Chapter 22
Lilia
Darkness. An endless void of darkness.
I drifted in this emptiness, weightless, untethered, my body no longer my own, time slipping away like water through my fingers.
A bone-deep cold clung to me, seeping into my soul, an unrelenting chill that shadowed every thought.
Faintly, as if from a great distance, I heard someone calling my name, the voice muffled, distorted, as though filtered through layers of deep ocean.
I strained to answer, to reach out, but my voice was silent, my limbs bound by invisible chains.
Is this how death feels?
I wondered, my mind foggy, grasping at fragments of hope. If it was, then what would become of Anna? My daughter, my little star, the one tether keeping my heart anchored in this world…
“Anna…” I called out silently in the darkness, feeling an intense longing break through this void.
Just then, a faint warmth suddenly emerged in the darkness, like a tiny star flickering in the endless night sky. That warmth gradually spread, dispelling the cold and illuminating the void. I felt something pulling at me, dragging me out of the nothingness and toward the light.
My eyes snapped open, and I gasped for air, as if I had just surfaced from underwater. The blinding light forced me to shut my eyes instinctively, and it took a moment before I slowly adjusted to it.
“She’s awake! Her Royal Highness is awake!” a woman’s voice exclaimed, tinged with relief and astonishment.
I turned my head, wincing at the effort, and saw an elderly woman leaning over me, her weathered face lit with joy and concern.
Her silver hair was braided tightly, and her eyes, a deep hazel, sparkled with kindness.
She reached for a glass of water on the table, gently lifting my head to help me sip.
The cool liquid soothed my parched throat, grounding me in the reality of my survival.
“Thanks Moon Goddess, you’re awake,” she said, exhaling a shaky breath. “I’m Elira, the chief healer of the Healing Center in the palace. You’ve been unconscious for three days, Your Highness. We feared… well, we feared the worst.”
Three days? My mind reeled, memories flooding back in a torrent—Anna’s birthday celebration, Perock’s elaborate wolf-themed banquet, our tentative conversations, the laughter… and then the rogue werewolf’s attack, its red eyes and black magic tearing through the hall.
“Anna.” I gasped, bolting upright, only to collapse back against the pillows as a sharp pain lanced through my chest, stealing my breath. “Where’s Anna? Is she safe?”
“Easy, Your Highness,” Elira soothed, her hands gentle but firm on my shoulders, easing me back. “The little princess is perfectly safe, unharmed. She’s been by your side every day, as has His Majesty. They’re both fine, I promise.”
Relief washed over me, warm and overwhelming, and I closed my eyes, tears spilling down my cheeks. Anna was safe. That was all that mattered, the one truth anchoring me against the fear that still clawed at my heart.
“What happened?” I whispered, my voice hoarse, my mind piecing together the fragmented images of the battle. “I remember the rogue werewolf… it attacked me, and then everything went dark.”
Elira sat on the edge of the bed, her expression turning grave, her hands folding in her lap.
“You were struck by dark magic, Your Highness,” she said, her voice low, weighted with the memory of those desperate hours.
“The rogue carried a soul toxin, a rare and vicious poison that seeped into your wound, attacking your very essence. It nearly claimed you.”
“How did I survive?” I asked, confusion knitting my brow. My instincts screamed that there was more to this story, a truth hidden in Elira’s hesitant pause.
“His Majesty…” Elira began, her eyes flickering with an emotion I couldn’t decipher—guilt, perhaps, or sorrow. “It was King Perock. He—”
Panic seized me, a cold fist tightening around my heart. Perock—what did he do? My wolf stirred within me, trembling with a shared dread, her instincts mirroring my own. Had he paid a price I couldn’t bear to imagine?
“I need to see him.” I said, pushing myself up despite the pain, my voice sharp with urgency. “Where is he?”
“Your Highness, you’ve only just woken,” Elira protested, her hands hovering, her face creased with worry. “Your body is still weak—you need rest.”
“I’ve rested for three days!” I snapped, swinging my legs over the side of the bed, my vision swimming as I stood, my knees threatening to buckle.
I braced myself against the bedpost, ignoring Elira’s pleas, and stumbled toward the door, driven by a desperate need to find Perock, to know he was alive, whole.
I yanked the door open, only to collide with a solid, familiar figure.
“Lilia.” Perock’s voice rang out, a mix of shock and unrestrained joy, his strong hands catching my shoulders, steadying me as I swayed. “You’re awake.”
I looked up into his amber eyes, and for a moment, every word I’d meant to say lodged in my throat, my heart stuttering.
He looked exhausted, his face paler than usual, dark circles bruising the skin beneath his eyes, his jaw shadowed with stubble.
Yet his gaze burned with a fierce light, a warmth that flared brighter at the sight of me, alive and standing before him.
“Mommy!” a small voice cried, and Anna darted from behind Perock, her tiny arms wrapping around my legs, her face pressed against me. “You’re awake! I miss you so much!”
My daughter’s tears glistened in her amber eyes, her cheeks flushed with emotion.
I dropped to my knees, ignoring the ache in my body, and pulled her into my arms, kissing her forehead, her cheeks, her hair, my own tears falling freely.
Her warmth, her soft breaths, her clinging hands—they were everything, a lifeline pulling me back from the edge of despair.
“I was so scared you wouldn’t wake up,” Anna sobbed, her small hands clutching my gown, her voice muffled against my shoulder. “King Perock said you’d come back, but I was so scared…”
“I’m here, sweetheart,” I murmured, stroking her hair, my voice thick with emotion. “Mommy’s not going anywhere. I’m right here.”
Elira slipped out quietly, closing the door behind her, granting us privacy. I stood, my hands trembling as I reached for Perock, my fingers brushing his face, tracing the lines of exhaustion etched there. His eyes softened, filled with a tenderness that made my chest ache.
“Thank goodness, you’re okay…”
My lips quivered, and I couldn’t hold back any longer.
Tears streamed down my face as a long-buried emotion stirred within me—a deep, powerful connection tied to our fated bond, the same one I’d felt five years ago, only to be wounded by it.
But this time, it wasn’t just the pull of our wolf blood.
It was something more, something built on mutual understanding and shared experiences.
I realized then that despite the pain of the past, despite the walls I’d built to protect myself, despite my attempts to convince myself I no longer loved him—the truth was, I had never stopped loving Perock.
Now, seeing his weary yet joyful face, witnessing the natural closeness between him and Anna, I no longer wanted to run from the truth. I still loved Perock, just as I had five years ago—perhaps even more.
“Anna,” I said, steadying my emotions and wiping my tears with the back of my hand. I made a decision that was five years overdue. “Mommy has something very important to tell you.”
Anna looked up at me, her small face curious. “What is it, Mommy?”
I glanced at Perock, whose expression instantly tightened with nervous anticipation, as if he could guess what I was about to say.
“King Perock isn’t just our friend,” I took a deep breath, steadying myself. “He’s your father, Anna. Your real father.”
Anna’s eyes widened, darting between Perock and me. Her little mouth formed a perfect “O,” clearly stunned by the revelation.
“Really?” she whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of disbelief and hope.
I nodded, offering her a gentle smile as I looked at Perock. “Yes, sweetheart. That’s why you have the same eyes.”
Anna stood frozen for a few seconds before bursting into a delighted squeal, throwing herself at Perock. “I have a daddy! I really have a daddy!”
Perock seemed utterly taken aback by the sudden turn of events. He stood there, stunned, looking from Anna to me, his eyes filled with a mixture of confusion and overwhelming joy he couldn’t quite believe.
“Lilia, are you sure…?” he asked softly, his voice almost trembling.
“I’m sure,” I nodded firmly. “It’s time Anna knew the truth. You’ve proven through your actions that you’re a father she can trust.”
Perock’s eyes glistened with unshed tears.
He dropped to one knee, pulling Anna into his arms with a tenderness that belied his strength.
“Yes, Anna, I’m your father. I’m so sorry I missed the first five years of your life, but I promise, from now on, I’ll be by your side. I’ll protect you and love you always.”
Anna clung to Perock’s neck, her little face pressed against his shoulder. “I finally have a daddy, just like the other kids.”
Watching them, the last barrier in my heart crumbled completely. Years of resentment and fear dissolved in that moment, replaced by a long-lost sense of peace and fulfillment.
Perock looked up at me, his gaze filled with gratitude and love. “Thank you, Lilia. Thank you for giving me this chance.”
I smiled and nodded, but a sudden wave of dizziness washed over me. Perock noticed immediately, gently setting Anna down before steadying me with a firm hand. “You need to rest, Lilia. You’ve only just woken up, and your body is still weak.”
Perock carefully guided me back toward the bed. “Anna, can you help out a little?”