The lightbearer’s peace
The lightbearer’s peace
Selene’s POV
Soft light filtered through the white drapes above me, dancing like ripples across the ceiling. For a moment, I didn’t know if I was alive or still trapped in some vision of the goddess. My body felt heavy, yet strangely light—like I was floating between dreams and waking.
I blinked, my eyes adjusting to the brightness. The room around me was unfamiliar—walls draped in white cloth, a faint scent of herbs and moon lilies filling the air. The gentle hum of water echoed somewhere close by.
“Where… where am I?” My voice came out faint, raspy from disuse.
A soft hand pressed mine down against the sheets. “Shh, don’t force yourself, Selene.”
I turned my head and found Leonora sitting beside me, her eyes glimmering with relief. “Leonora,” I whispered. “What happened to me? What is this place?”
She smiled gently. “You are safe now, child. You’re inside the Sanctuary—your place.”
“My… place?” I frowned, confusion tightening my chest.
Leonora nodded, brushing a stray strand of my silver hair back. “You’ve been sleeping for three days since the Blood Moon faded. The battle is over, Eleazar is gone, and the kingdom stands in peace again.”
Her words sank into me slowly, heavy with meaning. “Three days…?” I murmured, memories crashing back like waves—the ritual, the fire, Eleazar’s screams, and Aeron’s voice calling my name before the world went dark.
Leonora’s voice softened. “You are the Luna’s Lightbearer, Selene. The prophecy was true. The king himself ordered that you be brought here, to the Sanctuary of Light. This place was built for you long ago—meant to protect the one chosen by the goddess.”
I swallowed hard, staring at my trembling hands. “The Luna’s Lightbearer…” I whispered. The words felt both foreign and familiar, like a memory buried deep within me.
Still, my heart ached for something else. “Leonora,” I said, struggling to sit up. “Please, I need to go to the Moonshine pack. I want to see them—I want to see him.” My voice cracked on the last word.
Leonora smiled knowingly, her kind eyes soft. “You don’t need to look far, my dear.”
Before I could ask what she meant, the door opened.
Aeron stepped in, dressed in a dark tunic, his hair slightly tousled as if he hadn’t slept either. The moment our eyes met, my breath caught.
“I’m here,” he said quietly, walking toward me.
Leonora squeezed my hand gently before standing. “I’ll leave you two,” she murmured, and with a final smile, she slipped out of the room.
Aeron sat on the edge of the bed, his presence steady and warm. For a moment, neither of us spoke. He just looked at me, his golden eyes searching mine, as though making sure I was truly awake.
“How are you feeling?” he finally asked, his voice low and rough with emotion.
“I’m… a bit weak,” I admitted, “but I’m fine. Just tired.”
A small smile tugged at his lips. “That’s good. I’m happy to see you awake, Selene. You scared me back there.”
He brushed a lock of my hair aside, fingers lingering lightly against my cheek. His touch sent warmth through me. I smiled faintly—but then froze.
Something felt different. My hair shimmered in the light, not crimson red as it used to be, but a pure, silvery white. My heart thudded. I grasped a handful of it, my breath catching.
“Aeron… what happened to my hair?” I asked, wide-eyed. “It’s—it’s not red anymore.”
He smiled, his eyes soft and full of awe. “Your red hair was part of the curse, Selene. The mark of the blood that bound you. But it’s gone now. This,” he said, brushing the silver strands between his fingers, “this is your true color. The color of the Lightbearer.”
I stared at him, my hand trembling as I touched my hair. “My true color…”
He nodded gently. “Your red scar is gone too. You’re free now, Selene. Completely free. The curse is broken, and your wolf—your true wolf—is finally awakened.”
I couldn’t speak for a long moment. My throat tightened, tears stinging my eyes.
“Free…” I whispered. The word trembled on my lips, fragile as glass.
“Yes,” Aeron said, his voice firm yet tender. “Free.”
A sob escaped me then—half laughter, half tears. I covered my mouth, unable to hold it in. “I can’t believe it. I thought I’d die under that moon. I thought I’d never see you again.”
He reached out, drawing me into his arms, and I melted against him. His warmth surrounded me, the steady beat of his heart grounding me in reality.
“You’re here,” he murmured, holding me tighter. “That’s all that matters.”
“I’m so happy,” I whispered through my tears. “So happy that it’s over.”
He leaned back slightly, looking into my eyes. “You’ve been through more than anyone should ever bear, Selene. But you endured. You didn’t just survive—you became something greater. You saved them all.”
I shook my head weakly, tears falling freely now. “I didn’t save anyone. The goddess did.”
He smiled. “Maybe. But she chose you.”
I laughed softly through my tears, the sound shaky but real. My heart felt light, almost weightless, as if every chain that ever bound me had finally shattered.
Aeron brushed his thumb across my cheek, wiping away a tear. His gaze softened even more. “I’m proud of you,” he whispered.
And before I could respond, he leaned forward and kissed me.
It wasn’t a desperate kiss born of battle or fear—it was slow, reverent, full of relief and love. My heart pounded as I kissed him back, my hands gripping his shoulders as if I never wanted to let go.
When we finally parted, his forehead rested against mine. “I love you, Selene,” he murmured, his breath warm against my lips.
My tears returned, but this time they were happy ones. “I love you too, Aeron,” I whispered back.
Outside, a soft wind stirred the curtains. The moon hung high in the sky—no longer red, but silver and serene.
And for the first time in my life, I felt at peace.
The curse that once haunted me was gone. The blood that once bound me had turned into light. And though I didn’t yet know what the future held for the Lightbearer and her Alpha, I knew one thing with absolute certainty—
I was no longer afraid of my destiny.
Because I had found my freedom… and my heart.