Chapter 339

They would, when it felt right.

When Cassian had settled more fully into his new role. The pack was adjusting to so much change already; introducing their new Luna could wait until things were more stable.

Despite the hardships of the past several months, Cassian looked… lighter.

The weight of leadership still rested on him-Moonstone had not suddenly become an easy pack to guide-but he no longer looked like a man bracing for impact.

He had grown into the role the way his father had hoped he would: painfully, imperfectly, and with his heart.

intact.

They left the twins to play with Isla and Lance for a moment and made their way over to Ellie and Nolan. As they walked, Rae squeezed his hand, grounding him without trying to steer him.

They stopped in front of Nolan.

“Your sons are feral,” Cassian informed him solemnly.

Nolan huffed a quiet laugh. “Inherited trait.”

Ellie smiled at them both. “Thank you for chasing them.”

Rae shrugged. “Best training I’ve had all week.”

Cassian hesitated, then nodded toward Ellie. “You’ve done well,” he said simply.

Ellie understood what he meant.

She inclined her head. “So have you.”

Cassian didn’t argue.

Ellie and Cassian had talked plenty in the days following Alaric’s death. They’d been the best support for one another that they could. Still, this part of it was awkward. Expressing joy at their successes since his loss felt hollow somehow.

Cassian and Rae moved on, pulled back into the orbit of celebration.

Nolan’s attention returned to the twins as they collapsed onto the grass, breathless and giggling, Isla flopping down beside them while Lance pretended to inspect imaginary injuries with great seriousness.

Nolan felt something in his chest ease.

He had never had this.

Not really.

A childhood shaped by expectation rather than affection. A pack that had been orderly, powerful-and emotionally distant. Even later, leadership had been something he wielded alone, mistakes made in isolation, strength measured by endurance rather than connection.

His world had always been cold, lonely, and violent.

This-

This was different.

A messy, imperfect, deeply loving web of people who showed up for one another not because they had to, but because they chose to.

“This is more than I could have dreamed of,” he said quietly.

Ellie turned toward him.

Her expression softened, eyes bright but steady. She followed his gaze-took in the boys, the mingled packs, the easy laughter that had once felt impossible.

The family they had built together. Aunts, uncles, friends… something that neither of them had grown up with. But their boys had it, and they always would.

“And it’s ours,” she said.

Not gifted.

Not borrowed.

Built.

Nolan tightened his grip on her hand.

The sun dipped lower, casting the clearing in gold. Someone started a new song- slower this time-and couples drifted together, swaying without choreography or care for who was watching.

Ellie rested her head briefly against Nolan’s shoulder.

For a fleeting moment, she felt it again.

Not a vision.

Not a voice.

Just a familiar warmth brushing the edges of her awareness.

Pride.

Love.

Peace.

She didn’t turn. Didn’t search the crowd or the sky.

She didn’t need to.

Some things, once given, didn’t need to be repeated.

The twins tumbled toward them again, lan clinging to Nolan’s leg, August reaching up for Ellie with a

demanding little noise that brooked no refusal.

Ellie scooped him up without hesitation.

Nolan bent, lifting lan easily onto his hip.

Together, they stood at the center of it all-war behind them, grief woven into who they were, joy blooming

anyway.

The kingdom had changed.

So had they.

“Dada,” lan said, his little voice serious. “Birthday?”

“That’s right, baby. It’s your birthday. Yours and August’s.”

“Birthday cake!” August shouted excitedly.

Nolan and Ellie laughed at the boy’s enthusiasm. They moved toward the buffet table, August and lan babbling excitedly as the sweets grew closer.

All around them, Silver Fang and Moonstone are filled with joy and celebration. It was more than Ellie or Nolan could have imagined only a year ago.

The future wasn’t guaranteed. It was something they had fought and sacrificed to reach. And they both knew there would be more battles ahead.

More storms to weather.

And this time-

The future was not something to survive.

It was something they were finally allowed to live.