Chapter 185
Elena’s POV
The days following Rafael’s first training session settled into a strange, dichotomous rhythm. On one hand, the palace was a fortress on high alert. The hunt for Glenda was still ongoing.
Day and night, Kaelen’s men were going all over the place, searching every nook of the palace, even the slums and borderlands.
But despite the tension among the facilitators of security, the palace was still joyfully busy as they prepared for Deacon and I’s wedding two days from now.
It felt surreal how we live in between a foreboding battle and a wedding.
With the help of staff and hardworking team members, the final preparations were officially completed the day after.
The reception hall had turned into a ballroom with gold and purple decorations. The menu list of all our favorites from fancy to usual meals were finalized and so we’re the guest list that’s been double checked by the security.
In the wardrobe, my wedding dress hangs, radiating a magical and warm feeling.
“Everything is ready, Princess. There’s literally nothing for you to worry about by breathing,” Zara joked as she closed her
tablet with satisfaction.
I nodded and thanked her before leaving, with one thing in my mind.
There was one thing left. One errand that didn’t appear on any official checklist.
“Are you ready?” Deacon asked, meeting me at the doorstep of the main door.
He’s wearing a black suit and cut his bristles, looking clean and sharp.
“I am,” I replied, picking up the small bouquet of white lilies I had arranged myself. “Thank you for doing this with me. I know it’s a risk leaving the compound.”
“For this?” Deacon stepped closer, smoothing a stray hair from my forehead. “I would cross a battlefield for this.”
We took an unmarked black SUV, driving without a motorcade to avoid drawing attention. The drive to the city cemetery was quiet. The sky was a bruised purple, heavy with clouds that promised rain later in the evening, but for now, the air was still. It felt like the world was holding its breath.
The cemetery was located on a hill overlooking the older part of the city. It was peaceful here, far removed from the politics of the pack and the intrigue of the court. We walked hand in hand along the gravel path, the crunch of our footsteps the only sound breaking the silence. Guards fanned out in the distance, giving us a wide berth to ensure privacy while maintaining a protective perimeter.
We stopped in front of two modest headstones made of grey granite. Moss had begun to claim the corners, softening the edges.
Here lies a great Alpha and Luna. Beloved Parents.
My throat tightened. It had been months since I visited. Life had been moving so fast, becoming a Princess, fighting Bryson, dealing with Glenda, adopting Rafael… It’s all too fast that I had almost forgotten to pause and look back at where I came from.
“Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad,” I whispered, my voice thick.
I knelt down, brushing away a few fallen autumn leaves from the base of the stones before laying the white lilies against the cold earth.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been here in a while,” I continued, tracing the letters of my mother’s name “A lot has happened. You wouldn’t believe it if I told you. I’m… I’m getting married. Again.”
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Chapter 195
+25 Bonus
I let out a wet, shaky laugh. “But this time, it’s real. This time, I’m not trying to earn love. I’m just… loved.”
I felt Deacon’s presence behind me, a solid wall of warmth. He placed his hand on my shoulder, squeezing gently. He didn’t rush me. He didn’t speak. He just stood witness to my grief and my joy.
“I wanted to invite you,” I said, tears finally spilling over. “I know you can’t be there. But I needed you to know. I’m happy, Dad. I’m finally safe. I found someone who looks at me the way you used to look at Mom.”
I stood up, wiping my cheeks, and turned to Deacon. “Deacon, as you already know these are my parents.”
Deacon didn’t just nod. He stepped forward, standing beside me with a solemn respect that took my breath away. He looked at the headstones not as rocks, but as the people who had created the woman he loved.
And I also knew he had great respect for them. After all, my father was one of his teachers in martial arts.
“It is an honor to see you both again,” Deacon said, his voice deep and resonant in the quiet air. He spoke to them directly, as if they were standing right there. “Whereever you are, be rest assured that I’ll take care of your precious daughter the way you did and cherish her for the rest of my life.”
He reached out and took my hand, interlacing our fingers tight.
“I promise you,” he vowed to the silent graves, “that I will protect her with my life. I will cherish her every day that I draw breath. She will never be alone again. You raised a queen, and I intend to treat her as one.”
The wind picked up, rustling the trees overhead, sending a shower of golden leaves drifting down around us. It felt like ant answer. A blessing.
I leaned my head against Deacon’s arm, feeling a profound sense of peace settle over me. The anxiety about the wedding, the fear of Glenda, the pressure of the crown… it all faded for a moment.
“Do you think they approve?” I asked softly.
Deacon looked down at me, his golden eyes soft. “How could they not? They wanted you to be happy, Elena. And you are.”
“I am,” I agreed. “I really am.”
We stood there for who knew how long, just feeling the peace and watching the sun sets and the sky turn into a masterpiece of shades of red and orange.
A storm was about to come, and I meant literally. It would be without a doubt that Glenda would take her revenge.
But for now, I didn’t feel afraid. I felt a surge of determination and hope within me.
Together we could do everything.
“Let’s go,” Deacon said softly, sensing the temperature drop. “Let’s go home. We have a wedding to get to.”
“Yes,” I smiled, squeezing his hand. “Let’s go home.”
As we walked back toward the car, the first drop of rain fell, cool against my cheek. I didn’t wipe it away. I felt like I had been reborn again.
The old Elena, the rejected mate, the orphan, was gone. And as the car door closed, sealing us in together, I knew I was ready for whatever came next.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
