Chapter 80
Ella's POV
As night fell, the entire Silver Moon Pack territory glowed crimson in the light of bonfires.
I stood at the edge of the crowd, watching pack members dance around the massive flames. The aroma of roasting meat filled the air, mingling with the sweetness of fruit juice and the scent of burning pine. Every face radiated happiness—that particular joy of survivors who could finally let their guard down.
But I felt like an outsider.
"Don't be nervous." Brian's gentle voice came from beside me. He stood there like a father, sensing my unease. "You belong here, Ella. You've bled for this land. You've earned the right to share in this joy."
I forced a smile. "I'm just… not used to this kind of gathering."
"Take your time." Brian patted my shoulder. "No one's going to force you to do anything. Just remember, tonight belongs to everyone—including you."
The music grew louder, drums pounding with fierce energy. I watched the dancing figures, a complicated emotion rising in my chest. Did I really belong here? Or was I just temporarily sheltered in this haven, destined to keep wandering?
"Ella!" A bright voice interrupted my thoughts.
I looked up to see Fiona bouncing through the crowd toward me. Her hair shimmered in the firelight, her face lit with a brilliant smile. She grabbed my hand, her eyes sparkling.
"I've been looking everywhere for you!" Fiona said excitedly. "Come on, let's dance together!"
"I… I don't know how to dance." I tried to pull my hand back, slightly panicked.
"That's okay, I'll teach you!" Fiona gave me no chance to refuse, dragging me into the crowd. "This dance is super easy—just move with the rhythm!"
She pulled me into the swirl of dancers. At first my movements were laughably stiff, but Fiona's enthusiasm was infectious. She held my hand, guiding me to spin and leap with the drumbeat. Gradually, I felt my body begin to relax, even starting to enjoy the rhythm.
The bonfire leaped and danced, illuminating every smiling face. I saw Silver Moon warriors singing with arms around each other's shoulders, children chasing and playing, elders sitting nearby with kind smiles. In this moment, the shadow of war seemed to truly recede.
"You have such a beautiful smile!" Fiona leaned close, calling out over the noise. "And you know what? You really look like a Luna right now!"
I froze, my smile stiffening for an instant. Luna? Me?
"Don't say that," I said quietly, though my heart began racing uncontrollably.
"I'm not just saying it!" Fiona looked at me seriously. "You were so brave on the battlefield, and you cast that amazing magic with my brother. Everyone's talking about you—they're saying you're Silver Moon's hero!"
Hero… the word felt too heavy for me. I'd only wanted to survive.
"Oh, oh!" Fiona suddenly lowered her voice, speaking mysteriously. "That day in the safe house, through the scrying eye, I saw Ignis!"
My heart jumped. "What?"
"Your wolf!" Fiona's eyes gleamed. "That red giant wolf—her flames just incinerated that disgusting bug in one blast! So badass!"
"She's praising me?" Ignis said lazily in the depths of my consciousness, her tone clearly pleased. "This little girl has good taste."
I couldn't help rolling my eyes internally. "Don't get cocky."
"Why not?" Ignis purred like a satisfied cat. "By the way, where's Sage? I miss him."
My face instantly burned. "Ignis!"
"What?" Ignis asked innocently. "He's our mate. What's wrong with missing our mate?"
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. Then I turned to Fiona, attempting to ask in a steady voice, "Julian… I mean, where's the Alpha?"
"My brother?" Fiona blinked, a sly smile crossing her face. "He went to prepare a surprise."
"A surprise?"
"Mm-hmm!" Fiona nodded mysteriously. "Just wait and see—it'll definitely blow your mind!"
"Surprise! Surprise!" Ignis cheered excitedly in my mind. "I love surprises!"
I was about to ask more when suddenly, a thunderous boom echoed from beyond the bonfire gathering.
I instinctively went on alert, my body tensing, ready to shift. But the Silver Moon pack members around me burst into cheers, everyone surging toward the source of the sound.
"It's here, it's here!" Fiona jumped excitedly, pulling me through the crowd. "Come look!"
She dragged me through the throng until I finally saw the "surprise."
Julian, bare-chested with muscle definition clear in the firelight, was laboriously pushing an enormous ice sculpture into the gathering. And frozen inside that transparent block of ice was a massive brown bear!
My breath caught.
"Wow…" Ignis's voice in my consciousness was nearly infatuated. "Look at those muscles… look at that strength… our mate is so…"
"Shut up!" I cut her off sharply in my mind.
But I had to admit, Julian in this moment was indeed… very attractive. His golden hair was damp with sweat, plastered to his forehead, his blue eyes flickering with something in the firelight that made my heart race.
"Ta-da!" Fiona announced proudly. "My brother hunted a bear especially for you!"
All eyes fell on me. I felt my cheeks burning.
Julian pushed the ice sculpture beside the bonfire, then shattered the ice with one punch. The bear's massive carcass sprawled on the ground, drawing gasps of amazement.
"Butcher it," Julian called to the cooks. "Share it with everyone."
"But Alpha," one cook said hesitantly, "we don't have a fire big enough to roast such a large bear…"
Julian turned, his gaze landing on me. The corner of his mouth lifted in a playful smile.
"Isn't the Fire Goddess right here?" he said. "Lend us some flame."
All eyes again. I felt my face about to combust.
I walked forward and took a deep breath. Then I blew gently, and cheerful flames sprang up on the cooking platform.
"Luna! Luna!" Cheers erupted from the crowd.
I waved my hands frantically. "I'm not…"
"You are." Julian walked up to me, interrupting. His voice was soft but firm. "At least in my heart, you are."
Before everyone's eyes, he knelt on one knee, looking up at me. Firelight danced in his eyes, making it nearly impossible for me to look away.
"This bear is my offering to you," he said, "my savior."
My heart pounded wildly. "Julian, I…"
"I know what you want to say." His voice was gentle. "You'll say you only resolved this crisis to prove something to your father, that you didn't specifically intend to save me or Silver Moon."
I froze. How did he know…
"But you not thinking that," Julian continued, "doesn't mean you didn't do exactly that. You saved me, saved my people, saved this land. Whether you acknowledge it or not, you are our savior, my angel."
His body leaned slightly forward, as if wanting to come closer.
Instinctively, I raised a finger and pressed it gently against his chest. "Please give me some time," I said quietly. "I haven't figured out my own heart yet."
Julian stopped. He looked at me, disappointment flashing in his eyes before quickly being replaced by understanding.
"Of course," he said. "I can wait. I'll wait as long as it takes for you to be ready." He stood, leaning close to my ear, speaking in a voice only I could hear. "But please listen to me, Ella—no one can refuse the mate bond. No matter where you run, no matter how long you wait, this thread will always connect us."
With that, he stepped back, giving me space.
I turned and left the center of the crowd. I could feel Julian's gaze following me, could sense the fleeting loneliness in his eyes.
But I needed time. I needed to figure out what my heart truly wanted.
"You know what you want," Ignis said softly in my consciousness. "You're just not ready to admit it yet."
Maybe she was right.
Maybe what I'd been running from all along wasn't Julian, but my own heart.