Chapter 57
As Asher and I returned to the party, the cheers from our newly united pack surrounded us. The air buzzed with excitement and hope, quite unlike the tension we had experienced just hours before. I couldn’t help but smile, feeling a deep sense of calm within me.
Still, as I basked in the joyful mood, I felt a familiar tug in my heart. I scanned the crowd and found Xander, who was speaking to some pack members. He looked up, sensing my gaze, and our eyes met across the open space. Without a word, we understood each other, and he politely ended his conversation to join me.
I turned to Asher, who was already being pulled into a discussion with some of his former pack members. “I need a moment,” I said softly. He nodded, showing he understood.
While I walked through the crowd, people who cared and other pack members stopped me many times. I tried to greet everyone, but my thoughts were already somewhere else. l. Finally, I reached Xander, who wordlessly took my hand and led me away from the festivities.
We strolled quietly, the noise of the party growing faint behind us. The forest was filled with nighttime sounds-leaves moving, an owl softly calling, and a faraway stream making bubbling noises. When we came out of the trees, we saw a lake.
Xander wrapped his arm around my waist, holding me close. I leaned on him, my head snuggling into his shoulder, and we just stared at the water together. It was all quiet for a bit, just us taking in the pretty view and the cozy feeling between us.
“It’s beautiful,” I whispered, and the stillness was broken.
Xander agreed with a soft hum, his fingers drawing small shapes on my hip. “Not as beautiful as you,” he said, his voice gentle and warm.
I glanced at him, feeling my face turn red. Despite everything we’d been through, he could still make my heart race. Xander’s eyes looked at my face, seeing the changes-the silver hairs in my hair, the gentle glow in my eyes. He lifted his hand to softly touch my cheek, his thumb gently brushing my skin.
“Aurora,” he said softly, and then his lips met mine.
The kiss was gentle, filled with all the things we hadn’t been able to say during the recent chaos. I relaxed into it, wrapping my arms around his neck as his hands rested on my waist. When we finally pulled away, I was out of breath, my eyes slowly opening to meet his intense stare.
“I love you,” I whispered, the words carrying all the weight of our shared experiences.
“I love you too,” Xander said, his forehead touching mine. “More than I ever imagined.”
We went to a fallen tree near the water and sat down, holding hands. We sat quietly for a moment, savoring the calm. But we had a lot to discuss, and I had many thoughts and concerns on my mind.
“Xander,” I started, my voice gentle but serious. “I’m… I’m scared.”
He squeezed my hand encouragingly. “Talk to me, Aurora. What are you thinking about?”
“Everything has changed so quickly. These new abilities, joining Asher’s pack, the prophecy… Sometimes it feels like too much. What if I’m not strong enough? What if I make bad choices?” I whispered.
Xander turned to look at me completely, his eyes full of kindness and strong support. “Sweetheart, you are stronger than you think. You have faced a lot but you kept fighting, like some kind of superhero after each battle. It’s pretty amazing. These new abilities? They’re just a part of the strength that was already inside you.”
His words made me feel better, but the worries were still there. “But what if-”
“No what-ifs,” Xander interrupted gently. “We’ll face whatever comes together. You’re not alone in this, Aurora. You have me, you have our group, and now we have even more friends. No matter what craziness the future throws our way, we’ll tackle it as a team, like we always have, okay.”
I bobbed my head, a bit of the stress slipping out of me. Xander always knew the right words to ease my worries. “You’re right,” I admitted. “It’s just… sometimes I miss the simplicity of life. Before Ryder, before all of this.”
Xander chuckled softly. “I know what you mean. But consider this – would you want to return? Imagine all the good things we’ve done and accomplished. And, he said with a fun sparkle in his eye, your old life didn’t have you looking this great under the moonlight.”
I laughed, playfully shoving his shoulder. “You flatter me,” I replied, though I couldn’t suppress my grin.
Our moment was cut short by the noise of nearby footsteps and laughter. I tensed for a moment, my newfound abilities automatically reaching out to identify the newcomers. But as soon as I recognized the familiar auras, I relaxed.
From the trees emerged Aiden, but not the Aiden I was used to seeing. Gone was the serious, often brooding expression. Instead, his face was lit up with a joy I’d never seen before. And the reason for that joy was clear – holding his hand was Lily.
“Aurora! Xander!” Aiden called out, his voice uncharacteristically cheerful. “I hope we’re not interrupting.”
I shook my head, smiling at the pair. “Not at all. What brings you two out here?”
Aiden’s smile got even wider if you can picture that. “I wanted you to be the first to know this,” he said, looking at Lily. “Lily and I… we’re mates.”
I gasped in delight, jumping up to hug them both. “Oh, Aiden! Lily! I’m so happy for you both!”
Xander stood as well, clapping Aiden on the back. “Congrats, buddy. It’s time you found someone to smooth out that tough-guy attitude of yours.”
Lily, who had been silent until now, finally said something. “It’s an honor to meet you properly, Luna,” she said, her eyes wide as she took in my transformed appearance.
I laughed softly, feeling a bit self-conscious under her awed gaze. “It’s still taking some getting used to,” I admitted. “But enough about me – tell us how this happened! I want to hear everything.”
We settled back onto the log, Aiden and Lily joining us. As they told the story of how they first met – Lily had helped with his treatment, impressing him with her fast reactions and strong will – I noticed a big change in Aiden. I had never seen him so… happy.
We sat together, sharing stories and laughing, I felt so happy. This was what I have always wanted, for moments like this where we could simply be ourselves, without any worries or sadness.
However, as the conversation continued. I thought about Asher and wondered if he felt left out during all this joy. Even though our past was complicated, I couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for him. Everyone deserves a chance at this kind of happiness.
After a while, Aiden and Lily decided to go back As they walked away, hand in hand, I turned to Xander. “I need a moment alone,” I said softly. “I want to… connect with the Moon Goddess.”
Xander nodded, understanding in his eyes. “Of course. I’ll wait for you here.”
I gently kissed him and then got up to walk to a nearby open space. The moonlight seemed to gather there, giving everything a soft, magical light. I knelt on the soft grass, closed my eyes, and used my new skills.
At first, I only felt the life around me-the steady heartbeat of the earth, the gentle breeze through the leaves, and the quiet movement of small night animals. But as I concentrated and went deeper, I sensed something else. A presence, vast and ancient, full of wisdom and power.
“Moon Goddess,” I said softly, almost in a whisper. “I’m here to ask you for something.”
I felt a comforting warmth around me, like a soft hug. Seeing this as a sign to keep going, I spoke again.
“Asher has done wrong, but he’s working to fix it. He’s given up his role as Alpha and joined his pack with ours for the good of everyone. I… I think he should get another chance at being happy. At love.”
As I spoke, I felt the energy around me intensified. A soft glow began to emanate from my skin, growing brighter with each word.
“If it’s within your power if it’s part of your plan… Please guide Asher to his true mate. Let him know the joy of a love that’s meant to be.”
The light got so bright that I could see it with my eyes closed and everything! It was like, for a quick second, I was just chilling’ in a giant pool of stars that were winking at me or something. But then, just like that, it was over and the weird space-floaty feeling disappeared.
I opened my eyes, blinking as they adjusted to the familiar moonlight. My skin still felt a bit of energy, and I knew in my heart that the Moon Goddess had heard my prayer. What would happen next, only time would show.
As I stood up, brushing grass off my knees, I felt a new sense of hope. Yes, there were still challenges ahead. The prophecy Clara had spoken of, the “unforeseen consequences” the Moon Goddess had warned about – these were not small things. But at that moment, when I saw the forest glowing in the moonlight, I felt prepared to handle any challenges we might face.
I returned to Xander, who was patiently waiting in the same spot where I had left him. He spread his arms wide, and I moved into his hug, feeling secure and steady.
“Is everything alright?” he asked gently.
I nodded against his chest. “Yes. I think… I believe everything will be okay.”