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 .

back to my side , her hand brushing mine as we

starts to follow , their footsteps lighter

walk back to Broken Ridge is different

the tension that once clung to us like a second skin

finally reach the packhouse , the ruins that once spoke of our brokenness dont seem quite

, their spirits buoyed as they

to myself , and for once , the thought

garden at the back of the packhouse with

smelling of earth and greenery mixed with cool

bench ,

, we say nothing

my chest , tracing the

she asks

, offering a small smile

Not anymore .

falling to the joined

what this means for

I do know you

squeeze her hand

, but you carried it

So can I .

smile , even as her eyes remain serious

figure it out together

in the sky and long

onto

until a

and mournful , the kind of sound that raises the hairs on the back of your neck

snapping her eyes toward the horizon

that ? I nod , my chest

Yeah .

, and our senses sharpen as we gaze out into the

, but the unease it leaves in its

? she whispers ,

know , I admit , my hand instinctively going to the hilt of

feels different now , the peace wed found

replaced by a creeping

grove is healed , but something else is stirring

grove stretches across the horizon ,

with life ,

her

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

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255