Chapter 157: The dawn of peace

Light streamed through the filmy curtains, bathing the room in gold and amber. I awoke to the reassuring pressure of Grayson's arm across my waist, his soft, even breathing at the back of my neck. I lay still for a moment, hearing the rise and fall of his chest against mine, the thud of his heart, a sound I'd never expected to hear again.

His lips touched my shoulder, weighed down by sleep. "Good morning baby," he muttered, his voice as coarse as ever but still capable of getting my vertebrae to shift.

I hunched up to face him, running my hand over the scar under his jawbone, the one he'd gotten weeks ago when he fought the pack possessed wolves in the labyrinth. His stormy grey eyes grew gentle with love as he hugged me back into his arms, our legs twisted together under the sheets. Then he leaned in to kiss me, the kiss was slow at first, a lazy dance of lips and breath, and then it was ravenous, his hands following the contours he knew so well. I burrowed into him, the world shrinking into the warmth of his body, the scratch of his stubble, the sound of my name in prayer. We rolled over, light spilling from the marks and histories etched into our skin. It had been two weeks since the labyrinth. Since the talisman. Since Selene.

"You're staring," he mocked, tracing the shape of my collarbone with his thumb.

"So are you" I said, though there was no edge in my tone.

He flashed a quick smile at me, one that still made my heart skip a beat. "I’m not denying it."

The pack clinic was my first fuzzy memory since the darkness of my fight with Selene, Grayson's face looming above mine, eyes wild and bloodshot, hands trembling as they bound mine.

"I was so worried," he said, leaning into me. I was asleep for days, he told me, my body battling to mend itself from the withdrawal of the talisman, its absence leaving me a ghostly limb. It was in the past tho. I shook off my thoughts as I brought myself back to the moment. 

Grayson and I dressed like that, motion slowly, kissing in between buttoning up shirts and straightening dresses. Grayson hesitated to grasp the back of my necklace, his hand resting against the base of my neck. "You don't need relics to be powerful," he whispered, as if hearing me think.

I turned around, grasping his hand. "I know."

And I did. The talisman was gone, its destruction was something that had nearly cost me my life. But instead, something quieter had grown inside me, a power not made by magic, but by survival.

The pack dining hall was a blaze of laughter and clinking plates as we entered. The scent of honey-glazed ham, fresh bread, and rosemary potatoes wrapped around me like a hug. Light poured in through the windows, highlighting the faces of the pack, warriors, regular pack members, elders, children.

Every head turned as we entered.

Beta Landon led the way, his mug held aloft. "To the Luna!"

The wail that burst out shook the rafters. Gamma Calista's wink on the opposite side of the room made her look younger, her dagger lying against the chair next to her like an old friend, she then turned to a blushing Leah and kissed her cheek. Even the children were brought around, clinking spoons against plates in delight.

Grayson's hand was laid across the line of my back, pride radiating from him like heat. "They love you," he whispered.

"They love us," I said, holding his fingers tighter.

We sat down at the front of the long wooden table, the room filling into a warm buzz. Landon spun some wild story of his last patrol, and Calista rolled her eyes and the warriors erupted into laughter. A small girl hobbled over to Grayson, a wooden wolf token in her hand, and he scooped her up onto his lap immediately, her laughter mixing with the clinking of forks.

This, I thought, was what we battled for. 

The day passed in a tapestry of small, sacred moments. At noon, I stole off towards the lake. The lake's water sparkled in the sunlight, dragonflies dancing upon it like moving gems. I bent at the edge of the lake, playing in the chilly shallows with my fingers, and breathed a prayer of thanks to the moon goddess for Grayson, for the laughter of the pack, for the unbroken miracle of mornings unwarred.

"Luna?" A small voice pierced the silence.

I turned to find Mira, a young pack girl, with an armload of wildflowers. "For you," she said, pushing them into my hands. "Mama says you saved us."

I took the flowers, their petals soft in my hands. "I only carried out my duty," I said softly.

By night, I was standing on our balcony, viewing the horizon peach and lavender bloom. Forest beneath me, stretching to eternity, the chirping of crickets and the distant bay of a wolf's delighted howl. Scars of war healing, the labyrinth closed, the land in its peace regained.

Grayson's chin came to rest against my shoulder, his warm arm encircling my waist. "What are you thinking of, baby?”

I pressed against him. "Happiness. The kind that's too big to hold."

He spun me around, hands tracing my cheeks. "You deserve it. All of it."

His kiss was sweet and slow, a promise seared into my lips. When we finally pulled away, the sun was already going down below the trees, painting the sky with gold and violet.

"Do you remember when we met for the first time?" he inquired, his tone rough. "I don't think you liked me very much."

I smiled, and my laughter was light and airy-sounding even to my own listening ears. "I was terrified and intimidated."

"I know, baby," he agreed, bringing me into a closer hold.

We stayed there until the stars broke at twilight, his hand in mine. No prophecies loomed over us. No shadows whispered. There was only this: the man I loved, the home we built, and the stillness of tomorrow.

I turned around to kiss him again, long and deep, as if we had the whole time in the world.

And for the first time ever, I believed we did.

"I love you so much, Grayson." I gasped.

"I love you too, Althea. To the moon and back," Grayson answered in his husky voice as he pecked me on the lips.

He tucked me into his side and we both watched the beautiful shades in the horizon as the sun finally descended behind the clouds. 

A year ago, I was lost, heartbroken from the rejection I faced by my mate and I was also terrified but now, I was strong. I was a friend, a Luna and a mate to the most amazing alpha ever. It doesn’t get better than this. 

I sighed as I snuggled into Grayson, ready for the next challenge fate had in store for me. For us.

THE END.