Chapter 215 DANE I look down at the glowing runes on my chest , still too warm to seem quite real .

Yeah , I say , but the heaviness of Liriens words clings to the back of my mind .

The grove is well , but at what cost remains to be seen .

The pack steps into the resurgence of life forced onto the grove .

Their eyes were wide in features still covered with some incredulity , they slowly went inside the clearing , looking between shining trees and restored roots .

Beautiful , someone finally whispers , breaking the awed silence .

Lirien stands at the edge of the clearing ; his form now is much more solid , nearly human .

The glow emanating from inside the grove steadies it , lending him an air of quiet authority .

The curse is broken , he states with solemnity .

Now , for once , the pack can fully flourish as it deserves .

Aurora releases my hand and steps forward .

Her eyes scan the grove , pride , and anguish wrestling for dominance in their vibrancy .

Chapter 215 2/6 Lirien cocks its head to one side .

The grove has accepted your sacrifice , it says .

But your mortal ties to the pack have saved you .

The balance is restored , and your bond is no longer required to sustain it .

I watch the tension that has weighed on Auroras shoulders since this began to ease a little , her shoulders relaxing , and for the first time in days , she seems at peace .

The pack closes in , voices rising as talk starts about what this means to all of us .

Gone is the weight of the curse , and with it the divisions that plagued us for generations .

I see Piper laughing with Warrick , the two of them trading .

banter like none of the horrors we faced just happened .

Trajan stands a little distant , his expression guarded , his guilt loud in the way he refuses to meet anyones gaze .

Ill make it right , he mutters , to himself , not to anyone else .

I dont approach him .

Not yet .

steps back to my side , her hand brushing mine as

their footsteps

back to Broken Ridge

is clear , the tension that once clung to us like a second

that once spoke of our brokenness dont

scatter , their spirits buoyed as they start to

at a time , I mutter to myself , and for once , the thought

the back of the packhouse with Aurora , a

beneath our feet , smelling of earth and greenery mixed with cool night

stone bench , her fingers interlaced

, we say nothing ; the silence speaking

reaches up then , presses her hand to my chest , tracing the runes with

it hurt ? she asks , her tone soft

head , offering a small

Not anymore .

nods , her gaze falling to

know what this means for you ,

I do know you didnt choose it

squeeze her hand tighter

did you , but you carried it

So can I .

,

figure it out

long shadows throw

onto it anyway

in silence until a faint howl cuts through the stillness

the kind of sound that raises the

beside me , snapping

I nod , my chest

Yeah .

senses sharpen as we gaze out into the

isnt repeated , but the unease

was that ? she

, my hand instinctively going

different now , the peace wed found

a creeping tension

, but

the grove stretches across the horizon , bathing

, once twisted and corrupted , now hum with life , their Juminous fruit swaying gently in the breeze

stand next to Aurora , her hand clutched tight in mine

exhausted , with only shallow breaths escaping her mouth , but the relief in her

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