Chapter 255 CHAPTER 255

Chapter 255 CHAPTER 255
The forest was quieter now.

Alpha Richard stepped forward first, his gaze moving toward King Ethan Ashvale as the guards behind him began to shift, some already turning slightly in the direction of Silverpine.

The moon hung low but bright, its light slipping through the tall trees and laying softly across the clearing where the groups had slowed to a stop.

“I’ll take my men back from here,” Richard said, his voice steady, carrying easily through the space without needing to rise. “There’s a lot waiting for us. Rebuilding. Training. The pack needs structure again.”

Ethan nodded once, his posture firm but his expression open. “That’s the right call,” he said. “Silverpine needs its alpha present.”

Richard held his gaze for a moment, then gave a small nod. 

“And I appreciate you standing with us,” Ethan added. “This… could have gone differently without your help.”

His gaze shifted briefly toward the men behind Richard, then back. “I’ll keep some of my guards stationed near your borders for a while,” he continued. “Until things stabilize.”

Richard didn’t argue.

“You’ve always produced strong fighters,” Ethan added. “Some of the best who’ve ever stood at Mooncrest’s gates came from Silverpine. I hope that doesn’t change.”

A quiet breath left Richard, something close to agreement passing through his expression. “With the right guidance, it won’t,” he said. “Mason has his work cut out for him.”

Ethan gave a small nod.

There was a pause.

Then Richard’s gaze moved.

“There’s something else to be corrected,” he said.

Ethan followed the direction of his look.

Lisa stood a few steps away, Liam beside her, his presence steady, quiet. Not far from them, Sebastian stood with his arms loosely at his sides, his attention already turned toward them.

“Sebastian told me,” Richard continued, “about the bond.”

Ethan’s expression didn’t shift much, but his attention sharpened slightly.

“They’ve agreed,” Richard added, “that it’s time.”

Ethan glanced briefly at Lisa, then back to Richard. “Then it should be done properly,” he said.

A few steps away, Nolan moved forward, his presence calm but intentional.

“Come,” he said simply.

Lisa and Sebastian stepped forward together.

The space around them opened without instruction, the others giving them room, forming a quiet circle beneath the moonlight.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Sebastian exhaled softly, his gaze resting on Lisa.

“I think it’s time,” he said.

Lisa nodded. 

There was no tension or resistance between them.

Just understanding.

Sebastian’s shoulders eased slightly. “Before we do this,” he said, his voice quieter now, “there’s something I need to do.”

Lisa watched him, her expression open.

Sebastian closed his eyes briefly.

When he opened them again, something had shifted.

Kael appeared.

His gaze softened as it met Lisa’s.

“Hey,” Kael said quietly.

Lisa’s breath caught slightly, but she didn’t step back.

“Hey,” she replied.

He gave a small, almost sheepish smile. “I should’ve pushed him harder when he rejected you,” he admitted. “I knew you were good for us.”

Lisa tilted her head slightly. “Things happened.”

“I should probably be angry,” Kael continued, a faint breath leaving him. “Losing Celia. Losing you….”

Lisa’s hand lifted slightly at her side, then stilled.

“But I’m not,” he said.

Lisa’s gaze softened.

“I’m not,” he repeated. “Because you found something real. And so did we, in our own way.”

Lisa swallowed lightly.

Kael’s gaze softened further. “You’re where you’re supposed to be,” he said. “And I’m… okay with that.”

For a second, Lisa didn’t respond.

Kyle’s words lingered in the space between them, quiet but heavy, settling deeper than they should have.

And inside…

Celia felt it.

She had been listening all along, silent, holding herself back, letting Lisa stand where she needed to stand. But the weight of it—the goodbye in his voice, the acceptance, the way he spoke as if he had already let go—pressed against her in a way she could no longer ignore.

It rose slowly at first.

Then all at once.

Before Lisa could steady it, before she could even think to hold it back, Celia moved forward, carried by something that refused to stay hidden any longer.

She stepped into the moment.

Kael felt it immediately.

His gaze shifted, softening as he met her fully now.

“Celia…” he said quietly.

She didn’t answer with words.

She closed the space between them and wrapped her arms around him, holding him with a quiet certainty that spoke more than anything she could have said.

This time, it wasn’t Sebastian and Lisa.

It was them.

The wolves who had found each other first.

The ones who might have had a different path—if fate had not asked something else of them.

Celia held him for a moment longer, her breath steady even as something in her chest ached with the weight of it.

“You’ll be alright,” she said softly.

Kael let out a quiet breath. 

She pulled back just enough to look at him. “The goddess doesn’t leave things unfinished,” she added. “You’ll get your chance too.”

He nodded once.

“Take care of him,” she said, her voice gentler now.

“I will,” he replied.

They held each other for one second longer.

Then they stepped back as Lisa and Sebastian came back forward.

But something had changed.

Something had… settled.

Nolan stepped forward slightly. “Are you both ready?” he asked.

Lisa nodded first. “I am.”

Sebastian followed. “So am I.”

A quiet stillness settled over the clearing.

Lisa drew in a slow breath.

Then she spoke.

“I, Lisa… Princess of Mooncrest, reject you, Sebastian Moore, as my mate.”

The words left her without strain.

Sebastian closed his eyes briefly, his shoulders lowering as he exhaled.

When he opened them again, he looked at her—not with pain, but with something softer.

“Accepted,” he said.

The bond didn’t snap like it did that first time in the moon lit Silverpine woods.

It didn’t tear or hurt like it should’ve.

Instead it eased.

Like something that had held long enough, now letting go because it no longer needed to stay. 

A quiet gift of comfort that the goddess had granted them for a job well done.

Lisa felt it first - a quiet lightness spreading through her chest.

Sebastian felt it too.

Neither moved immediately.

They just stood there, letting the shift complete itself.

Then Sebastian gave a small nod.

Lisa returned it.

And just like that—

It was done. What had started in the woods was finished in the same woods in the witness of the goddess.

The circle loosened.

Later, Mooncrest stood quiet under the same moon.

The halls had settled, the movement of the day replaced with a calm that felt earned rather than forced.

Lisa stepped into Liam’s quarters, her hair still slightly damp, her clothes fresh but simple.

Liam was already there.

He turned as she entered.

For a moment, he just looked at her.

Then he stepped closer.

His hands came to her waist, pulling her gently toward him as his gaze searched her face.

“So,” he said quietly, “now that the bond thing is officially behind us… There’s only one thing left for us to do.”

“What?” Lisa asked.

Liam placed a soft kiss on her lips, “Make it official.” 

Lisa’s lips curved faintly. “Everyone already knows we’re together.”

Liam shook his head slightly. “That’s not what I mean.”

She tilted her head. “Then what do you mean?”

He held her gaze.

“Make it official chosen mates,” he said.

Lisa blinked once, a soft breath leaving her.

“That’s not just my decision,” she replied.

Her eyes lowered briefly.

Inside, Celia stirred.

“I want this, It’s long overdue.” she said softly.

Lisa stepped closer.

Her hand lifted to his chest, her fingers resting there as she searched his face for a second longer.

“Then yes, we both agree to be your chosen mate, Liam Blackthorne.” she said.

Liam’s expression shifted, something deeper settling in his eyes.

He didn’t say anything.

He just leaned in.

The kiss started slow.

Lisa’s hands moved up to his shoulders, her body leaning into his as the space between them disappeared.

Liam’s grip tightened slightly at her waist, pulling her closer as the kiss deepened, the quiet of the room wrapping around them.

When he pulled back, his forehead rested lightly against hers.

“I’ve waited long enough,” he murmured.

Lisa smiled faintly. “So have I.”

He didn’t respond with words this time.

Instead, he lifted her slightly, her breath catching softly as his arms steadied her against him.

Then he carried her toward the bed.