The Pack's Daughter (Aysel and Magnus) novel Chapter 658

Chapter 658

Third Person’s POV

The moon hung like a silver crown above the valley, casting its light upon the sacred clearing where the reconciliation ceremony was to be held. Torches lined the perimeter, flames snapping in the night wind, while members of both the Eastern and Western Packs gathered in solemn silence. What had once been a battlefield now bore the promise of peace, the scent of war slowly dissipating into the crisp night air.

At the center of the clearing stood Lucien, his figure tall and commanding, yet softened by the woman who stood at his side. Riley was no longer the broken, unconscious figure he had carried from enemy territory. Tonight, she stood radiant, her wolf aura calm yet undeniable, her gaze steady as she looked out over the united packs. She carried with her not only the fragments of her past but also the strength of her rebirth.

The Matriarchs, elders, and warriors of both sides filled the circle. Their voices murmured with both awe and disbelief-two packs who had once sworn to spill each other’s blood were now here to swear something different: peace. At the head of the Western delegation stood Aedric, his expression grim but resolved, his

wolf restless beneath his skin..

The ritual began with Maeryn, the ever-neutral professor, lifting her staff and calling upon the Moon Goddess. Her voice, low and resonant, echoed across the clearing, and the torches flared as though in answer. She spoke words of unity, of a truce woven not merely in treaties but in the hearts of wolves who had suffered enough loss.

Lucien tightened his grip on Riley’s hand, and she squeezed back, grounding him. For a fleeting moment, their eyes met, and it was enough-a promise sealed not by words but by the bond between them.

When the vows were spoken and the oaths sealed, the packs roared their approval. Wolves shifted, howls rising to the heavens, a chorus of triumph and relief. The sound carried through the mountains, not as a war cry but as a hymn of survival. Lucien and Riley stood together, watching enemies embrace, rivals clasp forearms, and wolves who had buried their dead in hatred finally see the possibility of peace.

But even amidst the celebration, tension hummed in the air. Lucien felt it before he saw it-the unwavering stare of Aedric. When the howls died down, Aedric stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Riley.

“Aria,” he said softly, using the name that had once bound her to him. “May I speak with you alone?”

Lucien bristled, his wolf surging with possessive fire, but Riley touched his arm, a silent reassurance. She nodded. “Of course.”

The two walked a short distance away, to the edge of the clearing where the shadows of the forest cloaked them from curious eyes. Aedric’s jaw was tight, his voice a low growl when he finally spoke.

“I had to see you like this,” he admitted, his eyes burning with an intensity that made Riley’s chest tighten. “Alive. Whole. Stronger than before. I told myself I was ready to let you go, but seeing you now…” He shook his head, a bitter laugh escaping him. “You should be in the West, by my side. I could give you everything. I could protect you. Aria-”

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