Chapter 38
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
ESTEE
R emnants of the battle linger like a storm—both turbulent and strangely soothing—over Selaris. I stand on the balcony of the royal suite, the early morning air cool against my skin, as the kingdom below awakens to a new era. From here, I see the heart of the kingdom: shifters working tirelessly, bringing supplies into the castle, their movements swift and purposeful as they begin to repair the damage caused by the shadows. Yet, even amidst their labor, distant laughter echoes—a group of children running through the square, their joy like sunlight breaking through the clouds.
Theo joins me, the warmth of his presence grounding me in the way only he can. He wraps his arm around my waist, his warmth seeping into me as I lean into him. “They’re resilient,” he says softly. “Stronger than I ever gave them credit for.”
“And so are you,” I reply, tilting my head to meet his eyes. The haunted shadows that lingered in his gaze for so long are fading, replaced by something brighter, more certain. Hope.
Still, the road ahead won’t be without its challenges. Aurora’s intervention may have saved us from complete devastation, but the battle left scars—some visible, others buried deep. We lost several wolves to Orix’s shadow creatures: the young man who was attacked first, along with some of our elder members not strong enough to fight the darkness.
Their deaths won’t be in vain, though. We’ll honor each of them in the coming days and, with this new start, do better for the pack as a whole. The people have continued to show their support, but after so much destruction, I can sense their unease, their need to see that the rug isn’t about to be pulled out from under them once more. It’s our job as king and queen to give that to them and I know we will, every day moving forward.
“I do have some good news,” Theo admits, and his heart pounds faster beneath my touch.
Our bond pulses wildly within my chest, his excitement becoming my own, as I reach to hold him tighter.
Smiling brightly up at him, I give him a brief yet lingering kiss, keeping my tone light. “And that would be…”
“I spoke with your sister,” he says, his energy going wild with joy and relief. “She’ll be here in two days with Asher, but she also delivered a message from your mother.”
My mom? I haven’t spoken with her in much too long. Gods, I hope she’s not furious with me.
“Isla didn’t want to tell you before with all we had going on, but apparently Florence can receive messages while she’s dreaming from those who’ve gone to rest,” Theo says, his eyes glazing over and making mine do the same. “My mother. She’s…” His voice cracks as he grins. “She’s safe and happy and at peace.”
“Oh, Theo.” I throw my arms around him, but the tighter I hold on, the more erratic my emotions become. I go from happy to overwhelmed within an instant and guilt begins to choke me.
I try to pull away from him, not wanting this moment to be about me when I know how much this news means to my mate, but he holds onto me, his touch filled with only love.
“I’ve got you, Starlight,” he promises with a certainty that I find myself clinging to.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” I mutter against his chest. “You’ve just shared good news, but…”
He kisses the top of my head. “Even something positive can push the strongest of us over the edge. You’ve spent centuries carrying your emotions on your own and you’ve done so with strength and grace. But you don’t have to do so alone anymore.”
His words crack something inside me, a fissure that’s been forming since the moment I arrived in Selaris. I’ve held on to every burden, every scar, every moment of pain, convinced I had to bear it all on my own. But all this good news combined with Theo’s love and his unyielding belief in me…it dismantles my defenses in ways I never thought possible.
His godly alpha energy pulses through me, shattering the last of my walls. The dam breaks, and I collapse against his chest, sobbing with a force that shakes me to my core. I cry for the lives lost, for the battles fought, for the little girl who spent her life searching for a place to belong. I cry for the woman I’ve become and the one I’m yet to be.
Through it all, Theo holds me, his arms a fortress, his presence unwavering. He doesn’t try to silence my grief or rush my tears. He simply lets me be, his love a steady current that anchors me even as I feel like I’m falling apart.
When the rush of emotion finally subsides, a quiet peace settles over me—a soul-changing calm that I’ve never known before. I take a shaky breath, lifting my gaze. Theo’s grey eyes are luminous, filled with pride and something even deeper.
“You’re going to be a glorious queen,” Theo whispers in my ear as I begin to settle. “You have so much love within you. I’m not even sure you realize how it beats around you, a tangible energy that draws people to you. The fact that I get to call you mine makes me the luckiest man in all the worlds.”
I look back up at him, and as his stare sparks with new light, I know exactly what I want to do next.
“We need to plan my coronation,” I say. “A proper celebration for the kingdom that has nothing to do with baiting a god. With Asher and Isla here, I can be released from Polaris and officially become part of our kingdom.”
He flushes and grins cheekily. “I might’ve already told Asher that was something he needed to do while he was here. They mentioned finding the source of the threats and?—”
“Who was it?” I try not to lose myself to the rage, but it’s hard when I’m reminded of my sister being endangered.
“A young woman who thought she was in love with Asher for the last few weeks,” Theo explains. “She worked in the castle, giving her easy access to Isla, but after talking with Asher, we both believe that she was influenced by Orix to be a distraction. The timing of her confession, along with her confusion over her actions, came too close after killing him to be coincidence.” His gaze darkens briefly. “Elyn told me he was cunning, but I didn’t realize his reach extended that far.”
If that bastard of a god wasn’t already dead, I’d be on the hunt once more, but I have to trust that Aurora’s already disposed of his body and soul with harsh and deserved justice.
“Hopefully, this means there’ll be peace in our lives for the foreseeable future,” I say with a sigh.
The tension doesn’t leave Theo. “Maybe. Aurora said we owe her a favor. I don’t like not knowing what that means.”
“She said the same thing to Asher,” I remind him. “Whatever she wants, it doesn’t matter. We’ll get through it together so there’s no need to stress about what hasn’t even happened yet.”
He places a light kiss on the top of my head, and I can feel his smile before I see it. “You’re absolutely right, Queen Estee.”
A few weeks ago, hearing that might’ve made me spiral, but now, there’s only peace within me.
“So.” I smirk. “We have another celebration to plan?”
He cups my cheeks, his thumbs brushing my skin with a reverence that makes my heart ache. His lips press to mine in a thorough kiss, one that pulls me completely into the moment with only him on my mind.
“It’s already being done,” he murmurs against my lips before taking my hand and lacing our fingers together. “But in the meantime, I have another surprise for you.”
A spark of curiosity ignites inside me, and I follow eagerly as he leads me out of the room. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see,” Theo replies, his grin wide and mischievous, like a boy with a secret too big to keep. His enjoyment of this moment sweeps through our bond, becoming my own.
Except that doesn’t last long as confusion begins to fill me. He’s taking us toward the guest quarters, but he already said Isla wouldn’t be here for two more days…
And then we stop in front of the room where the children have been staying.
“When we walk in here,” Theo begins softly, his voice carrying a warmth that wraps around me, “you’re going to see two of our pack members with the kids. You’ve been trying to find placements for each of them, but there’s a home for all of them. Together.”
My heart stutters. “They don’t have to be separated?” The words are barely a whisper, laden with disbelief and hope. As much as I dreamed of keeping them together, I’d forced myself to accept the reality that asking one family to take on six children was an impossible task.
Theo’s hand tightens around mine, his steady gaze grounding me. “A couple who couldn’t have children of their own and lived outside the kingdom heard about what’s been happening here. When they came to see the changes for themselves, they learned of the orphaned pups. The moment they met the kids, they knew what they wanted to do. They’ve even volunteered to move closer to the castle, so things stay familiar for the younger ones.”
My throat tightens with emotion as I process this news. “They really want them—all of them?”
Theo nods, his expression softening. “Every single one. They didn’t hesitate.”
The urge to cry again surges with a ferocity that takes me by surprise, but I manage to keep some of my composure as I push the door open. The sight that greets me will forever be etched into my heart.
The room is filled with the sound of laughter and quiet chatter, a scene of pure, unfiltered joy. The man, his broad frame strong, has the two youngest climbing over him as though he’s their personal jungle gym. The woman, with a serene smile, is braiding Neri’s hair while Keera sits in front of them, reading a book. The others are sprawled on the floor nearby, coloring and giggling in a way that feels so natural, so right.
For the first time, they look like children—carefree and happy.
I blink back tears, unable to speak as the reality of this moment settles over me. I glance up at Theo, who’s watching me with a tenderness that makes my chest ache. “Thank you.”
He wraps an arm around my waist, grinning. “You did this,” he says firmly. “None of this would’ve been possible if you hadn’t searched them out and brought them back here. They’re safe because of you.”
Maybe he’s right, maybe not. Either way, the moment Keera looks up and sees me, her face glowing with a youthfulness I couldn’t find when I first met her, I know this is a moment I’ll cherish forever. That guarded, wary girl has been replaced by someone who feels safe enough to let her walls down. It’s a transformation that fills me with so much gratitude.
Keera jumps up and runs to me, wrapping her arms around my waist in a hug so tight it nearly knocks the breath out of me. “Thank you, Estee,” she says softly, her voice muffled against my dress.
I stroke her hair, my own tears finally spilling over. “You don’t have to thank me. This is what family does.”
“I’m going to have a real home.” Keera’s precious words leave a mark on me that will last a lifetime.
Addie calls for her to come look at the drawing she’s just finished, pulling Keera away from me. My hand covers my heart as I gaze around the room. There’s not much that could be better than this.
Theo clears his throat, his voice breaking the moment with gentle ease. “Why don’t you visit with them for a while? I’ll send Drea for you when it’s time for the coronation dress fitting.”
I tilt my head up to kiss his cheek, a small gesture of thanks for everything he’s done. “That sounds perfect.”
He smiles, his expression soft and full of love. “I’ll see you soon.”
As he leaves, I turn back to the children, the warmth of his love remaining with me. For the first time in as long as I can remember, everything feels right. Everything feels like home.