Page 54 of Sun's Roar

HELENA

Helena stood tall and victorious in the clearing after the battle with Victor and his small army. The fire that had moments ago danced along her fingertips and blazed across the castle grounds had disappeared, leaving only scorched earth and the acrid scent of smoke.

Her eyes found Sol’s wolf form across the clearing, magnificent and powerful, his black fur gleaming like polished onyx under the moon’s glow. He padded toward her with a predator’s grace, each step purposeful and precise. Helena’s heart hammered in her chest, but not from fear. A strange, primal recognition coursed through her.

“You’re beautiful,” she whispered as he approached.

Sol’s wolf form stood taller than any natural wolf, powerful muscles rippling beneath his thick coat. His green eyes – the same piercing emerald as his human form – seemed to see straight into her soul. The connection between them pulsed like a living thing, carrying emotions that didn’t need words: pride, relief, and something deeper that made her throat tight.

Sol’s wolf nudged her hand with his muzzle before turning, clearly wanting her to follow. She walked beside him, matching his pace as he led her away from the chaos and into the castlegardens. The night air felt cool against her skin after the heat of battle, and the scent of roses and jasmine replaced the smell of smoke and blood.

In a secluded corner of the garden, Sol stopped near a stone bench. Helena watched in fascination as his form shimmered and changed, bones and muscle rearranging until the man she knew stood before her, gloriously naked in the moonlight. Without embarrassment, he reached behind the bench and pulled out a bundle of clothes – a simple T-shirt and jeans – and dressed quickly.

The silence between them felt too heavy for Helena to bear.

“I’m so sorry,” she blurted out, her voice cracking. “For leaving you. For not believing you. For everything.”

Sol took a step toward her, his expression unreadable. “But you came back.”

“I didn’t have much choice,” Helena laughed nervously, then sobered. “But I would have. Eventually. When Victor told me what he planned to do to you, something... broke open inside me. It was like someone turned on a light in a dark room. Suddenly I could feel you – here.”

She pressed her hand to her chest over her heart. “The mate bond you talked about. I felt it, Sol. Everything you tried to tell me from the start. That unbreakable connection, that soul-deep recognition. It hit me all at once, and I knew I was meant to be with you.”

Sol’s eyes blazed with intensity. “And now?”

“Now I know where I truly belong.” Helena stepped closer, close enough to feel the heat from his body. “With you. With the pack. As your Luna.”

Sol laughed and cupped her face with one large hand, his touch gentle despite the strength she knew he possessed. “Those words are worth fighting a hundred battles to hear.”

“I should have said them sooner.” Helena leaned into his touch. “I was just?—“

“Scared. I know.” His thumb brushed her lower lip. “Any sane person would be.”

“Are you calling me crazy now?” A small smile tugged at her mouth.

“No. Brave,” Sol corrected. “The bravest woman I’ve ever known.”

He dipped his head, claiming her mouth in a kiss that started gently but quickly blazed into something more primal. Helena melted against him, her body recognizing its missing piece. When they finally pulled apart, both breathless, Sol pressed his forehead to hers.

“Welcome home, Luna.”

Helena smiled, feeling the rightness of it settle into her bones. “Home,” she agreed. “It has a nice ring to it.”

Sol wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to his chest. “Helena,” he murmured, “will you become my Luna in every way tonight and accept my mate mark?”

Her pulse quickened at the question, the weight of it settling in her chest. She knew what it meant—the bond, the commitment, the forever. A part of her still marveled at how quickly her life had spiraled into this moment, but the other part, the deeper part, felt the undeniable rightness of it. She loved him. She wanted him. She wanted this.

“Yes,” she whispered, her voice steady despite the lump in her throat. “It’s time.”

His eyes darkened with a mix of relief and desire. “Come with me. There’s a place where this is meant to happen.”

He led her through the castle grounds and into the forest. The moon bathed the path in a silvery glow, and the air smelled of earth and pine. Helena’s nerves buzzed with anticipation, but Sol’s presence beside her was grounding.

They soon reached a clearing, and Helena stopped in her tracks, her breath catching. The space was magical, bathed in moonlight with soft moss covering the ground and the trees forming a natural canopy. It felt ancient and sacred as if it held the echoes of countless unions before theirs.

“This is where the alphas of the Sunflare pack have claimed their Lunas for centuries,” Sol said, his voice warm with pride. “And tonight, it’s our turn.”

Helena turned to face him, her heart swelling with emotion. “It’s perfect.”

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