Chapter 132 Fuck it!! I am doing it.

Chapter 132: Chapter 132 Fuck it!! I am doing it.

Noah had returned to the garden where he and Killian had earlier gone to find food. Except this time, he was alone. The beautiful garden was just as peaceful as before—the fountain continued to flow gently, swans paddled across the clear water, and the moonlight filtered through the trees, painting everything in a soft silver glow. Yet Noah couldn’t appreciate any of it. His mind was still stuck on everything that had happened: Lamia’s words, Lysander’s anger, the strange bond between him and the demon, the Moonlight Alphas, the Emperor, the sword, and most importantly, himself.

He walked toward the fountain and stopped beside it, his fingers tightening around the sword in his hand. "What am I really here for?" His reflection stared back at him from the surface of the water. "I need to figure myself out and stand my ground. I’m tired of always being protected. At least let me be my own person."

He had spent so much time being dragged from one dangerous situation into another that he barely had time to understand what was happening to him. Everyone seemed to know something he didn’t—Lysander knew something, Lamia knew something, the Moonlight Alphas probably knew something, even the Emperor knew something. And somehow, Noah was always the last person to find out what was happening to his own life.

He leaned closer to the fountain. But before he could look properly into the water, a warm hum suddenly vibrated through his mind. Noah staggered backward. "What was that?" He grabbed his temple. It wasn’t pain—it was almost like a ringing sound buried deep inside his head. Except it wasn’t really a sound. It felt more like a vibration, a presence, something that shouldn’t have been there.

Noah looked around suspiciously. The garden remained completely peaceful, the swans continuing to paddle through the water as if nothing had happened. His eyes moved toward the sword, then back to the fountain. "Okay..." He swallowed. "That definitely came from somewhere." He waited. Nothing happened. Maybe he really was imagining things. After everything that had happened at lunch, perhaps Lamia’s words had gotten into his head more than he wanted to admit. Maybe he was simply exhausted. "Maybe I’m just hearing things after all." Noah sighed. "Lamia’s words really got to me."

He turned away. Then the vibration happened again—this time stronger. And beneath the strange hum came a whisper. "Hey..." Noah froze. "It’s Ashton. I’m here."

Noah screamed. "AHHHHHH!" He bolted away from the fountain so quickly that he nearly tripped over himself. He didn’t completely leave the garden, but he put as much distance between himself and the fountain as possible. His chest rose and fell rapidly, his eyes wide. "Ashton?" His voice trembled. "Like... Ashton Lane?"

There was no answer. Noah stared at the sword in his hand, then at the fountain, then back at the sword. "How is that even possible?" His grip tightened. "How is a voice speaking through me?" He looked around frantically. "I’m not possessed by something around here, right?" He shook his head. "This is insanity at the highest peak."

He was about to walk away when the voice returned. "You’re not possessed." Noah stopped. The voice sounded different from what he had expected—it wasn’t frightening, but soft, almost familiar. "And you should let Lysander mark you."

Noah’s eyes widened. "What?!"

"He is the one who can lead you to the right path. Forget the supernatural wars for now. If you go into this alone, you’re going to die a painful death."

Noah’s mouth fell open. That was possibly the scariest advice anyone had ever given him. He slowly turned around. "You’re telling me to let a demon mark me?" Silence. Noah stared at the sword. "He’s the Prince of Hell." The voice remained quiet.

Noah’s mind immediately returned to Lamia—the warning, the danger, the possible consequences of being connected to Lysander. "What if Lamia was right?" Noah’s expression became troubled. "I’m probably making one of the greatest mistakes known to man by carrying a demon with me. The Prince of Hell himself could destroy everything around me."

The voice answered gently. "Are you going to let them dictate what you want?" Noah’s breathing slowed. "You’re the Pureblood and the salvation of the human territories. You’re meant to make your own decisions and follow your heart." The voice continued, "Trust yourself and your instincts enough to believe you’re making the right decision." Noah’s eyes stung slightly. "And believe it or not, no matter how terrible the consequences of mating with a demon might appear, you’re not going to become part of those consequences." Noah stared into the darkness. "You’re one of a kind. Let them understand that."

Noah couldn’t believe it—that was Ashton’s voice. The same Ashton whose life had been filled with suffering, whose actions had caused so much confusion, who had made Noah’s life a complete mess simply by existing. Yet somehow, this voice was the one encouraging him to trust himself.

Noah swallowed. "Since you’re here..." He took a step closer to the sword. "I want to know about you." The voice went silent. "What’s happening to you? Why can’t I access your complete memories?" Still nothing. "All I can see are fragmented pieces." Noah frowned. "And some of those memories make Killian look like the villain when he clearly isn’t." He shook his head. "I know there was more to what happened between you and the Alphas. There were other people involved. There were things surrounding your life that I still don’t understand." His voice became desperate. "So give me the answers." Silence. "Please." Nothing.

Noah clenched his jaw. "I’m tired of going around in circles. At least help me get your memories." He tapped his temple. "I can feel that there’s a huge chunk missing. I need you to guide me."

The request hung in the air. For several seconds, Ashton said nothing. Then finally—"Noah Evernight..." The voice sounded strangely serious. "You’re the Son of Light." Noah’s brows furrowed. "And also the Lord of the Dead, if you don’t know."

His entire body went still. "The Lord of the Dead?" Noah’s mouth opened slightly. He had suspected that there was something unusual about his abilities, but that? That was beyond anything he had imagined. If the Emperor possessed an affinity connected to death, then perhaps Noah had inherited it too. But that created another problem—Purebloods weren’t supposed to possess dark affinities. They were beings of light, not supposed to have powers connected to death, darkness, or anything resembling a dark grace. Yet Noah had one. Apparently, he was a walking loophole in nature itself.

"A nature loophole," Noah muttered.

The voice continued, "This means you can extract the answers yourself." Noah blinked. "What?" "You don’t need the demon." His eyes widened. "Or your mate." Noah stared blankly ahead. "With the powers inside you, you can open your own mind." Noah’s expression changed. "The answers are already there." His heart began beating faster. "Purebloods are ancient beings. Their souls are connected to those who came before them." Noah listened carefully. "They can channel fragments of ancient knowledge when they reach a deep state of meditation. If you enter that state properly, you can access what has been hidden from you."

Noah’s eyes widened further. "Everything?" "The memories. The answers. The truth."

Noah almost gagged. He had been searching everywhere, asking everyone, following people who clearly knew more than him. And the answer had apparently been inside him the entire time. "You’re telling me I can access everything myself?" "Yes."

Noah stared at the sword. For the first time since entering this strange world, hope filled his chest. Finally, he could get the answers. Finally, he could understand what was happening to him. "Thank you, Ashton." He smiled faintly. "But how did you know that?" No response. Noah frowned. "You’re not a Pureblood." He paused. "Wait." His eyes narrowed. "Are you?" He stepped closer to the sword. "I don’t even know if we’re still connected properly. I don’t know what you are anymore." He sighed. "I just don’t want to be left in the dark."

The sword suddenly began glowing. Noah froze. "Ashton?" The light grew brighter. "Ashton!" He looked around desperately. "Where are you?" Nothing. The glow suddenly vanished, and the voice disappeared with it. Noah stared at the sword. "Ashton?" Silence. "Ashton?!" Nothing. He groaned. "You’ve got to be kidding me."

Just as Noah was trying to understand what had caused the voice to disappear, footsteps approached from behind. He turned. Lysander walked into the garden, his expression immediately brightening when he saw Noah. "Noah, baby!" Noah blinked. "You didn’t eat." Lysander spread his arms. "Let’s have the food right here in the garden."

Before Noah could respond, the entire atmosphere changed. Food began appearing across the grass—plates materialized, roasted chickens, an enormous turkey, chicken broth with soy sauce, fresh vegetables, desserts, and of course, wine. Noah stared. "What the hell?"

Lysander smiled proudly. "This is my way of saying that you’re my fate." Noah’s brows rose. "And I want all your Alphas here." His smile became dangerously pleased. "Maybe we should finally perform the mating ceremony with you."

Noah nearly choked. "Mating ceremony?!" After everything that had happened at the dining table, Lysander was already suggesting this? What exactly was going through the demon’s head? "No." Noah shook his head immediately. "I don’t think I’m ready for that. Especially after what happened at the school with the Emperor. I don’t want anything like that anytime soon."

Lysander calmly stepped forward and placed a finger against Noah’s lips. "Shhh." He blew him a playful kiss. "Don’t be so fast to reject it, darling." Noah stared at him. "This is a very special ritual among supernaturals." Lysander’s voice became more serious. "You come beneath the moonlight and bond with the people you want to share your life with forever." Noah’s heart skipped. "It isn’t just a ceremony." Lysander continued. "It’s a lasting bond. And before the moon goddess blesses it, we’re required to come clean with ourselves."

Noah frowned. "Come clean?"

"Exactly." Lysander smiled. "The Moonlight Alphas and I will share our emotions with you. You’ll feel what we feel, and we’ll feel what you feel."

Noah’s eyes widened. "What I feel?"

"Everything." Lysander nodded. "And my feelings will be added to yours as well." His gaze softened. "That way, you will finally understand that none of us have bad intentions toward you." He glanced toward the entrance of the garden. "And it will strengthen our connection in case danger comes."

Noah didn’t notice at first, but three figures had already entered the garden—Eugene, Damian, and Killian. They had followed after Noah. Now they stood there listening, all three processing Lysander’s proposal.

Killian crossed his arms. "If this is another one of your stupid plans to destroy us and take Ashton for yourself, it won’t work."

Lysander rolled his eyes. "Must you always assume the worst?"

"With you?" Killian scoffed. "Yes."

Lysander ignored him. "Come." He gestured toward the food. "Let’s eat first." Then he looked directly at Noah. "And it’s up to you, Ashton Lane." Noah’s heart jumped at the name. "Do you want to bond with all of us?"

Everyone became quiet. Lysander’s grin widened. "Let’s get down to business." He paused. "And one more thing." Noah’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What?" Lysander smiled innocently. "After the bonding, the ritual requires you to consummate the bond with each of us."

Noah’s entire body froze. The garden became completely silent. Eugene’s face reddened. Damian looked like he was trying very hard not to laugh. Killian stared at Lysander as if he had lost his mind. Noah, meanwhile, stood there gaping. "You’re insane."

Lysander shrugged. "It’s part of the ritual."

Noah’s mind spun. This was insane—completely insane. He was standing in a magical garden surrounded by supernatural beings, being asked to officially bond with five powerful men while the voice of his supposedly dead identity had just appeared inside his head and told him to trust his instincts. What could possibly go wrong? Probably everything.

But then Noah remembered Ashton’s words—follow your heart. He looked at Eugene, then Killian, Damian, and finally Lysander. His fingers tightened. He had spent too long allowing everyone else to make decisions for him. Maybe this time, he should make one for himself.

"Fuck everything." Noah muttered under his breath. "I’m doing it." He lifted his head. "I’ll do it."

Lysander’s grin became enormous. Killian’s expression brightened. Eugene looked almost relieved. Noah took a deep breath. Whatever happened next, at least it would be his choice.