Chapter 45<fn03c9> Original content can be found at find?novel</fn03c9>
<i>Zephyrine </i>
Finished
It was a cold night, the wind whistling past, dry leaves rustling under my steps as I made my way toward White Pack on foot, the chest clutched tightly in my hands.
I didn’t bother using my speed. I didn’t hurry. I felt… empty.
The fact that Nyroth still refused to break the bond, and the knowledge that Lycannar would never stop chasing me, made my chest heavy. And yet, here I was, heading toward another man, Moon, who would do anything to have me.
Tonight, I would visit the memorial hall. I would pay my respects to my parents. I would ask them for strength and guidance, because for the first time in five years, I was about to do what they had taught me best. Fight for justice. Fight for peace.
As I continued walking, a sudden warmth pressed against my back. A familiar presence. The feeling of being watched. Followed
I stopped and turned, and there he was.
Lycannar Blood.
He walked with his horse at his side, his long strides perfectly in sync with the beast.
When I stopped, I expected him toe to me. But he didn’t. He stopped where he was, watching me from a distance.
I sighed. He had probably heard about my duel. No doubt he was furious, just as Nyroth was.
I turned away and resumed walking. Behind me, his footsteps resumed too.
He didn’t try to overtake me. Didn’t close the distance. He just followed. Silently. Patiently.
And with every step, that heavy emptiness in me began to fade. A strange warmth spread in my chest, knowing he was behind me, his eyes fixed on me.
It made me feel… safe.
When we reached the gates of White Pack, I turned. Our eyes locked for a brief moment. His face was unreadable, distant, mysterious. Then, without a word, he turned away as if to leave.
That surprised me.
“Wait,” I called, frowning. He paused, looking at me for only a few seconds before turning away again.
“Lycannar!”
He didn’t answer. I moved quickly, blocking his path, breathless.
“How dare youe into my night like this and think you can just walk away? Do I mean nothing to you?”
“Speak for yourself,” he murmured.
I searched his eyes. And then, unexpectedly, I smiled.
“You’re mad at me?”
He tried to bypass me. I blocked him again, leaning closer with a teasing smile.
“You’re mad because I issued a duel, aren’t you?”
He didn’t answer.
I sighed.
“Fine. Will youe with me to the memorial hall? I want to see my parents.”
Finished
For a long moment, silence hung between us. I thought of Nyroth, how easily he would have rejected such a request. My heart thudded as I waited for Lycannar’s answer.
Instead of speaking, he stepped past me, walking toward the White Pack gate. He stood there in his usual ce, waiting.
Waiting for me and I know why. He’s waiting for me to go in and change up.
Emotion welled up unexpectedly, warming my chest.
Lycannar… is a perfect, imperfect man. I didn’t know how to deal with myself.
***
The sky rumbled overhead when Lycannar brought his powerful horse to a halt before the memorial hall.
He dismounted in one smooth motion, then lifted me down with such ease I wondered if I was truly that weightless.
I didn’t speak. My eyes were fixed on the second floor, where my parents‘ ashes rested in a niche I had rented.
Staring at it now realized how far I’de from that first day, how much I’d healed.
All because Lycannar had shown me there was more to life than being bound by fate.
Memories of Nyroth watching silently as his family insulted me came rushing back. The night he sent me out into the cold. How quickly time passed.
“Let’s go,” said atst, smiling faintly as I took Lycannar’s hand, our fingers intertwining. I led him forward, unlocking the chamber.
Inside, the vessel stood, holding the ashes of Warlord Vale and War General Seraphine. My skin prickled with goosebumps. Slowly, I stepped away from Lycannar and knelt before them, paying my respects.
I had always imagined introducing them to the man they believed would be my mate. Instead, a king hade. One who was obsessed with me. Was that right?
I turned, catching Lycannar’s gaze. For the first time since we entered, he was looking elsewhere.
“It’s only one vessel,” he murmured.
“Their ashes are together,” I replied softly.
He stepped closer, then nced at me with a question that seemed to weigh heavily.
“Were they good to you?”
Goosebumps rippled up my arms. His eyes were those of a man willing to burn the world for me.
“They were the best parents,” I whispered,
Without another word, he went down on one knee, sped his palms together, and bowed his head in the Lycan way of paying respect.
I watched in silence. When he stood again, something warm lodged in my chest. Nyroth had never done anything like that.
Sometimes… a stranger was better than a man I’d known for years.
“I wasn’t mad at you,” Lycannar said suddenly.
Cold spread through me. He was answering the question I’d asked back at White Pack.
“You have no idea how I’d act if I were mad at you or if I stopped being obsessed with you.”
“Lycannar…”
9:31 PM P P .
“I killed that Alpha. Any duel, any fight, that should be mine, not yours. I don’t want you cleaning up my mess.”
My heart sank. So it was about the duel.
“I can take care of myself.”
“With your rusty moves?” he asked bluntly.
“What?”
“That rogue will fight hard. Can you?”
His eyes locked on mine. I froze. He knew something. But how?
“I know you’re a warrior,” he said. My knees almost buckled.
“How?”
He took my hand, his thumb brushing over my skin.
Finished
“I know a warrior’s hands when I feel them. The calluses, they’re not from chores or hardship. They’re from training. Real training.”
He pulled me into his arms, and I let him.
“If you want to win against that rogue,” he murmured, e to my grounds. Spar with me. I’ll teach you new moves.”
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