Luna. Chapter 118

(Lyra's POV)

Three days into our experiment in cohabitation, Asher made an announcement over breakfast.

"We should all move to Daddy's house."

I nearly choked on my coffee. "What?"

"It's bigger," Asher explained matter-of-factly. "And it has that big yard with the tire swing. And the kitchen has two ovens."

Kael looked as surprised as I felt. "Buddy, I sold my house. Remember?"

"You sold it? Like, forever?"

"Forever."

Asher's face fell. "But what about all the cool stuff? The library with the ladder and the game room and the swimming pool?"

"What swimming pool?" I asked.

"Daddy never showed you his house?" Asher looked shocked. "It's amazing, Mama. It's like a castle!"

I turned to stare at Kael. "You had a castle and you sold it to move into my tiny cottage?"

"It wasn't a castle. And size doesn't matter."

"It was totally a castle," Asher insisted. "With towers and everything!"

"They weren't towers. They were just... architectural features."

I was getting the distinct impression that Kael had given up significantly more than he'd admitted.

"Show me pictures," I demanded.

"Lyra, it doesn't matter. That was my old life."

"Show me pictures or I'm looking it up on the real estate websites."

Kael sighed and pulled out his phone, scrolling through his photo gallery until he found what he was looking for.

The house he showed me was indeed castle-like. Stone facade, multiple levels, towers that were definitely towers no matter what he called them. Beautifully landscaped grounds, a swimming pool that looked like something out of a magazine.

"Kael," I breathed. "This is gorgeous."

"It was also empty. Cold. More of a monument to success than an actual home."

"But you loved it once."

"I thought I did. But after you left, it just felt like an expensive prison."

"How expensive?" I asked suspiciously.

"Lyra—"

"How expensive, Kael?"

He named a figure that made me sit down hard in my chair.

"Oh my God. You gave up millions of dollars to move in with me."

"I gave up nothing to gain everything."

"Daddy, why didn't you ask us to move there instead?" Asher wanted to know. "We could have had family movie nights in the theater room!"

"There was a theater room?"

"With recliners and a popcorn machine and everything!" Asher was practically bouncing with excitement. "And a gym, and a office with three computers, and a garage with space for six cars!"

I stared at Kael in horror. "You had your own theater room."

"I watched movies alone. Not nearly as fun as you'd think."

"But still. Your own theater room!"

"Lyra, please don't do this."

"Do what?"

"Make this about money or sacrifice or what I gave up. I gave up things. I gained a family. It's the best trade I've ever made."

Asher was looking back and forth between us with growing concern.

"Are you mad at Daddy for selling his castle, Mama?"

"Not mad. Just... processing."

"What's processing?"

"It's when grown-ups need time to think about big information."

"Is it bad information?"

I looked at my son's worried face, then at Kael's carefully neutral expression.

"No, baby. It's not bad information. It's just... surprising information."

"Good surprising or bad surprising?"

"I'm still figuring that out."

After breakfast, I found myself pacing the kitchen while Kael and Asher played in the garden.

Elena found me stress-cleaning the already spotless counters.

"Problem, dear?"

"Did you know Kael gave up a multimillion-dollar mansion to move in here?"

"I suspected his previous living situation was somewhat grander than this, yes."

"Elena, he had a theater room. And a swimming pool. And apparently towers."

"And now he has a family who loves him. Seems like a fair trade."

"But what if he regrets it? What if he misses his old life?"

"Does he seem like a man with regrets?"

I glanced out the window where Kael was patiently teaching Asher to throw a football. Both of them were laughing.

"No," I admitted. "He seems happy."

"Then why are you worrying?"

"Because this feels too good to be true. Nobody gives up everything for love. It's not realistic."

"Isn't it? Haven't you given up things for love?"

"That's different."

"How?"

"Because... because it just is."

Elena gave me the look she reserved for when I was being particularly obtuse.

"Ms. Lyra, that man has been in love with you for years. He made terrible choices that cost him everything that mattered. Now he has a chance to fix those mistakes. Do you really think he's going to prioritize material possessions over the family he thought he'd lost forever?"

"When you put it like that..."

"Exactly. Stop borrowing trouble and start enjoying happiness."

She was right, but I couldn't seem to shake the feeling that the other shoe was going to drop eventually.

My phone rang, interrupting my spiral of worry. Kael's number.

"Missing me already?" I answered.

"Always. But that's not why I'm calling. We need to talk about something."

His tone made my stomach clench. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. But I just got a call from my real estate agent."

"About what?"

"About the house. The buyers want to back out of the sale."

I felt the blood drain from my face. "What does that mean?"

"It means I still own a very large, very empty house."

"And?"

"And I'm wondering if you and Asher might want to see it."

"See it?"

"Maybe consider living there instead of cramming my entire existence into your cottage."

I was quiet for a long moment, processing this development.

"Kael, I can't afford to maintain a mansion."

"You wouldn't have to. I can afford to maintain it. The question is whether you'd want to live there."

"What about my pack obligations here?"

"We'd figure it out. Your pack would understand. And honestly, the house is big enough to host pack meetings if needed."

"I don't know..."

"Just think about it, okay? No pressure. But Asher seemed excited about the pool."

"Asher isn't the one making this decision."

"No, but his happiness matters to both of us."

"Let me think about it."

"Of course. Take all the time you need."

After he hung up, I stood in my kitchen looking around at the home I'd built for myself and Asher. Every corner held memories. Every room was exactly the way I wanted it.

But it was also small. Cramped, even, with Kael's belongings added to our own.

And Asher had looked so disappointed when he thought he'd never see the pool again.

"Mama!" Asher came running in from the garden. "Daddy says there might be a surprise!"

"What kind of surprise?"

"The good kind! The kind where we get to see the castle again!"

I looked at my son's excited face and felt my resolve weakening.

"How do you feel about maybe moving to Daddy's house?" I asked carefully.

"REALLY?" Asher's eyes went wide. "We could live in the castle?"

"It's not a castle, baby. It's just a big house."

"A big house with a pool and a theater and towers!"

"Architectural features," I corrected automatically.

"Can we go see it? Please please please?"

I looked at my son's hopeful face and realized I was fighting a losing battle.

"We can go look at it," I said finally. "Just to see. No promises."

Asher whooped and ran back outside, presumably to tell Kael the good news.

I followed more slowly, watching them celebrate together.

Maybe Elena was right. Maybe I was borrowing trouble instead of embracing happiness.

Maybe it was time to stop being afraid of good things and start believing I deserved them.

Even if those good things came with swimming pools and theater rooms.

"So," Kael said as I approached them. "Want to take a drive?"

I looked at his hopeful expression, then at Asher's excitement.

"Why not?" I said. "Let's go see your castle."

"It's not a castle," Kael protested.

"Daddy, it totally is," Asher informed him seriously.

As we loaded into the truck, I found myself smiling despite my lingering anxiety.

Whatever happened, we were in this together now. All three of us.

And maybe that was enough.