The Golden Lycans (Ella) novel Chapter 78

Your Future Luna

*Austin***

“Now you just need to meet my parents.”

Ella blinks at me, confused. “Aus, I’ve met them already. I spent most of the day with your mum

I shake my head, stepping closer. “Not like this, you haven’t. Not as my mate.”

At the mention of my mum, I suddenly remember the small box tucked inside my pocket.

“Oh! My mother got you a gift.”

Ella watches as I pull the little box from my trousers and place it in her hands. She looks surprised -until I flip it open. Her expression shifts, emotions flickering across her face as she takes in the

piece of jewelry inside.

“She somehow knew it was you, all along. Probably from the things I’ve said about you over the past few months. She wanted you to have this.”

Ella lifts the necklace from the box, her eyes lighting up as she realises what it is.

A sun charm. Almost identical to the one she used to wear, except this time, a moonstone glows at

its center.

“It’s perfect,” she murmurs, a soft smile playing on her lips, “a bit of the old me and a bit of the new one. I’ve really missed my old one, even though it held the biggest part of me back for so long.”

I take the chain from her fingers and carefully fasten it around her neck. The charm settles just an inch above the center of her cleavage-a perfect length.

“I promise this one is just a regular necklace. No magic, nothing untoward,” I joke, earning a warm

laugh from her.

“Did you do all of this?” I gesture around the greenhouse, still in awe of the transformation.

Ella hesitates, biting her lip.

“Mostly… but, no,” she admits, shifting slightly. There’s something nervous in her stance, like she’s

expecting my reaction to be wrong.

“I got the impression you two don’t like each other for some reason, but… Will Leighton Carter has

been helping me with all of us…with my magic. He’s become very important to me.”

I exhale, a small chuckle escaping me at her careful phrasing.

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<Your Future Luna

“Will and I… it’s a long and admittedly sad story.”

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My voice is even, but she watches me closely, as if waiting for a flicker of irritation or resentment. Instead, I squeeze her hand reassuringly.

“But he does seem different now. And trust me, Freya has made sure that I was well-informed about everything while I gave you space. I know he’s become important to you, and I know how much he has helped you.”

I need her to understand-it’s not going to be a problem.

She gives a small nod, and I lace my fingers with hers as we exit the greenhouse, retracing our

steps back to the atrium. We reach the doors to the main hall, the noise of the party just beyond

them, but I pause.

Because before we step back into all of that-I need to tell her.

“By the way… if it somehow wasn’t obvious, or if I hadn’t said it already…” I turn to her, taking in

every inch of her, letting my gaze linger in a way that leaves zero room for doubt, “You look absolutely stunning tonight.”

She blinks up at me, lips parting slightly, but I’m not finished.

“I mean, wow-Ella, to me, you are just… perfect.”

I lean in, capturing her lips in a soft, lingering kiss-one that says everything I don’t have words for.

And then, reluctantly, I pull away and lead her through the doors, back into the noise, back to the utt erly pointless spectacle of my birthday party.

But really, none of it matters, because she’s at my side.

Plenty of people turn to stare the moment we step into the hall. Whispers ripple through the crowd, heads turning, eyes widening. They know.

They all know exactly who she is to me now, and I couldn’t be prouder nor happier.

I spot my parents immediately. My mother’s face lights up, her eyes shimmering with joy, as if

she’d been waiting for this moment. But it’s my father’s reaction that truly catches my attention.

He turns, his coffee cup slipping in his grip, nearly crashing to the floor, surprising to see from the

ever-composed Leo Landry.

His expression is frozen somewhere between shock and something unreadable, and it makes this

moment even sweeter.

I tighten my grip on Ella’s hand, stepping forward with my head held high.

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“Mum, Dad, I’d like to officially introduce you to my mate, and your future Luna.”

bring Ella’s hand up, holding it between both of mine.

“This is Ella.”

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Mum beams, her warmth radiating outward as she reaches for Ella, her hand resting gently on her

arm.

“I’m so thrilled for you both, Aus,” she says, her voice thick with pride, “I could tell a long time ago that she was special to you.”

I glance at Dad, expecting some kind of reaction. But he just stares, unreadable and silent.

“We need to have a discussion about this, Austin,” he says gruffly, his eyes boring into Ella’s.

I don’t flinch and I don’t waver, because I knew he’d say that…I knew he’d be like this.

And it doesn’t matter.

None of it matters anymore.

I am of age and I now have my mate. My father could cling to his outdated beliefs all he wants, because at some point, he will step down, and when that day comes, the pack will be doing things

my way.

I smirk slightly, keeping my voice calm but firm.

“Oh, we absolutely will. But not tonight. Tomorrow.”

Then I turn back to Ella, a slow, deliberate grin spreading across my face.

“Right now, I’ve got a birthday party to enjoy, and I believe I owe my mate a long, long overdue

dance.”

Without waiting for another word from him, I pull Ella toward the dance floor, where nothing else

matters except the way she fits perfectly into my arms.

***Freya***

On my bingo card for this evening, I didn’t have Ollie, sweeping me away from Ella, quite

unexpectedly.

His movement is swift, and so smooth, and regardless of my reservations about how I had felt

about him recently, my heart actually skips a few beats.

His movement is swift, effortless-like he does this all the time. And maybe he does…maybe that’s

the problem.

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Regardless of my recent…complicated feelings toward him, my heart betrays me, skipping a few beats as he pulls me flush against his ridiculously hard body. I barely have time to register how this making me feel, before his hands deftly skim across my upper back. His hands, rough from his rigorous training, are in contrast to the softness of my skin.

Ollie’s smoldering gaze locks onto mine as he guides us into the rhythm of the song. It’s intoxicating, the way he moves-like he was made for this…like he’s had the time and the experience to perfect it.

I, on the other hand, have not. I have never danced with a guy before, and I certainly have never

been touched like this before.

I stiffen instinctively, my body unsure whether to lean in or push away, my inexperience causing me to doubt myself.

He notices. Of course, he notices. A knowing smirk dances across his lips, his fingers pressing ever so slightly into my upper back as if to ground me, as if to reassure me.

“Relax,” he mutters, “I know, but I’ve got you.”

I know what he’s implying, as I’d mentioned this over Christmas: being someone the guys generally avoided, due to who my big brother was. He knows I’m not used to this. He hugs me towards him a little more to avoid another dancing pair, and I inhale sharply. The scent of him, clean, warm…devastatingly male, hits my olfactory sense and swirls in my head like a dizzying perfume as he shuffles me confidently around the dance floor.

This is how he’s charmed half the girls in our pack. This is how he leaves them always wanting

more.

Mira, of course, is no help at all.

Oh girl, do not mess this up for us! Loosen up! she growls in my head.

“Sorry to steal you away from Ella, but Aus wanted to make his move. Just being the excellent Betal

that I am,” Ollie mutters, his lips close to my ear.

Before I can respond, he executes a few complicated steps, his footwork effortless and smooth. Then, without warning, he twirls me outward.

I barely have time to react before he pulls me back in-firmly. The sudden proximity catches my

breath, my hands instinctively gripping onto his broad shoulders for balance.

“Wow,” I chuckle, trying my best to mask my flustered state, “I never really took you for a dancer,

Ollie.”

His smirk is slow and deliberate, like I’ve challenged him with my words.

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“Well, there are a lot of interesting things you don’t know about me, Freya…” His voice is lower now, almost teasing. The arches a brow at me, just before dips me, taking me entirely unaware.

My body arches backward, my world tilting, his strong arm steady beneath me. His face is suddenly so close to mine as he expertly brings me back up to standing, his dark eyes glinting with something unreadable.

“…yet.”

My heart is thumping ridiculously hard.

Is Ollie flirting with me?

He definitely is….so flirt back! Mira says happily.

Flirt back? I’ve never flirted with anyone in my life! I exclaim.

Okay, so just chill, just see what he does… Mira replies.

“Well, you’re actually very good,” I tell him, my voice slightly breathless as he moves us effortlessly

in time with the music.

All too soon, the slow song fades, replaced by something more upbeat. The logical move would be

to part ways, to step back. Ollie doesn’t. Instead, his grip tightens, and without hesitation, he adjusts seamlessly to the faster rhythm, pulling me with him.

“It’s great to see you in this dress again,” he murmurs, his voice a low caress against my ear. Every nerve in my body soon becomes hyperaware of his fingers skimming purposefully along my lower back. It’s light, teasing and deliberate. The sensation is entirely foreign, and I can’t stop the small, startled gasp that escapes me. It’s barely a sound, but he hears it, the corners of his mouth curving into a cheeky smirk, as if pleased with my reaction.

I should be focusing on the dance, on keeping up with his steps, but his comment throws me off

balance in a completely different way.

He remembers my dress.