Moonlight Promises
816 Words
Chapter Sixty-Three: Moonlight Promises
Elara's POV
The castle was finally quiet.
The wounded had been treated.
The children were asleep.
Even the warriors who had stood watch for two straight days had begun changing shifts.
For the first time since the battle...
Shadowmoon was at peace.
I stood alone on one of the castle balconies, looking up at the full moon.
A cool breeze played with my hair.
Lunara sighed happily.
"Home..."
Vespera smiled.
"It's beautiful."
"It is."
A familiar scent drifted toward me.
Pine.
Rain.
Cedar.
Before I turned around...
I already knew who it was.
"Couldn't sleep?"
I asked.
Draven chuckled.
"I was about to ask you the same thing."
He walked beside me, resting his forearms on the stone railing.
For a while...
Neither of us spoke.
The silence between us wasn't uncomfortable.
It was peaceful.
---
"I've been thinking."
Draven finally said.
"That's dangerous."
I teased.
He laughed.
"So I've been told."
His smile slowly faded.
"When I thought I lost you..."
He looked toward the moon.
"I realized something."
I turned toward him.
"What?"
"I've spent my whole life protecting my pack."
"My family."
"My people."
He looked into my eyes.
"But when you collapsed..."
His voice softened.
"I forgot the battle."
"I forgot the enemy."
"I forgot everything except you."
The mate bond warmed between us.
Orion spoke quietly.
"She's home."
Lunara answered.
"So are you."
---
I reached over and took Draven's hand.
"I'm still here."
He smiled.
"I know."
He gently lifted my hand and kissed my knuckles.
"You scared me."
"I scared myself."
We both laughed softly.
---
Draven reached into his pocket.
"I almost forgot."
"What?"
He pulled out something wrapped in a small cloth.
"I found this after the battle."
Curious, I unfolded it.
Inside was a silver pendant shaped like an eclipse.
A crimson gemstone rested in its center.
"It's beautiful."
Draven smiled.
"It belonged to your mother."
My breath caught.
"What?"
King Cassian's voice came from behind us.
"It was Lyanna's favorite necklace."
We both turned.
Cassian walked onto the balcony.
He smiled sadly when he saw the pendant.
"I gave it to her when we first realized we were mates."
He gently touched it.
"She wore it almost every day."
My eyes filled with tears.
"You should have it."
Cassian carefully fastened the necklace around my neck.
The crimson gem glowed softly the moment it touched my skin.
Lunara gasped.
"Mother's blessing."
Vespera smiled.
"She's with us."
---
Cassian looked between Draven and me.
"I hope I'm not interrupting."
Draven smiled respectfully.
"Not at all."
Cassian chuckled.
"I remember being young."
"I remember stealing quiet moments with Lyanna under the moon."
He looked toward the stars.
"Some of my happiest memories."
A comfortable silence settled over the three of us.
Then Cassian surprised both of us.
"When the time comes..."
He looked at Draven.
"I'll gladly place my daughter's hand in yours."
Draven looked stunned.
"My King..."
Cassian interrupted him with a smile.
"Cassian."
Draven laughed nervously.
"Cassian."
"There you go."
---
Footsteps echoed behind us.
Alpha Alaric appeared carrying two wooden practice swords.
He stopped when he saw us.
"I see I'm interrupting."
Luna Seraphina walked up behind him.
"You always interrupt."
"I do not."
"You brought swords."
He looked down at them.
"...Fair point."
Everyone laughed.
Luna Seraphina smiled warmly.
"Tomorrow begins your real training."
"The easy part is over."
I blinked.
"That was the easy part?"
Alpha Alaric grinned.
"Oh..."
"You have no idea."
---
Far below...
Near the training grounds...
Kaiden quietly practiced alone beneath the moonlight.
Again.
And again.
And again.
He repeated the same sword form until sweat soaked through his clothes.
He never noticed someone watching him.
Lyra leaned against a nearby tree with her arms crossed.
Captain Lucian smiled as he walked past.
"You know..."
"You've been watching him a lot."
Lyra rolled her eyes.
"I'm making sure he doesn't injure himself."
Lucian chuckled.
"Of course you are."
Just then...
Kaiden lost his footing.
His practice sword flew from his hand.
It landed several feet away.
Lyra sighed dramatically.
"I knew it."
She walked over, picked up the sword, and tossed it back to him.
"Your stance is wrong."
Kaiden caught the sword.
"You noticed?"
"I notice everything."
She stepped beside him.
"No..."
She gently adjusted his feet with the tip of her boot.
"Stand like this."
He copied her stance.
She nodded.
"Better."
Kaiden smiled.
"Thank you."
Lyra looked away quickly.
"Don't make me regret helping you."
As she walked away...
A faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
Kaiden watched her leave.
For the first time in a long time...
He smiled too.
Not because he had forgotten his past.
But because...
For the first time...
The future didn't seem so impossible.
High above them all...
The Moon Goddess smiled.
Some bonds...
Needed time before they were ready to bloom.
- Writer
