" I asked.

"I don't think so. However..." he squinted at me, bringing a hand to my face. "Your lips are more distracting than usual, flower."

Weird.

"Alpha."

We both turned to see Zamora approaching with a cup in her hand.

"Elder Maeve asked me to bring this to you," she said, and he sighed, holding out a hand to take it.

Zamora's gaze met mine and darkened. Then she returned her focus on Alpha Roman as he downed the brown liquid in the cup.

"Elder Maeve wants to see Solana, Alpha."

"Why?"

"I had another vision last night."

Alpha Roman tensed. "What vision?"

"Solana is your fated mate.”

My husband went rigid, his gaze darting over to me. His eyes had gone impossibly cold.

“Is this true, Solana?” He asked in a monotonous voice, and my heart sank.