Chapter 291\u00a0<\/p>\n
Third Person\u2019s POV\u00a0<\/p>\n
g\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Inside the warm Shadowbane villa, Magnus lowered his head and pressed a gentle kiss to the crown of Aysel\u2019s hair. She leaned comfortably against him, watching the screen as though it were a mere play.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On-screen, the bride smiled falsely. The groom remained expressionless.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The ceremonial video unfolded beautifully-romantic, polished.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damon saw it all with numb disbelief.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He had never realized there were so many images and memories of himself and Celestine together.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Each time he had broken promises to Aysel. Each time he had turned his back on her-how had he ever dared claim a clear conscience?\u00a0<\/p>\n
The video reached one particular moment: Celestine\u2019s birthday, years ago, during a lavish Moonvale Pack banquet. Beneath the approving gazes of Moonvale elders and the Blackwood Alphas, he had held Celestine in a lighthearted opening dance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
From afar, they looked like a blessed, golden pair.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The camera swept the hall.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Aysel Vale was nowhere to be seen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damon\u2019s eyes reddened suddenly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The guests assumed he was moved by shared memories. Only the Moonvale Pack knew the truth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
To be forced to relive the past-to examine oneself as an outsider-how painful was that reckoning?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Aysel had never known such celebration.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her birthdays had been marked only by endless rain and ceaseless reproach.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yet all of this-\u00a0<\/p>\n
It should have been hers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/7\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 291\u00a0<\/p>\n
Firushed\u00a0<\/p>\n
Luna Evelyn clamped a trembling hand over her mouth, collapsing silently against Alpha\u00a0<\/p>\n
Remus\u2019s chest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lykos clenched his fists, staring at his smiling past self on the screen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Back then-\u00a0<\/p>\n
Aysel had been Damon Blackwood\u2019s true mate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Celestine was shameless. Every \u201cproof of love\u201d she displayed had been built by trampling over Aysel. How dare she present it so proudly?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even the Blackwood elders wore complex expressions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Who could have known? The two families once so promising had fallen to this state-neither pack retaining its former glory.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Perhaps the only truly content wolf in the hall was Celestine herself, lost in nostalgia, eyes gleaming as she clung to her former radiance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Outside the broadcast, Magnus tightened his arms around Aysel, lowering his head to kiss her hair once more.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They had once been blind, foolish, unworthy of her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But the treasure now rested in his grasp.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And from this moment on, everything she had lost-\u00a0<\/p>\n
He would return to her, tenfold.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The guests did not quite understand why, after the ceremonial montage of the bonded pair ended, the atmosphere in the hall abruptly turned heavy-like air before a blood moon.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Master of Ceremonies, however, sensed it immediately.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Years in the trade had sharpened his instincts. He had hosted plenty of political bonds and pack-arranged unions-wolves who shared a den but not a heart. Yet something about this pair unsettled him deeply.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The hall was magnificent. The sigils were flawless. The ceremonial altar glowed beneath crystal lights. The bride even wore a constant smile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And yet-\u00a0<\/p>\n
A cold prickle crawled up his spine, as if he were presiding not over a mating rite, but a funeral.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/7\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 291\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
He stole a glance at the groom-recking of alcohol, eyes rimmed red like a wounded Alpha on the brink of losing control-then at the family in the front row, weeping with an intensity far too raw for celebration.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The unease thickened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Suppressing his thoughts, the Master of Ceremonies cleared his throat lightly and forced cheer into his voice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWell then! Our Alpha groom and Luna bride truly are a well-matched pair- Childhood companions who have finally completed their bond-such unions are rare indeed! Come, let us offer them our blessings with applause!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Please-clap. For the love of the Moon, clap.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The unaware guests followed his cue, laughter and applause rippling through the hall. The tension loosened-just barely.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before he could breathe in relief, the bride shot him a dark, chilling glance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2026What did I say wrong now?!\u00a0<\/p>\n
Being glared at by the groom one moment and the bride the next, the Master of Ceremonies swallowed his bitterness and pressed on, pretending he saw nothing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDamon Blackwood,\u201d he intoned solemnly, invoking the ancient wording of pack law.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you vow, under Moon and blood, to honor the bond of mating-to love Celestine Ward, to claim her as your Luna?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damon did not respond.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAlpha Damon?\u201d the Master of Ceremonies prompted softly. Then, more urgently. \u201cAlpha Damon?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Still nothing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Every second Damon stood on that stage felt like ritual dismemberment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Love her?\u00a0<\/p>\n
The words would not come.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In this lifetime, the only wolf his soul had ever recognized was Aysel.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The silence stretched too long. Unease rippled through the guests again. Even the most professionally trained Master of Ceremonies struggled to keep his composure.\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/7\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 291\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alpha Blackwood and his mate frowned deeply, anger flashing across their faces.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What was this disgraceful son planning now?\u00a0<\/p>\n
The bond was his choice. The ritual was nearly complete. Was he going to disgrace the pack by retreating at the final moment?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Celestine\u2019s smile finally cracked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She stared at him coldly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Under the weight of countless gazes, Damon closed his eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026I do,\u201d he said hoarsely.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Applause erupted instantly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Master of Ceremonies nearly collapsed in relief, urging the crowd to clap louder, faster- anything to bury the suffocating silence that had just passed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damn it. This ceremony was breaking his heart in stages.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After the rings were exchanged and the bond officially sealed, he wiped sweat from his brow and smiled stiffly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cA bond is strengthened by family blessings. And now, we invite-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the bride\u2019s former brother,\u201d a voice cut in calmly, \u201cthis blessing should be mine to give.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fenrir of the Moonvale Pack rose from his seat, gaze fixed on Celestine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The satisfied smile froze on Celestine\u2019s face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFenrir,\u201d she warned softly, venom beneath her tone. \u201cToday is my mating ceremony.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
What was he trying to do?\u00a0<\/p>\n
This was the ritual she had prepared for, waited for, dreamed of. The Moonvale Pack was already finished-did he intend to drag her down with them?\u00a0<\/p>\n
She looked at him as one would an enemy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fenrir, however, smiled easily.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMiss Ward lived under our roof for seventeen years,\u201d he said mildly. \u201cAnd before leaving, she thoughtfully left us a keepsake. Naturally, the Moonvale Pack must return the courtesy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
4\/7\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 291\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Their gazes locked across the hall.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Celestine\u2019s anger boiled. She did not believe for a moment that Fenrir meant well.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Master of Ceremonies hastily tried to smooth things over. \u201cAh-well-since the brother is eager, then please-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bang-\u00a0<\/p>\n
The massive doors were thrown open.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fenrir\u2019s smile deepened. \u201cNo need to invite them. My gift has already arrived.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
When the guests saw who stood at the entrance, the hall exploded into chaos.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the hell is going on?!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Master of Ceremonies swallowed his words whole.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Several enforcers of pack law-wolves bearing the insignia of authority-entered the hall. Amid the uproar, Fenrir turned to Celestine, whose face had gone deathly pale.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo months in confinement,\u201d he said calmly. \u201cApparently, that wasn\u2019t enough to teach you restraint. Since the Moonvale Pack once pulled you out-today, you\u2019ll go back the same way.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCelestine Ward,\u201d Fenrir finished lightly, \u201care you satisfied with this gift?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Moonvale Pack did not believe in being beaten without striking back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Under countless stunned gazes, an enforcer stepped forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCelestine Ward, you have been accused of stealing pack-level commercial secrets. Please come with us.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Blackwood elders leapt to their feet in disbelief.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On the day of her mating\u00a0<\/p>\n
ceremony-\u00a0<\/p>\n
To be dragged away by her\u00a0<\/p>\n
Utter humiliation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
wn brother?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Celestine stared wildly at Alpha Remus and Luna Evelyn, searching for denial-only to find\u00a0<\/p>\n
none.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They had known.\u00a0<\/p>\n
5\/7\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 291\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
They had all planned this.\u00a0<\/p>\n
To destroy her ceremony.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her body trembled beneath the white ceremonial robes, yet her voice remained sharp.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have no evidence.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She had been careful. Clean.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fenrir smiled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCelestine, did you truly think I wouldn\u2019t guard against you at all?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After her release and return to the company, he had installed additional surveillance-unknown to her. At the time, it had been nothing more than habit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Now, it was her sentence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The losses were irreversible.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Waiting until today-until she stood at her highest point-was deliberate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She truly believed that after biting back at the Moonvale Pack, she could still become a Blackwood Luna?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Former family now stood as open enemies.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Celestine grabbed Damon\u2019s arm tightly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
No-she could not return to confinement.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Those narrow, suffocating cells-she would never endure them again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDamon\u2026\u201d she pleaded, eyes glistening.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damon laughed suddenly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
How familiar this scene was.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Celestine had been accused of plagiarism, he had stood beside her-against Aysel.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And what had followed?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Because of Dariusz, he had believed Celestine. Defended her. Even knowing she had destroyed Aysel\u2019s future on the stage, he had buried his conscience, reduced her sentence, and walked\u00a0<\/p>\n
6\/7\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 291\u00a0<\/p>\n
straight into Serena\u2019s trap-losing his father\u2019s trust entirely.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He gently removed her hand from his arm.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Celestine stared at him in disbelief.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are bonded. If I go back to prison, it will affect you too.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damon smiled faintly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo what? My life was already ruined by you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou promised Dariusz you\u2019d take care of me!\u201d she shrieked. \u201cCan you face the fact that he once saved your life?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damon froze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dariusz.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dariusz.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Because of him, Damon had made so many wrong choices.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Did he truly have to keep walking this path?\u00a0<\/p>\n
This life-\u00a0<\/p>\n
Perhaps he should have returned it long ago.\u00a0<\/p>\n
730\u00a0<\/p>\n
Midnight Letters by Daniel Crowe 291 Chapter 291\u00a0 Third Person\u2019s POV\u00a0 g\u00a0 Finished\u00a0 Inside the warm Shadowbane villa, Magnus lowered […]<\/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-20564","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pack-princess"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20564","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=20564"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20564\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20564"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20564"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20564"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}