Chapter 119 119

Chapter 119 119
One week. It has been seven full days since the pieces of my life finally stopped rattling around and settled into something that resembles a foundation. Or, at least, it looks that way from the outside. If you asked anyone else, they would say I’m finally where I belong. Do I still have those quiet moments of doubt? Of course.

There are times when the silence gets too loud and I start to question every choice that led me here, wondering if I’m just building a house on sand. But I’m managing. I’m handling it better than I used to. I made a promise to myself—a real, binding vow—that I wouldn’t let the past pull me backward anymore. I spent so long looking over my shoulder that I forgot how to walk forward, but I’m learning.

It’s been a strange transition, to say the least. Every morning I wake up and for a split second, I don't recognize the calm in my own chest. But as the days crawl by, that strangeness is becoming my new normal. I’m getting used to the rhythm of this life.

Jasmine has been an absolute rock through all of it. She has this way of knowing exactly when my mind starts to wander back to the things I left behind, and she pulls me back before I can sink. And then there’s Adrian, Adrian has been doing everything in his power to keep me tethered to the here and now. He doesn’t let me drift. He’s patient, he’s steady, and honestly, I can say for the first time that I’ve never been this happy. It’s a terrifying kind of happiness because it’s so new, but I’m holding onto it with both hands.

Even the world around me seems to be finding its balance. Silvia is practically glowing, spending every possible second with her mate. Seeing her like that—so completely at ease—makes a lot of my own worries feel smaller. The rest of the girls have officially settled into the pack, too. They’ve been welcomed into the Silver Fang as if they’ve always been here, and seeing them find their place has given me the final bit of peace I needed to make my own move.

And so, I’ve made my choice. I am finally ready to go back to Iron Claw. It’s time to stop hovering on the edge and actually claim my place as Luna, and more importantly, as Adrian’s mate. I can’t keep Silvia waiting anymore, either. She’s been so stubborn about it, refusing to fully settle in as Luna of the Christwind pack until she knows I’m safely tucked into my own life. I won’t be the reason she delays her own future any longer. I’m ready. Truly ready.

Adrian is supposed to arrive later today. He thinks he’s just coming for a visit, a way to check in on me and spend a few hours together. He has no idea that when he leaves, I’m going with him. I haven't breathed a word of it to him because I want to see the look on his face when I tell him I’m coming home for good. It’s midday now, and I can hear the distant sounds of lunch being prepared, but food is the last thing on my mind. My stomach is doing flips, but it isn't from hunger. It’s that restless, giddy energy that comes when you’re standing on the doorstep of a brand new life, just waiting for the door to swing open.

I sat by the window, watching the shadows of the trees move slowly across the grass. Seven days. It felt like both a lifetime and a heartbeat. When I think back to where I was a month ago, the version of myself I see feels like a stranger. That girl was constantly braced for a blow, always waiting for the other shoe to drop. Now, the shoes have dropped, the floor didn't break, and I’m still standing.

I checked the clock again. Time seemed to be dragging its feet just to spite me. I tried to focus on the feeling of the room, the way the light hit the floor, but my mind kept jumping ahead to the Iron Claw territory. I thought about the responsibilities, the faces of the pack members I would soon be leading, and the weight of the title "Luna." It used to sound like a burden, a heavy gold chain around my neck. Now, it just felt like a name. My name.

Jasmine popped her head into the room, probably sensing my restlessness. She didn't say anything at first, just leaned against the doorframe with that knowing look she always gets.

"You're vibrating," she said softly, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "If you get any more anxious, you're going to phase right through that chair."
I laughed, though it sounded a bit breathless.

"Is it that obvious?"
"Only to people with eyes. You've been staring at that driveway for twenty minutes. He'll be here, you know. Adrian isn't exactly known for being late when it comes to you."
"I know he'll be here," I replied, standing up and smoothing out my clothes for the tenth time. "It’s not him I’m worried about. It’s the surprise. I keep running the conversation over in my head, trying to figure out the best way to say it. Do I just tell him? Do I pack my bags and leave them by the door so he sees them? I don't want to make it a whole production, but I want him to know I’m certain."

Jasmine walked over and put a hand on my shoulder. "He'll know. The second he looks at you, he’s going to see it. You don't look like someone who's unsure anymore. You look like you’ve finally decided to live."
She was right.

The doubt was there, sure, but it was like a dull ache in a limb you’ve learned to use again. It didn't stop me from moving. I thought about Silvia then, and how much she had sacrificed to make sure I was okay. She was so fiercely protective, so adamant that she wouldn't start her own life until mine was secure. I felt a pang of guilt thinking about how much time I’d taken to get to this point, but I also felt a deep, overwhelming sense of gratitude.
"Silvia is going to be so relieved," I muttered, more to myself than to Jasmine.

"Relieved? She’s going to throw a party," Jasmine joked. "She’s been dying to get to Christwind and start her own reign, but she’d never leave you behind. You’re giving her a gift today, too. Not just Adrian."
I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. We had all been through so much.