Chapter 156: A Miracle
LUCIAN’S P.O.V.
The chirping of birds roused me from the most peaceful sleep I’d had in years. For a moment, I stayed still, savoring the sounds of the forest—the rustle of leaves in the cool morning breeze, the soft gurgle of a nearby stream. Beneath me, the bed—decorated, no doubt, with my pack’s annoyingly thorough sense of tradition—was surrounded by the faint floral scent of Teresa’s hair and the earthy tang of the woods. the woods—
But something was... different.
A soft golden light pierced through my eyelids. I frowned. That wasn’t possible. I hadn’t seen light—let alone anything else—for the last eighteen months. My heart pounded as I hesitated to open my eyes fully, terrified this was some cruel trick. But curiosity won out. Slowly, cautiously, I let my lids flutter open.
And then I saw.
Everything.
My breath hitched, and for a moment, I thought I was dreaming. The soft glow of dawn painted the forest in hues of gold and green, every leaf shimmering with dew. My heart thundered as I turned to look at her—my mate, my wife, my Teresa.
Her dark brown curls cascaded over the pillow, a wild mix of silk and shadow, tempting fingers to trace through them. The rhythm of her breath, soft and steady, held me captive. And her face—Gods, her face. The elegant line of her jaw, the slight parting of her lips, the lingering flush on her cheeks from the night we’d shared—it struck me like a bolt of lightning. She wasn’t just beautiful; she was otherworldly. Draped in the sheet we’d tangled under the full moon, she looked like a goddess who had descended to earth for me alone.
"Ares," I murmured, my voice barely cutting through the pounding in my ears. "Tell me I’m awake. Tell me this is real."