Chapter 494: After the Eclipse, After the Storm.

Chapter 494: After the Eclipse, After the Storm.


(Third Person's POV)

The war was finally over. The team rushed Marcus and everyone else injured to the mansion. The guards rushed forward the moment they saw the state of the passengers. Bloodied clothes. Tear-streaked faces. Limp bodies.

“Stella first!” Theresa shouted as she helped lift her out of the car. “She’s fading—move!”

Taylor stumbled out behind them, her legs trembling from exhaustion, her clothes torn and stained with dirt and blood that wasn’t all hers. Killian moved to steady her, but he was barely standing himself. Brian and Alec were already shouting orders, voices hoarse from shouting over battle and panic for hours.

The healers swarmed in moments. Stretchers appeared. Shouts echoed down the marble halls as they rushed Stella through the corridors, her hair matted with sweat, her skin pale, her breathing shallow but steady.

Marcus was carried behind her, unconscious but no longer radiating that crushing aura that had nearly ended them all. He looked smaller.For the first time in days, he looked like Marcus again.

Stella on the other hand drifted in and out of consciousness as they laid her on the bed in the medical wing. The room smelled of antiseptic and herbs—comforting and terrifying at the same time. She could hear voices around her, but they felt distant, muffled by exhaustion.

“She lost a lot of energy,” one healer murmured. “And some blood. But the baby is—”

“Alive,” another confirmed softly. “The child is strong. Miraculously so.”

Stella let out a shaky breath. Her fingers curled into the blanket as relief hit her in waves. Alive. The word repeated in her mind like a prayer. She barely registered when Taylor appeared at her bedside, eyes red, hands trembling.

“You scared us,” Taylor whispered.

Stella tried to smile but it came out shaky. “I scared myself.”

Theresa stood at the foot of the bed, arms crossed but eyes soft. “You’re grounded for life,” she muttered, though her voice cracked. “Do you have any idea what you did?”

Stella swallowed. “I did what I had to.”

No one argued. Killian leaned against the wall, his face pale but his gaze sharp. “You saved him,” he said simply. “And us.”

Her chest tightened. “Is he—?”

“He’s stable,” Alec answered from the doorway. “Unconscious and weak. But alive. And not possessed.”

The last words sent a tremor through her. She closed her eyes, tears sliding down her temples into the pillow. “He’s back,” she whispered feeling so relieved.

Marcus woke hours later. He came back to himself slowly, like rising through water, memories crashing into him in painful fragments—voices that weren’t his, rage that wasn’t his, hands that felt stained with blood even if he hadn’t held the weapon. His eyes flew open with a sharp gasp.

The room was dim, curtains drawn, soft light glowing from enchanted lamps. His body felt heavy, drained, like someone had poured his strength out and left only echoes behind.

“Marcus.”

He turned his head—and froze.

Stella was sitting beside his bed, her eyes swollen, her face pale, her hand gripping his as if she was afraid he might disappear if she let go. For a moment, he thought he was still dreaming.

“Stella,” he croaked.

She let out a sob that was half-laugh, half-cry and threw herself forward, wrapping her arms around him. He felt her tremble against him, felt her heartbeat, felt the warmth of her skin—and it shattered something inside him. “I thought I lost you,” she whispered into his chest. “I thought I lost you forever.”

He tightened his arms around her carefully, afraid of hurting her. His throat burned. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered. “I’m so, so sorry. For everything. I couldn’t stop it. I could hear it, see it—like I was trapped in my own body. I—”

She shook her head, pressing her forehead to his. “You’re here. That’s all that matters. You fought. I know you did.”

His eyes burned. “I almost killed them. I almost—”

“You didn’t,” she cut in firmly. “You didn’t. And you fought back. You saved us.”

He swallowed hard, guilt pressing against his chest like a weight. The door creaked open and Taylor stepped in quietly, followed by Killian, Brian, Alec, and Theresa. Their presence felt strange—like survivors meeting after a war. Marcus struggled to sit up, but Brian pushed him gently back down.

“Relax, hero,” Brian said, though his voice was rough with emotion. “You’re not dying today.” he joked.

Marcus looked around at them—bandaged, bruised, exhausted—and shame flooded him.

“I owe you everything,” he said quietly.

Killian shook his head. “You owe us nothing. That thing used you. You fought it. That’s enough.”

Alec crossed his arms but nodded. “Next time, though, try not to almost end the world.”

A faint laugh escaped Marcus, shaky and emotional. “I’ll put it on my to-do list.”

Stella squeezed his hand, her thumb brushing his knuckles. “You’re not going anywhere,” she said softly. “Not you. Not us.”

He looked at her stomach, still flat but undeniably carrying their future. “I almost lost my family,” he whispered.

“You didn’t,” Taylor said gently. “And you won’t.”

"Thank you" Marcus choked on a sob. He felt so emotional at that moment. What had happened earlier hunted him so bad. He had never been in such situation before, the images and sound of Stella screaming his name and crying tore through his soul. He bent his head feeling ashamed at the trouble he had caused.

"Thank you for saving my mate and my family" he said, grateful for the selfless and amazing people he had around him.

"I don't care how many times, I will go to war over and over again for you Marcus. As long as I have you safely by my side" Stella said, kissing his forehead. "You have nothing to thank us for.”