CHAPTER 226: _THERE’S HOPE

Elian’s POV

*****

[Good morning to you! Good morning to you! It’s a new day to—]

"Shut. Up!" Elian groaned, rubbing his forehead when the system woke him up the next morning with its sing-song voice.

He was alone in his room, curled in his bed with the bed cloth wrapper warmly around him. But the truth was he had barely slept throughout the night.

Maybe he managed to get an hour or two of sleep.

The rest of the night’s hours was spent turning and tossing in bed while his mind reeled with everything that happened the previous day.

Especially on the last thing that happened before he retired to bed.

"Elian..." The way Lucian had said his name last night when he got his memories back was still fresh.

Elian sat up on bed, parting strands of his blonde white hair. The sunlight streamed from the room’s windows and balcony door, forcing him to squint.

[Solara to Elian? Sorry to disturb your internal monologue or whatever this is but you didn’t bother letting me finish when I read out your reward for the mission.]

Elian rolled his eyes, rubbing his forehead. "If your reward doesn’t involve me going back in time to slap myself before I could crush on Axel then I really don’t care."

He flung the bed sheets aside, placing his feet out of the bed. He stretched his arms with a yawn and was just about to scratch the back of his neck when he finally felt it.

His body felt... Rejuvenated.

Like he was put through flames and came out reborn.

[Calm down, phoenix king. Now do you want to check out your stats and what you got last night?]

Ugh... Fine.

"Go ahead."

The system flickered, projecting a screen with numbers running across it. The numbers ran for a bit before finally settling into words and figures Elian could understand.

[Mission completed! Help Lucian regain his memories of you. Reward: +5 points added to all your physical stats and two mana boosters.]

[Now for the host’s stats. Please hold...]

The bar loaded for a couple seconds before showing Elian’s updated stats.

[Here are the host’s stats:]

[Category: Wolfless Omega (Suppressed Lycan King bloodline)

Strength: 20

Durability: 19

Speed: 21

Regeneration: 18

Senses: 21

Mana Core level: N/A

Bond resonance mastery: 60% mastery of the skills of each mate.

Total Evaluation: Host is equivalent to a soldier class wolf without Bond resonance. With Bond Resonance of Lucian and Kyren, the host could potentially survive an encounter with a low class Alpha.]

Yay for him.

"Yet I don’t have a mana core." Elian got out of bed, scratching his back. "How’s any of this important—"

[You literally started off as a helpless omega who could get killed by a mere mosquito.]

Elian’s eyes twitched. "That was never proven—"

[Whatever. My point is, you’re getting really close to the pinnacle of werewolf power. Well... Not exactly "close" since even Alpha level wolves have differences. But you know what I mean.]

Elian smiled sarcastically.

A knock came from the door just as Elian was about to head into the shower.

Three gentle knocks.

He blinked, tightening the robe around his waist. "Who is it?"

"It’s Aurora," came the muffled reply. "May I come in?"

Elian hesitated for a moment before sighing. "Sure."

The door slid open with a soft hiss and Aurora stepped in, looking more rested than anyone had a right to after last night’s chaos. Her silver hair was tied in a loose braid, and the faint shimmer of moonlight essence still lingered around her aura.

She held two steaming cups in her hands.

"I figured you’d need this," she said, offering him one. "Lunarian synth-coffee. Extra strong."

Elian accepted the cup gratefully, the warmth seeping into his cold fingers. "Thanks," he murmured, taking a sip.

It was rich and slightly bitter — exactly what he needed to remind himself he was alive.

Aurora smiled faintly and took a seat on the couch near the window. "You look like you got zero sleep."

Elian gave a small laugh. "You’re not wrong. Spent the night trying to figure out how many times I nearly died yesterday. Lost count at four."

That drew a quiet chuckle from her — a sound far lighter than he expected from someone who had almost annihilated a traitorous Beta the night before.

"Lucian and Mother are checking the damage at the Beta’s room alongside the guards," she said, swirling her drink idly. "Kyren’s already awake too. He barely rested, not that I’m surprised. The man seems to run on paranoia and bloodlust."

Elian smirked. "Yeah, I noticed that combination works well for him."

Silence lingered for a moment.

Finally, Aurora looked up at him. "Elian... I wanted to thank you. For stepping in and protecting all of us."

Elian blinked, startled. "I didn’t exactly save the day. I nearly got strangled by your family’s arch-nemesis."

"Still." Aurora’s eyes softened. "You put yourself between a monster and your friends. Most people wouldn’t but you did."

Elian didn’t know what to say to that so he simply nodded, staring down into his cup.

After a pause, Aurora tilted her head. "You know... when Garrick grabbed you, I thought— I thought Lucian was going to lose it. His aura spiked so high it cracked the walls. I’ve never seen him react that way to anyone. Not even Mother."

Elian’s breath hitched slightly. "Yeah, well. That’s because he..."

He trailed off, unsure if he should continue.

But Aurora’s curious gaze urged him on.

"...he remembered," Elian finished quietly. "All of it."

Aurora blinked. "You mean—?"

"Every memory," Elian confirmed. "The..." he coughed, catching himself before he could mention the system, "something triggered it when Garrick tried to kill me. His memories came flooding back."

Aurora’s eyes widened with something between relief and awe. "So he knows who you are. What you were to him."

Elian nodded slowly. "He does. And now it’s... complicated. He looked at me last night like he was seeing a ghost."

Aurora sighed softly. "Lucian doesn’t handle emotions well. But he remembers, Elian. That means there’s hope."

[Hope, huh? What a cute little word. Usually followed by disappointment, heartbreak, and uncontrollable sobbing.]

Elian nearly choked on his drink. "Can you not—"

"Hmm?" Aurora blinked.

"Nothing," he said quickly, waving her off. "Talking to myself."

She frowned a little but didn’t press.

"By the way," she continued, setting her cup down, "that phasing thing you did — when Garrick was choking you — what was that? You went completely intangible for a second."

Elian froze.

Crap.

He forced a casual shrug. "Ah, that? Yeah, it was Kyren’s spell. He, uh, cast it on me before everything exploded. I didn’t even realize what it was until it happened."

Aurora’s brow furrowed, but she nodded slowly. "Makes sense. He is the only one here reckless enough to toy with ancient spells."

[You really are a terrible liar, you know that?]

’Shut up.’

[You could’ve at least said "experimental defensive protocol" or "quantum displacement enchantment." Make it sound smart. Witches love big words.]

’You’re a terrible influence.’

[And yet, here we are, alive.]

Elian bit his lip to stop a laugh and turned his attention back to Aurora, who now studied him with that same analytical calm that always made him a little nervous.

"You handled yourself well for someone who doesn’t have a wolf," she said finally. "I underestimated you."

Elian gave a wry grin. "That makes two of us."

They talked for a while longer — about nothing and everything.

About the corridor that had collapsed after the explosion. About the council of fangs and Eastern wolves council already demanding an emergency meeting.

And somehow, between all that, they started laughing.

It felt... normal. Like they weren’t two traumatized people sitting in a palace that nearly crumbled under betrayal.

When the sunlight grew brighter and the time finally ticked toward late morning, Aurora stood. "You should clean up. You look like a half-burnt pastry."

Elian mock-gasped. "Excuse you. I’m at least three-quarters presentable."

She rolled her eyes. "Sure you are, fruitcake."

His jaw dropped. No way she just called him that.

"Oh gods, not you too."

[Finally, someone gets it.]

’Don’t encourage her,’ Elian muttered in his mind.

Aurora chuckled, heading for the door. "I’ll wait outside while you get dressed. Then we can grab breakfast before the palace collapses again."

He nodded and watched her wait at the door before slipping into the shower.

The hot water hit his skin like molten silk, washing away the remnants of smoke, dust, and the ache of betrayal.

He tried not to think of Axel—Garrick—of all the weeks of lies and laughter.

[You’re doing that brooding thing again.]

"I’m allowed to brood," Elian muttered. "I nearly got turned into a decorative corpse."

[Fair. But don’t forget: two mates left, one of whom now officially remembers you. That’s progress, baby!]

Elian snorted. "You’re insufferable."

[And you love me.]

He shut off the water. "Debatable."

When he finally stepped out, towel-drying his hair, he felt a little lighter.

The new outfit laid out for him was clean and formal — deep navy with silver threads running along the seams. The insignia of the Lunarian royals glimmered faintly on the chest.

Aurora whistled from his room door when he emerged. "Not bad, Omega. You clean up well."

Elian grinned, brushing imaginary dust off his sleeve. "What can I say? I make trauma look good."

Together, they walked out of the quarters and down the hallway toward the throne room corridor.

The palace, though partially damaged from Garrick’s outburst, had already been reinforced with shimmering protective runes. Servants bustled about, drones hovered to scan the walls, and guards stood alert at every junction.

Aurora filled the silence with idle chatter about the repair drones and the council’s growing impatience, but Elian’s mind wandered.

He hadn’t seen Lucian since that final look — that spark of recognition that had frozen him in place.

As they approached the throne room, voices echoed down the hallway. Two deep voices.

Elian and Aurora exchanged glances.

Then they stepped closer.

Lucian stood at the foot of the dais, silver eyes blazing, his aura flaring dangerously. Opposite him, Kyren’s crimson glow pulsed like a warning beacon.

The air between them shimmered with restrained power.

"Do you even hear yourself, Kyren?" Lucian snapped. "You think I’ll just let you do this?"

"I’m not asking for your permission," Kyren growled. "I’m doing what must be done."

Aurora’s grip tightened on Elian’s arm. "What in the gods’ name...?" she whispered.

Elian’s pulse quickened, his gaze darting between the two Alphas.