Chapter five: The meeting Revised

Chapter 5: The Meeting

Lillias’s POV

The night seemed endless, stretching out like a tapestry of shadows and uncertainty. The moon hung low in the sky, its pale light spilling through the tall windows of my chamber, bathing the room in a soft, ethereal glow. But all I could focus on was the strange pull that had settled deep in my chest. It was a feeling I couldn’t ignore, no matter how much I tried to push it aside. The bond was there—undeniable, insistent, and pulling me toward him.

Silas.

His name echoed through my thoughts like a whisper on the wind. He was out there—somewhere in the vast expanse of the forest, waiting. The very thought of him stirred something within me, something both exhilarating and terrifying. A part of me longed to go to him, to embrace whatever fate had in store for us. But another part of me, the part shaped by years of duty and expectation, hesitated.

What am I doing? I thought, my fingers curling around the fabric of my gown.

Scarlett, my wolf, growled softly in my mind, her impatience clear. Don’t turn away from what we both feel. He is ours, Lillias. You know it as much as I do.

I nodded, the weight of her words settling in. I couldn’t deny the truth any longer. There was a bond between us—something that transcended the boundaries of reason, of logic, even of choice. Silas was my mate, the one the Moon Goddess had destined for me. But would he accept me? Would he choose me, knowing what my life was?

The path I had been raised to walk, the one laid out for me by my father and the pack, was clear. It was a path of duty, responsibility, and power. I was the daughter of the Alpha, the future leader of the MacCrae pack. My destiny was tied to the pack’s future, and that future had already been written in the alliances I would form, the bloodlines I would strengthen. I couldn’t just turn my back on that.

But Silas was different. His presence, his very essence, had shaken me in a way nothing had before. He was an outcast—someone who had been cast aside by his own pack, someone with a past that was filled with shadows. And yet, when I thought of him, I didn’t feel fear. Instead, I felt a strange warmth, a sense of home, as if my soul recognized his.

I didn’t know what that meant, or where it would lead, but I knew that I couldn’t ignore it.

The decision, though, wasn’t an easy one.

I took a deep breath, pushing aside my doubts, and walked toward the door of my chamber. My heart pounded in my chest, and I could feel Scarlett pacing inside my mind, her anticipation growing with each step I took.

We go to him, she said, her voice steady and sure. Tonight.

As I stepped into the corridor, I was keenly aware of the silence that surrounded me. The keep was still—everyone else had retired for the night, leaving me alone with my thoughts, my fears, and my desire to follow the bond that called to me. The air felt thick, charged with the weight of the choices I was about to make.

I moved swiftly through the hallways, past the familiar paintings and tapestries that lined the walls of the MacCrae Keep. Every step I took was a step away from the life I had known, away from the future my father had envisioned for me. But the farther I moved, the more certain I became that there was no turning back.

The courtyard was empty when I stepped outside, the cool air brushing against my skin. I hesitated for just a moment, but Scarlett’s voice, stronger now, urged me forward.

He’s waiting, Lillias. Go to him.

I didn’t need any more encouragement. With my heart racing, I crossed the courtyard and made my way to the edge of the forest. The path before me was dark, the trees looming like silent sentinels. I could smell the fresh earth, the pine, the wildness of the forest—and underneath it all, there was that scent of him. Silas.

It was unmistakable.

I followed the scent, my feet moving faster now, driven by the pull of the bond. The farther I went into the forest, the more the tension in my chest seemed to loosen, replaced by an eager anticipation. And then, just as I had expected, I saw him.

He stood in the clearing ahead, his figure dark against the moonlight, his posture tense as if he, too, was waiting for something. My breath caught in my throat as I took in the sight of him. There was something about Silas that was impossible to ignore. His presence was commanding, even from a distance. The way he stood, shoulders broad, head slightly tilted, as if he were searching for something in the night.

For a moment, I hesitated, caught between the reality of who he was and the dreams I had once held for my life. But then he turned, his eyes locking onto mine with a depth that took my breath away.

There he is, Scarlett whispered, her voice full of wonder. Our mate.

I took a step forward, and Silas’s gaze softened, his jaw tightening ever so slightly. His eyes, dark like the night, were filled with something I couldn’t quite place. Guilt, perhaps? Regret? Or was it a longing that mirrored my own?

“Lillias,” his voice broke through the silence, deep and gravelly, sending a shiver down my spine. It was the first time he had spoken my name, and it felt like the most natural thing in the world.

“I didn’t expect you to come,” he continued, his eyes searching mine, as though trying to read the truth behind my every thought.

“Neither did I,” I replied softly, the words escaping before I could stop them. The bond between us hummed in the air, the distance between us growing smaller with each passing moment.

I could feel Scarlett growling inside me, her excitement rising, and I couldn’t help but let the corner of my lips curl into a slight smile.

“I don’t know what’s happening between us,” I said quietly, taking another step closer. “But I can’t ignore it.”

Silas’s eyes softened, a flicker of something—hope, perhaps—dancing in the depths of his gaze. “Neither can I,” he murmured, his voice low, almost like a confession.

For a moment, we stood there, the distance between us nothing more than a whisper of air. And then, without thinking, I took one final step, closing the gap between us, and reached out to him.

His hands were warm when they met mine, his touch grounding me in a way that felt like home. The bond surged between us, a current of energy that wrapped around us both, and for the first time in my life, I felt truly whole.

“What happens now?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Silas gazed down at me, his expression filled with a mixture of uncertainty and certainty. “Now we face whatever comes next. Together.”

And in that moment, with the forest surrounding us and the moon watching from above, I knew that my life would never be the same again.