CHAPTER 44: 44. MEETING ZAVIER PARENTS KAEL AND AERYN

THE NEXT MORNING

MICHAEL

The next morning, the castle was buzzing again, servants rushing down marble halls, the scent of herbs and wax candles flooding the air. I hadn’t even had a chance to finish my tea before a guard burst through the doors, panting.

"Your Grace! The High Alpha and Lady Aeryn have appeared unexpectedly. They request an audience with you and Lord Zavier."

I froze, halfway through a sip.

"Appeared?"I asked.

Zavier groaned from where he stood near the window, fastening the cuff on his sleeve.

"Of course they did. My mother has impeccable timing."Zavier sighed.

The door opened again, this time without knocking. Lady Aeryn swept in first, radiant as ever, her gown deep blue trimmed in silver. Her husband followed, Lord Kael, towering, storm eyed, every step of his boots echoing with authority.

"Michael!" She said warmly before anyone else could speak. "You look alive and glowing, excellent sign!"

"Mother." Zavier said with exasperated fondness, bowing slightly. "We were just-"

"About to hide?" Kael interrupted, voice deep and amused. "You take after me in that, son." He looked at me then, the faintest smile pulling at his mouth. "And this must be the omega who has the Goddess herself working overtime. I am Averyn."

"I am High Alpha Kael. I am Zavier’s father."He said.

I managed a polite bow, though my cheeks burned.

"Lord Kael, Lady Aeryn. It’s good to see you." I said. "I am Michael, Zavier’s mate."

Lady Aeryn’s eyes softened as she studied the faint shimmer of my ring.

"You found the heir’s relic." She said quietly, more statement than question. "I can feel its energy even from here."

"Yes." I said carefully. "It... revealed itself and Selene is forging Zavier’s counterpart as we speak."

Kael’s gaze flicked toward his son.

"A matched pair, then. Fitting. Your father would have approved." He said to me, voice losing its edge.

Zavier stepped closer, a protective reflex I’d stopped trying to break him of.

"They’re beautiful pieces." He said evenly. "And dangerous, if left unfinished. That’s why we’re staying close to Selene until the ceremony."

Aeryn clasped her hands together.

"Good. We came to ensure everything is proceeding as it should, and to see you, Michael. After all, the royal court has not stopped whispering since your choosing."

I blinked.

"Whispering?"I asked.

"Oh, endlessly."She said with delight. "They say the Goddess herself smiled when your bond sealed. That the stars danced."

"They also said I fainted, mother."Zavier sighed.

She waved him off.

"Poetic license."She said.

Kael chuckled deeply, then looked between us.

"We wished to witness the ring’s forging, if the Goddess permits it. It’s not every day one sees history repeat itself in brighter form."He said.

I hesitated, looking to Zavier. He nodded.

"If Selene agrees, we’ll let you both attend."I said.

Aeryn’s face lit up, her regal composure cracking for a heartbeat of genuine excitement.

"Perfect. I wouldn’t miss it for the world."She said.

Kael leaned toward her, murmuring something that made her smirk and elbow him lightly. I caught a few words ’nostalgia’, ’our vows’, and ’don’t embarrass him’. Zavier sighed.

"They’re thrilled, apparently."He said.

I laughed under my breath.

"That’s... good, right?"I asked.

He looked at me, smile tugging faintly at his lips.

"It’s better than I expected."He said.

Aeryn turned back to us, eyes gleaming.

"We’ll meet you both in the Moon Forge at sundown. Don’t be late, I want to see if the Goddess still forges with starlight."She said.

And with that, she swept out, Kael following with the quiet power of a wolf who didn’t need to announce his dominance. When the doors closed, Zavier exhaled and rubbed the back of his neck.

"You know, for terrifying legends, they’re... almost sweet when they like someone."Zavier smirked.

I grinned.

"They like me?"I asked.

He leaned down, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

"They adore you."Zavier said.

And for once, even with the wedding days away and divine magic humming under my skin, everything felt exactly right.

The Moon Forge burned like the heart of the mountain itself. Silver veins pulsed across the stone walls, alive with ancient magic. The air hummed faintly, threaded with the rhythm of power too old to belong to mortals. Zavier stood beside me, his expression unreadable, equal parts reverence and disbelied, while Selene guided a halo of molten gold in midair, shaping it strand by strand. The Goddess’s light rippled above her like a veil of stars.

"This place..." I whispered. "It feels alive."

"It is." Selene murmured, eyes never leaving the forge. "The Moon Forge breathes the same magic that binds souls. It remembers every bond ever made."

Zavier glanced at me, voice low.

"No pressure, then."He said.

I smiled faintly.

"We’ll just have to make sure it remembers us kindly."I said.

Before Selene could respond, a deep voice rolled through the chamber like distant thunder.

"I would say it already does."She said.

We both turned. From the entrance, two figures stepped into the light, Lord Kael and Lady Aeryn, Zavier’s parents. The golden glow of the forge reflected off their silver-trimmed cloaks, making them look like they’d stepped straight out of legend.

"Mother? Father?" Zavier blinked, caught completely off guard. "What are you-"

"Here to witness." Kael interrupted, his tone calm but firm. "The forging of your bond is not something a parent should miss."

Lady Aeryn smiled softly at me, her eyes warm and keen all at once.

"We heard the Goddess herself summoned the forge. It seems our future Luna is more blessed than even the songs say."She said proudly.

I felt heat crawl up my neck.

"I, I didn’t mean to-"I muttered.

"Don’t apologize for destiny." She said, stepping closer. "It has very selective timing."

Selene inclined her head respectfully.

"You are welcome here. The forge will not mind your presence it recognizes your bloodline."Selene said.

Kael’s gaze swept over the forge before landing on me again.

"Your father once stood here too. I see now why the Goddess favored his son."Kael said.

My breath hitched.

"You were there?"I asked.

He nodded.

"We fought beside each other, long before either of you were born. He was a man who believed in vows, not just the spoken ones, but the ones carved into his soul." His eyes softened. "It seems that belief runs strong in you."

Zavier’s hand found mine, firm and steady.

"Father." He said carefully. "You approve?"

Kael’s expression barely changed, but the faint lift of his mouth was unmistakable.

"If I didn’t, you’d know by now."He said.

Lady Aeryn laughed quietly.

"He means yes, dear."She said.

"You could just say yes."Zavier groaned.

"I just did." Kael said, deadpan.

Selene cleared her throat gently, clearly amused.

"If the family blessing is complete, we may begin."Selene said.

The forge’s light deepened to gold as she motioned toward me.

"Michael, you carry the first stone."She said.

I stepped forward, the silver ring on my finger pulsing in answer. The golden twin floated above the forge, spinning slowly like a sun in orbit.

"Place your hand over it." Selene instructed.

I did, and immediately, the air thrummed. My heartbeat synced with the light. A low hum spread through the chamber, deep and ancient. Then Zavier joined me, his palm pressing over mine. The moment our hands touched, the forge flared, blinding gold and silver colliding in a single burst of light. The runes along the walls glowed, pulsing like a thousand heartbeats.

Lady Aeryn gasped softly. Even Kael’s stoic façade flickered for a second. Selene’s voice rose above the hum.

"Two souls, bound by vow and blood. The Moon Forge remembers you!"She said.

The golden metal melted, reshaping in midair until it cooled into a perfect ring, glowing faintly with both silver and gold veins intertwined. When the light dimmed, it floated gently into Zavier’s open palm.

"Yours." Selene said. "Forged from both your hearts."

He stared at it for a long moment, silent. Then he turned to me, his voice quiet but rough around the edges.

"Michael..."Zavier whispered.

I looked up.

"This-" He swallowed, his eyes flickering amber for a heartbeat, his wolf brushing the surface. "-this feels like you."

I smiled shakily. "

"It is me."I said.

Lady Aeryn dabbed her eyes delicately.

"You two are ridiculous."She said.

Kael’s voice softened, deep and sure.

"No. They are right. This is what the bond should look like."Kael said.

Selene raised her hand one last time, sealing the light around the ring.

"Tomorrow, under the moon, it will be completed. Tonight, let the bond rest."She said.

As the forge quieted, Zavier slipped his hand into mine again, our fingers fitting perfectly, like they’d always known where to go. Lady Aeryn’s smile warmed.

"I can see why the Goddess chose him for you."She said happily.

Kael nodded once, his gaze approving.

"And why she chose you to lead beside him."Kael said.

I blinked, stunned.

"You mean-?"I asked.

"Yes." Kael said simply. "You have our blessing, Michael."

Zavier exhaled slowly, almost laughing in disbelief. "Finally."Zavier said.

Lady Aeryn winked.

"Don’t act surprised, my son. We were planning the wedding menu before you even introduced him."She grinned

"Of course you were."He groaned.

Kael chuckled low in his chest, resting a hand on his son’s shoulder.

"Make it worthy of your bond. The world rarely witnesses a union like this."Kael said.

Zavier met his gaze, steady.

"It will be, Father. I’ll make sure of it."Zavier said

I looked between them, the Alpha family, the forge’s fading light, the goddess’s lingering warmth, and for the first time, I didn’t feel like an outsider in this story.

I felt home.