Moonlit Bound

EPILOGUE

The silver glow of the full moon bathed the forest in a soft, ethereal light, casting shadows that danced across the trees. Emily stood at the edge of the clearing, her fingers tracing the intricate carvings on the ancient stone altar that had once bound her destiny. Tonight, it was quiet—no chanting, no desperate battles, no lingering curses. For the first time in months, the air felt still.

She tilted her head back, letting the cool night breeze sweep through her hair, carrying with it the faint scent of pine and wildflowers. It was over. The bloodline's curse, the centuries-old feud between clans, and the looming threat of destruction—all of it was behind her. The weight she had carried for so long seemed to dissipate, replaced by something unfamiliar but welcome: peace.

Behind her, the soft crunch of footsteps stirred her from her thoughts. She didn't need to turn around to know who it was. Liam's presence was like gravity, steady and grounding, pulling her toward him even when she wanted to stand still.

"You're quiet tonight," he said, his voice a low rumble that warmed the cool night air.

Emily smiled faintly, her fingers still brushing the stone. "Just thinking. About everything. How it all started, and how it ended."

"And what's your conclusion?" he asked, stepping closer until he was by her side.

She finally turned to face him. The moonlight softened the sharp angles of his face, but his eyes held the same storm they always did—intense, watchful, yet calm in her presence. "That it was worth it," she said softly. "Every fight, every loss, every hard decision. It all brought me here. To this moment. To you."

For a second, the guarded walls he always kept around him seemed to fall away, leaving something raw and unspoken between them. "You know," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, "I didn't think I could ever feel this way. Not after... everything."

Emily reached out, her hand finding his. Their fingers intertwined effortlessly, the connection as natural as breathing. "Neither did I," she admitted. "I spent so long feeling like my life wasn't my own. Like I was just... following a script written long before I was born. But now, it's different. It's ours."

Liam's thumb brushed across the back of her hand, a small gesture, but one filled with more tenderness than words could convey. "So," he said, a teasing edge creeping into his tone, "what does the great Emily Sutton do now? After saving the world, uniting the clans, and proving every prophecy wrong?"

She laughed softly, the sound carrying through the clearing like a melody. "I don't know. I've never had the luxury of planning a future before. Maybe I'll finally finish my degree. Take a vacation somewhere warm. Do something normal for a change."

"Normal?" Liam raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "You? I'll believe it when I see it."

Emily nudged him lightly, rolling her eyes. "Fine. Maybe normal isn't in the cards for me. But I wouldn't want it any other way."

They stood there in comfortable silence, the wind rustling the leaves above them. The forest, once a place of danger and secrets, now felt like home.

"Do you think the peace will last?" she asked after a moment, her voice quieter now.

Liam's expression turned serious. "Probably not. Peace never lasts forever. But we'll deal with whatever comes next, together."

Her heart swelled at the certainty in his voice. "Together," she repeated, the word settling like an anchor in her chest.

He stepped closer, his hands resting lightly on her shoulders, his gaze locking with hers. "You're not alone anymore, Emily. Whatever the future holds, you have me. Always."

Tears pricked at her eyes, but she didn't let them fall. Instead, she smiled—bright and unguarded, the kind of smile she hadn't worn in years.

"Come on," Liam said, tilting his head toward the path. "The future's waiting."

As they walked away from the clearing, hand in hand, the moon followed them, its light a silent witness to the promise they had made. Emily didn't know what lay ahead, but for the first time, she wasn't afraid.

She had chosen her path. And for the first time, it truly felt like hers