The Wolf God's Unwanted Luna

Chapter 76: family Time

I paused on the last step, took a deep breath, and prayed the heat in my cheeks would be brushed off as nothing more than, well, heat. With my heart thudding nervously, I hurried to the front door, excitement bubbling in my chest. I was finally about to see them my parents. It felt like ages since I’d last been in their arms.

Before I could even open the door all the way, I was engulfed in warmth. My mother’s arms wrapped around me, her sobs shaking both of us, and then my father pulled us into his embrace too, his presence grounding me instantly. I melted into them, clutching them tightly one arm around Mom, the other around Dad as tears pricked at the corners of my eyes.

When Mom finally pulled back, her face was flushed and her eyes rimmed with red. I gave her a soft, watery smile, and she just let out another choked sob and hugged me all over again. My chest clenched. I’d missed her voice, even her tears.

I glanced between the two of them both sniffling now and whispered, "Hey, Mom. Hey, Dad. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?"

They both eased back slightly, but my father kept one arm protectively looped around her shoulders. Seeing them again like this, safe and alive and here, opened a floodgate of memories. It reminded me of home, of laughter echoing through our tiny kitchen, of bedtime stories and early morning hugs before school. It reminded me of how deeply I loved them.

I had features from both of them. My hair and eyes matched theirs deep brown like wet soil after rain. Dad always took on a reddish hue when he spent too much time in the sun, and Mom’s tiny frame, all delicate angles and soft lines, had passed me her upturned nose. Dad wasn’t enormous, but he was still a big man, especially compared to her, and it was clear I inherited his height even if just by a few inches. Every inch counted, I liked to think. I had his temper too, though it rarely flared up in front of him. We were alike enough to understand one another without speaking.

After lots of kisses, hushed reassurances, and clinging hugs, I finally managed to guide them inside and have them sit.

"We missed you so much, Vivian. We nearly lost our minds looking for you," Dad said hoarsely. His voice was rough with emotion, but steady classic him. He and Mom settled on the loveseat, still clinging to one another, while I curled up in a nearby chair.

"I missed you both, too," I said softly. "And to think I was supposed to be moving out for college. Guess that didn’t go as planned, huh?" I tried to lighten the mood with a laugh. To my relief, Mom actually cracked a smile, even with her eyes still glistening.

The conversation started out light lots of concerned questions and me trying to reassure them that I was okay, that I was safe but the shift came fast. I felt it the moment Dad’s posture tightened. His eyes, sharp and dark, began to scan the room. He didn’t say a word yet, but I could see him noticing things: the air, the silence, the subtle energy that never quite left this house. He was a man who paid attention.

Unlike Mom, who tended to be expressive and talkative, Dad was quieter always watching, always analyzing. But when he did speak, especially when angry or defensive, he could be terrifying.

I held my breath when he finally spoke.

"So... your mother told me you’ve been with your mate this whole time. Is that true?" His tone was calm, but there was something buried beneath it. Disapproval? Worry? Protective anger?

I tensed, fingers clenching slightly in my lap. Here it was the part I’d been dreading. Zaliver wasn’t here with me, and that made this harder. There was no buffer. Just me and the truth. And Dad.

"Yeah," I said simply.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, watching me with a look that saw too much, a look that had always seen right through me. I kept still, trying not to give anything away, even though inside I felt like I was balancing on a knife’s edge.