Chapter 229 WHAT'S LEFT OF HOME.

Chapter 229 WHAT'S LEFT OF HOME.


AVERY’S POV:

The temple had quieted. The bloodshed, the chaos, the rage—it all seemed to fade.

Axel was beside me, his fingers intertwined with mine, our bodies aching, yet upright.

And then… he walked in.

The stranger. The man with the dagger. The one who had ended it all.

My eyes widened when I truly saw his face—clean now than the first time I saw him. He was the same man I'd met in the bushes after Axel, Sea and I got lost walking back from the beach. The one that warned me about Akira.

But now… now I understood.

“You,” I whispered, breath catching in my throat.

He gave a soft nod, a kind smile pressing into the corners of his lips. “You remember.”

Axel and I stood to face him, a mutual gratitude threading silently between us.

“Thank you,” I said, stepping forward. “For everything. For saving us.”

He gave a slight bow, humble yet firm. “You shouldn’t thank me. I simply did what I was meant to do.”

“How did you do it?” Axel asked. “How did you know?”

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room, haunted by memory. “I’ve been watching Akira for years. Waiting. There’s only so much darkness one can tolerate before it starts to poison everything. I began forming a rebellion in secret—whispers only, at first. But when I learned what she was planning with the orb and the possession ritual… I knew it was time.”

He looked between us, voice quiet but resolute. “We advanced with what little men I had—men who still remembered light. And we weren’t alone. We met Thaddeus and your people at the gates. Together… we stormed this temple.”

“And after she died…” I prompted.

He nodded solemnly. “Her grip… her hypnosis on the people of Orion faded instantly. Like a storm finally clearing. Some of them are confused. Many are grieving. But they’re free.”

I swallowed down the weight in my chest. “What ever happened to Kore and Oman?"

"They died old and gray ages ago. Akira is over a hundred years old. She's remained this youthful due to the souls she consumes."

Wow. That was a lot to take in.

"And now?” Axel asked, rubbing the middle of my back.

It was such a relieve to meet him awake and alive, as well as knowing that my child was okay too.

He turned to me, his expression shifting. “Now… it’s your time.”

My brows furrowed. “What?”

“You are Kore’s blood,” he said simply. “The rightful heir. The direct descendant. Orion needs you.”

I took a step back, shaking my head slowly. “No,” I said gently. “No, you’re the one who saved your people. You’ve lived among them. You understand this place and its… supernatural entanglements far better than I ever could. I could never lead them. Not the way you can.”

He smiled sadly. “I’m the last descendant of Oman,” he admitted. “When Akira took over, she wiped out everyone in my family. Everyone but me. I’ve stayed hidden all my life. I was once meant to rule. But, you're here now."

I shook my head again, eyes soft. “You have the heart of a leader. And they need someone of them. I’m just passing through. I got missed up in all this unknowingly."

He stared at me long, searchingly, and finally gave a soft nod.

“Then I will lead,” he said, “but only because you gave us the freedom to choose again.”

I stepped forward and embraced him gently—thanking him not just with words but with a heart full of the weight we shared. I promised him to endless provide support in every way he or Orion ever needed.

“Goodbye,” I whispered. “Make this place whole again.”

Axel gave him a reassuring handshake and then, we turned.

We left Orion.

Not in flames. Not in war.

But in peace.



LATER THAT DAY.

We didn’t go straight home. I had one more stop before we could rest.

“Just a minute,” I said softly to Axel as the car turned onto a familiar path.

He frowned in confusion until we pulled in front of Wilder’s house.

He tensed beside me. “Sea?”

I nodded. “She deserves her father back.”

We stepped out, guards forming a respectful line behind us. I didn’t knock. I didn’t need to.

The door swung open—and Sea ran straight into my arms.

“Mama!” she cried, her little arms tightening around my waist. I dropped to my knees and held her, tears streaming down both our faces. Her tiny body trembled against mine. “I missed you so much! You were gone so long! I had bad dreams, Mama. I thought you… you weren’t coming back!”

“I’m here now,” I choked. “I’m never leaving you again.”

Then, behind her, her gaze shifted and widened.

“Daddy?”

Axel moved forward slowly. Sea blinked up at him. Her lip trembled. She looked like she didn’t know whether to scream or cry.

“Daddy!” she finally shrieked and launched herself into his arms.

Axel caught her midair, staggering slightly. “Hey, baby girl…” he pressed his lips to her head, clinging to her.

“I missed you, Daddy. I missed your pancakes and your hugs and your stories…”

“I’m never missing another one,” he promised, kissing her again.

Wilder stepped forward behind them. “Looks like I can officially retire from bedtime stories.”

Axel turned to him, one hand still resting protectively on Sea’s back. The two men stared at each other like wolves sizing one another—but not with hostility. With respect.

“I’m Axel,” he said, extending his hand.

“Wilder,” he replied, gripping it firmly.

“Thank you,” Axel said. “For protecting my family.”

“No thanks needed. You’d have done the same.”

That was all.

Just two men who understood loss, and sacrifice, and what it meant to guard something precious.

AN HOUR LATER – ON THE WAY HOME...

Our cars drove in formation, guards surrounding us.

Inside, Sea had curled up beside me in the back seat, her head on my lap. Axel’s fingers traced her hair absentmindedly as he stared out the window, finally letting silence fall.

And I looked at them—this family that was still mine. Still breathing. Still together.

We were bruised. Broken in places.

But alive.

And finally heading home.