Chapter 41
Faith’s Pov
I agreed to give this man a chance at proving himself, but not to torture me. That’s why I couldn’t understand why he woke me up yet again. This time, though, it was to take me to town. The sun was barely peeking over the horizon, painting the sky in soft shades of pink and orange. My eyes felt heavy, and the early morning chill seeped through my thin nightgown.
“And we couldn’t do this after eight?” I asked him, my voice thick with sleep and annoyance. He was having the time of his life, laughing at my discomfort.
“Stop throwing a tantrum because it’s a surprise,” he said, his tone light and teasing. Clearly, we had two different ideas of what a surprise should look like. My idea of a surprise involved a warm bed and maybe breakfast in bed, not being dragged out into the cold.
He led me to his car, a sleek black vehicle that always seemed to hum with a hidden power. I climbed in, still grumbling under my breath. The drive was quiet, the only sound the soft purr of the engine and the occasional rustle of the trees outside. I couldn’t shake the feeling of exhaustion, but a sliver of curiosity began to prick at my annoyance. What could possibly be so important that it required a pre–dawn raid on my slumber?
As the sky brightened, we pulled up to a place I hadn’t been to in what felt like forever: the mall. But this wasn’t just any morning at the mall. As we drove through the immense parking lot, noticed that it was completely empty. The gates to the mall were shut, and there wasn’t a soul in sight. My eyebrows shot up in surprise.
Astor parked the car and turned to me, a genuine smile gracing his lips. Welcome to your personal shopping spree, Faith.”
“1
125 Points
No he didn’t.
My jaw dropped. “You… you closed down the whole mall?”
He nodded, his eyes twinkling. “Just for you. I figured we could have the whole place to ourselves. No crowds, no stares. Just you and whatever you
desire.”
I stared at him, trying to process this. Astor, the Alpha who had always been so focused on pack duties and his own power, was doing this? For me? The gratitude that flooded me was overwhelming, pushing aside the last remnants of my annoyance.
“Astor,” I began, my voice catching slightly, “I… I don’t know what to say.”
He reached out and gently brushed a stray strand of hair from my face. “You don’t have to say anything. Just… enjoy. I know that for the last three years, you’ve been dressing the way you thought was expected of you. The ‘luna‘ way. But I see how happy you are when you’re comfortable. When you change into your soft leggings and oversized sweaters at home, there’s a spark in your eyes that I haven’t seen enough of.”
His words hit me like a gentle wave. He noticed? He’d actually paid attention? I thought back to the clothes wore, the stiff dresses and tailored suits. They made me feel like I was playing a part, not like myself. I’d always wanted to experiment, to express myself, but the fear of what others might think, the whispers about what a luna should look like, had held me back. I’d never had the confidence to develop my own personal style.
“I… I’ve always wanted to try different outfits,” I confessed, my voice soft. But I was too afraid.”
A warmth spread through my chest. This wasn’t just about clothes; it was about him seeing me, the real me, and wanting me to be happy. Without thinking, I leaned forward and hugged him tightly. “Thank you, Astor. This means more than you know.”
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He held me for a moment, his embrace strong and comforting. Then, he pulled back slightly, a playful glint in his eyes. “I didn’t do this for free, you
know”
My heart sank a little. “What do you mean?”
He grinned. “You have to be my personal model. You have to try on different outfits for me, and I get to tell you what looks good.”
I rolled my eyes, but a smile played on my lips. “Reluctantly,” I agreed. This was a small price to pay for what he was doing.
And so, the day began. We spent hours inside the silent, echoing mall. Astor was surprisingly good at his modeling job, offering genuine compliments and even suggesting pairings I wouldn’t have thought of. I tried on everything from flowing dresses to edgy jeans, from cozy jumpers to stylish coats. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I could breathe, like I could be myself. We laughed, we posed, and for a while, the weight of our past seemed to lift. After our shopping spree, we decided to explore the nearby human town. The air was crisp, and the unfamiliar sights and sounds of the human world were a welcome change of pace. We found a small, cozy cafe with outdoor seating and ordered some coffee and pastries.
We talked easily, the conversation flowing between us like an old, comfortable river. Astor told me more stories about his childhood.
I don’t know why I’m reluctant about sharing that part of my life with him but I hope someday I’ll be comfortable enough to tell him that my childhood wasn’t like how I’m sure he thinks it was.
As the afternoon sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the street, Astor’s phone buzzed. He pulled it out, his brow furrowing as he read the message. His expression shifted from relaxed to concerned.
“What is it?” I asked, a knot of unease forming in my stomach.
He looked up at me, his eyes serious. “It’s Alice. She’s… she’s sick.”
Of course.
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