Chapter 70 – New kingdomSelene’s POVThe parchment trembles slightly in my grip, though I try to steady my hands. The ink is still fresh, a small corner curling as if it too resists being bound to its content. I stare at it in disbelief, my mind struggling to piece together the meaning behind the words."You want to what?" My voice is quiet, breathy with disbelief, but sharp enough to cut through the silence between us. I glance up at Lucien, seeking an explanation in his eyes. “You want to marry me again?”He doesn’t flinch. His face is carved from stone, all softness vanished, all warmth long extinguished. If I didn’t know him, I’d have thought he was indifferent to the question. But I do know him. And I know when he is hiding something."Don’t misinterpret this,” he replies. His voice is low, measured, as if each word has been reviewed and chosen with care. “This has nothing to do with affection or feelings. That part of us… it’s no longer relevant.”I start to respond, my mouth p
Chapter 69 – Ties That BindThird povThe sound came softly at first, barely noticeable beneath the steady rhythm of the rain. But then it was unmistakable—a delicate metallic clink that sliced through the air like a whispered secret. Lucian and Selene froze. Both pairs of eyes fell to the ground at the same time, drawn by something shining faintly through the drenched grass. There, half-buried in the mud, lay a silver ring.It wasn’t just any ring.The rain seemed to hush around them as the air thickened with recognition. The glimmering band, dulled slightly by time and weather, remained untouched by the years in its design and sentiment. Selene moved first, her breath catching as she reached forward to retrieve it. But Lucian moved faster. His hand closed around it with swift finality, fingers curling tightly as though he feared it might vanish if he let it go.For a long, agonizing moment, he did not speak.His gaze rested on the ring, and the expression on his face was not easily
Chapter 68 – When the Storm BreaksThird PovElder Jonah’s funeral is held on a damp, grey-skied afternoon, beneath the thick branches of Dawnridge Hollow’s oldest trees. The air is heavy with silence and the scent of damp moss. The ceremony itself is short, simple, and without grandeur—precisely how the old man would have wanted it. No choir, no speeches. Just a handful of those who truly knew him, standing in the soft earth at the edge of the valley, as the soil crumbles slowly over the wooden casket.Even in death, Jonah retained a mystery about him. In life, he had been both a recluse and a legend. He was the kind of man who rarely gave you the answer you wanted, but almost always the one you needed. Though known by many as the pack’s resident drunk, he was also whispered about as the ‘sober prophet,’ his slurred words carrying strange weight and eerie accuracy. He was rough, flawed, often infuriating—but never irrelevant.Lucian stands still, unmoving, as the final handful of dir
Chapter 67 - The VowSelene’s POVI never imagined I would find myself standing beneath the canopy of ancient trees, sunlight dappling the forest floor, dressed in a gown the color of fresh snow. The air feels cool against my skin, but my palms are clammy, my fingers trembling slightly as I try to calm the storm inside me. The delicate lace of the dress rests lightly along my collarbone, and the fabric clings softly to my shape, as if the gown was made just for me, though I know it was chosen in haste.Beside me, Lucian moves with quiet purpose. The sound of the fabric rustling as his fingers adjust the clasp at the back of my gown draws my attention. His knuckles brush against my neck, and the unexpected contact sends a ripple through me, as if his touch has unlocked something I had tried to keep hidden.He steps back slowly, his gaze lingering on me longer than I expect. His eyes sweep over me from head to toe, as if seeing me for the first time, and there is a flicker of something
Chapter 66: markSelene’s POVLucian’s gaze meets mine, his brows knitting together in a mixture of confusion and concern. I can practically see the thoughts racing through his mind, trying to make sense of what I have just asked him. I do not blame him, not one bit. From where he stands, none of this adds up. To him, I have always been a friend, someone he can rely on, someone he trusts. And now, out of nowhere, I am asking him for something so strange, so unexpected, that even I feel the weight of how absurd it must sound.I draw in a slow breath, steadying myself as I find the words. My voice comes out softer than I intend, the emotions heavy on my tongue. “It’s Mr. Jones’s final wish,” I say, each syllable careful and measured, as if speaking too fast might shatter what little understanding there is. “Before he dies, he wants to see me married. It doesn’t matter if it’s real or not. I just want to honor that wish, to give him that comfort in his last moments.”For a heartbeat, Luc
Chapter 65 – A Promise for JonesSelene’s POVThe moment Lucian appears at the doorway, my heart feels as if a massive weight has been lifted. His arrival is like a breath of air after drowning. He’s a mess—his dark hair damp with sweat, his clothes sticking to his powerful frame, his chest rising and falling with the effort of whatever trials he had faced to bring me what I needed. His skin glistens beneath the torchlight, and though exhaustion drags at his features, his eyes—those fierce, unyielding eyes—find mine and soften.Without a single word, he strides forward, determination in every step despite the weariness in his bones. He places the ghost orchid into my trembling hands. The delicate blossom, pale as moonlight, feels strangely heavy with the weight of so many hopes. I swallow hard, my throat tight with gratitude and fear. Lucian has done his part. Now everything depends on me.For a long, breathless moment, I just stare at the tools laid out before me: the worn, smudged n