Chapter 119 Understanding

Chapter 119 Understanding
Freya POV.

Tomorrow I leave. Logan sentenced me to exile for treason. Mercy I don't deserve. One week to provide intelligence on Viktor, say goodbye to Marcus, then banishment forever.

The cell is cold. Stone walls damp with evening condensation. Through the barred window, I smell silver flowers from the Moon Garden. Sweet. Magical.

Five days I've been here. Five days on a hard wooden bench. Muscles aching. Stomach growling on meager rations.

The trial ended five days ago. I confessed everything. Expected death.

Instead, the Luna showed mercy.

"Exile instead of death. On condition you tell us everything about Viktor and dedicate your exile to fighting him."

I accepted immediately.

Since then, hours with Cassandra and Garrick. Providing every detail about Viktor's operations.

"His main base is in the Bloodmoon Wastelands. But he has a secondary compound in Shadowfen marshes. About two hundred rogues total, split between locations."

"The ritual?" Cassandra pressed.

"Requires three components. The blood moon eclipse—that's fixed, forty days from now. A corrupted mate bond as conduit—that's why he needs the Alpha and Luna. And a sacrifice of Oracle blood during the moment of consummation."

Garrick's expression darkened. "Specific timing?"

"Peak of the eclipse. Midnight exactly. The corruption infiltrates through the mate bond when they're most vulnerable—when they're... together."

I gave them everything. Maps. Schedules. Rogue commanders' names. Supply routes. Weaknesses in Viktor's defenses.

Footsteps approach my cell. I look up to see Marcus settling on the bench across from me. Guard waits discretely outside.

"Mother."

I can't meet his eyes at first. "I'm sorry. For all of it."

"I know." He leans forward. Forces me to look at him. "The Luna saved my life."

"I know."

"Do you? Do you understand what it cost her?"

I shake my head.

"Her childhood. Every memory before age twelve. Her mother's face—gone. Her first shift under the full moon—erased. The cottage where she grew up—blank. Her father's voice, her early pack bonds, her entire foundation—all of it sacrificed to save me."

My chest constricts. Can't breathe. "No."

"She didn't have to. I'm nobody to her. The son of the woman who tried to kill her. She owed me nothing. Should have let me die."

"But she didn't."

"No. She chose mercy. Chose to sacrifice parts of herself to save a stranger who meant nothing to her." He pauses. "That's what a real Luna does. What you should have recognized from the start."

Silence falls between us.

"Do you forgive me?" My voice breaks.

Marcus is quiet for a long moment. "I don't know yet. Ask me after you've earned it."

The words land. Hard.

"I'm going to try. To earn it. To make amends."

"I know. That's why I'm here. To say..." Marcus swallows hard. "To say I hope you succeed. And that I'll miss you."

He stands. I stand too. Cross to embrace him through the bars. He holds me tight for a moment. Then pulls away.

"Be safe, Mother."

"You too, my son."

He leaves. I'm alone again.

Evening falls. The light through my window shifts from gold to silver. I move to the bars. Look out at the fortress courtyard.

Beyond that, the Moon Garden.

And there they are.

Logan and Rune. Sitting beneath the silver-flowered trees. From this distance, I can't hear them. Can't make out fine details. But I can see their silhouettes clearly against the luminescent flowers.

They're just sitting together. Rune leaning back against Logan's chest. His arms wrapped around her. One hand splayed across her stomach. The other stroking through her silver hair.

She has her hand on his chest. Over his heart. I can see her thumb moving in small circles.

Both still. Peaceful.

No words that I can see. No grand romantic gestures. Just quiet companionship.

I watch for long minutes.

Something in my chest cracks open.