Chapter 244: The Morning Light

Vivian’s POV

Joshula shifted uneasily in his wooden chair, his gaze dropping down to the floor for a brief moment before lifting back up, his expression looking clear but somewhat distant.

"Fate kept me informed, oddly enough, about the progress of the outside world," Joshula explained quietly. "His own passing thoughts and ramblings mostly, nothing that truly mattered in the grand scheme of things. I could not respond to him, I could only listen. There were brief moments when I was actually able to move my physical body, and during those times, he showed genuine joy and delight in how well I was healing up," Joshula said, his voice dropping low, sounding almost reverent.

Something in the careful way he spoke about Fate made my brows draw together closely in deep concern.

"Why on earth did Fate keep you all to himself hidden away like that for all this time?" I asked softly.

Joshula shrugged his shoulders, looking completely uninterested, like it was a question not even worth much of his thought. "I am honestly not sure."

Before I could react or ask more, Zahliver murmured quietly beside me, "Well, I happen to know why."

I turned my head quickly to look at him, feeling very curious.

"When I finally reached Fate, he had planned to use you against me in order to force the two of us to fight each other to the death. Just seeing your survival was supposed to shock me enough to break my spirit. He knew full well that I would never hurt you again on purpose," Zahliver said grimly, his dark eyes fixed firmly on his brother.

My heart skipped a painful beat in my chest.

"He actually wanted you to fight your own beloved brother? All over again?" The pure disgust bubbled right up to the surface in my voice, even if no one had asked for my opinion.

Zahliver’s voice sounded dark with total agreement. "Yeah, that is... completely messed up."

Joshula gave a short nod of his head before clearing his throat. "When I was finally fully awake, Fate showed me the incredible new abilities I could wield and proved just how strong I had actually become."

There was something in his tone that sounded almost fond—a strange detail that made me tilt my head in confusion. Could I possibly be imagining that tone?

"Mother Luna actually said something about—" Zahliver began, but I cut him off eagerly, far too excited to wait.

"Luna? As in Mother Luna herself? You actually saw her with your own eyes? What is she even like? What does she look like? Tell me everything right now!" I practically whispered, my heart pounding loudly against my ribs. Every single wolf alive secretly craves to know their divine creator.

Zahliver blinked in total surprise as I practically bounced up and down beside him, but he quickly caught my hands in his, gently trying to steady me. I could not stop the wild excitement that lit up my face.

"She is... well, she is sort of..." He hesitated for a second, his dark eyes narrowing suspiciously at me. "She actually reminded me a lot of you, in a strange sort of way," he said, almost talking to himself.

I stared right at him, searching his face for any hint of teasing, but found only absolute sincerity shining in his eyes.

"Really?" I breathed out, completely stunned.

"Yeah, really," he said softly, looking down at me with something deeply warm filling his gaze.

She reminded him of me... Somehow, just hearing that made my chest swell up with pride and emotion.

Zahliver chuckled softly at my dazed, happy grin. "Anyway, she mentioned something else..." He paused for a second, thinking very carefully. "He asked her for a special favor—probably to give him the power of many wild wolves, just to make you heal much faster and stronger... maybe even more than that." Joshula nodded silently in agreement right beside him.

Zahliver’s eyes darkened as he fell deep into thought. "Maybe we should actually test why Fate thought you could possibly defeat me in a fight."

Joshula’s voice suddenly sharpened with a clear, sharp challenge. "What, you honestly do not believe that I could beat you in a match?"

That sudden statement instantly snapped me right out of my swirling, distracted thoughts.

"I am not even a werewolf anymore, Joshula," Zahliver replied smoothly, leaning back against the couch with a calm sense of certainty. "But I can safely assume that raw divine power flows strongly through you right now."

Joshula hummed softly in thought, considering his words.

I leaned forward eagerly, suddenly feeling curious about the outside world again. "You just said that Fate told you all about the world’s progress over the years. Does that mean he literally never showed you the actual outside world outside these walls?"

Joshula nodded thoughtfully and said, "You are quite right. Fate showed me plenty of pictures, old books, and those magical moving things called movies and documentaries, but I was never once allowed to actually leave this place." He glanced casually toward the tall window, where the pale morning sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon. That soft, golden morning glow hit me with a sudden, crashing realization—Zahliver and I had not slept a single wink the entire night through. And looking at him, maybe Joshula had not slept either.

A massive wave of bone-deep exhaustion suddenly crashed over my shoulders. I glanced quickly at the digital clock hanging on the wall: it read 6:55 a.m.

Good grief, why did morning have to come so early? This was not even a fancy dinner anymore; it was early breakfast time. How strange life was.

"Well, I guess the two of you still have an awful lot of catching up to do," I said aloud, stretching my tired arms up as I stood to my feet. "But honestly, I have not slept in forever. I am going to go take a long nap right now. Peace out, boys."

Zahliver immediately stood up right beside me, rubbing his tired eyes with the back of his hand. He looked just as thoroughly wiped out as I felt.

"I think we can easily finish this long conversation later today, Joshula. What do you say?" Zahliver asked politely, pulling me close against his side as he waited for his brother’s final answer.

Joshula stood up from his chair and walked over toward us. "I completely agree with you. We could all use some proper rest right now."

Zahliver gave Joshula’s broad back a friendly, affectionate pat, and together we turned and headed slowly up the stairs toward our bedroom.

"Good morning—or good night, I suppose, Joshula. See you soon," I called out cheerfully over my shoulder as I slipped inside our room. His soft, quiet laughter was the only reply I heard.

I flopped face-first onto the big bed, instantly landing in a messy star shape, and closed my heavy eyes for a brief second. Zahliver climbed in right beside me a moment later, slid underneath the warm covers, and pulled me tightly against him—somehow cleverly tugging the heavy blanket up from beneath me so that both of us were fully covered and warm. He turned me gently onto my side, matching my exact movement, and let out a long, contented sigh into the quiet room.

"I still honestly cannot believe everything that has happened to us, Vivian," he whispered softly right into my ear. "I finally have my brother back safe and sound, my old revenge is officially complete, and best of all, I have you right here beside me. It honestly feels like a crazy dream."

I curled my body further into his warm chest, feeling safe and completely surrounded by comfort, when a sudden, mischievous little thought popped right into my head. I giggled quietly to myself.

"Ouch!" he suddenly exclaimed in surprise, pulling back just enough to look down at me, clearly completely puzzled by my actions.

I stayed put right where I was, wearing a wide, innocent grin.

"What on earth was that sharp pinch for?" he asked, blinking in confusion.

"I just pinched you hard to prove to you that you were not dreaming this time," I said playfully, absolute certainty ringing clearly in my voice.

He let out a low, rumbling growl, pure amusement dancing clearly in his rich tone.

"Yeah, but why the hell did you have to pinch my ass?" he grumbled good-naturedly.

"Well, that specific part was just strictly for my own personal peace of mind," I admitted shamelessly with a bright smirk.

He shook his head slowly, a warm smile tugging right at the corners of his lips. "Of course it was, my little trouble."

The bedroom finally fell completely silent, and I was just drifting off to sleep when I suddenly felt the undeniable urge to say one last thing out loud.

"You were totally right, you know," I murmured softly into his chest.

"Hmmm? About what?" he replied sleepily, his eyes looking heavy with approaching slumber.

"Zahliver definitely suits you much better as a name. You were right about that whole thing all along." I exhaled the whispered words quickly.

His strong arms tightened protectively around my waist, and then he pulled back just slightly to cup my face and kissed me firmly right on the lips—a deep, deliberate kiss that instantly jolted me wide awake. My eyes fluttered wide open to meet his dark, clear blue gaze.

My breath caught sharply in my throat.

"What was that sudden kiss for?" I whispered breathlessly.

"Just for being wonderfully you," he said softly, his voice full of pure affection.

"Oh." I felt a deep blush creep up my cheeks, suddenly feeling quite shy under the intense weight of his loving gaze.

Slowly, deliberately, he leaned his head down once more and kissed me again—this time slow, deep, and thoroughly intoxicating—making my back naturally arch against his chest. I gasped softly for fresh air as he finally pulled his lips away just a tiny fraction.

"And what about that one?" I asked, my voice coming out shaky and breathless.

A wonderfully wicked grin spread wide across his handsome face before he finally answered, his voice dropping low, husky, and full of raw passion: "For being entirely mine."