Chapter 106: Chapter 106: A Brief Rest

Lila’s POV

The past—sweet, painful, and deeply etched into my soul—was now incredibly clear. I remembered him warming me in the night, his vigil by my bedside, his kisses that were at once domineering and deeply affectionate. These were no longer cold, secondhand accounts, but scenes filled with warmth and emotion, occupying every corner of my soul.

Jasper lowered his head, his chin gently brushing against the crown of my head. His arms tightened, locking me firmly in his embrace as if to meld me with his very flesh and bone. “I know,” he whispered, his voice laced with a trace of lingering fear and endless relief. “I saw it in your mind.”

Before, my gaze held love and reliance, but it was always veiled by a thin layer of mist. Now, that mist had scattered, replaced by a profound affection as clear and steady as a deep spring. It was an affirmation that transcended time, life, and death—a direct communion between our souls.

We held each other quietly, letting time slip by. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows and spilled across the carpet, stretching our shadows long until they intertwined, inseparable. I felt a surging power within me—a gift from the Moon Crown Ceremony and proof of my awakening as the Moon Priestess. This power made me feel fuller and stronger than ever, as if I could control everything in the world. But in this moment, all I wanted was to be a woman nestled in her lover’s arms, enjoying this hard-won peace.

After what felt like an eternity, I stirred gently and lifted my head from Jasper’s embrace.

Jasper raised an eyebrow, a flicker of worry in his eyes. Though the ceremony had concluded successfully, he was still concerned about whether my newly recovered body could handle the subsequent strain.

“You just went through the ceremony,” he said, reaching up to cup my cheek, the pad of his thumb gently brushing the corner of my eye. “Your body…”

“I feel fantastic,” I interrupted, placing a soft kiss on the corner of his lips. “After the Moon Crown Ceremony, my body feels brimming with power, like… I’m fully charged. Every cell is singing with joy. I don’t feel the slightest bit tired.”

Seeing how full of life I was, the worry in Jasper’s eyes finally vanished, replaced by an indulgent smile. He shook his head with a look of fond resignation and gently tapped the tip of my nose. “Whatever you say.”

He then took my hand, lacing his fingers with mine. “So, where to next?”

A flicker of anticipation crossed my face. “I want to see Zoe.”

Jasper paused for a moment, then understanding dawned on him. ’Zoe isn’t just my best friend; she was my only light during those dark times.’ I wanted to see her not just because I missed her, but because I wanted to face the friend who had protected me as my complete, lucid self.

“Let’s go,” Jasper said, his tone light as he led me toward the door. “The housekeeper should have brunch ready. Zoe’s probably been getting impatient.”

The sunlight was even brighter outside the bedroom. As I walked down the long corridor, every step I took felt so light I thought I might fly.

In the garden, an exquisite brunch was already laid out. A white lace tablecloth fluttered gently in the breeze, and the silver tea set shimmered with a soft luster in the sunlight. Zoe, dressed in a casual sundress, was idly fiddling with her teacup. At the sound of footsteps, she snapped her head up. The moment she saw me, her eyes lit up.

“Lila!”

Zoe shot to her feet with a delighted cry and hurried over. She looked me up and down, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.

“Oh my god, you look…” Zoe struggled to find the right word. “Different. More vibrant, and… more radiant.”

I smiled, opened my arms, and gave Zoe a huge hug. We held each other tightly, as if pouring all the longing and worry of the past weeks into that one embrace. I caught the familiar scent of her citrus perfume—the smell of youth and vitality.

“I’m back, Zoe,” I whispered in her ear, my voice catching with emotion.

“Welcome back, Mommy.” Zoe let go of me, her eyes shimmering with tears, but the corners of her mouth lifted in a mischievous grin. “I knew you’d pull through.”

Jasper stood to the side, watching Zoe and me laugh and joke around, his eyes filled with tenderness. He pulled out a chair, gestured for me to sit, and then poured me a cup of herbal tea himself. The fragrant steam wafted up, mixing with the faint scent of flowers in the air to create a scene of warmth and harmony.

“Try this,” Zoe said, pushing a delicate macaron in front of me, her eyes twinkling with nostalgia. “It’s raspberry, your favorite. I had the kitchen make them specially.”

I picked up the macaron and took a small bite. The tartly sweet flavor bloomed on my tongue—the long-forgotten taste of happiness. I looked at Zoe across from me, then at Jasper by my side, and my heart filled with a sense of contentment and peace I had never known before.

“Zoe,” I said, taking her hand and looking at her earnestly. “Thank you. When I couldn’t remember anything, thank you for always being there for me.”

Zoe waved her hand, laughing with a deliberate air of nonchalance. “Hey, we’re best friends. It’s what we do. Besides, if you didn’t wake up, who would I complain to about Jasper’s bossiness?”

Jasper chuckled and shook his head with a resigned air, taking a small sip of his tea.

Sunlight filtered through the lush leaves of the sycamore trees in the garden, casting dappled shadows across the white lace tablecloth. The air was filled with the buttery aroma of freshly baked croissants, mixed with the distinct bergamot fragrance of Earl Grey tea. Everything felt so peaceful and perfect.

Zoe excitedly showed me a set of jewelry sketches she’d recently designed as a gift for an upcoming salon. Her eyes shone with youthful enthusiasm, and she chattered away nonstop, as if trying to pour out all her pent-up longing and worry in a torrent of words.

I listened with a smile, chiming in occasionally while my silver spoon gently stirred the amber liquid in my cup. ’But my thoughts weren’t entirely on the heartwarming scene before me. During the Moon Crown Ceremony, even as I felt the Wolf Clan’s submission and the healing it brought, a faint, twisted, and utterly dark presence had flickered through my senses—like a rat in a sewer.’

’It was Derek’s presence.’

“Lila? Lila!” Jasper’s deep voice pulled me back to reality. He was walking over with a plate of sliced fruit, his brow slightly furrowed with concern. “What’s on your mind? You suddenly look so serious.”

Zoe stopped talking and looked at me in confusion. “Yeah, Lila. The look you just had was ice-cold—exactly like Jasper when he’s giving orders.”

I set down my teacup, my fingertips lightly tracing the Wolf King’s mark on my neck, which was still warm to the touch. A faint, prickling sensation emanated from it now, as if pointing me in a certain direction.

“I can feel him,” I said, lifting my head. My gaze traveled past the garden fence toward the distant eastern horizon. “Derek isn’t dead, but he’s been punished. He has the Tear of the Moon God.”

Jasper froze for a second before sitting down across from me. His golden eyes instantly turned as sharp as blades, and the air around him grew dangerous and oppressive. “Where is he?”

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