All Chapters of The Bride Who Returned From Death: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

62 Chapters

051: The Bargain

Lyra’s POV“Damon? What the hell are you doing here?”He hung suspended against the tree trunk, magical bonds glowing faintly as they held him in place. Despite the situation, he managed a sheepish grin.“Well, this is embarrassing.”I waved my hand, using my gift to sense the trap’s structure. After a moment of concentration, I found the release key and triggered it. The bonds dissolved, and Damon dropped to the ground, landing in a crouch.“Thanks,” he said, brushing dirt off his clothes. “That was unpleasant.”“You didn’t answer my question. Why are you following me?”He had the decency to look guilty. “Killian sent me. To watch over you and make sure you are safe.”Irritation flared through me. “I don’t need a babysitter.”“I know that. He knows that too, technically.” Damon stood, stretching his back. “But he’s going crazy back at the Northern pack. The separation is killing him, and he can’t do anything to help you directly without undermining your position. So he sent me to… ob

052: The Binding

Lyra’s POV“There is one more condition,” Valak said, his voice taking on a weight that made my stomach drop.I’d been celebrating internally, relief flooding through me that he’d agreed. But the serious expression on his face told me the hardest part was still coming.“What condition?”Valak moved to his shelves, pulling down a small wooden box. He opened it carefully, revealing what looked like ceremonial tools… a silver knife, vials of various liquids, crystalline stones that pulsed with their own internal light.“The ritual requires a binding,” he explained. “You must tie yourself to the magic directly. Become the conduit through which it flows to heal the Alpha.”“Okay. I can do that.”“You don’t understand what that means.” He set the box down, turning to face me fully. “To become the conduit, you must temporarily sever your bond with your mate.”The words hit me like a physical blow. “What?”“The mate bond is one of the strongest magical connections that exists,” Valak said. “I

053: The Ritual

Lyra’s POVThe question hung in my mind, impossible and terrifying.‘You were reborn. You died and came back.’How could he know? How could anyone possibly know that?I forced my expression to remain neutral, schooling my features into confusion rather than the panic I felt inside.“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said aloud, making sure the watching pack members could hear. “I’ve never died.”Valak’s eyes searched mine for a long moment. I could see him weighing my denial, deciding whether to push further or let it go.Around us, the pack members were growing restless. I heard their whispered conversations, felt their impatience radiating outward.“How much longer is this going to take?”“They’re just standing there…”“Maybe this was a mistake…”Valak’s gaze shifted to the crowd, then back to me. Whatever he’d seen in my blood, whatever truth he’d discovered, he chose not to pursue it. Not here and now.His voice entered my mind one last time. ‘We will speak of this later.

054: Killian’s Intervention

Killian’s POVThe mate bond had been bothering me all day.Like a tooth that wasn’t quite loose but didn’t feel right when I pressed my tongue against it.I was in my office trying to focus on supply reports when Damon finally returned from Riverstone territory.He looked exhausted, travel-worn, and like he was carrying a secret he didn’t want to share.“Well?” I demanded the moment he walked through the door. “How is she? What’s happening?”“She’s fine,” Damon said, but he wouldn’t quite meet my eyes. “She found the sorcerer. Convinced him to help. They’re performing the ritual tonight.”Relief flooded through me. “She did it? She actually managed to get his cooperation?”“Yes. The sorcerer agreed to restore the Alpha’s hand in exchange for safe passage through Northern pack territory to his homeland.” Damon moved to pour himself a drink from my cabinet. “Lyra negotiated the whole thing herself. It’s… impressive, honestly.”“What’s the catch?”“Why does there have to be a catch?”“Be

055: Bond Breaking

Lyra’s POVThe moment Killian destroyed the cursed brooch, I felt the darkness vanish.It was like someone had thrown open windows in a suffocating room. The dark energy that had been poisoning the ritual simply… disappeared. Gone as if it had never existed.The magic flowing through me cleared instantly, pure and clean again.I could breathe.The Alpha’s hand, which had been turning black with darkness just moments before, began regenerating properly again. The dark veins faded, replaced by healthy pink tissue. Bone continued forming, muscle weaving itself together, skin growing to cover it all.The watching pack members fell silent, their earlier panic replaced by awe.I focused everything I had on maintaining the connection, on keeping the magic flowing steadily. My body screamed with exhaustion, every muscle trembling, but I refused to let go.Not when we were so close.Valak’s voice entered my mind. ‘Well done. The interference is gone. Now we finish this.’The regeneration accel

056: Separation

Killian’s POVI caught her before she hit the ground.My arms wrapped around her instinctively, cradling her against my chest as her body went completely limp. Her head lolled to the side, her face pale and streaked with tears.“Lyra!” I shook her gently. “Lyra, wake up. Look at me.”Nothing. Her eyes stayed closed, her breathing shallow.Panic clawed at my throat. “Lyra, please. Open your eyes.”Still nothing.I looked up, searching for the sorcerer through the crowd of shocked pack members. When I spotted him, I moved.I closed the distance in seconds, one arm still holding Lyra while my free hand grabbed Valak by the collar of his robes.“What did you do to her?” I snarled, pulling him close enough that our faces were inches apart. “What the fuck did you do?”Valak didn’t flinch. His ancient eyes met mine with complete calm. “I did exactly what she asked me to do. Exactly what she agreed to.”“She’s unconscious! She collapsed! That doesn’t look like something she agreed to!”“The r

056: The Reward

Lyra’s POVI woke to soft candlelight and the scent of healing herbs.My body felt heavy, like I’d been asleep for days. Every muscle ached with deep exhaustion. But the sharp, tearing pain from the bond severance had dulled to a manageable throb.I blinked slowly, trying to orient myself.I was in my room at the Northern Pack estate. Valak sat in a chair nearby, his tattooed hands moving in precise patterns as he worked some kind of spell over a bowl of steaming liquid.The door burst open.Killian rushed in, his face haggard and his eyes wild. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days.When our eyes met, relief flooded his features so intensely it was almost painful to witness.“You’re awake,” he breathed, moving to my bedside. “Thank god, you’re awake.”I tried to sit up, but my arms trembled with the effort. Killian’s hands were there immediately, supporting me, helping me settle against the pillows.“How long was I out?” My voice came out raspy.“Eight hours,” Valak answered, not lo

058: Our First Date

Lyra’s POVI settled into the chair he’d pulled out, my heart doing strange things in my chest.The restaurant was beautiful. The kind of setting that spoke of romance rather than simple partnership or alliance building.“What’s the occasion?” I asked as Killian took his seat across from me.“Do I need an occasion to take my mate to dinner?”“You’ve never done it before.”“I’m doing it now” His lips curved into a slight smile. “You’ve been through hell these past few days. You deserve something nice.”The gesture touched me more than I wanted to admit. Heat crept up my neck and into my cheeks.“Are you blushing?” Killian’s smile widened, clearly amused.“No,” I said quickly, looking away.“You are. You’re actually blushing.”“Shut up.”“It’s adorable.”“I said shut up, Killian.”He laughed, the sound warm and genuine. It reminded me of that moment in the car after the inauguration ceremony, when I’d told him he had a beautiful laugh and he’d turned away, embarrassed.A waiter appeared

059: Mona’s Mean Words

Lyra’s POV“What the hell are you doing in my room?” I demanded, my hand still on the doorknob.Mona’s smile was sweet poison. “The door was unlocked. I thought I’d wait for you to return.”“That doesn’t answer my question. Get out.”“So hostile.” She stood slowly, smoothing down her dress with deliberate movements. “I just wanted to congratulate you on your achievement. Saving the alliance, healing the Alpha… quite impressive for someone so… inexperienced.”The way she said it made every word sound like an insult.“Congratulations delivered. Now leave.”“You really did well, Lyra. Better than anyone expected.” Her tone was saccharine, dripping with false sweetness. “Of course, you had help. The sorcerer did most of the actual work. You were just… what did he call it? A conduit. A vessel for someone else’s power.”My jaw clenched. “I don’t have time for this, Mona. Get out of my room.”She moved toward the door, but paused beside me. “Though I suppose even being a vessel is useful. Es

060: Hot Dessert

Lyra’s POVTraffic was terrible on the way back.We sat in gridlocked streets for over an hour, the sun beating down through the car windows. I kept glancing at the ice cream container in my lap, watching condensation form on the outside.“It’s going to melt,” I said for the third time.Valeria laughed. “It’s just ice cream, Lyra. You can buy more.”“But I wanted to give it to him fresh. Not… soupy.”“He’ll appreciate the gesture either way.”By the time we finally reached the Northern pack estate, the container felt suspiciously light and liquid. I said goodbye to Valeria and headed inside, trying to decide what to do with my melted gift.Maybe I could ask the kitchen staff to refreeze it? Would that work? Or would it just turn into a weird icy block?I was still debating when I found myself outside Killian’s private study. The door was slightly ajar, and I could see him inside, bent over his desk reviewing documents.He looked focused, intense. Important Alpha business, probably.I

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