The Bride of the Lost Village

The Stars Have Other Plans

As Alvin and Seraphina emerged from the Mystic Forest, their hands intertwined, the weight of their newly discovered bond heavy in the air. The rest of the pack and their imprinted sorceresses followed closely behind, but Seraphina, her focus was entirely on what lay ahead—her parents.

Seraphina's mother, Elara Everhart, and her father, Aldric, stood at the forest's edge, their faces tense with a mixture of fear and sadness. They had been waiting for the moment their daughter would return, praying that the stars would have mercy on their family. But as soon as they saw her, their worst fears were confirmed.

Elara's eyes widened as she noticed the way Seraphina's hand rested so naturally in Alvin's. There was no mistaking the connection, the deep and unbreakable bond that could only mean one thing: Seraphina had imprinted with the Lycan.

"The stars..." Elara whispered, her voice trembling. "The stars had other plans for her."

Aldric placed a comforting hand on his wife's shoulder, but the pain in his eyes was just as clear. He sighed deeply, his voice low. "It looks like they've imprinted. We have no choice now... She is destined, just like your sister."

Elara's breath hitched as the memories of her own sister rushed back, a woman who had once imprinted with a Lycan and disappeared from their lives forever. She looked up at her husband, tears brimming in her eyes. "Those who leave cannot return, Aldric. They can never come back because they can't risk putting the village in danger. It's been 35 years, and I haven't seen my sister since. I... I don't want to lose Seraphina too."

Elara's sobs broke through her words, her voice cracking as she spoke. "I'd rather our daughter be someone ordinary, someone who could stay here with us. At least then we could watch her grow, marry someone from the village, and raise her children by our side."

Aldric held his wife close, his expression pained. "I know, Elara. I know. But we can't change what's written in the stars. Seraphina has a destiny, and now that she's bonded with Alvin, there's no turning back."

He turned to face Seraphina, who stood with Alvin a few feet away. Aldric's voice was soft, yet filled with the sadness of a father who had just lost his little girl. "After Luna Night, when she returns, your sister will be waiting for her. She will help her through this transition. But for now, let's make the best of the time we have left with her."

Elara wiped her tears and nodded weakly. "You're right. We have to make these moments count."

With a deep breath, Aldric looked to Alvin, his gaze searching but not unkind. "Let's meet Alvin properly."

The rest of the day passed in a blur of mixed emotions. The Lycans, who had imprinted, spent time with their respective mates and their families, but the reality of the situation weighed heavily on all of them. The bond between a Lycan and their mate was unbreakable, but it also meant that the sorceresses who had imprinted could never return to the village. They would leave with their mates, and the goodbyes they shared with their families might be as good as forever.

Seraphina was quiet, the sadness in her eyes evident as she realized that her time in the village, the place she had called home her entire life, was coming to an end. "I didn't think it would happen like this," she admitted softly, sitting beside Alvin on a small bench overlooking the village.

Alvin turned to her, his gaze filled with understanding. "I know this is hard, but you're not alone. You're in good hands, Seraphina. I promise I'll take care of you."

Seraphina managed a small smile, but the weight of everything still pressed on her. "My mother... she's heartbroken. I know she wanted me to stay here, to live a normal life."

Alvin's expression softened. "I can understand why. My mother—she would've wanted me to stay close to her too, but she knew about destiny. She accepted it long before I did."

Seraphina's brows furrowed in curiosity. "Your mother? What was she like?"

Alvin shifted, his gaze distant for a moment. "My mother was a strong woman. Kind, but fierce. She understood what it meant to be part of the Lycan lineage, but she also had her own secrets... We're cousins, Seraphina."

Seraphina blinked, her heart skipping a beat. "Cousins?"

Alvin nodded, his lips curling into a soft smile. "It doesn't happen often, but sometimes, when fate brings together a pair of distant relatives like us, it's said that something extraordinary is meant to come from it. It's rare—a once-in-a-blue-moon kind of event. Maybe that's why we're feeling this connection so strongly."

Seraphina's mind raced, trying to process the weight of this revelation. "So... we were destined, not just because of the imprint, but because of something even deeper?"

Alvin nodded, taking her hand in his. "We were. And that's why I know everything will work out. We're stronger together, Seraphina."

The next few days passed quickly, as the village prepared for the upcoming Luna Night. It was a time of celebration, a time to honour both the bond between the Lycans and their mates and Seraphina's coming-of-age ceremony. The entire village buzzed with excitement as decorations were hung, food was prepared, and garments were woven.

Alvin spent as much time as he could with Seraphina and her family, getting to know them better. He learned about her childhood, her dreams, and her hopes for the future. She shared stories of her days training with the other sorceresses, and how she had always felt the pull of destiny, even if she hadn't known where it would lead her.

In turn, Alvin spoke of his own life—the pressures of leadership and the expectations placed on him by his pack and his family. He told her about his mother, how she had always believed in the power of the stars, and how she had prepared him for this very moment, even when he hadn't been ready to accept it.

"I think she knew," Alvin said one evening as they sat together beneath the stars. "I think my mother always knew that I would find you."

Seraphina smiled, resting her head against his shoulder. "And I think... I was always waiting for you."

For Seraphina, it wasn't just the Luna Night wasn't just the night of her wedding, but also the night she would be officially recognized as an adult, her body prepared for the union and for carrying the heir of the Stormrider lineage. The village elders performed the rituals with reverence, ensuring that the magic passed through her was strong enough to fulfil her destiny.