Chapter 179 Romance Tested
POV: Luna
The next day was quiet.
Too quiet.
After weeks of constant attacks, the silence felt wrong. Ominous.
"Why aren't they attacking?" Nova asked at breakfast.
"Because Cole's regrouping," Aria said. "We destroyed his crystal. Cut off his power source. He needs time to rebuild."
"Or he's planning something worse," Lyric added. "Something that doesn't require Luna's power."
"Cheerful thought."
"Realistic thought."
I pushed food around my plate. Not hungry. Too much on my mind.
Liam noticed. Through the mate bond, he felt my anxiety.
"Want to take a walk?" he asked. "Clear your head?"
"I should stay. Help plan defenses."
"The faculty can handle planning for a few hours. You need a break."
"I don't deserve a break."
"That's trauma talking. Not logic."
He was right. As usual.
"Fine. A short walk."
We headed outside. The campus was recovering. Students clearing debris. Faculty reinforcing wards. Everyone working together.
"It's weird seeing everyone cooperate," I said.
"Shared trauma does that. Breaks down barriers."
"I wish it didn't require near-death experiences."
"Same. But at least something good came from it."
We walked to the edge of campus. Near the forest. Far enough for privacy but close enough to respond to emergencies.
"Can I ask you something?" Liam said.
"Always."
"Are you okay? Really okay? Not the brave face you show everyone. The real you."
I considered lying. Saying I was fine.
But this was Liam. My mate. He deserved honesty.
"No," I admitted. "I'm not okay. I'm exhausted. Terrified. Barely holding it together."
"That's understandable."
"Is it? Everyone's counting on me. Looking to me for answers. And I don't have any. I'm just making it up as I go."
"So is everyone else. You just make it look intentional."
Despite everything, I smiled. "That's not comforting."
"It's honest. Luna, you're not supposed to have all the answers. You're eighteen. A student. You should be worried about homework and crushes. Not saving the world."
"But I am saving the world. Or trying to. And failing a lot."
"You're not failing. You're surviving. There's a difference."
"Surviving feels like failing when people keep getting hurt."
"People would be dead without you. Silverwood would be destroyed. The seal would be broken. You've prevented all of that."
"For now. Until the next attack. The next crisis."
"Then we deal with that when it comes. Not before."
I wanted to believe him. Wanted to stop carrying the weight of every possible future disaster.
But my mind wouldn't stop. Wouldn't rest.
"There's something else," I said quietly.
"I'm listening."
"Miguel. His essence in my mark. Sometimes I feel guilty. Like I'm betraying his memory by moving on. By being happy with you."
"That's survivor's guilt. It's normal."
"Doesn't make it easier."
"No. But it makes it understandable."
He stopped walking. Turned to face me.
"Luna. Miguel loved you. And because he loved you, he'd want you to be happy. To move forward. To live."
"How do you know?"
"Because I know what love is. Real love. And real love wants the best for the person. Even if you're not there to see it."
Through the mate bond, I felt his absolute sincerity.
"You really believe that?"
"I know that. If something happened to me, I'd want you to be happy. To find joy. To live fully. Not spend your life mourning me."
"Don't say that. Don't even think about something happening to you."
"It's reality. We live dangerous lives. Any of us could die at any moment. But that's why we have to live now. Love now. Be happy now. Because tomorrow isn't guaranteed."
He pulled me close. Held me tight.
Through the mate bond, we shared strength. Comfort. Love.
"I love you," I whispered.
"I love you too. Completely. Chaotically. Permanently."
"That's very you."
"I know. It's my brand."
I laughed. Real. Genuine. For the first time in days.
"Thank you," I said.
"For what?"
"For being patient. For understanding. For not getting frustrated with my guilt and trauma."
"Your guilt and trauma are part of you. I love all of you. Not just the easy parts."
"Even the broken parts?"
"Especially the broken parts. They make you real. Human. Relatable."
"I'm a mess."
"You're my mess. And I wouldn't have you any other way."
He kissed me. Deep. Passionate. Full of promise.
When we pulled apart, I felt lighter. Less burdened.
"Better?" he asked.
"Much better."
We found a quiet spot. Sat together. Just being present.
No planning. No strategizing. Just existing in the moment.
"Can I tell you something?" Liam said after a while.
"Of course."
"I'm scared too. All the time. Terrified that I'll lose you. That Cole or the architects or some random rogue will succeed where others failed."
"You hide it well."
"I have to. If I showed how scared I really am, I'd be useless. Paralyzed by fear."
"So you channel it. Into humor. Into action."
"Exactly. Fear is useful. It sharpens instincts. Motivates action. But only if you don't let it control you."
"That's remarkably mature."
"Don't tell anyone. I have a reputation as chaos incarnate to maintain."
I laughed again. He was good at that. Making me laugh when everything felt hopeless.
"What do you think happens after?" I asked. "After we stop Cole. After we graduate. After all this is over."
"Honestly? I try not to think that far ahead. Too many variables."
"But if you did. What would you want?"
"You. A pack. Somewhere safe. Peaceful. Boring even. I'd love boring after all this chaos."
"You'd be terrible at boring."
"I'd learn. For you, I'd learn."
"What if boring isn't possible? What if there's always another threat? Another crisis?"
"Then we face it together. Like we always do."
"That's not much of a plan."
"It's the only plan I've got. But it's worked so far."
Fair point.
We sat in comfortable silence. Watching the sky. Feeling the warmth of the sun.
For a few hours, we could pretend. Pretend we were normal. Pretend the world wasn't ending. Pretend we had a future beyond surviving the next attack.
It was perfect.
Then my mark flared. Painful. Violent.
"What is it?" Liam asked immediately.
"Magical signal. Rogue. Close."
"Another attack?"
"Feels different. Smaller. More targeted."
Through the pack bonds, I reached out. Anyone else feeling this?
Yes, Sienna responded. Magical disturbance. Eastern perimeter. Moving fast.
Toward what? I asked.
Toward Selene's location.
My blood ran cold. "They're after the princess. Now."
"Let's go!"
We ran. Shifting mid-stride. Racing toward Selene's position.
Through the Guardian Bond, I reached out. Selene! Incoming threat! Get to safety!
Already moving! she responded. But they're fast! Too fast!
We pushed harder. Faster.
Please let us be in time. Please.