Chapter 47

Before going up to our room, I stayed with Elysa and the children in the great hall of the castle. My mother was frightened by the size of the place. Eldric realized we needed some time alone and left without rushing me. His gaze was one of acceptance, and as he looked at me, he looked at the boys sleeping in the large bed in the center of the room. His eyes lingered on them, and finally, he decided it was safe to leave them there.

I talked to Elysa for a long time, she was worried about Aaron, and I shared that with her. I wanted to make sure he wasn't hurt and would ask Eldric to send someone to get him first thing in the morning. That seemed to reassure Elysa.

I left the room and went to my bedroom, the one that had been my prison for the last few days I'd been there. The feeling of uncertainty and fear seemed to be ingrained in me, but I knew I had to face my fears and talk to Eldric about everything that had happened in the last few days. The past had been revealed, secrets had been unearthed, and our future depended on what we decided today.

When I pushed open the bedroom door, my eyes immediately met his. Eldric was there, watching the fire in the fireplace with a focused expression. His gaze turned to me as soon as I entered, and a soft smile appeared on his lips.

"Rachel." His voice was deep and low.

"Eldric." I replied, my voice charged with mixed emotions. I took a few steps forward, feeling the warmth of the fire in the air. I stopped at the edge of the bed and looked at him.

"I've been waiting for you," he said, leaving the fireplace and coming towards me.

"I needed a moment. So many things to process..."

He nodded. "I understand. I've had time to think, too."

Our eyes met, and for a moment, everything between us hung in the air. There was a palpable sincerity in the air, a need for clarity and to mend what was broken.

This connection that Luna gave us became clearer every day and made me feel like I belonged to something when he was around.

"I never wanted to hide my identity from you, Eldric," I began, my voice shaking. "But I was afraid... afraid that you would see me differently. Afraid that everything we'd built would fall apart."

Eldric moved closer to me, his intense eyes fixed on mine. "Rachel, I understand. I understand why you did what you did. I may not agree with all of your choices, but I understand your motives."

"Our children will always be my reason for living. What I did to get to you wasn't right, I know, but it was for them."

He placed a gentle hand on my cheek, his touch comforting. "I know that, Rachel."

"What are we going to do now?" A whisper escaped my mouth as Eldric's fingers trailed down my neck, sending shivers down my spine. A sideways smile appeared on his lips.

"Let's try it again." His hand went back up and stopped at the nape of my neck, pulling me closer to him. "Now that we belong together and have a legacy to secure, let's make this union work." My hair stood on end as he moved even closer and kissed my neck.

My hands rested on his chest, and I gave him full access to my neck, closing my eyes to feel his again.

Eldric raised his face, his eyes fixed on mine. The intensity of his gaze held me as if he could read my every thought. I felt my heart beat faster, a mixture of desire and uncertainty intertwining inside me.

"Rachel," he murmured, his voice hoarse. "I don't want you to be afraid to share your life with me. I'm here for you, to protect you."

His hand continued to caress the nape of my neck, his fingers sliding gently over my skin. I felt a wave of warmth run through my body, dispelling any doubts that might have existed.

"Our past has made us two beings full of secrets." I felt him tense up a little at that statement, but then he relaxed.

"But our past can't define us, and the future..." His mouth came close to mine, making me anxious about what we would do from now on.

His other hand closed around my waist, squeezing it gently, making my heart beat even faster. I was waiting for him to stop telling me what we were going to do and kiss me like on our wedding night.

"What do you want now, my Luna?" he whispered into my ear, and I felt myself go soft in his arms.

I had no idea how much I missed his touch. How his words and gestures held me captive in his magnetism. All I wanted was to be all his.

"I want you to love me as you did on our wedding night. Make me your Luna for real, because I can't imagine being anywhere else but at your side." The words came out so naturally that I was startled by my own sincerity.

His mouth pressed against mine, making me feel the full force of the Alpha in front of me.

Eldric pinned me against the nearest wall and devoured my lips with passion, making me realize that I wasn't the only one who missed our contact.

His hands roamed my body possessively, wanting to claim every inch as his own. My legs were already wrapped around his waist, and he pressed me closer and closer, making his desire for me obvious.

"Never run away from me again, Rachel. Never again..." His sentence was followed by a deep, powerful growl that made my whole being vibrate. It was as if his wolf was speaking directly to my inner she-wolf, showing me that he would always find me, no matter how hard I tried to hide.

"Never again..." I replied, making his growl even more powerful and intense in agreement with my answer.