Chapter 57 Stronger
Luna woke to sunlight filtering through unfamiliar curtains, her body humming with an energy she hadn't felt in weeks. The exhaustion that had been her constant companion was gone, replaced by something electric and alive. Kane's arm was draped over her waist, his breathing deep and even against her neck.
She felt... incredible. Better than incredible. Strong.
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. A text from Elder Morgana: Training at 10. Don't be late.
Luna carefully extracted herself from Kane's embrace, moving with a fluidity that surprised her. No aching joints, no dizzy spells. Her body responded instantly, gracefully, powerfully.
She found a notepad in his kitchen and scrawled a quick message: Had to get to training. Thank you for last night. For everything. -L
The words felt inadequate, but she couldn't risk him waking while she was still trying to understand what exactly had happened between them.
Her apartment felt strange after spending the night at Kane's. She showered quickly, noting how her skin seemed to glow with health, how even her hair felt thicker, more lustrous. The bruise on her temple was completely gone, not even a shadow remaining.
She dressed in training clothes and headed to the twentieth floor.
Elder Morgana was already there, sitting in lotus position in the center of the mat. Her eyes opened as Luna entered, and something flickered across her face - surprise, assessment, knowing.
"Well," the Elder said slowly, "you certainly look better than yesterday."
"I feel better." Luna stretched, marveling at how her muscles responded, loose and ready despite yesterday's collapse.
"I can see that." Morgana's tone was carefully neutral, but her eyes were sharp. She inhaled slightly, and Luna knew she could smell Kane's scent on her. "Shall we see how much better?"
They began with the same exercises that had nearly broken Luna the day before. But now, she moved through them with ease. The meditation came naturally, her mind clear and focused. The energy work that had drained her now felt like breathing - simple, natural, effortless.
"Interesting," Morgana murmured as Luna successfully held a complex energy pattern for five full minutes. "Your power is definitely stronger. Though still not where it should be."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that whatever... recovery method you employed last night has helped, but you're still only accessing maybe forty percent of your true potential." Morgana circled her slowly. "The blocks are still there, just... loosened."
“Is it going to be enough to fight Alexander?”
Elder Morgana’s silence was telling. “It would take a miracle… or unless you complete what you started.”
For the next two hours, Luna trained with an intensity she’d never achieved before. Her powers came easier, more controlled. Her physical strength had doubled. She could hold transformations longer, push her abilities further.
After training, Luna headed to Maya’s apartment which was also on the twentieth floor.
"I didn’t think I'd see you- Oh." Maya stopped mid-sentence, her eyes widening as they landed on Luna. Her nose twitched, and a slow grin spread across her face. "Oh my goddess. You didn't."
"Maya-"
"You did!" Maya practically jumped. "You and Kane... finally!"
Luna buried her face in her hands. "Can we not do this right now?"
After Morgana left, Maya practically pounced on Luna. "Tell me everything! Are you mated now? Does he know about-"
"No," Luna interrupted. "It's... partial. Physical but not permanent. And he doesn't know."
Maya's excitement dimmed. "Oh, Luna. That's dangerous. Partial bonds with Alphas-"
"I know. But I was dying, Maya. I could feel it. The drain from the constant training... I was breaking down."
Maya sat beside her, taking her hands. "I'm not judging. But what's your plan now? Because partial bonds don't stay partial. They either complete or they break, and either way..."
"I don't know." Luna's voice was small. "I didn't think beyond surviving."
"You need to tell him the truth."
Luna pulled away. "I can't. He's marrying Victoria in four days-"
"A marriage he doesn't want! Luna, that he’s trying to avoid. You see how he looks at you. How you look at him. This isn't just about survival anymore, is it?"
Luna was quiet for a long moment. "No. It's not."
"Then tell him. Before this goes any further. Before the bond makes the choice for both of you."
Luna thought about Kane for the rest of the day. His smile. His strength. The way he'd held her last night like she was something precious. Should she tell him? The question circled her mind endlessly.
Would it put her pups at risk? Alexander was still out there, still hunting. If their plans didn’t work out… She stopped herself. She didn’t want to think about that possibility.
But then she thought about how much stronger she'd gotten from just the partial bond. How much stronger would she be if she embraced the full bond? If she had a true mate's strength backing her?
Her phone rang. Maya.
"Stop overthinking," Maya said without preamble. "I can practically feel your anxiety from across the building."
"He's getting married in four days, Maya."
"If everything goes according to plan, there won't be a wedding. There'll be a war. And you'll need every ounce of strength to fight Alexander."
"But-"
"No buts. Luna, you're the strongest person I know, but you can't do this alone. He’s your mate and the father of your child. He has a right to know."
Luna stared out her window at the city below. "What if he hates me for lying?"
"Then at least you'll know. But Luna... what if he doesn't? What if he understands? What if he chooses you anyway?"
The possibility was terrifying in its hope.
"Tell him," Maya urged. "Before it gets too late. Before the partial bond gets stronger and makes the choice for you. Tell him the truth and let him decide."
Luna closed her eyes, feeling the bond pulse with each heartbeat. She could sense Kane even now, his presence a warm constant in her chest.
"Okay," she whispered.
"Really?"
"Really. I'll tell him tonight."
"Good. You deserve to be loved for who you really are, Luna. All of who you are."
After Maya hung up, Luna sat in the gathering darkness of her apartment. Tonight, she would tell Kane everything. About being Aria, his mate. About the twins. About the bond.
Tonight, she would either lose everything or gain the world.
Tonight, the truth would set them free.
Or destroy them both.