Chapter 84 CHAPTER 84
Lisa stepped out of the Lunaris classroom with her fingers clasped nervously in front of her. The exam had taken nearly an hour, but it felt as though she had been sitting there for half the day, wrestling with questions that dragged her back into memories she wasn’t sure she wanted to revisit. Her pulse had not stopped its frantic rhythm, and even now she could feel the echo of every anxious heartbeat lingering in her chest as she closed the classroom door behind her.
She found Liam waiting in the hallway exactly where she had left him. He leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, the picture of calm confidence, though she noticed the subtle shift in his expression the moment he saw her. His eyes softened, the tension in his shoulders easing as if her presence alone steadied something inside him.
“All done?” he asked gently, pushing off the wall to stand straighter.
Lisa nodded, though she barely trusted her voice. “Yes. I hope I didn’t embarrass myself.”
Liam shook his head before she even finished the sentence. “You didn’t.”
She blinked up at him, taken aback by how certain he sounded. “You seem awfully confident.”
He met her gaze with a sincerity that made something warm unfurl in her chest. “I trust you,” he said simply.
Her stomach twisted at the weight of those words, and for a moment she forgot how to look away.
Before she could respond, Principal Aeron reappeared and thanked her for cooperating, assuring her that the results would be sent to the palace. Lisa bowed politely, still feeling the warmth of Liam’s earlier words lingering inside her, and allowed him to walk her back to the car.
She didn’t see the quiet pride shimmering in his expression as he watched her. She didn’t notice the way he held himself a little taller, or the subtle smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. She also had no idea that as soon as the classroom door closed behind her, he had already sent a mind link to Ethan to report her scores. The only thing she carried with her was the uncertainty of the unknown, and the dread of what awaited her future.
What she didn’t know was that her future was already being celebrated.
The moment their car rolled through the palace gates, Lisa sat upright. The familiar stone walls and trimmed hedges didn’t look the same. String lights twinkled between the trees, lanterns swayed from every rail and branch, and soft, golden banners fluttered in the breeze. There were balloons tied near the entrance pillars, bright and festive, and she could hear the faint hum of voices and laughter coming from deeper inside the courtyard.
“What is happening?” Lisa asked, her eyebrows knitting together in confusion.
Liam cleared his throat, though the guilt in his expression was unmistakable. “Your brother… might have arranged something.”
She frowned at him. “Arranged what?”
The guards moved quickly to open the doors, and Liam stepped out first. Lisa followed him, placing her hand in his when he extended it to help her down. The moment her feet touched the ground, the entire courtyard erupted in sound.
“Surprise!”
Hundreds of voices shouted together, warm and excited and full of genuine joy. Lisa’s eyes widened in shock as she took in the scene around her. The courtyard was full - castle staff, warriors, council members, and citizens stood together, clapping and cheering. Someone struck up a tune on a lute near the fountain, and tables were laden with trays of pastries, roasted meats, fruit bowls, and sparkling drinks. A huge banner stretched across the courtyard, shimmering in the sun:
CONGRATULATIONS, PRINCESS LISA!
WELCOME TO LUNARIS ACADEMY!
Lisa felt her breath catch as she froze on the steps, unable to process the sight before her.
Ethan pushed through the crowd with all the enthusiasm of a child at his own birthday celebration. His grin stretched wide across his face as he rushed to her and wrapped her tightly in his arms.
“Lisa,” he said, his voice rich with emotion, “you made us all proud.”
Lisa stiffened at first, not used to such open affection, but she relaxed slowly into the embrace, letting herself feel the warmth of it. When Ethan pulled back, he cupped her shoulders with his hands, his eyes shining.
“Proud?” she echoed, her voice shaking. “For what? I don’t even know my results yet.”
Ethan laughed, joy radiating from every part of him. “Oh, we do.”
Lisa’s eyes shot to Liam, who immediately looked away, pretending to study the ground as if the stones were suddenly fascinating.
“You… what?” she asked in disbelief.
Ethan squeezed her shoulders again. “You didn’t just pass, Lisa. You surpassed every expectation. They’re placing you directly into the final year of high school. You’ll graduate next year.”
The courtyard exploded in applause, cheers rising into the sky, but Lisa felt everything around her blur. Her mouth parted in shock. She had been bracing herself for humiliation, for disappointment, for being told she didn’t belong, not this.
“The… final year?” she whispered, her voice trembling.
“It means you’ll be studying with your age group,” Ethan said, smiling. “You’ll be in a class of wolves your age, not children. You earned it, Lisa.”
Her heart thudded heavily. Final year meant only one thing.
Celia whispered gently inside her mind, “Yes, love. You’ll be in Sebastian’s class.”
Lisa’s stomach sank like a stone.
Ethan must have noticed the shift in her expression, because his own softened instantly. “Listen,” he said quietly, leaning closer, “you’re strong enough to face anything, and this time you won’t be alone. Liam will be with you every day.”
Lisa turned toward Liam, who gave her a steady, reassuring nod. “Always,” he said in a low voice that stirred something warm and fragile inside her.
Before she could process that, Isabel shot forward at full speed, practically tackling her.
“Oh my GOD!” Isabel shrieked, grabbing both of Lisa’s hands and giving her a tight embrace. “Lisa! You passed! You’re going to finish high school like a normal person! I'm super proud of you.”
Lisa let out a shaky laugh despite the chaos in her chest. “I still can’t believe it.”
“Believe it,” Isabel said, hugging her again. “This is a miracle. Actually, I need to apologize to the goddess because clearly she knows what she’s doing.”
Celia chuckled. “At least she’s grateful now.”
Ethan raised his voice above the noise. “Everyone! Let’s celebrate our princess!”
More cheers erupted as the party swelled around them. Lisa felt heat rise to her face. She felt overwhelmed and small and unbelievably touched all at once. For as long as she could remember, crowds had only gathered to ridicule her, punish her, or pretend she didn’t exist.
This was the first time people gathered because of her achievement.
She took a shaky breath, and Celia whispered, “You deserve this, Lisa.”
Warmth stung the corners of her eyes.
Later, when the noise and crowd became too much, Lisa quietly slipped away to a small table near the garden edge. Celine and Isabel joined her with drinks and plates of pastries.
“Breathe, Lisa,” Celine murmured as she handed her a glass of juice. “Your face looks like it’s trying to crawl off your skull and hide in the bushes.”
Lisa groaned and sank into her chair. “Everyone is staring at me.”
Isabel snorted. “Well, obviously. You’re the princess. You’re smart. And you’re gorgeous. That’s already three reasons to stare. Four if we count your crush.”
Lisa nearly dropped her drink. “Isabel!”
Celine burst into laughter so loud she had to cover her mouth. “She’s not wrong.”
Lisa covered her face with her hands. “Please stop.”
Isabel leaned in, her eyes sparkling mischievously. “Liam has been staring at you since the moment you walked through the gate. And don’t pretend you didn’t notice.”
Lisa reluctantly peeked through her fingers.
Liam stood across the courtyard, talking to Ethan and a few guards. But as if sensing her gaze, he glanced over. Just a moment. Just long enough for Lisa to feel a warmth ripple over her skin before he turned back to his conversation.
Her face burned.
“Please,” Lisa whispered, “not now.”
Celine’s expression softened. “Then think about school instead.”
Lisa fell silent.
Because now reality settled deeper.
She was going back.
Back into the halls where she once felt invisible.
Back into the life she longed for but also feared.
And straight into the same classroom as Sebastian, Sarah, and the wolves who once treated her as nothing.
Isabel sensed her tension and reached over to hold her hand. “Look at me,” she said softly.
Lisa lifted her eyes.
“You’re not the same girl they hurt,” Isabel said. “You’re stronger. You’re a princess now. And you have people, real people, who care.”
Lisa’s voice cracked. “I’m scared.”
“I know,” Celine murmured. “But we’ll walk in together. I’ll be right there. And Liam will be there too. And Ethan. And the entire kingdom behind you.”
Celine nodded, determination bright in her eyes. “And don’t forget Celia. And Kane.”
Lisa blinked. “Kane?”
Celine smirked. “Liam’s wolf.”
Lisa’s cheeks flushed. “Celine…”
The courtyard celebration lasted long into the night. Warm lantern light swayed overhead, laughter echoed between the palace walls, and people approached her with congratulations and soft words of pride. It felt strange and unreal, but as the night stretched deeper, she found herself relaxing into it little by little.
For the first time in her life, she didn’t feel forgotten. She didn’t feel like background noise or a shadow in someone else’s home.
She felt seen.
She felt valued.
She felt like she belonged somewhere.
Yet, beneath all the warmth, another truth whispered at the back of her mind. In only a few days, she would walk back into a world that once broke her. She would face the ghosts of her past, the ones who mocked her, the ones who ignored her pain, the ones who never believed she mattered.