Chapter 290\u00a0<\/p>\n
Third Person\u2019s POV\u00a0<\/p>\n
B\u00a0<\/p>\n
FinisheO\u00a0<\/p>\n
Time slipped by beneath a strange, suffocating tension, like a sky heavy with storm clouds that refused to break. Before anyone realized it, the day of Celestine and Damon\u2019s mating ceremony arrived.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Their invitations never reached Magnus and Celestine did not dare allow Aysel anywhere near the ceremony.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If Aysel truly appeared, given Damon\u2019s instability and Alpha pride warped by obsession, he might very well revoke the bond on the spot. Celestine would never allow that.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Of course, Aysel herself had no interest in attending.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But she did enjoy watching chaos from afar.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So Magnus simply bought off the ceremonial recording pack. What was meant to be a commemorative mating video quietly transformed into a full, unrestricted live broadcast of the entire event.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Inside the Shadowbane estate, the villa\u2019s living hall glowed warmly. Magnus personally arranged everything Aysel favored-fresh-cut fruit, small snacks, chilled yogurt, and grapefruit juice-neatly laid across the low table. The massive wall screen displayed the ceremonial grounds of the Blackwood Pack\u2019s mating hall.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Magnus sat pressed close beside Aysel on the sofa. After a few moments, even that proximity failed to satisfy him. With a lazy reach, he hooked an arm around her waist and lifted her effortlessly from where she had been idly stroking Rafe\u2019s fur, pulling her straight into his arms.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He adjusted his posture, locking her securely against his chest, until his wolf finally settled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Only then did he relax, holding her comfortably.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Aysel nestled against his chest, watching wolves in ceremonial attire drift across the screen. She popped a grape into her mouth, then tilted her head and kissed Magnus lightly beneath his jaw.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Magnus chuckled, squeezing her fingers before returning the kiss with far more heat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The ceremony had not yet begun.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There were far better ways to pass the time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 290\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Inside the preparation chamber, after dismissing the attendants, Celestine snatched the liquor bottle from Damon\u2019s hand and smashed it viciously against the stone wall.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDamon Blackwood! Do you even know what day this is?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The scent of alcohol flooded the room. Before the ceremonial toasts had even begun, he was already drunk beyond control. Such open decay-who was he trying to provoke?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damon cast her a cold glance and laughed hollowly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou wanted a mating bond,\u201d he said. \u201cDidn\u2019t I agree? What more do you want from me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her rage surged violently. She nearly raised her hand to strike him, but restrained herself at the thought of witnesses.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d she snapped. \u201cSince you agreed, then play your role properly. If you hated this so much, you should have rejected me from the start.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damon curled his lips in bitter self-mockery and reached for more alcohol.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Celestine watched him grasp the door handle.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDamon Blackwood,\u201d she said suddenly, her voice eerily calm, \u201cI wouldn\u2019t mind turning today\u2019s ceremonial footage into a private mating recording of the Blackwood Alpha heir.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He froze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She sneered softly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Already prepared to be vile-yet still unable to discard his pride, his shame, his precious Alpha dignity. That was Damon Blackwood.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re not afraid people would recognize the other participant?\u201d he asked coldly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Celestine sat before the mirror, adjusting her veil. \u201cI only kept your parts,\u201d she said calmly. \u201cAnd even if they knew-so what? My leg is broken. My dreams are gone. I\u2019ve worn prison chains. I\u2019m not afraid of sinking into the deepest mud. Are you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She met his reflection.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDamon Blackwood. If you want today to pass without incident, then I expect to see a smiling groom.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He stood motionless for a long time-then slammed the door and left.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Celestine knew then that he had yielded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 290\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
She stared at her reflection: flawless bridal paint, ceremonial white garments, prepared to bond with the man she had dreamed of throughout her entire maidenhood-yet her eyes held no joy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Forcing her lips upward, she whispered to herself:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCelestine Ward, you are still the final victor.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even with all her efforts, the ceremony could not be perfected.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Celestine had no birth pack, no allies, and Damon offered no cooperation. The formal bride- fetching rite was canceled entirely.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Despite her invitations, far fewer guests arrived than she had expected.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Blackwood Pack was already declining, and neither of the bonded wolves held a good reputation. Those present were mostly insignificant pack leaders, minor business wolves, or younger heirs sent by families unwilling-or unable-to refuse outright.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Moonvale Pack attended.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Not as Celestine\u2019s kin-but as old acquaintances of the Blackwood pair.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Luna Evelyn stared at the opulent ceremonial backdrop, dazed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The adopted daughter she had nurtured regarded her as an enemy. Her biological daughter had severed all ties. The joyful scene she once imagined-sending her daughter into a glorious bond-was forever unreachable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Aysel mated in the future, she would likely have no right to even stand at the threshold.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fenrir had no energy to comfort his grieving mother. His gaze remained locked on his communicator, fingers moving as if in urgent exchange.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The ceremonial music swelled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The bonded pair finally entered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Guests turned as one. Fenrir lifted his eyes from the screen, joining the Moonvale Pack in looking toward the entrance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u5408\u00a0<\/p>\n
730\u00a0<\/p>\n
Midnight Letters by Daniel Crowe 290 Chapter 290\u00a0 Third Person\u2019s POV\u00a0 B\u00a0 FinisheO\u00a0 Time slipped by beneath a strange, suffocating […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20563","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pack-princess"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20563","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20563"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20563\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20563"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20563"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20563"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}