Chapter 105 Awakening pt 1
Duncan
The world didn’t come back all at once. It filtered in slowly—sound first, then feeling—like surfacing from deep water. The steady rhythm of Seren’s breathing grounded me, her warmth still pressed to my chest, her weight familiar in a way that felt ancient and brand new all at once.
Bonded. The word echoed through me, no longer just an idea or a promise, but a living thing threaded into my bones and wrapped around my heart. I could feel her. Not just her body, but her emotions, soft and drowsy and glowing with contentment. Every instinct in me shifted, recalibrated, locking into place with a finality that stole my breath. Mine.
Not in the possessive sense the old alphas preached. This was deeper than that. Shared. Chosen. Sacred.
Seren stirred, a small sound leaving her as she shifted against me, and my focus snapped fully to her. Instinct surged hard and fast—check her, shield her, anchor her. I forced myself to breathe through it, to remind Conn and myself that she was safe, that we didn’t need to bare our teeth at the world. Yet.
Carefully, I adjusted us, easing us onto our sides so she could rest more comfortably. She made a sleepy, approving hum and tucked closer, her hand settling over my heart as if it belonged there. 'It does,' Conn said. 'It always has.' Emotion slammed into me then, raw and unfiltered. Love, yes, but also awe. Reverence. A fierce, humbling gratitude that she had trusted me with something so precious. With herself.
I pressed my lips to her hair, breathing her in, committing the scent of her to memory now that it was forever entwined with my own. The bond thrummed softly between us, alive and warm, a quiet reassurance that I was no longer alone in any sense of the word. “I’ve got you,” I murmured, not sure if she could hear me or if it was just for my own sanity. “Always.”
Her emotions answered me through the bond—sleepy affection, trust, a spark of amusement that made my mouth curve into a quiet smile.
Yeah. She heard me.
The enormity of it all settled over me then. This wasn’t just about us. Bonding meant responsibility—to her, to our pack, to the future Selene had made painfully clear was barreling toward us whether we were ready or not. But for this moment—just this one—I let myself exist here. In the quiet. In the aftermath. With my mate safe in my arms and the certainty, for the first time in my life, that whatever came next, my Luna would be by my side.
She shifted again, this time stretching as her eyelids fluttered before opening to reveal sleepy emerald gems. A small, shy smile curved her lips. "Hi," she whispered.
I grinned back at her. "Hi." I stroked her side, long gentle touches as I watched her wake up. She yawned, then sat up straight. "Selene!"
Taking that as my cue, I moved, my back resting against the headboard as I put my arm around her waist. "Yes, little wolf. We met with Selene last night. And that was something unexpected. I'm not sure I still believe it myself." Conn huffed. 'Believe it. Mother wanted to bless our union.' He was smug.
"Oh! I could hear him!" Seren giggled. "Is that the bond?"
I nodded. "We should be able to communicate with each other's wolves, and of course they can communicate with each other."
Tears filled her eyes. "That's amazing." She sniffled, then those drops spilled over.
"What is it, little wolf?" Gathering her close, I rubbed circles on her back, trying to soothe her. Her emotions were chaos, twists and turns of gratitude, love, despair, and hope.
"It's just…for so very long, it was just me. Then Kara came, and I thought it was going to be just her and me. I thought we were alone. And now…now I have you, and Conn, and my parents, and Gideon…I'm not alone anymore." Her arms came around me as she sobbed, purging feelings that must have been bottled up for years.
"Shh, baby, it's okay. You're never going to be alone again, my love. You've got more people here for you than you realize. And Conn and I aren't going anywhere."
I held her until she was spent, then lifted her and carried her into the shower. We took our time, washing away the last of her tears, exploring and caring for each other, before we finally stepped out and dried off. I pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "Come on, beautiful. Let's get some breakfast, tell my parents about our nighttime visit, and head to training."
Hand-in-hand, we walked to the dining hall. My parents and Queen Gwen were already waiting at the head table. As we approached, my mother gasped loudly, then rushed over to pull me into a hug. Queen Gwen was looking at Seren, a smile on her face and tears in her eyes, as she took in our fresh marks.