The Wolf God's Unwanted Luna

Vivian’s POV

I stomped back over to him and grabbed his hand. He didn’t say anything, just stared down at me with that same unreadable expression before leading us out to the car.

Once inside, he asked me to put the cake in the backseat, but I gave him a look like he’d lost his mind.

"What?" he asked, holding the back door open.

"Hell no. That cake would go tumbling the second we hit a curve. I’ll hold it on my lap, thank you very much."

He shrugged and walked over to the passenger side, opening the door for me. I smiled my thanks and slid into the seat, carefully securing the box on my lap. Outside, the sky was beginning to melt into twilight—warm swirls of orange, lavender, and rose fading gracefully into a dusky purple.

"So... where are we going next?" I asked eagerly. Baking with him had been surprisingly fun—chaotic, messy fun, but still fun. He’d managed to stay focused on his cake while also somehow stopping me from setting the kitchen on fire or wiping out on a pile of spilled flour.

"You’ll find out soon," he said cryptically, eyes fixed on the road ahead.

The drive wasn’t silent in that awkward way where you wait for someone to speak first. It was peaceful. Comfortable. Like we were both okay just being in each other’s presence.

Eventually, he pulled over to the side of the road, and I blinked at the stretch of dense forest and jagged hills stretching out in front of us.

"Please tell me we’re not going in there," I said slowly.

"We’re not," he replied calmly.

I sighed in immense relief. "Good."

"We’re hiking," he added with a completely straight face, taking the cake box from my lap and marching off toward the trail like he hadn’t just ruined my life.

"Yipeee," I deadpanned, twirling an imaginary party streamer in the air.

Before I could follow, he stopped and turned to face me.

"Oh, wait. Before we go... can I call my parents?" I asked. "Your PIN’s the only way I can use your phone."

He reached into his back pocket and tossed me his phone, which I caught easily with a grin. I quickly dialed my parents’ home number and waited as it rang.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Dad. It’s me," I said brightly, fully aware of Zaliver quietly studying me from a few feet away.

"’It’s me’ could be any of my kids," he teased immediately.

There was a loud smack and some scolding in the background, then his voice returned, sounding much more contrite.

"Hey, Vivian."

"Yup, it’s me. Your only child, by the way," I teased back.

He laughed. "It’s good to hear from you, young lady. You said you’d call soon—it’s been—"

"I know, I know, sorry! I’m about to go on a hike like literally right now so I can’t talk long."

"Hike?" he asked in pure disbelief. "Are you on something?"

"What?" I blinked, utterly confused.

"Drugs, Vivian. Are you on drugs? Because the daughter I know wouldn’t walk to the mailbox, let alone hike. Are you sure you’re mine?"

I pursed my lips and glanced over at Zaliver, who was nodding solemnly like he completely agreed with my dad.

"Ha ha. Very funny. Anyway, just wanted to say I’m doing fine," I said, ignoring their judgmental glares even across dimensions.

"Well, glad to hear it. Your mother sends hugs and glares. I mean, kisses," he said quickly, and I heard my mom scoff loudly on the other end.

"Love you both. Bye!" I said before hanging up. I couldn’t resist muttering under my breath, "Any of your children, huh?"

"It was a joke," I imagined him saying right as the call ended.

I handed the phone back to Zaliver, and once again, that same strange look crossed his face. Like he was realizing something—something unexpected, but something that made him... happy.

And I couldn’t help but wonder what exactly he was thinking.

"Ready?" Zaliver asked, his deep voice low and smooth.

I gave a small nod, bracing myself as we stepped off the gravel and into the dense forest. The air was cool and damp, earthy with the rich scent of pine and fallen leaves. I sighed softly, dragging my feet after him, not entirely sure what this little outdoor outing was meant to accomplish.

"So," I started, carefully stepping over a thick, moss-covered log, "is there a reason you decided to take me on a date today?" I asked, accepting his outstretched hand for balance.

He glanced over his shoulder, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "I figured you could use something to take your mind off things. What kind of mate would I be if I didn’t treat mine to something a little... distracting?"

I snorted softly. "I wouldn’t know," I muttered truthfully.

He chuckled, his pace steady as he moved through the forest path. "So besides walking and hiking, is there anything else I should add to the list of physical activities you hate?" He looked back at me with a playful lift of his dark brow.

I narrowed my eyes at him, already wary of where this conversation was heading. "I don’t like rollerblading or anything involving heights," I replied, deliberately keeping my tone flat even though my cheeks were heating up. His eyes widened slightly in surprise, but he masked it quickly.

"Oh," he said slowly, dragging the word out thoughtfully. I squinted at his back, sensing something behind the sudden shift in his demeanor.

"Well," he added quickly, "I’m just relieved sex isn’t on that list."

My face burned hot. "Not yet," I shot back, irritated but completely flustered.

"Or ever," he said with supreme confidence, a cocky smirk in his tone. "I’ll make sure of that."

He ducked beneath a large overhead branch and held it up for me to pass under, still grinning like the arrogant Alpha he was.

What was I even supposed to say to that? Oh, thank you, mighty mate, for your guarantee of brain-melting pleasure? Yeah, no thanks.

"Prove it," my wolf whispered with a giggle inside my head, and I promptly shoved her voice aside.

"Hmmm," I hummed noncommittally.

His voice softened as he suddenly asked, "So, am I right to assume you still hold some resentment about what I did before? That you’re planning a new way to get back at me?"

That made me pause dead in my tracks. I stared at his broad back, caught completely off guard. When he turned around to face me, his expression was curious, yet unreadable.

Did I still hold resentment?

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