Chapter 108
108
~Darlon’s POV
I held her in my arms for a long time. Longer than I planned. Longer than I meant to. It felt necessary. It felt like the only thing that could hold the world still for a moment so she could breathe without fear.
Elara leaned into me like she was tired of standing on her own strength. I could feel her heartbeat against my chest. It was steady at first, then uneven, like her emotions were struggling to stay calm.
“Don’t think of anything right now,” I whispered, my voice low near her ear. “I will make sure you are safe. I will make sure Lira faces the right punishment. She will not get away with this again. I promise you that p>
Elara nodded, but her eyes were distant, like part of her was still somewhere else p>
“I know,” she said softly. “I believe you. I just… I don’t want to be afraid anymore p>
I pulled back slightly so I could see her face. “You don’t have to be afraid. Not with me. Not ever again p>
Her eyes lifted to mine, and something small and warm passed between us. A silent agreement, a restart, and a promise we both understood.
I traced my thumb along her cheek, slowly. “Show me,” I said gently. “Your wolf. I want to see her p>
She blinked. A little surprised. A little shy. “Right now p>
“Yes,” I said. “Right now p>
For a second, she hesitated. Then she reached inside herself, the way wolves do when calling something older than their bones. Her breath slowed. Her eyes changed first, glowing with that new life. That power. Then her body followed.
Her bones shifted, but without pain. Her skin shimmered. Fur as white as snow spread across her form. And in a moment, she stood before me, not as Elara the woman, but as her wolf.
Alira.
A beautiful white wolf with silver eyes.
My breath left me in a slow, stunned whisper. “You’re incredible,” I said, my voice almost shaking with pride. “My Luna. My mate. My whole world p>
She stepped closer, her wolf head pressing into my palm. I stroked her gently, feeling the warmth of her fur under my fingers. She didn’t feel fragile. She felt strong. Like she was made for this. Like she had been waiting to return all her life.
“I’m proud of you,” I whispered. “More than you know p>
She shifted back slowly, the transformation smooth again. She stood there in front of me, breathless, cheeks flushed, eyes glowing like she still held a piece of the moon inside her.
“How do you feel?” I asked.
“Like I finally found myself,” she admitted. “Like she was always there. Waiting p>
I smiled at her, really smiled, the kind that settles somewhere warm in your chest. “Then let her stay,” I said quietly. “You don’t have to hide anymore p>
Elara breathed out, like something heavy finally slipped off her shoulders. She nodded, almost shy, and before she could say anything else, her stomach grumbled. Loud. It echoed a little in the quiet room, and for a second, all the tension cracked open like glass.
I blinked, then raised a brow. “Was that you p>
She covered her face with her hands. “Oh my gosh, no, that was not me p>
I tilted my head. “So… a ghost is hungry p>
She glared at me through her fingers. “Don’t make fun of me p>
I chuckled. “I’m not making fun. I’m just trying to identify if I should be worried. Maybe the hunger spirit of the palace needs feeding p>
She tried to hold in a laugh, but it slipped out anyway, soft and real. I loved that sound more than I should admit.
I stepped closer, nudging her hand gently away from her face.
Her stomach grumbled again. Even louder.
This time, I didn’t bother hiding the laugh. “Alright, that’s it. We’re feeding you before you start eating the furniture p>
She gasped. “I would never p>
“You would,” I teased, leaning closer like I was sharing a secret.
We walked to the dining room after that. Our plates sat untouched for a while because we kept talking instead of eating.
She finally ate when I insisted she needed her strength. After dinner, she pushed her plate away gently and looked at me with a thoughtful expression.
“I want to return to work,” she said.
“The fashion week is coming. I can’t put everything on hold. My team needs me. Our designs need final checks p>
I studied her for a moment, making sure this wasn’t pressure talking. But she looked certain. More certain than I had seen her in a long time.
“If you’re ready,” I said, “then I trust you. You know that world better than anyone. You’ll handle it. And I’ll support you. Always p>
She smiled. It was a real one, soft and relieved.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
I shook my head. We moved to the bedroom after that, slow steps, tired from everything, the emotions, the decisions, the memories that felt heavier than bags full of stones. She curled into my arms when we lay on the bed. Her head rested on my chest; her fingers resting on my ribcage like she needed proof I was real.
Her voice cracked a little. “Do you think Lira will stop p>
“No,” I answered honestly. “But I won’t let her reach you p>
“Even if she tries again p>
“Even then. Even if she comes with fire. Even if she comes with lies. Even if she comes with an army. I will stand between you and anything that tries to hurt you p>
She exhaled slowly, like a weight left her lungs. “I don’t know what I ever did to deserve you p>
I kissed the top of her head. “You loved me. That’s enough p>
She cuddled closer until our breaths fell into the same rhythm. The blanket wrapped around us. The room dimmed like the world wanted to give us peace. And slowly, our eyes grew heavy.
Sleep took her first. I felt her body relax. I felt her breathing settle into something calm. Safe. Trusting. Only when I knew she was safe in her dreams did I let myself close my eyes. We fell asleep like that, wrapped in each other.
Morning came in slowly, like light pouring through half-closed curtains, and when I opened my eyes, she was still there beside me, her head resting on my arm, her breath soft and even as if the night had finally given her a little peace. I stayed still for a moment because waking up like that felt rare, like something I shouldn’t rush, and I watched the sunlight touch her face while I tried to memorize the quiet of it all. Elara shifted a little, and her fingers curled into the fabric of my shirt, almost like her body was afraid I might move away, and that tiny gesture pulled something warm out of my chest.
She blinked awake slowly, her lashes fluttering before her eyes, and finally focused on me, looking a little confused at first, like she forgot the world outside existed. Then she relaxed. “Good morning,” she whispered, her voice still thick with sleep.
“Morning,” I answered, my hand sliding up to her back without thinking, because it felt like the most natural thing to do. “Did you sleep well p>
She nodded, and then her phone buzzed. I watched her pick up, only to hear her shouting at someone over the phone.
“What happened?” I asked, looking so worried.
“I was told that our design got leaked p>
“What p>