Chapter 96
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I slept longer than I expected. The warm comfort of the bed, the soft silk sheets, and the lingering scent of pine and cedar–his scent–wrapped me in a cocoon of safety I hadn’t felt in a long time. No nightmares. No voices. No panic. Just sleep. Deep, uninterrupted sleep.
When my eyes finally fluttered open, the golden hue of sunlight streamed in through the tall windows. I blinked a few times before glancing at the ornate clock on the wall.
2:03 PM.
“What?!” I gasped, jolting upright.
As if on cue, the chamber door swung open and three familiar faces burst inside. Audrey, Monica, and María greeted me with wide grins.
“Finally, our Luna has awakened,” Audrey teased, a playful twinkle in her eye. Monica and María giggled behind her.
I groaned, running a hand through my tangled hair. “Why didn’t anyone wake me? I’m so ashamed… It’s past two!”
Monica approached first, placing a gentle hand on my forehead. “You needed the rest after everything that happened. No fever, that’s good.”
Maria nodded in agreement. “After what you’ve done for us, Luna, the least we could give you is time to rest.”
Their words warmed my heart. I smiled gratefully. “Thank you. Truly.”
The three of them smiled back, then stepped aside to let me rise. As I stood, I noticed faint sounds drifting up from below. At first muffled, but now that my chamber door was open, I heard them clearly: voices, laughter, clinking silverware, distant footsteps.
“What’s going on outside?” I asked, walking to the bathroom to freshen up.
Audrey leaned against the doorframe with a mischievous grin. “Just go down and see for yourself, Luna.”
Her tone made me suspicious, but curiosity got the better of me.
Half an hour later, after brushing my hair and slipping into a soft emerald dress Maria had laid out, I made my way down the grand staircase. The moment my feet touched the marble floor of the main hall, my eyes widened.
A long dining table–no, banquet table–stretched from one end of the grand hall to the other. Decorated with pristine white linens, intricate silver cutlery, and vibrant wildflowers in glass vases. Plates of untouched food steamed gently on every side.
Dozens of pack members sat quietly, all turning their heads toward me the moment I stepped into view.
“What…” I murmured, stopping in my tracks.
Audrey, right behind me, smiled and gestured forward. “Go on.”
Then Francesco stood up from the head of the table. Beside him were Beta Alfonso, Marlow the head warrior, Joshua, and two other high–ranking pack leaders. My mate approached me first, his presence commanding yet warm. He reached for my back, wrapping his strong arms around me.
“Welcome, Luna,” Alfonso greeted, bowing his head respectfully.
Francesco leaned down, his breath brushing my ear. “The pack wants to show their gratitude to you, amore.”
I blinked in confusion, my heart pounding as I looked around.
“Gratitude? For what?”
Alfonso stepped forward. “This was the warriors‘ and the pack’s idea, Luna.”
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Chapter 96
Marlow nodded. “We realized we never welcomed you properly. So today…” He spread his arm toward the feast and the people standing to attention behind him. “This is our way to honor and thank you for your bravery, your heart, and your strength.”
Joshua stepped closer too. “You fought with us. You saved many. And for that, we are proud to call you our Luna.”
Then, as if rehearsed, every single person in the hall rose from their seat, bowed their head, and said in one united voice:
“Grazie, Luna.”
I froze.
My hands trembled. My heart swelled. No one had ever shown me this kind of respect, this kind of love. Not even in my own pack. And now, here they stood–not just as strangers, but as my people.
I couldn’t stop the tears that spilled from my eyes.
Francesco tightened his arms around me, pressing a gentle kiss to my temple. “You deserve this, amore.”
I stepped forward, lifting my chin despite the tears.
“You are all my pack,” I said, voice trembling. “It is my honor to be your Luna.”
A loud cheer erupted, echoing through the hall, and finally… the feast began.
I sat beside Francesco at the head of the table, in awe of how quickly and beautifully everything had been prepared. Maria personally brought over plate after plate of food–roasted lamb with rosemary, creamy mushroom risotto, fresh–baked bread with garlic butter, sweet tomato and basil salad, and a large pitcher of cool citrus water.
The room was lively now, full of laughter and chatter. Children ran between tables. Warriors toasted. Even the usually stoic Alfonso cracked a few smiles.
I leaned close to Francesco. “When did you all plan this?”
He smirked. “The moment you fell asleep, the pack began preparations.”
“That fast?”
“You inspire them, Ellaine,” he said simply, brushing a lock of hair behind my ear. “They wanted to honor you while the victory is still fresh.”
Victory.
The rogue attack still felt like a dream–a nightmare we had narrowly escaped. But it had happened. And we had won. Our warriors were victorious. The rogues had been repelled, their leaders… Even though Luca has been escaped, I know he has no one now. And most of it, I… I had stood with them.
As the feast continued, warriors stood and offered toasts.
Marlow raised his goblet. “To our Luna, who did not hesitate to stand at our side.”
Alfonso followed. “To the strength of a true leader, not just in power but in heart.”
Even the young warrior Matteo, barely twenty, stood with his arm still bandaged from the battle. “To the Luna who protected us all.”
More cheers.
Maria then surprised me by bringing out a cake–layers of dark chocolate and raspberries, topped with cream and white roses. A gift from the kitchen staff.
Francesco leaned to me and whispered, “They said they didn’t want to wait for your birthday to celebrate you.”
I laughed softly. My chest ached from how full my heart felt.
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Chapter 96
After dessert, the tables were cleared from the middle of the hall and music began to play–traditional Italian folk melodies at first, then a gentle instrumental tune that filled the air with warmth.
“Dance with me,” Francesco said, holding out his hand.
I smiled shyly, placing my fingers in his.
He led me to the center of the hall, and as we moved together in rhythm, I noticed the other couples joining. Monica with Matteo Maria dancing with shockingly, Lucio. Audrey even coaxed Alfonso into a stiff but sweet sway, which make me and everyone chuckle in amusement.
Francesco gazed into my eyes, his voice low. “You stood before the pack not just as a Luna, but as someone who carries their pain and joy equally”
“I was terrified,” I admitted.
“And yet you still moved forward. That is what makes a Luna.”
My head rested against his chest, the steady beat of his heart calming my nerves.
The music played. The laughter echoed. And for a moment, the horrors of the past weeks melted away, replaced by a newfound hope.
Later that evening, Francesco led me to the balcony overlooking the courtyard. The moon had begun to rise, casting its silvery glow across the pack lands. Fires were lit below, children roasting marshmallows and elders sharing stories.
“This… is beautiful,” I whispered.
“You gave them something they had nearly lost,” Francesco said. “Unity. Strength. Faith.”
We stood in silence for a moment.
Then he turned to me. “They say you awakened something in me, Ellaine. That your presence has changed me.”
I looked up into his eyes. “And what do you say?”
He brushed his knuckles along my cheek. “I say… I finally found the piece I never knew I was missing, with Anastasia, I never like this.”
My breath caught.
And in that quiet moment, with the stars above and the pack celebrating below, I allowed myself to believe–that maybe my power isn’t bad, that having magic and white wolf is a blessed.
