Chapter 54\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2013Theo\u2013\u00a0<\/p>\n
I looked at Kaia, who stood, shocked, in the corner.\u00a0<\/p>\n
:.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I wanted to go to her. Tell her everything I had in my heart.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But I couldn\u2019t leave until everything was settled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The hall was still buzzing when Elder Sylvester raised a hand for silence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
63\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere remains,\u201d he said, \u201cone solution to satisfy the original agreement without breaking the laws of the Moon.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
You could hear a pin drop.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cElara,\u201d Sylvester continued, \u201cyou will marry Lucien-the unmated son of Alpha Kingsley.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The crowd gasped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lucien choked on his drink somewhere behind me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara\u2019s eyes nearly fell out of her skull.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWHAT?! No\u2026NO!\u201d She stomped forward, furious. \u201cI will NOT marry him! He\u2019s\u2026.he\u2019s not Theo! This is insane\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sylvester did not even blink. He looked unbothered by Elara\u2019s tantrums.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe promise was that a daughter of Alpha Garrick Varkon would unite with a son of Alpha Kingsley. Not specifically which son. And since Theo has found his destined mate, that option is closed.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI REFUSE!\u201d Elara screamed. \u201cI am NOT marrying Lucien!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lucien muttered loudly,\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTrust me, princess, the feeling is mutual.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I almost snorted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara spun on the Circle.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t force me! My father won\u2019t accept this\u2026. He will go to war before letting me-\u2018\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cELARA!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A deep, commanding voice booms;\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alpha Garrick Varkon, Elara\u2019s father, steps into the hall, his presence swallowing the room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:33 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 54\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
Massive, scarred, impossibly powerful. His Beta and a few warriors trail behind him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Everyone turned to look as Alpha Garrick, her father, stepped inside.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He looked furious, not at us but at her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara blinked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFather\u2026 Thank the moon goddess. Tell them this is-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBe silent.\u201d His voice cracked like lightning.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara froze. Shocked by her father\u2019s action.\u00a0<\/p>\n
63\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alpha Garrick approached the centre of the hall, bowing respectfully to the Circle before turning to face her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI have heard enough,\u201d he said. \u201cYou will not shame me further.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara\u2019s mouth fell open.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWh-what do you mean? They\u2019re saying I should-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMarry Lucien,\u201d he finished for her. \u201cYes. And you will.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her knees almost buckled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo! Father, you promised me\u2026..\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI promised you nothing.\u201d He stepped closer, eyes like stone. \u201cWhat Alpha Kingsley promised me was that my daughter would unite with a son of Alpha Kingsley. That was the bargain. That was the alliance.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He looked at me then, calm and steady.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Alpha Kingsley kept his end. He raised two sons. One of them is unmated. The bargain stands intact.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara shook her head wildly. \u201cNo! No, I left back then because Theo was weak, because\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d her father cut in sharply. \u201cIt was you who You 1. Not Theo or Kingsley. You.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The entire room held its breath.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alpha Garrick continued, voice low with warning;\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou broke the arrangement, not them. You forfeited your claim the day you walked away.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara\u2019s jaw trembled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her father\u2019s tone softened, not out of kindness, but finality.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI will not go to war over your pride. Not when the Moon has already made her choice for Alpha Theo.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:33 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 54\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
He gestured to me. \u201cHe has found his mate. That path is closed.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara stared at him, feeling betrayed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut\u2026 Father-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is done.\u201d His voice was absolute. \u201cYou will accept the Circle\u2019s ruling. You will marry Lucien.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara whispered, \u201cWhy dont you kill me instead?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alpha Garrin ignored it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cElara,\u201d he added coolly, \u201cyou should be grateful Alpha Kingsley still honours the alliance at all.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara\u2019s eyes filled with tears. Devastated and furious tears.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis isn\u2019t fair,\u201d she whispered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
63\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her father\u2019s reply was ice. \u201cLife is not fair. And you do not get to burn down kingdoms because a man you abandoned found someone better.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Complete, utter silence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I saw Elara still trembling with fury.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She clenched her fists so tight that blood was almost seeping out of her knuckles.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She looked like she was about to pass out when she realised her father wasn\u2019t joking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alpha Garrick wasn\u2019t a man who wore guilt or regret.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So the look on his face made Elara freeze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFather?\u201d she whispered, catching her breath. \u201cYou\u2019re siding with them?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His jaw tensed. \u201cLower your voice, Elara.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI WILL NOT!\u201d she exploded. \u201cThey humiliated me! They are forcing Lucien on me! They stole-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Garrick\u2019s hand flew up, silencing her instantly with just the weight of his stare.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cElara,\u201d he said quietly. \u201cYou will accept the Circle\u2019s ruling.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her mouth fell open.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAccept\u2026?\u201d Her voice cracked. \u201cYou want me to marry Lucien?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Garrico exhaled slowly, soothing his temple.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:33 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 54\u00a0<\/p>\n
63\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cElara, I warned you when you left Theo the first time,\u201d he said. \u201cA broken alliance has consequences. The Circle does not tolerate wavering bonds between high-ranking packs.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her chest tightened. \u201cI thought you\u2019d fight for me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI did fight for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The hall fell still, staring at both father and daughter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Garrick\u2019s voice hardened, cold and clipped, admitting something he never meant to reveal.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you think? That I will never find out who went behind my back to convince the Circle to intervene in the first place?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara blinked. \u201cWhat\u2026?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes!\u201d he growled. \u201cIt came from you, Elara. You went behind my back, using my name to convince the circle that Theo was delaying the promise.\u201d Alpha Garrick seethes. \u201cYou lied that the alliance was at risk, and you were being wronged.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her mother gasped. \u201cGarrick-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He cut her off with a look.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara\u2019s legs nearly gave out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFather\u2026.\u201d Elara tried to speak.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Garrin nodded once.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDont try to stop me, Elara,\u201d Garrick warned. \u201cYou went behind my back\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alpha Garrick turned to us, then to the crowd.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cElara will accept the Circle\u2019s ruling. After all, she\u2019s the one who went behind my back and dragged them into this mess\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cElara, what did you do?\u201d Susan, Elara\u2019s mother, asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Elara didn\u2019t answer. Her lips trembled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alpha Garrick continued, his voice thick with embarrassment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe manipulated the circle into forcing Theo to choose her as Luna\u201d, Alpha Garrick gritted, seething. \u201cShe forged letters and acted without my permission\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, there is no question. She will accept the circle rulings\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara staggered back. \u201cNo. No, I refuse\u2026.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cElara\u2026 you did what?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:33 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 54\u00a0<\/p>\n
(63)\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, you will,\u201d Garrick said, his Alpha aura seeping into his voice. \u201cBecause I will not drag our pack into war over something you caused.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her voice trembled with rage and disbelief.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo that\u2019s it?\u201d she hissed. \u201cI\u2019m just supposed to accept being handed to Lucien like I\u2019m leftovers?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Garrick stared at her for a long, heavy moment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara\u2019s breath shattered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her father turned away. \u201cYou will marry Lucien and will salvage what dignity you have left.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She clenched her fists so hard that her fingers dug into her palms.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara\u2019s rage turned into shaking sobs as she stumbled back, glaring at me and Kaia like we had destroyed her life.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis isn\u2019t over,\u201d she rasped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. It is.\u201d Alpha Garrick snapped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara stiffens, her rage faltering.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cF-Father-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He doesn\u2019t look at her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His cold eyes went straight to me\u2026then to Kingsley.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And then, shockingly, he bowed his head.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAlpha Theo. Alpha Kingsley. I owe you both an apology.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A murmur rippled through the hall.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara\u2019s jaw dropped. \u201cFather, what are you-?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He ignored her again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Garrick straightened his face. He looked tired and disappointed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy daughter has forgotten her place and the terms of the agreement.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My brows lifted a little. My father exhaled shakily.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alpha Garrick turned to the Circle.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI heard she attempted to force a marriage\u2026 by invoking my name. Without my consent and respect.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:33 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 54\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara gasped. \u201cFather, I was only-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSilence. One more word and I will have you locked up for a week\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
63\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara shrank back. Alpha Garrick\u2019s words cracked through her like a whip.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Garrick returned his attention to me, his expression unexpectedly gentle.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were a boy when the promise was made. If anyone should answer for it, it is your father and I-not you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My father nodded, guilt rolling off his face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Garrick continued. \u201cAnd Kingsley kept his side of the bargain. His son accepted the arrangement. It was my daughter who walked away. My daughter chose power over her bond.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I swallowed hard, memories of that heartbreak flickering over my face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alpha Garrick turned to Elara.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou left Theo for another Alpha, humiliated him\u201d, Garrick said. \u201cYou broke the arrangement with your own hands. And now you want to claim it back because it suits you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara trembled with fury. \u201cHe was weak! And now\u2026now he thinks he can just\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Garrick\u2019s voice dropped dangerously quiet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI raised a warrior. Not a spoiled child who cries when her manipulation fails.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alpha Garrick walked to the Circle of Akphas and faced Sylvester completely.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy pack will not be fighting over this. We have no grounds,\u201d Garrick said, looking towards me. \u201cWe have no claim. Kingsley\u2019s son has found his mate. That is the end of it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Circle nodded in approval.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Garrick stepped closer to me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAlpha Theo\u2026 you have my deepest apology for Elara\u2019s behaviour today, and for the pain she caused you in the past.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My throat tightened with a painful lump.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Garrick bowed again. \u201cI will correct my daughter\u2019s mistakes. And I accept the Circle\u2019s decision; Elara will marry Lucien.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara erupts. \u201cNo! I will NOT marry him\u2026.Father!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou will. And you will do it with your head high because you destroyed your first betrothal, Elara. No one else.\u201d Garrick glared at her with authority.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elara trembled, but she couldn\u2019t do anything; instead, she was cornered and defeated.\u00a0<\/p>\n
18:33 Tue, Jan 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 54\u00a0<\/p>\n
Garrick looked back at me one last time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou owe us nothing. May your mate bring you the joy my daughter failed to give.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, Alpha Garrick\u201d, I smiled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once Alpha Garrick turned away, my eyes found Kaia, who looked stunned by everything.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking at her, my stomach did a flip.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She\u2019s everything I\u2019ve always dreamed about. I hope she doesn\u2019t mind me loving her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
AD\u00a0<\/p>\n
C63\u00a0<\/p>\n
55 vouchers\u00a0<\/p>\n
Comment\u00a0<\/p>\n
Send gift\u00a0<\/p>\n
No Ads\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella\u2019s storytelling style is immersive and addictive\u2014perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Shadows Follow Lonely Minds \u2014 Christopher Harris 54 Chapter 54\u00a0 \u2013Theo\u2013\u00a0 I looked at Kaia, who stood, shocked, in the […]<\/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":[80],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27299","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-nightshade-heir-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27299","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=27299"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27299\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27299"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27299"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27299"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}