I Am His Wolfless Luna Chapter 133

Ethan's POV

I couldn't tear my eyes away from Aria as she emerged from the hallway. The soft glow of the living room lights caught in her dark hair, which was falling loose from what looked like a hastily arranged knot. Even in worn yoga pants and an oversized t-shirt, she looked beautiful—radiant in a way I couldn't quite place. Something about her seemed different, but I couldn't put my finger on what it was.

Lucas was still chattering excitedly in my arms about his history project, his small hands gripping my forearm with surprising strength as he pointed to various details he'd crafted himself. I nodded and made appropriate sounds of admiration, but my attention was split between the boy and his mother.

"Look, Ethan! I used the special coloring method you showed me last time!" Lucas beamed up at me, his emerald eyes sparkling with pride, his little nose scrunching adorably. "And see? I even made tiny wolves there!" He wiggled his fingers dramatically.

"You did an amazing job, buddy," I said, ruffling his hair as he giggled and leaned into my touch. "Way better than I could have done at your age."

As Leo announced that dinner was getting cold, everyone began migrating toward the dining table. I set Lucas down, and he immediately grabbed my hand with his tiny fingers, tugging me determinedly toward his usual seat, his expression comically serious.

"You have to sit here," he informed me with the gravity of someone assigning a throne, patting the chair next to his and looking up with those impossibly big eyes. "This is your spot. I saved it special for you!" He bounced on his toes, unable to contain his excitement.

My heart squeezed at his words. As if I belonged here, as if I was a regular part of their lives rather than someone who had crashed their evening. I caught Aria's eye across the room, and for a brief moment, something unguarded and vulnerable passed across her face before she quickly looked away.

"Pizza's great, but I forgot to bring drinks," Leo announced, slapping his forehead dramatically. "Major party foul."

"I have water and some juice boxes for Lucas," Aria offered, moving toward the kitchen.

"No, no, no," Leo protested, waving his hands. "We need proper drinks for a proper dinner. There's a convenience store down the block, right?"

Aria nodded, looking wary as Leo dramatically complained about the missing drinks.

"We can't have pizza without proper drinks," Leo declared, throwing his hands up in mock despair.

Before he could volunteer me or make an awkward suggestion, I cleared my throat. "I'd be happy to run to the store and grab some sodas," I offered, trying to sound casual despite my racing heart. "What does everyone want?"

David shot me a surprised look, clearly not expecting me to be so forward. Zoe and her sister exchanged quick glances, their lips curving into subtle smiles.

"I'll write down what everyone likes," Aria said quickly, already reaching for a notepad on the counter. "The store has a confusing layout. You might not find everything."

I recognized the opening she was giving me, and took a deep breath. "Would you mind coming with me, then? Two pairs of eyes would make it faster." I kept my voice steady, though my palms had begun to sweat. "Plus, I can help carry everything back."

The room went quiet, everyone suddenly fascinated by the pizza in front of them. Leo didn't even try to hide his triumphant grin.

Lucas bounced in his seat, breaking the tension. "Go with Ethan, Mom! He's super strong! He can carry like a million sodas!" He flexed his little arms, mimicking muscles. "And he can scare away any bad guys with his alpha growl!"

Aria's eyes met mine, something unreadable flickering through them before she nodded slowly. "Okay. Let's make it quick, though. The food's getting cold." Her voice carried a neutral tone that wasn't quite welcoming but wasn't pushing me away either—a tiny crack in her defenses that I'd happily take.

The evening air brushed cool against my skin as we stepped outside her apartment building, carrying with it the scent of rain-washed pavement and distant flowering trees. Aria walked half a step ahead of me, close enough that I could catch the faint vanilla scent of her shampoo, yet far enough to maintain a careful distance between us. Her arms wrapped around herself—whether from the slight chill or to create a barrier, I couldn't tell. Our footsteps fell into a synchronized rhythm despite ourselves.

Occasionally her arm would almost brush against mine as we navigated around a sidewalk obstacle, causing her to subtly shift away each time. Each near-touch sent electricity crackling across my skin, leaving me simultaneously craving more contact and fearing I'd shatter this fragile moment if I pushed too hard.

"I'm sorry," I finally said, the words tumbling out before I could overthink them.

She slowed her pace, glancing at me sideways. "For what, specifically?"

"For showing up unannounced tonight," I began, shoving my hands into my pockets. "For getting jealous about Leo." I took a deep breath. "I had no right to any of it."

Aria nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful. "I owe you an apology too. About Leo... there's nothing between us. He kissed me, and I pushed him away. It felt wrong." A slight blush colored her cheeks. "And I shouldn't have shut you out completely afterward."

We turned the corner as the convenience store's neon lights came into view, casting colorful patterns across the rain-damp sidewalk. From nowhere, a teenager on a skateboard came barreling toward us, headphones on and completely oblivious to his surroundings. He was headed straight for Aria.

My body reacted before my mind could process what was happening. In one fluid motion, I wrapped my arm around Aria's waist and pulled her against me, spinning us both safely away from the collision path. The skateboarder zoomed past with a hasty "My bad!" thrown into the night air.

The sudden movement left Aria pressed firmly against my chest, her hands instinctively gripping my biceps. I could feel her warmth seeping through my shirt, the subtle curve of her waist beneath my palm, the whisper of her breath against my neck. Her scent—vanilla and something uniquely Aria—enveloped me, making my head swim.

She looked up, her eyes wide, lips slightly parted in surprise. For a breathless moment, the world around us disappeared. The streetlight caught the flecks of gold in her dark eyes, and I found myself drowning in them. My gaze dropped to her lips, and I began to lean down, drawn by a gravity I couldn't fight.

Aria's sharp intake of breath broke the spell. She took a small step back, breaking our embrace, though her hands lingered on my arms for a heartbeat longer than necessary. I immediately missed her warmth.

"Thanks for that," she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, a flush spreading across her cheeks.

I cleared my throat, trying to regain my composure. "That kid needs to watch where he's going."

Our eyes met again, and suddenly we both burst into laughter—the tension between us dissolving into something lighter, but no less electric.

"Lucas was right about the protection part," she said, her smile reaching her eyes for the first time tonight.

"That kid knows me better than I know myself sometimes," I replied, my heart hammering against my ribs. I'd been so close to kissing her. So close to ruining this fragile peace between us by moving too fast.

The bright fluorescents of the convenience store provided a welcome distraction as we navigated the narrow aisles. I grabbed a basket, our fingers brushing as she reached for it at the same time.

"Leo will complain if we don't get that sugary orange stuff he likes," Aria said, wrinkling her nose as she placed a bottle in our basket.

"And David needs his diet cola or he'll sulk all evening," I added, grabbing two bottles.

"What about you?" she asked, looking up at me. "Still partial to root beer?"

The fact that she remembered such a small detail about me made something warm unfurl in my chest. "You know me too well."

The streetlights had come on, casting a soft glow over the sidewalk. Aria looked ethereal in the gentle light, her profile outlined in gold. And as we continued walking, I noticed she stayed closer to my side than before, our arms occasionally brushing.

Hope bloomed in my chest—fragile but real. Maybe I could finally tell her the truth about what happened six years ago, as soon as possible. Maybe we could have a new beginning.