As Selene's divine fury subsided, she gradually descended back to the ground, her radiant aura dimming as she turned her attention to Orion, who lay pale and still before her. Tears continued to stream down her cheeks as she knelt beside him, her heart heavy with grief and despair."Orion, please... come back to me," she pleaded, her voice choked with emotion. "I can't do this without you. Please..."She reached out to touch his hand, her fingers trembling as she tried to summon her healing powers to mend his wounds. But no matter how hard she tried, she could feel the magic faltering, unable to penetrate the darkness that threatened to consume him."No... no, this can't be happening," Selene whispered, her voice barely a whisper as she felt a wave of hopelessness wash over her. "I can't lose you, Orion. I can't..."Luca approached, his own eyes brimming with tears as he knelt beside Selene, offering her a comforting embrace. "I'm so sorry, Selene," he murmured, his voice filled with
Tears of joy streamed down Selene's face as she watched Orion's eyelids flutter open, his gaze meeting hers with a mixture of confusion and gratitude."Selene?" he murmured, his voice weak but filled with wonder. "What... what happened?"Selene could hardly believe her eyes as she reached out to touch his face, her heart overflowing with relief and love. "You were... you were gone, Orion," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "But I brought you back. With my tears."Orion's eyes widened in astonishment as he took in the sight of his friends gathered around him, their faces filled with tears of joy and relief. "I don't understand," he admitted, his voice filled with wonder. "How... how is this possible?"Orion couldn't believe his luck. He had thought he lost her forever, but here she was, right in front of him, alive and well. He pulled her into a tight embrace, savoring the feeling of having her in his arms once again."I can't believe you're here," he murmured, his voice fil
As they finally arrived home, the atmosphere was filled with jubilation and relief. People poured out of their homes, cheering and embracing each other as word spread of Orion's miraculous return. Selene felt a swell of pride as she looked around at the faces of their community, knowing that they had all played a part in bringing Orion back from the brink of death.As they approached the center of the pack, Orion was immediately surrounded by well-wishers and supporters, each one eager to congratulate him on his return. Maya and Luca were at his side, their smiles bright and infectious.Selene stood back for a moment, watching the scene unfold with a warm smile on her face. She felt a hand slip into hers, and she turned to see Orion looking at her with a mixture of gratitude and love in his eyes."I can't believe we made it back," he murmured, his voice filled with wonder. "And it's all thanks to you, Selene."Selene felt her heart swell with emotion as she returned his gaze, her eyes
As the celebration continued, the young girls who had once harbored crushes on Orion couldn't contain their emotions at seeing him alive and well. Tears welled up in their eyes as they watched him, their hearts filled with a mixture of relief and longing."He's so brave," one of the girls whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "I can't believe he made it back."But as they looked on, their admiration for Orion was quickly overshadowed by resentment towards Selene, who stood beside him, her hand intertwined with his. Jealousy bubbled up inside them, and before they knew it, harsh words began to spill from their lips."Why does she get to be with him?" one of the girls muttered bitterly, her voice filled with envy. "She's not even worthy of him."The other girls nodded in agreement, their faces twisted with jealousy as they glared at Selene. "She's just a nobody," another girl spat, her voice dripping with disdain. "How could he choose her over us?"But their words did not go unno
As the celebration began to wind down, Orion approached Selene, a gentle smile on his face as he extended his hand to her. "It's getting late, Selene," he said, his voice warm and reassuring. "Let me escort you inside."Selene smiled back at him, her heart swelling with love and gratitude. "Thank you, Orion," she replied, her voice soft but determined. "But before we go, there's something I need to do."Turning to the gathered guards, Selene raised her voice so that everyone could hear her. "I know many of you were injured in the battle," she began, her eyes scanning the crowd with concern. "Please, come forward so that I can heal you."There was a moment of hesitation, but then one by one, the guards began to step forward, their faces filled with gratitude and relief. Selene smiled warmly at each one as they approached, her hands glowing with healing energy as she touched their wounds.As she worked, the guards' expressions softened, their faces relaxing with the release of pain. "Th
As Selene made her way inside and climbed the stairs to her room, exhaustion weighed heavily upon her. Her limbs felt heavy, and every step seemed to take immense effort. Finally reaching her room, she stumbled forward and collapsed onto her bed, the soft mattress welcoming her tired body.Orion followed close behind, concern etched into every line of his face. "Selene, are you alright?" he asked, his voice filled with worry.Selene managed a weak smile, her eyelids heavy with fatigue. "I'm just tired," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's been a long day."Orion sat down beside her, his hand gently brushing against her cheek. "You've done so much today," he murmured, his voice filled with admiration. "You need to rest."Selene nodded, her eyes fluttering closed as she sank deeper into the comfort of the bed. "I know," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "But I couldn't have done it without you."Orion smiled tenderly at her, his heart swelling with love. "I'll al
As Selene watched Orion wash himself, a sense of tenderness washed over her. Seeing him care for himself with the same gentle touch he had shown her moments before filled her heart with warmth and gratitude. She waited patiently, allowing him his moment of solitude before joining him in the bathtub.Once Orion had finished, he lowered himself into the warm water, pulling Selene onto his lap. She nestled against him, feeling the comforting strength of his arms around her as they settled into the soothing embrace of the bath.As they relaxed in each other's arms, the soft flicker of candlelight casting a warm glow over them, Selene listened intently as Orion began to speak. His voice was low and tender, filled with emotion as he poured out his heart to her."Selene," he began, his voice soft but filled with intensity. "I need you to know how much you mean to me. These past few weeks, without you by my side... it's been hell."Selene felt her heart clench at his words, the raw vulnerabil
As Michelle carefully tended to Maya's forehead, gently wiping away the dirt and grime from their recent ordeal, Maya stirred from her sleep. Her eyes fluttered open, still heavy with exhaustion, and she blinked a few times to adjust to the dim light."Michelle?" Maya's voice was soft and hoarse, filled with a mixture of confusion and relief.Michelle looked up from her task, a warm smile spreading across her face as she met Maya's gaze. "Hey there, sleepyhead," she greeted gently, her voice soothing and reassuring. "How are you feeling?"Maya's eyes widened in recognition as she took in her surroundings, the events of the previous day flooding back to her in a rush. Without a word, she reached out and pulled Michelle into a tight hug, her body trembling with emotion.Michelle wrapped her arms around Maya, holding her close as tears welled up in her eyes. "It's okay, Maya," she murmured, her voice filled with compassion. "You're safe now. I've got you."Maya buried her face in Michell
In the bride's room, Selene's nerves were palpable as she sat in front of the mirror, her wedding gown shimmering around her. Her makeup was flawlessly done, but her hands trembled slightly as she clasped them together in her lap. Sensing her anxiety, Maya and Michelle enveloped her in a warm embrace, their affectionate words a soothing balm to her jittery nerves."Oh Selene, you look absolutely stunning," Maya exclaimed, her eyes shining with admiration as she gazed at her sister-in-law-to-be. "Orion is going to be speechless when he sees you."Michelle nodded enthusiastically, her smile radiant with sisterly affection. "You're going to make the most beautiful bride, Selene," she chimed in. "We're so lucky to have you as a part of our family, and now you're going to be marrying our brother. It's like a dream come true."Tears welled up in Selene's eyes as she listened to their heartfelt words, feeling overwhelmed by their love and support. "Thank you, Maya, Michelle," she murmured, h
Orion groaned as he tried to rouse his groomsmen from their alcohol-induced slumber. "Come on, you lazy bunch, it's time to get up," he urged, shaking Luca's shoulder gently.Luca grumbled incoherently, batting away Orion's hand as he tried to pull the covers off him. "Go away, Orion, it's too early," he muttered, burying his head deeper into the pillow.Xander and Xavier were no better, their heads pounding from the festivities of the bachelor party the night before. "Can't we just sleep for five more minutes?" Xander groaned, his voice muffled by the pillow.Orion chuckled, undeterred by their protests. "Sorry, boys, but we've got a wedding to get to," he replied, his tone laced with amusement.But his groomsmen were having none of it, their hangovers making them decidedly uncooperative. "I swear, Orion, if you don't leave us alone, I'm never speaking to you again," Xavier threatened, his words slurred from the lingering effects of the alcohol.Orion laughed, knowing that his friend
As they entered the wedding dress shop, Selene's eyes widened in awe at the array of beautiful gowns that adorned the racks. "Wow, there are so many options," she exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement.Maya and Michelle grinned eagerly as they began browsing through the dresses, their eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Let's find you the perfect dress, Selene," Maya declared, her voice filled with determination.Selene nodded eagerly, her heart racing with excitement as she began trying on gown after gown. "I can't wait to see how they look on you," Valina chimed in, her voice filled with anticipation.But as Selene tried on dress after dress, she couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment as none of them seemed to quite capture the vision she had in mind. "I don't know, none of these feel quite right," she admitted, her voice tinged with frustration.Maya and Michelle exchanged concerned glances as they watched Selene's disappointment grow with each passing dress. "Don't
As Selene finished her breakfast, Maya and Michelle excitedly grabbed her by the arms, their eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Come on, Selene, we've got a wedding to plan!" Maya exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement."Yeah, we need to find the perfect dress for you," Michelle chimed in, her grin widening as she eagerly pulled Selene towards the door.Selene laughed as she allowed herself to be dragged along, her heart fluttering with excitement at the thought of planning her wedding with her friends by her side. "Alright, alright, I'm coming," she said with a playful roll of her eyes, her voice filled with affection.As they made their way out of the house, Selene spotted Valina waiting by the door, her eyes bright with excitement. "Are you ready to go, Selene?" Valina asked eagerly, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.Selene nodded eagerly, her heart pounding with excitement as she linked arms with Valina and her sisters. "Let's do this," she said with a grin, her voi
Selene's cheeks flushed a deep shade of crimson, she opened her mouth to speak, but her words came out in a jumbled mess of stutters and half-formed sentences. The room fell silent, the awkward tension thickening with each passing moment as Selene struggled to find her voice."I-I'm so sorry, I-I..." Selene stammered, her words trailing off into an embarrassed mumble as she fidgeted nervously in her seat.A few nervous chuckles rippled through the room, the pack members exchanging amused glances as they tried to suppress their laughter. But before the laughter could escalate, Orion shot them a stern glare, his eyes flashing with warning."Alright, that's enough," Orion said firmly, his voice cutting through the awkward silence like a knife. "It's not funny. Let's move on."The pack members quickly sobered up at Orion's commanding tone, their laughter dying down as they exchanged sheepish glances. Selene breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for Orion's intervention as she attempted to c
Soon, Luca and Valina ushered everyone out with a mock bow, the room buzzed with laughter and excitement, the air filled with the lingering warmth of congratulations and well-wishes."Thank you all for coming!" Luca called out, a playful twinkle in his eye as he gestured towards the door. "We'll see you soon!"Valina grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she added, "And don't forget to save some cake for us!"As the last of the guests exited the room, Selene and Orion found themselves alone at last, the soft glow of candlelight casting a warm embrace around them.Orion leaned in close to Selene, his voice low with amusement. "Did you see that? Something's definitely going on with Luca and Valina," he whispered, a knowing smile playing on his lips.Selene nodded, her laughter bubbling up at the playful antics of their friends. "Oh, I know! The sparks were practically flying between them," she replied, her eyes sparkling with amusement.As Selene and Orion settled in for their in
Selene's heart fluttered at his words, memories of that day flooding back to her with overwhelming clarity. She remembered the warmth of his smile, the kindness in his eyes, and the way he had paid for her coffee without a second thought.Orion's gaze never wavered as he continued, his voice filled with sincerity. "Since that day, you've brought so much light and love into my life. You've been my rock, my confidante, and my greatest source of joy. And as I stand here before you now, I realize that I never want to spend another day without you by my side."Tears streamed down Selene's cheeks as she listened, her heart overflowing with love for the man kneeling before her. Every word he spoke resonated deep within her soul, reaffirming the depth of their connection and the strength of their bond."And so, Selene," Orion concluded, his voice filled with emotion, "I ask you now, in front of our family and friends, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Will you stand by my side, th
"Actually, Selene, I was thinking we should get the cake from that bakery across town," Maya interjected, her tone eager.Selene's brow furrowed in confusion. "Across town? Maya, that's quite a distance. Are you sure?"Maya's enthusiasm didn't waver. "I know it's a bit out of the way, but trust me, it's worth it for that cake."Selene hesitated, considering Maya's request. "Hmm... okay then. If you say so. We'll make the trip for the perfect cake.""Thanks, Selene! You won't regret it, I promise. See you soon!" Maya's voice exuded excitement."Alright, Maya. See you soon," Selene replied, still feeling a bit perplexed by Maya's insistence but willing to go along with her friend's plan.Xander and Xavier inquired about the sudden urgency, Selene explained Maya's unexpected craving for a cake from a distant bakery. The brothers exchanged a knowing glance, a subtle smile playing on their lips as they caught on to Maya's plan."Ah, I see," Xander remarked, his tone tinged with amusement.
As Maya and Michelle hurriedly set up the table for the romantic dinner, their excitement bubbling over, they dashed off to find the chef and share their plans."Chef, chef!" Maya exclaimed breathlessly, her eyes shining with excitement as she approached the elderly man.The chef looked up from his cooking with a bemused smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he took in the eager expressions of the two sisters. "What's all the excitement about, girls?" he asked, his voice filled with amusement.Michelle leaned in close, her voice barely above a whisper as she shared their secret plan with the chef. "We're setting up a romantic dinner for our brother, Orion," she explained, her tone filled with excitement. "He's going to propose to his girlfriend tonight!"The chef's eyes widened in surprise, a chuckle escaping his lips at the news. "Well, well, it's about time," he remarked, his voice tinged with amusement. "Orion's a good man. He deserves happiness."Maya and Michelle nodded eag