The afternoon sun was warm, casting golden light across the quiet meadow just outside the city. The grass swayed gently with the breeze, and wildflowers dotted the hillside in bright colors.
Ryan spread a checkered blanket under the shade of an old oak tree, setting down a wicker basket he had packed himself. Mia stood nearby, watching him with a smile tugging at her lips.
"You're really going all out," she teased, folding her arms.
Ryan looked up at her, his eyes soft. "After what happened with Suzan, I figured you deserved a day that's just about us. No interruptions. No drama."
Mia's smile softened, and she sank onto the blanket beside him. "That sounds perfect."
He opened the basket, pulling out sandwiches, fresh fruits, and even a slice of cake. "Don't laugh—I tried to bake this myself."
Mia chuckled, taking the cake from his hands. "If it's terrible, I'll still eat every bite. For you."
"Brave woman," he murmured, and they both laughed.
For a while, they ate together, talking about little things—the movies Mia wanted to see, Ryan's favorite books, dreams of traveling somewhere far away. It felt simple, peaceful, almost like the world had paused just for them.
At one point, Mia leaned back on the blanket, staring up at the sky. "You know, sometimes I still can't believe all this is real. You. Us. Everything. It feels like I'll wake up one day, and you'll just… vanish."
Ryan turned toward her, his expression serious. He took her hand, threading his fingers through hers. "I'm not going anywhere, Mia. You're my mate, my Luna. I'd rather fight the whole world than let you doubt that."
Her heart fluttered, and she turned to face him. "You really mean that?"
"Every word." His golden eyes flickered for a moment, that wolf inside him surfacing with raw honesty. "You're my forever."
Silence fell between them, but it wasn't empty—it was filled with the sound of rustling leaves, distant birds, and the steady rhythm of their breathing together.
Ryan reached into the basket again and pulled out a small flower crown he had clumsily woven from wildflowers earlier. He placed it gently on her head.
Mia laughed softly. "You made this?"
"Don't make fun of me," he said, pretending to be offended. "It's a Luna's crown."
She touched it gently, her smile wide and full of warmth. "Then I'll wear it proudly."
Ryan leaned forward, his forehead brushing hers. "Good. Because you're mine, Mia. And nothing—not Suzan, not my father, not even fate—will ever change that."
Mia closed the space between them, kissing him sweetly, the meadow around them fading into nothing but the two of them—two souls, one bond, and a love that was growing stronger with every heartbeat.