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Chapter 1*3*5

“Let them in, quickly,” she orders the guard. They bow in response, surprised to see that this was the first time their Luna’s eyes had lit up since the weeks she’d been cooped up in the palace. They quickly nod as they head out. Elise couldn’t contain her excitement over seeing her best friend she hadn’t seen in over three years.

Yet she couldn’t help feeling her nerves had begun to eat her, wondering if Vienna hated her for not ever reaching out to her in three years; she wondered if their relationship wouldn’t be the same as it was. She swallows a breath when they are announced.

She bites her lips and layers a hand over her skirt, nervously straightening it like she wasn’t the Luna of a powerful pack but a young, naive child. She thought she could stay strong, but the moment she saw that familiar brunette, tears ran down her cheeks,

Vienna did the same as tears rolled from the healer’s eyes: “Ell” She muttered with a whimper, her eyes raking over Elise, as she could barely believe that she was real. Thz squeezed her hand before he let his mate’s trembling hands Elise, it is an honor to-

“I mean, Luna

She was cut off by a warm hug from Elise, who’d thrown herself over her friend’s shoulder taking in that familiar scent. Vienna hugged back with stronger feelings of love and relief. “You’re here, you’re alive,” Vienna wailed’in Elise’s arms.

“I missed you so much, Vienna,” she cried. Taz watched his mate and Elise with a sincere smile on his face, glad of their reunion, a final closure for Vienna, who smiled through with tears still running down her face as she hugged her friend tighter,

They finally move apart, with Vienna touching Elise’s cheeks, winch have hollowed in these past few weeks because of her lack of sleep, her eyes solemn with worry. “Oh dear, look at you; I’m so sorry about Hayden and everything those monsters caused you,” Vienna called with a watery voice.

Elise grabs her hands, caressing them in hers to assure Vienna. “I’m ok; I am especially since you’re here.” Elise’s voice croaked; she needed the comfort.

She shifts to Taz, who watches her with a careful glance. He sees Elise let out a smile before he opens his arms up and pulls her in for a much-needed embrace.

It was a calming comfort for her, especially since the past few weeks had been like a turbulent of emotions that she had to hold in. Her eyes moved back to her friend, getting a whiff of Vienna’s sweeter scent. She looked down to see Vienna caressing her bump, and her face morphed into the realization of her friend’s pregnancy.

“Oh, moons, Vienna, you deserve it; congratulations,” she mutters, hugging her again.

“Of course you’re going to be the baby’s aunt; you need to visit or I’ll stay here instead,” she pleads, making Elise smile.

“Of course I would, but you do need to meet your godson first.” Elise calls as they both turn to see Ethan, who walks our nervously.

Elise stretched her hands out, which he quickly took. He was still apprehensive of strangers, especially since Alvira abused him. He watched Vienna, skeptical and careful from under his lashes.

Elise sends a quick telepathic message to Vienna, who turns toward Ethan; his grip hardens against Elise, and he watches as Vienna bends down, her smile kind and calm, and her scent wafts off to Ethan to know she isn’t dangerous. “Hey little man, can you give me a hug?”

And Elise was shocked to see how fast his wall had crumbled as he let out a smile before he nodded. Going into Vienna’s warm embrace, Elise had to hold herself from crying again. Watching how her son went lax with relief in Vienna’s hold.

**

**

Vienna calmly introduced him to Taz, who got on the same level as him, and soon enough, Ethan was playing swords and

monsters in no time.

They had moved to the balcony by the inner courtyard where Taz and Ethan played hearing her son laughter brought her a small ease. Taz was so excited to meet Rygan’s son; their remarkable resemblance was almost uncanny as he played with Ethan. Proud of the child Elise raised.

Elise and Vienna watched from the balcony with a small smile on their faces; they held hands, still happy to see each other. “I can’t believe over three good years have passed; after what they said about your death, I thought…” she whispered out sadly.

“A part of me still believed, even though I argued. Kaide made me think I was going insane when I insisted we go again, even with Taz on my side, and I know he was trying to help me find closure, but Kaide and Elvira’s manipulation were so deeply rooted I was already being fooled before I knew it, even the king couldn’t see past it,” she says.

And Elise’s heart thumps with the mention of the king of Rygan. “I know I shouldn’t even talk about him; I scolded Taz on the journey here, yet I brought it up, and I’m surprised I am saying this, but I’ve never seen Rygan like this, like he’s trapped, and it scares me that he talks so little. I know you both went through a lot, and I can see how miserable.” She says.

“Vienna I don’t.”

“I know I know..but look at you both. I feel you’re hanging on a thin thread, and you both need each other to breathe,” she says quietly.

Elise was stunned that Vienna was talking about Rygan so carefully; the situation with him must be very bad, especially since Elise has refused all his visits and letters. She wondered if she pushed too much. She knew Vienna would be the last person to talk about Rygan so carefully.

Elise’s heart panged through her words, her hands fidgeting as she leaned back on the chair. ‘How is he? Does he have dreams like mine? I’m dying to see him; I miss him.’ All those words were stuck in her throat; she couldn’t say them, not

now.

“He has a pack to run and I do too, and I have to be prepared for my trial with Holden, and I cannot be distracted; I just need evidence on him,” she mutters to Vienna while she’s warmed with understanding.

She wanted to tell her more about her dreams and nightmares, her guilt and yearning all bundled into one that rifled her sleep each night, but Vienna could already read her sleepless night from her dark circles.

She asked them to stay another day, which they did. Vienna had spent the whole night with Elise, catching up and giving her best friend comfort.

Vienna had volunteered to stay, but Elise begged her not to for now, especially with what was coming, she wasn’t sure what the outcome would be, and she didn’t want anyone here in case anything went bad.

She had even pleaded with Vienna that if anything happened to her, Ethan would come to his father and she would take care of him, and the healer promised in tears, with Elise pleading not to tell Rygan about it.

The very next morning. Taz assured him he would see what he could find to catch and trap Holden She thanked them, giving Vienna one last hug before they departed.

“This is not goodbye,” Vienna promised, holding back tears.

“It might.. Elise thought she couldn’t help but fear for the future, if that monster Holden won his trials, she would be imprisoned for Hayden’s death. She’d rather they fight to the death and be done with it, but that was a silent tradition, not the calhan packs

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Chapter 133

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She watched their retreating figures from the gates, and her gaze hardened. She knew how much importance the verdict. would carry and what she had on the line.

She has so many things to protect-her friendship, loved ones, her family, and so much more waiting for her-she needs to win. Needed to prove Holden’s involvement in Hayden’s death.

And just like that, the trial day had come.