Chapter 165

Chapter 165
Fiona's POV

The wind from the Greater Caucasus Mountains still cut like a blade, but this time, I no longer felt afraid.

I stood alone before the ice cave from all those years ago, my feet planted on frozen ground as hard as iron.

The soul stone that had sealed Alexander's wolf spirit still lay there quietly, emanating a ghostly cold light.

I took a deep breath, crouched down, and gently stroked Rita, who lay at my feet.

She was my wolf, my most loyal companion, who had stayed with me through countless fearful nights in the underground city.

"Rita," I said softly, running my fingers through her thick fur, "thank you for always being with me. But this time, I have to take back what belongs to him."

Rita seemed to understand. She let out a low whimper, nuzzled my palm with her wet nose, then retreated to the cave entrance and sat with her back to me, like a silent statue standing guard over my final defense.

I reached out, pressing my palm firmly against the cold stone surface.

With a low shout, I summoned that power within me—the power that belonged to the Golden Wolf Clan, yet had become something entirely different through the fusion of bloodlines.

Golden light surged from my palm, attempting to penetrate the soul stone's interior.

But the moment my power touched that stone, an indescribable agony swept through my entire body.

"Ahhh—!!!"

I couldn't help but scream, my whole body falling backward.

It wasn't physical pain, but the torment of a soul being torn apart.

The soul stone was resisting me. It was rejecting my power, even trying to devour my soul in return.

"Damn it..."

I collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath, cold sweat instantly soaking through my clothes.

That kind of pain was a hundred times more intense than when the link had been forcibly established. It felt as though countless knives were sawing at my nerves, trying to strip my consciousness from my body.

"I can't... I can't do this..."

Despair washed over me like a tide.

Was this the price? Was this the price of defying fate?

Just as my consciousness was about to fade, a warm and powerful force suddenly came from behind, steadily supporting my trembling body.

"Fiona, don't be afraid."

A familiar voice sounded in my ear.

I turned my head with difficulty and saw my mother.

Her face was still somewhat pale, but her eyes had regained their former gentleness and determination.

"Mom? How did you know I was here?"

"Because you're like me. We've never been willing to believe that fate must be this way."

Mother took my hand, and an endless stream of pure blood power flowed from her palm into my body.

"Come, follow me. We'll do this together."

With my mother's power reinforcing mine, that tearing pain miraculously lessened considerably.

I gritted my teeth and pressed my hand against the soul stone again.

This time, it wasn't a probe, but an all-out assault.

Golden light and silver radiance intertwined, forming a torrent that crashed fiercely against that stubborn soul stone.

"Open!"

I roared, feeling every drop of blood in my body burning.

The soul stone began to tremble violently, fine cracks appearing on its surface.

"Crack."

The first fissure appeared.

Then came the second, the third...

"Boom—!"

With a tremendous sound, the soul stone finally couldn't withstand the impact of these two powerful forces and shattered completely.

Countless crystalline fragments scattered in all directions, and amid that shower of light, a dazzling silver beam shot skyward, piercing the clouds.

It was Darius! It was Darius, who had been sealed for more than half a year!

He circled once in the air, let out an earth-shattering wolf howl, then transformed into a streak of light and flew toward the palace.

The curse was broken!

I slumped to the ground, feeling as though my body had been hollowed out, without even the strength to move a finger.

Isabella embraced me from behind, and we mother and daughter held each other and wept, tears of joy streaming down our faces.

The wind and snow continued to blow, but I knew that spring would surely come.

...

Three years later.

Sunlight City—now New Sterling City—had become the most prosperous trade center on the continent.

The former entrance to the underground city had been transformed into a magnificent free trade hall. Massive floor-to-ceiling windows allowed sunlight to pour unreservedly onto every inch of floor, illuminating the faces of those mixed-bloods who had once been forced to survive in darkness.

After the laboratory incident, Yulia was sentenced to life imprisonment, confined in the highest-security prison, spending her days with only her own madness for company.

The organization members connected to Subject Zero were almost entirely rounded up in a joint crackdown by the Human-Werewolf Coexistence Association.

My mother Isabella, despite the ravages of more than ten years of experimentation, gradually began to recover under Fendia's medical treatment, though her body had suffered greatly.

The curse of the Golden Wolf bloodline going berserk was gone forever, and everything was developing in the best possible direction.

Now I wore a well-tailored black suit, sitting at the head of the long table.

On my left sat Alexander.

He had regained his former majesty and handsomeness, even more composed and powerful than three years ago. Those deep eyes once again burned with the pride befitting a wolf king.

On my right sat the head of the Human Supreme Joint Committee, a shrewd middle-aged man.

"Queen Sterling, His Majesty Alexander."

The chairman pushed up his glasses, looking at the documents in his hand. "Regarding the distribution of mineral resources in the northern district and the labor rights protection act for mixed-bloods, we agree in principle with your proposals. However, concerning tariffs—"

"Anything on the table is negotiable."

I smiled slightly, my fingers lightly tapping the table. "But one thing is non-negotiable. Mixed-bloods are no longer slaves, nor second-class citizens. They are free laborers, entitled to the same treatment as purebloods and humans."

Alexander added from the side, "This is the reason Sunlight City exists, and the foundation of our cooperation. If the Joint Committee disagrees, I think our military wouldn't mind maintaining order in the northern district."

The chairman's expression shifted, and he finally sighed helplessly.

After the meeting ended, Alexander and I walked out of the hall side by side.

The setting sun painted the entire harbor golden.

"Tired?" Alexander naturally took my hand.

"A little." I leaned on his shoulder. "But seeing all this, it's worth it."

"Today is our big day, Your Majesty the Queen." Alexander reminded me with a smile. "Don't forget tonight's wedding."

Yes, we were married.

But this wasn't a wedding that conformed to werewolf tradition.

I didn't become his Luna, didn't take the Volkov name.

I remained the Alpha of the Sterling family, the Queen of Sunlight City, the leader of mixed-blood werewolves.

We were equal partners, comrades-in-arms, and each other's one true love.

In the blink of an eye, another three years had passed.

"Mommy! Daddy!"

A childish voice interrupted my thoughts, and then I was tackled by a pink, adorable little boy.

"Arthur, slow down."

I laughed and picked him up, kissing his chubby cheek.

This was our son. He had Alexander's silver hair but my golden eyes. He was the hope of two clans merging, and the future king.

Named Arthur Julian Volkov.

Every day he was led into mischief by that beautiful little princess from Kelly's family, turning the entire palace upside down.

"Look! A letter from Aunt Diana!"

Arthur waved a photograph in his hand, shouting excitedly.

I took it and couldn't help but smile.

It was a graduation photo.

In the center of the photograph, Diana wore academic regalia, smiling as brilliantly as a flower.

Standing beside her was a clean-cut young man holding a guitar.

It was Rasen.

Though I wasn't sure whether he had recovered his memories, or how they had found their way back to each other, I knew that some bonds couldn't be severed even by death and oblivion.

Just like Alexander and me.

"They look really good together."

Alexander embraced me from behind, his chin resting in the hollow of my shoulder. "Looks like my decision back then was right."

The right people, even after crossing mountains and rivers, will still return to the right path.

Like them, and like us.

I turned around, looking into Alexander's eyes that reflected my image.

I stood on tiptoe and kissed his lips.

"Have I ever told you when I started falling in love with you?"

I asked.

He thought for a moment. "I don't think so, but I care more about every day from now on."

I love you, every day, every hour, every moment.

(The End)

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Author's Note: To the Days We Embraced in Darkness and Reunited in Sunlight

Hello everyone, I'm the author SlyKitty.

As I typed those two words "The End," the sky outside was just darkening, much like at the very beginning of the story—that oppressive, damp predicament with no end in sight.

My heart feels empty, as if I've just said goodbye to a group of old friends I've traveled with for a long time.

I'm truly grateful to all of you for accompanying me through this story to the very end.

While writing this story, I often asked myself, what is "love"? Is it possession? Is it protection? Or is it sacrifice?

As Fiona and Alexander's story gradually unfolded, I seemed to find the answer.

Love isn't about keeping someone in a safe greenhouse, but rather, even when I'm covered in wounds, I'll still cut through the thorns for you, letting you stand higher than me, to see landscapes I've never witnessed.

I love every one of my characters.

I love Fiona, love her resilience and indomitable spirit. She's like a seed pressed under a boulder—no matter how harsh the environment, she stubbornly pushes through the rock, growing toward that sliver of weak sunlight.

She showed me the most beautiful aspect of feminine strength—gentle yet firm, powerful yet compassionate.

I love Alexander, love his forbearance and deep affection. He's like a silent snow-capped mountain, blocking all the cold and storms behind himself, just to leave a peaceful space for those below.

I also love Uncle Arthur with his heartbreaking persistence, love the bold and passionate Victoria, love those truly kind souls, every minor character shining in their corner, and even love Yulia, who ultimately descended into madness.

Each of them is a flesh-and-blood life. They cried, laughed, and struggled in my documents, finally becoming who they are now.

Of course, I must especially thank my editor, the beautiful Alice.

Thank you for patiently listening to my rambling when I was stuck and ready to bang my head against the wall, for giving me the most sincere advice when I hesitated about plot directions.

You made me believe that this story deserved to be written, deserved to be seen by more people.

Finally, I want to thank each and every one of you who opened this book.

Thank you for every click, every bookmark, every comment.

Your companionship made me feel that in this lonely creative world, I'm not alone.

Though the story has ended, their lives continue.

In some corner of a parallel world, Fiona and Alexander are surely living happily together, little Arthur is probably causing trouble again, and Rasen and Diana might be holding a small touring concert.

May you, like them, find your own light no matter what darkness you face.

Until we meet again in the next story.

Love you all,

SlyKitty

July 22, 2026