Unspoken promises

Luna sat by her bedroom window, staring into the fading afternoon light as her thoughts swirled. It had been almost three weeks since that night in the coffee shop. The memory of Cassian’s piercing gaze, his touch, and that sudden, consuming kiss haunted her in ways she couldn’t shake. She’d never been impulsive, never let herself be carried away by a moment like that. Yet, something about him had felt inevitable, like a force she couldn’t resist.

But now, that night felt like a fever dream—unreal, yet too vivid to dismiss. She hadn’t seen him since he’d vanished into the storm, leaving her confused and breathless in the empty shop. She told herself she’d been foolish to even think of him since, but the truth was, he lingered on the edges of her mind.

Today, though, something else weighed on her. A quiet unease had taken root deep within her, an uncomfortable gnawing that hadn’t eased in days. Her body felt… different. At first, she’d blamed stress and lack of sleep, but now the feeling had sharpened into something more specific, and more alarming. Her appetite had vanished, and even the smell of coffee in her own shop had started to turn her stomach.

The thought had come to her slowly, creeping into her mind until she could no longer deny it. Luna’s hand trembled as she reached into the drawer beside her bed, where she’d hidden a small, white test. She hadn’t dared look at it until now, but she knew she couldn’t ignore it any longer.

Moments later, she was staring down at the result, her heart pounding. A single, definitive line stared back at her, confirming her fears. She was pregnant.

Luna’s breath caught as she sank onto the edge of her bed, shock washing over her. Her hands shook, and she clutched the edge of the bed for support, trying to process the reality in front of her. It felt impossible—she’d never imagined herself in this situation, especially with someone she barely knew. She thought back to Cassian, the way he’d looked at her, his touch as intense as his gaze. She’d felt something powerful that night, but she hadn’t thought it would leave her with this lasting consequence.

As the initial shock faded, fear and uncertainty took its place. What was she supposed to do now? She was alone, without family to lean on, and she couldn’t even bring herself to think about Cassian’s reaction—if he even wanted to know. How could she track him down anyway? She had no idea where he was or if he’d even come back to the shop. All she had was his name and the memory of a connection that had already begun to slip through her fingers.

After what felt like hours, Luna finally pulled herself together, her mind a storm of questions. She knew she had to make a plan, to figure out her next steps, but her thoughts were jumbled, and a sense of isolation wrapped around her. She wished she had someone to talk to, someone who could help her make sense of everything. But her friends were few and far away, and she’d always kept her personal life private, even from them.

With a sigh, she stood up and went to the window, hoping the fresh air might clear her mind. The sky outside was turning a dusky blue, and she watched as shadows lengthened across the town. The thought of Cassian lingered, heavy and unspoken, yet undeniable. Maybe it was crazy, but she felt compelled to try and find him, to let him know. She couldn’t bear the thought of going through this entirely alone.

The next day, she went about her routine at the coffee shop, her mind distracted by a mixture of nerves and determination. By late afternoon, she found herself watching the door with a kind of desperate hope. She’d long since given up expecting to see him again, but now she couldn’t help but hold on to that small thread of possibility.

And then, just as the sun was setting, he walked in.

Cassian’s entrance was as silent as before, but his presence filled the room. His gaze found hers instantly, and Luna’s heart leapt in her chest. He looked different, more guarded, yet the intensity in his eyes was the same, if not stronger.

“Luna,” he said, his voice low and cautious as he approached the counter.

Her mouth went dry, and for a moment she couldn’t find the words she’d spent all night rehearsing. But she took a steadying breath, reminding herself that this wasn’t just about her anymore. She had to do this—for both of them.

“Cassian,” she replied, her voice wavering. “I didn’t think I’d see you again.”

His eyes softened for a moment, something unspoken flickering across his face. “I didn’t expect to come back either,” he admitted. “But I… couldn’t stay away.”

The words hung between them, layered with a tension that neither of them could ignore. Finally, Luna forced herself to speak, her voice barely above a whisper. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

Cassian’s expression shifted, a flicker of concern crossing his features. “What is it?”

She took a deep breath, gathering her courage. “I’m pregnant, Cassian. And… it’s yours.”

For a moment, he was silent, his gaze unreadable as he processed her words. Luna braced herself for his reaction, unsure of what to expect. She didn’t know him well enough to guess how he might respond, but the intensity in his eyes told her that he understood the weight of her words.

When he finally spoke, his voice was a mixture of surprise and something she couldn’t quite place. “Luna… Are you sure?”

She nodded, her eyes steady on his. “Yes. I just found out, but I wanted you to know. I… I don’t expect anything from you, Cassian. I just thought you deserved to know.”

Cassian’s gaze softened, and he reached out, taking her hand in his. “Luna,” he said quietly, his voice filled with an intensity that both reassured and unsettled her. “I don’t abandon what’s mine. And if this child is mine, then I’ll protect you both. You’ll never be alone.”

She felt a wave of relief, but it was mixed with confusion and uncertainty. She hadn’t expected him to respond this way, and she could see something raw and vulnerable in his expression that she hadn’t seen before. There was more to him than the mysterious, intense stranger she’d met that night, and she found herself wanting to understand him, to learn who he truly was.

“But Cassian… you don’t know me. We hardly know each other,” she murmured, searching his gaze.

He looked at her, his eyes dark and unreadable. “That may be true. But this bond between us… I can’t ignore it. I don’t know what it is, but I know I can’t let it go.”

Luna felt her heart skip a beat, caught between fear and a strange, unexpected hope. She’d spent her life avoiding entanglements, but now, standing here with Cassian, she couldn’t deny that she felt something real—something that went beyond reason.

As they stood there, the world outside seemed to blur, leaving just the two of them in the quiet coffee shop, a promise hanging in the air. It was a promise of responsibility, of protection, and maybe, just maybe, something more.

And though Luna had no idea what lay ahead, for the first time since she’d seen that test, she felt a glimmer of hope, a feeling that maybe she didn’t have to face the future alone.

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