Underwater: The Silent Luna novel Chapter 79

Chapter 79

Ethan reached the lake just as the sun climbed high enough to scatter gold across the water.

Light rippled across the surface like molten warmth, dancing in soft patterns that shimmered against the breeze. The world felt

suspended in a rare kind of stillness, the kind that belonged only to mornings untouched by conflict.

Meadow looked up instantly when she sensed him.

It wasn’t sound that alerted her.

It was presence.

Her face brightened in a way that made his chest ache.

The smile that spread across her lips was unguarded, instinctive, as though her heart had recognised his before her eyes ever did. She had only been there a short while, yet she was already missing him. The quiet intimacy of the morning wrapped around her thoughts, the way his hands had lingered, the warmth of his body, the look in his eyes when he spoke her name.

The memories fluttered through her like butterflies, soft and reckless.

Who would have thought she would end up here?

With the Alpha of their pack.

Crippled or not, Ethan was a great catch. Not for his title. Not for his name. But for his heart, bruised and trying again. For the way he tried even when he was afraid. For the way he chose her even when the world tried to define him by what he had lost.

And she was grateful, so grateful, that they were choosing to make this work.

“I hope I didn’t keep you waiting,” he said.

There was a softness in his voice now that hadn’t existed a week ago.

She shook her head at once and smiled.

The sunlight kissed her hair as the breeze lifted it gently from her shoulders. The beige sundress she wore moved softly around het legs, and the sight of her stole his breath without asking permission. There was a simple elegance to her, nothing forced, nothing loud. Just quiet beauty.

As her familiar rose scent drifted across him, he felt the now-familiar stir beneath his skin.

Echo.

Responding to her.

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Not fully awake.

But turning.

Listening.

Meadow smiled at him, just one simple, warm smile, and his heart softened completely. He admired the way the dress showed her legs, the way her quiet grace made everything around her seem gentler. Even the lake felt calmer when she looked at it.

For a moment, Ethan looked at her as if he were seeing her for the first time.

Not as duty.

Not as obligation.

Not as the consequence of an arrangement.

But as his wife.

And for the first time in years, he allowed himself to feel without fear. To look without resentment. To accept happiness without

bracing for loss.

He wheeled himself closer to where she stood.

She bent immediately and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead.

It was affectionate.

Unassuming.

Real.

Ethan used that chance to pull her onto his lap, surprised by his own boldness. His hands moved before doubt could stop them. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her gently, securely.

As if she belonged there.

As if she always had.

Meadow giggled in surprise, the sound vibrating through him.

Not laughter that mocked.

Not laughter that challenged.

But joy that belonged.

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“You like the scenery?” he asked softly.

She nodded, leaning back into his embrace.

And he held her tighter.

The lake shimmered quietly before them, the breeze cool and soothing. Birds skimmed the surface of the water in brief arcs of shadow and light. But Ethan barely noticed it anymore.

All he could feel was the warmth of her body against his.

The soft weight of her trust.

He still couldn’t quite believe that a woman as beautiful as Meadow could love someone like him.

The fear lingered, tucked into the deepest part of his chest.

What if she grows tired?

What if she outgrows me?

What if one day she realises she deserves more?

“I will try to make this work, Meadow,” he said softly. “Promise me you will try too.”

It wasn’t a command.

It was a plea.

She pulled away just enough to look at him properly.

Her gaze was steady.

Intent.

Without uncertainty,

Instead of struggling for words, she leaned in and kissed him sweetly on the lips.

The promise was in the kiss.

Not spoken.

Not argued.

Felt.

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He tightened his arms around her instinctively.

Their kiss deepened without planning it. It was slow at first, careful, then hunger crept in gently, as though neither of them wanted

to rush what felt sacred. The world faded. The water, the wind, the sky, all of it melted away until only the warmth between them

remained.

When they finally pulled apart, their breathing was uneven.

Not from urgency.

But from meaning.

Meadow slipped off his lap and moved toward the picnic setup.

She had asked the staff for plenty of pillows so Ethan could sit comfortably on the mat. He watched her arrange everything carefully, her movements soft and deliberate. The way she adjusted the cushions. The way she smoothed the fabric. The way she kept glancing back to check that he was comfortable too.

Once, a sight like that would have shattered him, reminding him of everything he had lost.

But now,

Now it made him feel cherished.

When she was done, he joined her on the mat. The cushion she created was just enough for two. She immediately leaned into him, fitting perfectly against his side as they enjoyed the view together.

Her head settled against his shoulder like it had always belonged there.

“My mother said she wants you to be Luna,” he said at last, quietly testing the waters. He needed to know how she felt. He would

never force a crown onto her head.

“Luna Amber discussed it with me,” she signed. “She said she would delegate some of her duties to me. As long as you are okay with

it, I will do it.”

He released a slow breath.

Not fear.

Relief.

She was choosing this.

Not for power.

Not for ambition.

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For him.

“Very well,” he said gently. “You will start next month. For now, I want only one thing.”

She looked up at him, curious.

“I want to spend time with my wife.”

Her smile softened.

The kind of smile that didn’t need to shine.

The kind that simply stayed.

She leaned into his chest again.

And they stayed like that for the rest of the day, sharing food, laughter, quiet touches, and long stretches of peaceful silence. The

kind of silence that didn’t wound. The kind that healed.

Ethan felt lighter than he had in years.

No pressure.

No throne.

No fear.

Just Meadow.

Just peace.

And for the first time in a long time,

Ethan was happy.

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Underwater: The Silent Luna