Chapter 79 Gifts Under the Sun
Malia's POV
Golden sunlight is flooding the beach when Aiden wakes me with a soft kiss on my shoulder. The sheets are chilled against my skin, but the warmth of his mouth as he lingers on my neck, neck is wonderful.
“Up,” he says in a whisper, his voice still hoarse from sleep. “I have a present for you.”
I slowly open my eyes, and look at him. He is already dressed—in a white linen shirt buttoned halfway and blue swim trunks and his hair is messy from the pillow. He looks unfairly good in the morning light.
“Is it daybreak yet?” I mumble, as I stretch.
“Early enough that no one else is stirring.” He grins, quick and boyish. “Come on. Trust me,” he says.
I always do.
I slip on a loose sundress and touch him barefoot through the silent house. The patio doors are wide open, and the breeze carried the smell of salt and sand through these doors from time to time, as after all was the ocean.
Then he takes my hand and walks me along the path to a secluded bend of beach that the others haven’t located. There’s a small table waiting there—white cloth, two chairs, a selection of fresh fruit, pastries, and a thermos of coffee. One lantern flickers even though the sun is already ascending.
I stop short. “You did this?”
“Just wanted you to myself for a little while.” He pulls out my chair. “Sit.”
I do.
He pours coffee into two mugs—black for him, cream and sugar for me—and places a plate in front of me: sliced mango, pineapple, strawberries, a croissant still warm from wherever he warmed it. We eat our meal slowly, our feet tapping each other’s under the table, waves hushing at the shore. The quiet between us feels easy, full.
When the dishes are cleared away, he reaches into his pocket and extracts a small velvet box.
My heart stutters.
“Aiden…”
“Open it,” he says softly.”Please?”
I raise the lid. Inside lies a delicate jewelry set: a thin silver bracelet with a teardrop moonstone pendant that matches each shade of the sunrise, and matching earrings—tiny, sparkling crescents. The stones glow faintly, almost alive.
“Moonstone,” he says, looking at my face. “For the bond. For us. For the way you light up everything around you, even when it’s dark.”
My throat tightens. “It’s beautiful.”
He rises, walks around the table and takes the bracelet out of the box. I reach out my hand for him to slip it on. His fingers trace the skin of my wrist — cool chain, warm flesh — then come to rest. He leans down, kisses the back of my palm and up to kiss my cheek.
“Matches your eyes when you’re happy,” he whispers.”
I hold the bracelet, running the smooth stone along my fingertips. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say a word.” He turns me tenderly, cups my face, and kisses me—slow, deep, tasting like coffee, fruit and him. I melt into it, sliding my arms around his neck as my fingers run through his hair.
When we separate, I lay my forehead on his. “Thank you. Really.”
He smiles—gentle, authentic. “You’re welcome.”
We get up from the table as it is and head off hand in hand along the edge of the water. The sand is cool now, our ankles stroked by the waves. I keep stroking the bracelet, rolling the moonstone between my hands.
“It makes me feel…” I try to find the words. “Valued. I’m important. Not just because of the bond, but just because of me.”
Aiden stops, turns me to him. “You do matter. More than the bond. More than anything.” He runs his thumb down my cheek. “I want you to have that feeling every day. Not just when I toss you some kind of shiny thing.”
I rise on my toes and kiss him again—lighter this time, sweet. “I do feel it. Every time you look at me like that. Every time you hold my hand. Every time you wake me up for secret adventures.”
He chuckles softly. “Good. Because there are more coming.”
We carry on walking, barefoot in the surf, talking about nothing and everything. The morning lies lazy and golden all around us – no rushing, no interruptions. Just his hand in mine and the waves’ regular beat.
When the sun is at a sufficiently high point, voices ascend from the main beach. July’s chuckle, Freddy’s theatrical protest against sunblock, Rowan’s measured response. We make our way back with fingers still intertwined.
Lunch is taken by the fellowship at a long table - grilled fish, fresh salad, cold drinks sweating in the heat. July notices the bracelet first.
“Oh my god, ” she says leaning forward taking my hand. “Is that new? It’s gorgeous.”
I touch the hanging stones, smiling. “Aiden gave it to me this morning.”
Freddy whistles low. “Damn, Moonfall. Going for full romance points?”
Aiden shrugs, casual, but his arm slides around my shoulders. “Just felt right.”
July reaches over and gently lifts the moonstone. “Moonstone. Symbolic. I see you.”
Rowan glances up from his plate. His eyes linger on the bracelet on my wrist, and then on me. Something soft flickers across his face—not jealousy, not anymore. Just quiet understanding. He nods once, small smile tugging at his mouth.
“Suits you,” he says simply.
Cian remains silent, but his attention is drawn to the jewellery before he meets my gaze. He gives the tiniest nod—approval, steady and sure.
July grins. “Okay, but seriously. How does it feel to be pampered by a whole wolf pack?”
I laugh. “Pretty good.”
Freddy raises his glass. “To Malia. And to the guys who finally realized jewelry is better than growling.”
Everyone laughs—even Cian’s lips twitches. Aiden draws me closer and kisses my temple.
"Every second has been worth it,” he whispers into my hair.
Lunch is a long lazy meal of stories and teasing and the kind of easy conversation that rolls over you like a wave. July demands the morning from me; I give her the barest details to make her squeal. Freddy warns Rowan, a rematch of yesterday’s volleyball. Cian draws silently, but now and then he looks up, satisfied.
I press against Aiden’s side, my fingers touching the moonstone on my wrist. It reflects the sunlight and projects little rainbows on the table.
Under the sun, with the people I love the most, I feel something settle deep within me.
This isn’t just a getaway.
This is home. Reality.