Mia woke up with a pounding headache. Her head felt heavy, her body weak, as though she had been running in her dreams all night. For a few seconds, she lay still, trying to piece together why her chest hurt, why her heart felt unsteady.
Then it all came back.
Ryan. His strange confession. His words that had sounded like something out of a fantasy novel. I am a werewolf. I am an Alpha. And you are my Luna.
And then—the sight. That impossible, terrifying sight of his body changing, his eyes glowing gold, his form shifting until there was no Ryan left, only a wolf standing where her boyfriend had been. A massive, breathtaking creature with silver streaks in his fur and the same piercing golden eyes.
Mia's heart skipped a beat as the memory rushed over her. She sat up too quickly, the room spinning around her.
When her vision cleared, she saw Ryan.
He was sitting in a chair by the bed, his elbows resting on his knees, his eyes fixed on her as though he hadn't looked away the entire time she'd been unconscious. The intensity in his gaze startled her.
"Thank God you're finally awake," Ryan said softly, leaning forward. His hand brushed through her hair with a tenderness that only deepened her confusion. "This… this was why I didn't want to tell you yet. I knew it would overwhelm you."
Mia swallowed hard, her voice hoarse. "So… you're really… not human."
Ryan's expression didn't waver. "No," he said simply. "I'm a werewolf."
The words hung between them like something alive.
Mia let out a shaky laugh, though it sounded more like disbelief than humor. "Wow. That's… that's just so much to process."
"I know." Ryan's thumb stroked her hair gently. "Take your time."
But Mia couldn't sit there. She swung her legs off the bed and hurried toward the bathroom, needing space, needing to breathe. She turned on the shower and let the warm water run down her body, hoping it would wash away the confusion in her head.
Werewolf. Alpha. Luna. The words echoed, colliding with the normalcy of her human life. She wasn't prepared for this. Not even close.
When she came out of the bathroom, dressed and ready, her first instinct was to grab her bag and head for the company. Work felt safe, familiar—something she could control. But Ryan stepped into her path before she could reach the door.
"You're not going to work today," he said firmly.
Mia frowned. "What? Why not?"
"Because you're not well. You fainted last night, and you're still pale. And besides…" His eyes softened. "I want us to talk."
She hesitated, then sighed, placing her bag down. "Okay." She sat back on the bed, pulling the blanket over her legs.
Ryan joined her, his hand covering hers. "Alright. You know the truth now—I'm an Alpha. A werewolf."
Mia nodded slowly. "I heard you. But what I don't understand is why… why me?" Her voice cracked slightly. "According to the stories I've read, werewolves are only mated to other werewolves. Not humans. So why me?"
Ryan looked at her with quiet intensity. "I don't know," he admitted. "It's never happened before. You're the first human to ever be chosen as a mate. But I believe the Moon Goddess has a reason for everything. And if she tied my soul to yours, then it means you're meant to be my Luna."
Mia's heart thudded in her chest. "Luna," she whispered, testing the word.
"Yes." Ryan squeezed her hand gently. "It means you're my other half. My equal. The one destined to stand by me."
Mia lowered her gaze. "Ryan… I don't think I can do that. I'm human. I'm weak. I'm not like you."
Ryan tipped her chin up, forcing her to meet his eyes. "You are not weak, Mia. You're one of the bravest people I've ever met. You're strong, hardworking, compassionate. You fight through everything life throws at you. That's why the Moon Goddess chose you. And even if the whole world refuses to accept you as my Luna, it doesn't matter to me." His voice deepened, steady and fierce. "Because I will always love you."
Her eyes stung with tears. "But what about your family? Your pack? They'll hate me."
Ryan's jaw tightened. "My father doesn't like you. Not because of anything you've done, but because you're human. He believes only a werewolf should stand as Luna. My mother, though… she doesn't care about tradition. She only wants me happy. And because of that, she's already accepted you."
Mia bit her lip, torn between relief and fear. "So your father… he'll never accept me?"
"I'll deal with him." Ryan brushed her cheek with his knuckles. "You don't need to worry about him. All you need to know is that you're mine. Always."
Her chest ached, her doubts clashing with the sincerity in his eyes. Slowly, she leaned into him. "I don't know if I can do this… but I do know one thing." She smiled faintly through her tears. "I'll always love you."
Ryan's lips curved into a smile, one that reached his golden eyes. "And I'll always love you more."
He leaned in, capturing her lips in a kiss that felt like a promise, binding them tighter than any words could.
They pulled each other into a long embrace, tangled together as though neither could exist without the other. Eventually, they lay down, her head resting against his chest, his arm wrapped protectively around her.
As the weight of the night gave way to sleep, Mia let her doubts rest for the moment. There would be challenges ahead—Ryan's father, the pack, the dangers of the world he belonged to. But in his arms, for the first time, she believed they could face it all together.