The Luna's Harem

Chapter 33: Especially For You

Evander let out a sigh, looking around the chapel’s surroundings. Even though this place lay within the estate’s vast hectares of land, it felt isolated. Servants worked tirelessly to keep the mansion squeaky clean, gardeners tended to the flowers and maintained the trimmed grass.

And yet, none of them ever seemed to have any intention of entering the chapel.

"It is alright," he told himself, his palm resting against the chapel’s entrance.

However, before he pushed the door open, he noticed a light dent on the otherwise unmarked surface. He didn’t dwell on it, though.

The large door creaked loudly as he pushed it open, stepping inside for his usual morning prayer. The moment his eyes adjusted to the interior, he paused. His steps halted as he caught sight of a figure standing in the middle of the aisle. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

"Luna?" he called quietly, curiosity lacing his tone.

Evander approached her carefully, his gaze sizing her up. Lynsandra stood still in the center of the aisle, her head lowered, seemingly lost in thought. He hadn’t expected to see her here so early in the morning.

"Luna?" he called again, stopping a few steps away. "Are you perhaps here to join me for the morning prayer?"

She didn’t answer, her gaze still fixed on the floor.

This was the exact spot where she had fallen that night. Yet now, there were no traces of blood—no lingering evidence of what had happened.

"Lu—"

"Reverend," she cut him off without looking at him. "On the night of the full moon, did you come back here?"

Unlike others, Lynsandra asked the question without beating around the bush.

Evander knitted his brows in confusion as she lifted her eyes to meet his. "No, Luna Lynsandra. I returned to the church that night. We needed extra hands for the upcoming missionary work."

"I figured," she said, nodding once.

There was only one reason Lynsandra had asked him directly: she already knew it wasn’t him. If it had been Evander, he would’ve tried to convert her on the spot. Hence, she asked merely for the sake of confirmation.

"Why do you ask, Luna?" he inquired politely. "Did something happen during the full moon?"

He paused, tilting his head slightly. "But weren’t you away that night?"

As expected, she didn’t answer. Lynsandra peeled her gaze away from him, staring at the altar. Only after a moment did her voice break the silence.

"Reverend," she hummed, prompting Evander to raise a brow in anticipation. "They say a mating bond is easily detected. That when the moon reveals one’s fated mate, you’ll know it instantly. By heart, by instinct."

She paused, recalling what she had felt that night. Then she turned back to him.

"Is there any other connection one might feel... something unidentifiable?"

Confusion flickered across Evander’s face, followed by a hint of surprise. He hadn’t expected her to consult him about such a matter. Soon enough, his expression softened into a gentle smile.

"Luna, many people try to describe the mate bond in their own way," he began, taking slow steps toward her. When he stopped in front of her, his subtle smile widened slightly. "However, mate bonds are not always as they are described."

"It won’t feel romantic at first. If anything, a mate bond often feels... wrong, invasive, and disorienting," he said carefully. "Especially for you."

His eyes squinted slightly as he asked, almost cheerfully, "Have you found your fated mate, Luna?"

"..." she deadpanned, lifting her hand and gazing at the back of it. "You and the church already know I don’t have one."

"Besides..." she trailed off, studying him from head to toe. "...you haven’t met your mate either. So how would you know?"

"We of the Church are not forbidden from having wives and children with our fated mates," he explained, something that was already common knowledge. "And it is the Church’s responsibility to guide the lost and the uncertain. So even if I have not found my mate yet, I know this much with certainty."

Silence settled between them as Lynsandra studied the priest.

That was true.

People like Evander were allowed to have families, so long as the other party was their fated mate. They called it the will of the lunar goddess. Still, many within the church were unmated wolves, baptized and devoted solely to Her service.

That was precisely why Lynsandra never believed Evander could have been the one that night.

"However," he continued, breaking the silence, "there are cases where a bond is discovered much later. It is not too late."

She let out a small chuckle. "It is, Reverend. Especially now that this harem has already been established."

With that said, Lynsandra turned to leave.

"Luna," he called, stopping her mid-step. "Would you care to join me for the morning prayer? Perhaps it might grant you clarity."

Slowly, she glanced back at him, then her gaze drifted toward the altar.

"I think I’ll pass," she replied simply before resuming her steps and leaving him behind.

Evander released a shallow sigh, though the subtle smile on his face remained.

"I hope she opens her heart to the lunar goddess," he whispered, his eyes drifting to the spot where she had been staring earlier.

Gradually, his brows furrowed as he tilted his head.

"Was she looking for something?" he wondered, recalling how intensely she had stared at the floor. He considered it briefly before dismissing the thought.

With that in mind, Evander headed toward the first row to pray. Yet midway through, his steps slowed until they stopped entirely.

"Hmm?"

He turned toward a faint glint shining at the corner of his eye.

Curious, he approached the end of a pew and bent down, picking up a small button between his thumb and forefinger. Raising it to eye level, Evander examined it carefully.

"Was this button the one she was looking for earlier?" he murmured, tilting his head.

"I suppose she visits this chapel when no one is around," he added quietly. After a moment, he smiled faintly and exhaled. "I should return it to her later." fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

Evander slipped the button into his pocket, resolving to give it back once he finished his prayers.