Avenging Luna
Chapter 145: First Embrace

Chapter 145: First Embrace

Chase’s POV:

I slipped through the window with practiced ease, landing soundlessly on the plush carpet. My vampiric reflexes ensured that not a single piece of furniture or decoration shifted as I moved. Closing the window behind me, I straightened, brushing off the faint adrenaline that always followed sneaking around. The last thing I wanted was for Leila to realize I’d gone out after her.

As luck—or fate—would have it, the door to the suite opened just as I turned to step into the room. Leila walked in, her posture weary but firm, like someone carrying the weight of a decision she wasn’t entirely comfortable with. She paused when she spotted me, and for a brief second, her eyes narrowed slightly, almost as if she suspected something. I forced a calm expression, silently hoping my clothes and demeanor didn’t give away that I’d been outside.

"Chase," she said, her tone softer than I expected. "Can we talk?"

I nodded immediately, stepping closer. "Of course."

She didn’t sit, and neither did I. Instead, she crossed her arms, her gaze flicking toward Ash’s room to ensure he was still sound asleep. I followed her glance instinctively, letting my heightened senses confirm the same. His breathing was slow and steady, a sure sign he was deep in a peaceful dream.

When Leila looked back at me, I saw a mixture of emotions in her eyes—frustration, hesitation, but also a flicker of determination.

"I’ve thought about what you said," she began, her voice firm. "About leaving and starting somewhere new."

I didn’t interrupt. I didn’t even breathe.

"And..." she sighed, her fingers flexing against her arms, "I think you’re right."

The words hit me like a thunderclap, so unexpected that it took me a moment to process them. She was agreeing. She was willing to leave behind her current life for a fresh start. Relief coursed through me, but I knew better than to let it show just yet.

"You’ll come with me?" I asked carefully, my voice low.

She nodded slowly, her gaze dropping to the floor before rising to meet mine again. "Yes. But not to your kingdom."

The relief tempered slightly, though I couldn’t deny the progress we were making.

"Leila—"

She cut me off with a raised hand. "Listen to me. I don’t want to live in a kingdom full of vampires. I’m a wolf, Chase. And Ash... he’s a kid who’s been through enough already. I won’t uproot him to a place where he’ll always feel out of place. Where I will feel out of place."

I could see the resolve in her eyes, but more than that, I could hear the protectiveness in her voice. She wasn’t rejecting me—not entirely. She was putting her son first, as she always did. And I couldn’t argue with that, even if it stung.

"So where do you want to go?" I asked, keeping my tone even.

"Somewhere neutral," she said. "A city where we can live freely, without feeling hunted or watched. A place where Ash can just... be a kid."

It was a reasonable compromise, though the thought of being so far from my kingdom—and my responsibilities—was a weight I’d have to bear. But for her? For them? I’d make it work.

Before I could respond, a small voice piped up from the hallway.

"Are we moving?"

Ash stood there, rubbing his eyes sleepily but clearly catching the gist of our conversation. His mop of hair was a mess, and he clutched one of the toys I’d bought him earlier.

I smiled despite myself. "Yes," I said simply.

Ash tilted his head, his confusion evident. "Wait, where are going?"

Leila shot me a warning glance, and I held up my hands in mock surrender. "We’ll figure it out," I said diplomatically, trying to stifle a grin.

Ash nodded, satisfied for now, and shuffled back toward his room.

When he was out of earshot, Leila turned back to me, her frustration evident. "You can’t just say things like that to him. He’ll get attached to the idea."

I took a step closer, lowering my voice. "Leila, he’s already attached to you and me. He wants us to be together, to figure this out. And so do I."

She exhaled sharply, rubbing her temples. "This isn’t just about you or me, Chase. It’s about Ash. About giving him a life that isn’t tangled up in vampire politics or werewolf pack drama. Do you understand that?"

"I do," I said, my voice soft but firm. "And that’s why I’ll follow you wherever you choose to go. As long as I’m with you two, I’ll make it work."

Her eyes searched mine, wary but touched. And though she didn’t say it aloud, I could feel the smallest crack forming in the walls she’d built around her heart.

She looked lost. Her shoulders were tense, her expression a mix of confusion and exhaustion. It wasn’t often that Leila let her guard down, but in that moment, I saw the weight of everything she carried. Protecting Ash, keeping herself together, and now navigating this tenuous bond with me—her mate.

It wasn’t just worry etched across her face; it was doubt, fear, and a vulnerability she rarely showed. And all I wanted in that moment was to take it all away, to reassure her that she didn’t have to do this alone anymore.

The pull to her was magnetic, irresistible. Before I could even second-guess myself, I closed the space between us, and for the first time, I wrapped my arms around her.

Her body tensed immediately, her breath hitching in surprise. For a split second, I thought she’d push me away, knock me flat, or at the very least, hurl a sharp comment my way. But none of that happened.

She didn’t move.

Her fists remained at her sides, clenched tightly, and though she didn’t lean into me, she didn’t resist either. Her warmth seeped into me, and I could hear the rapid beat of her heart—so strong, so alive, so hers. It was intoxicating.

I held her gently, not wanting to spook her but unwilling to let her go just yet. This was the closest I’d ever been to her, and the feel of her so close, so real, sent a thrill through me.

"You don’t have to do this alone, Leila," I murmured against her hair. "Not anymore."

She stayed silent, her breathing steady but shallow. I didn’t expect her to say anything. This wasn’t about words—it was about showing her that I was here. That no matter how much she pushed, how much she tried to keep me at arm’s length, I would be right here.

After what felt like an eternity, I felt her fists unclench. Slowly, her arms lifted, hesitating for a moment before resting lightly against my sides. It wasn’t an embrace, but it wasn’t rejection either.

I held onto that small victory.

Her voice, when it came, was soft, almost inaudible. "Chase... this isn’t easy for me."

"I know," I said, pulling back just enough to look at her. Her eyes met mine, and I saw the storm of emotions swirling within them.

"It’s not just about trust," she continued, her voice wavering. "It’s... I’m scared. Of what this means. Of what you mean to me."

Her honesty caught me off guard, but I didn’t let it show. Instead, I cupped her face gently, my thumb brushing against her cheek.

"You don’t have to be scared," I said. "Not of me. Not of this."

Her eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of her usual defiance breaking through. "Easy for you to say. You’re the vampire crown prince with guards and centuries of experience. I’m just a wolf trying to raise her kid and stay alive."

"You’re more than that, Leila," I said, my tone firm. "You’re strong, and smart, and fiercely protective. And you’ve done an incredible job with Ash. But you don’t have to do it all alone anymore."

Her lips parted, but whatever she was about to say, she thought better of it. Instead, she stepped back, breaking the contact between us.

I let her go, giving her space, even though every instinct screamed at me to pull her back.

"I need time, Chase," she said finally, wrapping her arms around herself.

I nodded, understanding more than I wanted to admit. "Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere."

She gave me a small, almost imperceptible nod before turning toward the hallway. I watched as she disappeared into Ash’s room, leaving me standing there with the faintest trace of her warmth still lingering on my skin.

It wasn’t everything I wanted, but it was a start. And for her, for us, I could be patient.

That night, I lay awake, the dim glow of the city lights streaming faintly through the curtains. The suite was silent except for the soft sounds of Ash breathing in his room and the occasional creak of the building settling. Yet my mind was far from quiet.

All I could think about was her.

The warmth of her skin against my cold touch still lingered, a sensation so vivid it was almost as if she were still in my arms. It was intoxicating, the way her body had fit so perfectly against mine. The steady rhythm of her heartbeat had been like a melody, pulling me closer, grounding me in a way I hadn’t experienced in centuries.

Her scent—wild and earthy, laced with a hint of something uniquely her—clung to me like a brand. It wasn’t just physical; it was the way she carried herself, her strength, her defiance, her vulnerability. Everything about her called to me, stirred something deep and primal in my very being.

I closed my eyes, but instead of sleep, I let myself sink into the memory.

The way her breath had hitched when I first touched her, how her body had tensed but not pulled away. The feel of her hair brushing against my cheek, soft and untamed. I’d felt her hesitation, her fear, but she hadn’t rejected me. That alone had been enough to send my heart—a heart that had been cold and dormant for so long—racing.

I imagined what it would be like to hold her again, to feel her warmth chase away the chill that had always been a part of me. To trace the curve of her face, to pull her closer, to let her heartbeat drown out the silence that had haunted me for so long.

The thought of it consumed me.

The more I replayed the moment in my mind, the more I realized how deeply I wanted her. Not just her touch, but all of her—her trust, her love, her fire. I wanted to prove to her that I could be what she needed, that I could be worthy of her, of Ash, of the life she deserved.

But there was also fear.

I knew how fragile this was, how easily I could ruin it. Leila was strong, but she was also guarded, and for good reason. The pain she carried wasn’t something that could be healed overnight, and I didn’t want to push her away by moving too fast.

Yet, the craving for her, the need to feel her warmth again, was almost unbearable.

I turned onto my side, staring at the faint outline of the window, willing myself to focus on something else. But the memory of her stayed, as vivid and consuming as the first time I saw her.

She had no idea what she’d done to me.

For centuries, I had lived without truly feeling. Duty, survival, politics—they had been my only companions. But now, everything had changed. Leila had awakened something in me, something I hadn’t thought possible.

And the thought of holding her again, of feeling her skin against mine, of hearing that steady, comforting heartbeat...

I wanted it.

I wanted her.

And as much as I tried to fight it, the truth was undeniable: I would do whatever it took to make her mine.