Chapter 109 Savior Taren
~ Lyra's POV ~
Days passed by in what felt like a blur of quiet routines and restless searching. While I made sure that Taren received enough rest and proper medical attention from Kaitlyn, I spent nearly every spare moment buried deep within the materials from the archives, combing through scroll after scroll in the desperate hope of finding even the smallest clue that could explain why my touch affected him the way it did.
Each ancient parchment I opened carried the faint scent of dust and age, and every line I read was filled with possibilities that never quite turned into answers. The more I searched, the more I realized how vast the knowledge of the past truly was, and how small my own understanding seemed in comparison.
Despite the frustration that accompanied those fruitless hours of study, there was still a sense of relief that softened the weight of those days.
Kael and I were finally on good terms again, and that alone made everything feel lighter. Ever since we reconciled, we had spent every night together. The warmth of his presence had become something I looked forward to without even realizing it, and those quiet nights in his arms brought a calm that the chaos of the past days had tried to steal from me.
Life felt steadier now, less turbulent than before, though at the back of my mind there remained a quiet tension that refused to fully disappear. The looming rise of the Void Wolf was still an unanswered threat, a shadow that hovered beyond the edges of my thoughts. Even so, I refused to dwell on it today because today was meant to be special.
Tonight would mark the first full moon since I arrived here. That meant I would experience my first transformation and finally meet Lunaris face to face for the first time. The excitement inside me had been steadily building throughout the entire day. It was impossible to suppress it no matter how hard I tried.
“I am not just excited. I am ecstatic,” Lunaris’ voice echoed joyfully in my mind. Her emotions spilled into my consciousness with such intensity that I could feel them as though they were my own. “This is going to be freedom after such a long time of imprisonment without any chance to move.”
“I will try to leave you out for a while tonight,” I promised her gently within my thoughts. “You deserve the chance to stretch your legs and move to your satisfaction.”
The gratitude that flowed from her in response was so warm and sincere that it spread through my chest like a quiet wave of comfort.
“That would be wonderful,” she sighed softly.
By the time the sun finally dipped below the horizon and the sky began to darken into evening, I was already prepared. I left my room and made my way toward the garden. I had chosen that place earlier as the perfect location for my first transformation because it carried a peaceful energy that always made my mind feel clearer.
A few people were already scattered around the garden when I arrived that evening. Some were talking quietly while others simply enjoyed the cool air. Normally their presence would not have bothered me, but tonight felt too personal for an audience. I did not want curious eyes watching me during something so new and important.
With that thought in mind, I moved deeper into the garden until the sounds of the others faded behind me. I eventually found a secluded spot surrounded by tall shrubs and flowering plants that provided enough privacy to make me feel comfortable.
Less than ten minutes had passed when I suddenly heard hurried footsteps approaching from behind.
I turned around to see who it was and found Taren walking quickly toward me with a deep frown on his face.
“My lady, you left without informing me or even waiting for me,” he complained the moment he reached me.
“You are supposed to be resting, Taren,” I replied immediately, ignoring his complaint. “What are you doing here? And how did you even know I was here?”
“Today is the full moon, my lady,” he said, his tone carrying clear offense. “Did you really expect me to remain in my room resting on a night like this? Or did you think I somehow forgot what today means?”
“I never thought you forgot,” I explained calmly. “I only want you to recover fully. Seeing you weak and sick makes me sad.”
His frown deepened at my words.
“I am a warrior, my lady,” he protested. “You should stop worrying about me so much. I am not some fragile thing that needs to be handled with constant care.”
His seriousness was so intense that I could not help laughing.
“Stop giving me that face,” I said between quiet chuckles. “I don't think I could stop worrying about you even if you were the strongest being on earth. You are mine to worry about, and nothing is ever going to change that.”
The shock that flashed across his face immediately caught my attention. His eyes widened in a way that suggested my words had struck him far more deeply than I intended. Did he not realize that I cared about him?
The question almost escaped my lips, but I held it back when his expression quickly changed.
“Please don't say something like that where Alpha can hear you,” he whispered urgently while glancing around us with exaggerated caution.
“Why not?” I asked with genuine confusion. “He already knows that I care about you.”
“That may be true,” Taren said quietly, lowering his voice even further. “But Alpha can be very jealous. If he hears you saying something like that, he might start seeing me as a rival.”
I burst into laughter again.
“That is not going to happen,” I assured him. “You are clearly exaggerating the situation.”
Then I folded my arms and gave him a curious look.
“Now that you are here, do you have any advice for me? Any pointers about what I should expect once the moon finally rises?”
His posture immediately changed. He unconsciously lifted his shoulders and raised his chin with obvious pride.
“Now you understand why it was necessary for me to come,” he said smugly. “Who else would give you this important lecture if I had stayed in my room resting?”
“Dont start bragging,” I replied with amusement. “I could easily go and ask Kael.”
“It’s too late for that now,” he said confidently. “The moon will appear at any moment. If you run off to find him now, you might end up shifting inside the building instead of out here.” He folded his arms across his chest with an exaggerated air of importance. “I am the only savior you have at the moment.”
My laughter returned immediately.
“Alright then, Savior Taren,” I said with playful surrender. “Please enlighten me with your wisdom.”