Chapter 22
CARINA
I rolled my eyes at Carter: “You and your jokes again,” I smiled.
Luna Selene turned to him and chuckled too.
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He scratched the back of his neck and looked away. I didn’t miss how his ears had gone red. “I’m telling the truth though,” he muttered.
I turned to look at my reflection again. “Can we get this one?” I asked, admiring the fabric through my touch.
“Of course!” Luna Selene exclaimed. “We don’t even need to try on the other dresses. This is perfect. How much is it?” she asked, turning to the store owner.
“I’ll pay for it, Luna,” I quickly said. I had a little bit of savings from my salary as a doctor apprentice.
“You don’t have to do that,” Luna Selene smiled. I was about to argue more when the shop owner suddenly spoke.
“I’ll give it to you for free,” she said, clapping to capture our attention.
Our eyes widened in surprise. “Oh, but that can’t be,” Luna Selene chuckled. “You’re running a business here.”
The shop owner shrugged. “Like I said earlier, this is one of my earliest designs–back when people didn’t even believe I could be a designer! Now, my business is bountiful. I don’t even remember the cost going into that dress.”
I pursed my lips. “Is it really okay?”
“Yes,” she chuckled, patting my shoulders. “Honestly, I wouldn’t even sell this dress if it weren’t for you. This dress is made for you, and I believe it has no other owner. Now, I’ll help you take it off, and I’ll clean it nicely for the day of your wedding.”
Luna Selene bowed. “Why, thank you. Since you don’t want to get paid, I believe the best thing we could do is invite you as a special guest to the wedding.”
“That would be an honor,” she smiled.
“Can you please tell us your name?” I softly asked.
“Jana,” she said. “You may call me Jana.”
***
It was already the evening, and Falco had just returned after going suit shopping with Tim. Now, we were gathered around their dining table.
Luna Selene and Alpha Raven were right in front of us. Luna Selene’s eyes went to the two of us before settling on Falco.
“Falco, serve Carina,” she said, her voice leaving no room for argument.
Falco pursed his lips. Then, he picked up the bowl of roasted vegetables. With a sigh, he spooned some onto my plate.
“Happy?” he muttered under his breath.
Luna Selene arched a brow before shaking her head. “I swear,” she started off. “If you don’t start showing a little more effort, you’ll fail the home visit,” she said.
I blinked, caught off guard. “Home visit?” Falco echoed, his head snapping up.
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22:31 Mon, 3 Mar
Chapter 22
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What was that? A new ordinance again?
Luna Selene straightened her posture. “Yes, home visits. The council has decided it’s necessary. Despite their rigorous screening process, the number of divorces among werewolves, especially mated pairs, has still been increasing,” she sighed.
“They believe observing couples in their home environment will provide clarity. They came out with an announcement this morning, saying they need to ensure the bond is being nurtured properly,” she added.
Falco let out a low chuckle, shaking his head as he leaned back in his chair. “They have a lot of time on their hands,” he muttered.
“So, be on your best behavior,” Luna Selene smiled. “You never know when they’ll show up. You don’t want the permit getting taken away a week before your wedding, do you?”
The rest of the dinner passed in silence. If the ordinance just came out this morning, then it was highly unlikely they were going to start with the home visits today…or even the next week. So, we were safe.
Definitely.
When dinner finally ended, I retreated to our room with Falco trailing behind me.
Once inside, he walked straight to the armchair by the window, leaving the bed untouched as he always did. We had never slept beside each other since I moved in.
The night was cold, but the space between us was colder still. With that, I decided to take a warm shower before changing into my comfy pajamas.
Then I climbed into bed, pulling the thick blanket up to my chin. The faint scent of pine and earth clung to it, a reminder of Falco.
“Goodnight,” I murmured. I was unsure if he even heard it.
Falco didn’t respond, his gaze fixed on the window. I closed my eyes, willing myself to sleep despite the longing in my chest.
A knock on the door shattered the silence. My eyes flew open, and I sat up abruptly, clutching the blanket to my chest.
Falco was already on his feet, his eyes narrowing.
“Who could it be at this hour?” I muttered.
Falco didn’t answer. He moved to the door with quiet steps. Before either of us could comprehend what was happening, the door swung open, revealing our unexpected visitors.
“Ah, here they are,” Luna Selene exclaimed in a cheery voice. “They’re getting ready for bed, I see.”
My eyes widened as I stared at the people in front of us.
Standing in the doorway was Renesme. Next to her were two other men, whom I assumed were also part of the council. They surveyed our room immediately, jotting down the details on their notepads.
“We were just talking about you a while ago,” Luna Selene chuckled. “Now, you’re actually here. Fate is truly funny, isn’t it?”
“Funny,” I whispered to myself. I was sure they wouldn’t start the home visits until after our wedding!
Renesme nodded, straightening his posture. “Well, we have released the ordinance not too long ago, and we decided for Carina and Falco to be the first couple for our unannounced home visit.”
Her eyes then scanned the room, going back and forth between the couch and the bed. Her eyebrows furrowed.
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22:31 Mon, 3 Mar
Chapter 22
“Why is it that you only have one pillow on the bed and another one on the couch?” she asked with one eyebrow raised.
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