Chapter 97

They arrived at their vacation spot just before the sun climbed too high. The cabin sat quietly beside the woods, surrounded by tall trees whose leaves filtered the sunlight into thin golden rays that spilled across the clearing. It felt far away from Ironwood. Far away from politics the politics of it and far away from the whispers.

After Cole had brought all their bags inside, he stepped back out onto the small wooden porch. Aria stood beside the parked car, admiring the woods and how the sun rays seeped through the high leaves.

For a moment, he simply watched her, admiring how the light caught in her hair and how the breeze lifted the ends of it slightly. She looked… peaceful. Maybe she would be better not being his Luna; the thought visited him. Maybe he rubbed her life bringing her into his.

He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her softly, his strong frame closing around her back and his chin brushed lightly against her temple.

“I’m sorry,