Chapter 215 DANE I look down at the glowing runes on my chest , still too warm to seem quite real .


    Yeah , I say , but the heaviness of Liriens words clings to the back of my mind .


    The grove is well , but at what cost remains to be seen .


    The pack steps into the resurgence of life forced onto the grove .


    Their eyes were wide in features still covered with some incredulity , they slowly went inside the clearing , looking between shining trees and restored roots .


    Beautiful , someone finally whispers , breaking the awed silence .


    Lirien stands at the edge of the clearing ; his form now is much more solid , nearly human .


    The glow emanating from inside the grove steadies it , lending him an air of quiet authority .


    The curse is broken , he states with solemnity .


    Now , for once , the pack can fully flourish as it deserves .


    Aurora releases my hand and steps forward .


    Her eyes scan the grove , pride , and anguish wrestling for dominance in their vibrancy .


    Chapter 215 2/6 Lirien cocks its head to one side .


    The grove has epted your sacrifice , it says .


    But your mortal ties to the pack have saved you .


    The bnce is restored , and your bond is no longer required to sustain it .


    I watch the tension that has weighed on Auroras shoulders since this began to ease a little , her shoulders rxing , and for the first time in days , she seems at peace .


    The pack closes in , voices rising as talk starts about what this means to all of us .


    Gone is the weight of the curse , and with it the divisions that gued us for generations .


    I see Piperughing with Warrick , the two of them trading .


    banter like none of the horrors we faced just happened .


    Trajan stands a little distant , his expression guarded , his guilt loud in the way he refuses to meet anyones gaze .


    Ill make it right , he mutters , to himself , not to anyone else .


    I dont approach him .


    Not yet .


    Aurora steps back to my side , her hand brushing mine as we leave the grove behind .


    The pack starts to follow , their footsteps lighter , their voices brighter .


    The walk back to Broken Ridge is different .


    The air is clear , the tension that once clung to us like a second skin gone .


    By the time we finally reach the packhouse , the ruins that once spoke of our brokenness dont seem quite so impossible .


    Chapter 215 3/6 The wolves scatter , their spirits buoyed as they start to speak of rebuilding .


    One step at a time , I mutter to myself , and for once , the thought doesnt feel overwhelming .


    I was now out in the garden at the back of the packhouse with Aurora , a lotter in the night .


    The ground was damp beneath our feet , smelling of earth and greenery mixed with cool night air .


    She sat beside me on a stone bench , her fingers inteced through mine .


    For a while , we say nothing ; the silence speaking for us .


    She reaches up then , presses her hand to my chest , tracing the runes with her fingers where they glow in the moonlight .


    Does it hurt ? she asks , her tone soft .


    I shake my head , offering a small smile .


    Not anymore .


    She nods , her gaze falling to the joined hands between us .


    I dont know what this means for you , she admits .


    But I do know you didnt choose it .


    I squeeze her hand tighter .


    Neither did you , but you carried it anyway .


    So can I .


    Her lips curve in a faint smile , even as her eyes remain serious .


    Well figure it out together .


    The moon rises higher in the sky and long shadows throw their way across the garden .


    Chapter 215 onto it anyway .


    4/6 We sit in silence until a faint howl cuts through the stillness .


    Its low and mournful , the kind of sound that raises the hairs on the back of your neck .


    Aurora stiffens beside me , snapping her eyes toward the horizon .


    You hear that ? I nod , my chest clenching .


    Yeah .


    We rise , and our senses sharpen as we gaze out into the dark outside the packhouse .


    The howl isnt repeated , but the unease it leaves in its wake does .


    What was that ? she whispers , barely audible .


    I dont know , I admit , my hand instinctively going to the hilt of my de .


    The garden feels different now , the peace wed found moments .


    ago reced by a creeping tension .


    The grove is healed , but something else is stirring .


    The glow of the grove stretches across the horizon , bathing everything in silver light .


    The trees , once twisted and corrupted , now hum with life , their Juminous fruit swaying gently in the breeze .


    I stand next to Aurora , her hand clutched tight in mine .


    Chapter 215 5/6 Shes pale and seems to be exhausted , with only shallow breaths escaping her mouth , but the relief in her features mirrors mine .


    We did it , she mouths , her voice trembling a little in disbelief .


    I look down at the faintly glowing runes on my chest, their heat still alien to me .


    Yeah , I say , though the weight of Liriens words clings to the back of my mind .


    The grove is healed , but it remains to be seen at what cost .


    Slowly , the pack arrives , lured in by the renewed energy of the grove .


    Faces of awe , or those of disbelief , step into the clearings ; eyes scan through the glowing trees , restored roots .


    Its beautiful , someone whispers , the stunned silence broken .


    Lirien stands at the edge of the clearing ; now its form is more solid , almost human .


    The glow of the grove seems to steady it , putting an air of calm , reassuring authority into its words .


    The curse is lifted , he says in his grave tone .


    Now the pack can prosper as it should have .


    Aurora lets go of my hand and takes a step forward .


    Her eyes scour the grove , her face unreadable pride and sadness .


    Chapter 215 Lirien tilts its head to one side .


    The grove has epted your sacrifice , it says .


    6/6 But your mortal ties to the pack have saved you .


    The bnce is restored , and your bond is no longer required to sustain it .


    I watch the tension that has weighed on Auroras shoulders since this all began slowly easing as for the first time in days , she finally looks at peace .


    Their voices rise one after another , speaking to what it will mean to every one of us , the weight of the curse that for the first time in generations has vanished along with the divisions that gued us .


    The pack closes in .


    I see Piperughing with Warrick , both of them teasing back and forth , like the terror we just survived never happened .


    Trajan stands a little aloof , his face closed .


    Guilts there in the way he avoids looking at anyone .


    Ill make it right , he mutters , more to himself than to me .


    I leave him be … For now .