Invisible string | Harlan Briggs

Chapter 003

Harlan and Aurora had slipped away to an empty corner of the club, the noise and chaos of the party distant in their secluded space. After short conversation involving questions about each other things started to heat up as they couldn't seem to get enough of each other, their connection electric as they kissed passionately, the world around them disappearing with each touch. Aurora was lost in the moment, the bond between them undeniable, and she felt an overwhelming sense of rightness that they were mates.

As they continued to share such a heated exchange of passion, Harlan's phone buzzed in his pocket, the screen lighting up with multiple messages. Aurora noticed it but didn't pull away. Harlan glanced at the phone, saw the flood of messages from Luna, and rolled his eyes.

"It's nothing I can respond to it later" Harlan grinned, leaning in to kiss her again, as though trying to silence everything but the feeling of her against him. But just as they were getting lost in the kiss, the door to their corner swung open, the sound of footsteps unmistakable.

Luna's entrance was almost like a jolt to the quiet, intimate moment between Harlan and Aurora. The door swung open, and Luna's gaze immediately snapped to the pair, her steps halting as she took in the sight of her brother and the unfamiliar girl in his arms. It was more than a mere surprise—this wasn't just someone Harlan had casually brought home. He was holding her close, the bond between them palpable even from the outside.

For a moment, Luna just stood there, unsure of what to make of the scene. Her brother, usually so careful with his heart, had never shown this side of himself. She'd never seen him kiss anyone like this. Not with the ease of someone completely unguarded, unafraid to let the world see them.

Aurora, sensing the shift in the room, pulled back gently but gave Luna a soft smile, her eyes warm and welcoming. She could tell that Luna was processing, her own quiet strength at play as she stood frozen in the doorway.

Harlan, though, didn't budge. His arm stayed around Aurora's waist, possessive and proud, as though trying to pull her back into the world they'd built together. He wasn't surprised by his sister's reaction, but there was a flicker of hesitation—he hadn't meant for Luna to find out like this, but Aurora was his mate, and no amount of caution could change that.

Luna blinked, her voice soft and careful as she spoke. "Who is this?"

Harlan finally looked up, the discomfort in his expression quickly replaced by something else—something deeper. Something he couldn't hide. "This is Aurora," he said, his voice steady but touched with an unspoken pride. "My mate."

But even with the excitement of sharing who Aurora was to Luna Harlan's patience was clearly wearing thin, his hand gently tracing circles on Aurora's back as he held her close. The conversation with his sister wasn't one he wanted to have right now—especially when he and Aurora had finally found a moment of peace together. But Luna wasn't about to leave until she got what she needed.

"What is it, Luna?" Harlan asked, his tone tight with impatience, though there was a flicker of concern underneath. He clearly hoped to wrap this up quickly so they could return to what they were doing before.

Luna hesitated, clearly torn between her concern for their father and her happiness for them. "Dad's not responding to any of my texts," she said quietly, her voice edged with worry.

Harlan barely seemed to register her words, his tone casual. "So? He's probably just out in the woods doing his thing. He'll be fine."

Luna's eyes darkened slightly. "I think something's wrong. I think he might be missing," she pressed, her voice tinged with a rising panic.

Harlan's expression remained calm, dismissive even. "Luna, he's a park ranger. They don't just disappear in the woods. He'll show up when he's ready."

Luna didn't back down. "It doesn't feel right," she said, the panic growing more obvious in her voice.