Chapter 11: Back to reality
1015 Words
Chapter 11: Back to reality
*****
Darius
The room remained silent.
Only the steady rhythm of Seraphine's breathing filled the air.
I gently brushed my thumb across the back of her hand.
"Wake up..."
"I'm waiting for you."
Just then...
My phone vibrated on the bedside table.
I glanced at the screen.
Aria.
Oh s**t, she must be looking for her friend
"Aria."
"Cousin!"
Her anxious voice came through immediately.
"I heard Professor Ravencrest carried an unconscious girl away from the university."
I almost smiled.
Professor Ravencrest...
She still hadn't realized she was talking to the same person.
"So?" I asked calmly.
There was a brief pause.
"Please don't joke with me."
Her voice trembled. Then she paused.
"Could that girl..."
"...be Seraphine?"
I looked at the unconscious girl lying peacefully beside me.
"Yes."
Silence.
Complete silence.
When Aria finally spoke again, her voice was barely above a whisper.
“What happened to her?”
“Why was she unconscious?”
"Is... is she alright?"
She asked breathlessly, then I spoke, “Calm down”, “she just fell unconscious due to stress”.
"The family doctor has already examined her."
"She's physically healthy."
"She's just unconscious."
I heard her let out a shaky breath.
"Thank the Moon Goddess..."
"Can I come over?"
I looked at Seraphine for a moment before replying,
"Not tonight."
"I don't want too many people around her when she wakes."
"I'll stay with her."
Another short silence followed.
"...Okay."
"But promise me you'll call the moment she opens her eyes."
"You have my word."
"Thank you... Cousin."
The call ended.
I placed my phone back on the table.
My gaze drifted to Seraphine once more.
A faint smile crossed my lips.
"I promised."
"So don't make us wait any longer.”
Finally...
Mida broke the silence.
"You've been staring at her for three hours."
I didn't take my eyes off her.
"I know."
"You could blink once in a while."
"I have."
"Twice."
A faint smile tugged at my lips.
"You counted?"
"I had nothing else to do."
My thumb unconsciously brushed across the back of Seraphine's hand.
"So this is our mate..."
Mida's voice was softer now.
"Yes."
"For two lifetimes..."
Neither of us spoke again.
I lowered my head slightly, my silver eyes never leaving her face.
"You don't know me yet," I murmured quietly.
"You don't remember me."
"But that's alright."
"I have time."
A small smile appeared on my lips.
"This time..."
"I'll wait for you."
The room fell silent once more.
Only the steady rhythm of her breathing answered me.
*****
SERAPHINE
The blinding light swallowed everything.
Darkness faded.
Warmth slowly returned to my body.
Then...
A familiar scent drifted into my senses.
Rain-soaked cedar...
...blended with rich sandalwood.
It was strangely comforting.
Safe.
My fingers twitched.
A gentle thumb brushed across the back of my hand.
Someone...
...was holding it.
The warmth of that touch pulled me from the darkness.
My eyelashes fluttered.
Slowly...
I opened my eyes.
The ceiling above me wasn't the plain white ceiling of the university.
Instead, intricate crystal chandeliers reflected soft golden light across an enormous bedroom.
Everything around me screamed luxury.
Dark mahogany furniture.
Floor-to-ceiling windows draped with elegant curtains.
A fireplace crackling quietly in one corner.
Where...
...am I?
I blinked several times, trying to clear the haze clouding my mind.
Then I felt it again.
Warm fingers intertwined with mine.
I lowered my gaze.
A large hand still held my own.
Following it upward...
My breath caught.
Professor Darius Ravencrest.
I was shocked to see him
He sat beside the bed, his head resting lightly against the mattress, black hair falling over his forehead.
He's so good looking
He had fallen asleep.
Still holding my hand.
For a long moment...
I simply stared at him. My heart ache while staring at him.
Was he...
...here this whole time?
My lips parted.
"Professor..."
My voice came out as little more than a whisper.
The moment the word left my mouth...
His silver eyes snapped open.
For a split second, confusion crossed his face.
Then relief.
Pure, unmistakable relief.
A small smile found its way onto his lips.
"You're awake."
His voice was low, almost hoarse, as though he hadn't spoken in hours.
I swallowed.
"What..."
I looked around the unfamiliar room once more.
"...where am I?"
Darius gently released my hand, though his gaze never left mine.
"Ravencrest Mansion."
The words hit me like lightning.
My eyes widened.
"R-Ravencrest..."
I stared at him in disbelief.
He brought me to his house.
"I... I'm in your mansion?”
EPILOGUE
Moonlight bathed the endless forest in silver.
Ancient trees stood silently beneath the glowing full moon, their leaves swaying gently in a breeze that carried the scent of the wild.
From opposite ends of the forest...
Two wolves walked toward the same clearing.
One black as the midnight sky.
The other silver like moonlight itself.
Neither hurried.
Neither hesitated.
When they were only a few steps apart...
They stopped.
Silence stretched between them.
Not an awkward silence.
But one filled with recognition.
As though two souls had finally found each other again.
The black wolf smiled first.
"So..."
"You're finally awake."
The silver wolf's eyes softened.
"Looks like I kept you waiting."
A quiet chuckle escaped him.
"Only for two lifetimes."
For a heartbeat...
Neither spoke.
They simply looked at one another beneath the moon.
Then Lyra let out a quiet sigh.
"Our humans are going to be a handful."
Mida snorted.
"Especially mine."
A laugh escaped Lyra.
"I don't know..."
"I've known Seraphine for less than a day, and she's already arguing with me."
"Trust me," Mida replied, amusement dancing in his silver eyes.
"You'll get used to it."
Lyra glanced toward the radiant full moon overhead.
"So..."
"This time..."
"We protect them."
Mida stepped forward.
Without another word...
The two wolves gently touched foreheads.
A silent promise.
One neither fate...
...nor death...
...would ever break again.
High above them, the full moon shone brighter than ever.
As if blessing the beginning...
...of their second chance.
- Writer
