<b>Chapter </b><b>55 </b>


    The next morning. Audrey returned–covered in sont, her clothes tom, her arm wrapped hashly in gauze and visibly burned. Her steps were <b>uneven</b>, <b>her </b>expression was triumphant.


    In her pouch: a small vil filled with glowing orange powder that shimmered like dying embers.


    “Phoenix ash,” she rasped hoarsely, just before copsing into Beta Alfonso’s arms. “That ce… it nearly killed us. But we got it.”


    <b>Gasps </b><b>of </b>awe and disbelief echoed around the room.


    Phoenix ash was believed to be a myth, a relic of ancient times when witches still walked openly among us,


    the final ingredient.


    But Audrey had done it. She’d returned with


    With all the rare and perilousponents finally gathered, the healers <b>and </b>I set to work, brewing the potion described in Anastasia’s forbidden grimoire. No witch alive hadid eyes on such <b>a </b>recipe for centuries. Perhaps Anastasia had truly been thest of her kind


    Which only deepened the question that gnawed at me: how did Luca <b>get </b>


    pt his hands on


    on this kind of magic?


    As we worked, I tried to stay focused, but questions swirled in my mind. I was learning piece by piece, that my role in this world was bigger than i thought I had trained to be stronger, faster–more capable of defending myself. But magic… that was a different beast. A power I barely understood<b>, </b>yet knew I needed to master. I couldn’t allow anything like this to happen again, Not to Francesco, Not to anyone I loved.


    I made a mental note to revisit the ancient texts. There were still books in Anastasia’s collection–books I hadn’t yet dared to open, Maybe they held the


    answers.


    The potion took hours to brew. We infused the herbs under moonlight, stirred the phoenix ash in careful spirals, and heated the cauldron with enchanted


    fame.


    I stood with the healers the entire time, refusing to leave Francesco’s side for even a moment. My hands trembled, but my resolve held firm. I prayed silently, over and over<b>, </b>for the Goddess to guide us.


    <b>Finally</b>, the potion reached its final stage. Lira, the lead healer, turned to me,


    I held out my arm without hesitation


    Thest thing<b>… </b>


    “My blood,” I said firmly. “it’s time.”


    Lira hesitated. “Once this bond is sealed, it cannot be undone.”


    “<b>It </b>already is,” I replied. “I’m his. He’s mine”


    She nodded…


    A clean de nicked my skin make me wince a bit, and a few drops of my blood mixed with the potion<b>–</b>turning it from amber to gold.


    It shimmered like dawn.


    We rushed to Francesco’s bedside.


    He <b>was </b>weaker than ever now–his skin cold, hd body barely responsive. Panic clutched at my chest. But I refused to believe we were toote.


    Lira carefully poured a small dose of the pation onto his lips.


    When the golden potion touched his lips, his <b>body </b>arched. A low growl escaped him–feral, defiant.


    The veins pulsed–ance, twice–and then slowly began to retreat, fading like smoke against sunlight.


    Everyone, including nie held their breath.


    Oh God, please make it work!


    I keep my eyes locked on him, wondering if its going to work or not.


    He stilled.


    And then..


    I watch when he opened his eyes.


    Clear


    Bright gold.


    “Eine?” he whispered, voice raspier than <b>usual </b>but stronger than before.


    His gaze met mine, and I <b>saw </b>recognition. Warmth, Life.


    Tears burst from my eyes as I copsed into his arms, sobbing openly, “Oh God… you’re okay. You’re really okay…


    He wrapped his arms around me <b>weakly </b>but firmly. “What? Amore <b>Luna</b><b>…</b>you saved me


    I pulled back just enough to cup his face. “You saved me first. This was just payback.”


    He let out a softugh. It was hoarse, but it was the most beautiful sound I’d ever heard.


    Relief washed over everyone in the room. Lira and the other healers approached to check his vitals, then connected the remaining potion through an W toplete the healing process. Lira looked stunned at how quickly his condition stabilized. The toxin that had once consumed him was now gone, and Francesco’s body–strong as ever–was fighting its way back.


    Beta <b>Alfonso</b>, Marlow, Dario, and the rest of the high–ranking warriors stepped forward, each offering a respectful bow to their Alpha, Relief was etched across their <b>faces</b>.


    Alfonso tapped my shoulder, nodding in quiet acknowledgement. He had seen my sleepless nights, my <b>silent </b>tears, my desperate prayers. He knew what this had cost me.


    And now that it


    tit was finally over… the adrenaline Fatigue hit me like a crashing wave.


    Francesco gently pulled me beside him in bed, his arms wrapping protectively around my waist. I didn’t resist. I let myself rest against him, led by the familiar rhythm of his heartbeat.


    Sleep imed me almost instantly-


    Later that night, as the pack celebrated his recovery, Francesco pulled me aside and led me to the quiet balcony of his chambers. The moon hung low in the sky, casting silver light across his features.


    He looked tired–<b>but </b>alive. And more importantly, whole


    “I owe you everything” he said softly, his voice <b>carrying </b>over the quiet. “Everyone keeps telling me what you did. How you never gave up. Thank you, E.”


    My heart swelled with emotion


    “I can’t imagine life without you,” I whispered. “I had to do everything I could.


    He nodded and took a step closer, wrapping his arms around me from behind.


    We stood in silence, watching the moon togriber “Luca and I… We were clock. Not by blood, but closer than brothers because of power we ham


    Dangerous power”


    I was shock when thear hint start speaking and stood there while listening without saying anything “We did terrible things together. Things I regret every single day. At first, I thought we were the same. But then I saw the way he smiled while torturing innocents…I knew I had to stop him


    listened silently, heart heavy but open


    “I thought he was dead. After Anastasia came, after everything that happened… believed he was gone. I wanted to believe it. But deep down, l’always feared… and now I know. He was behind all of it.”


    “So, these time with the rogues is all him.” I madement.


    He nodded “Anastasia too… He was the one who order her to… he stopped.


    I turned to <b>face </b>him, cupping his cheek gently. “Then let hime.”


    Francesco’s eyes searched mine. “You’re not <b>afraid</b>? Not even after everything I just told you?”


    “I was,” I admitted. “But not anymore. I have you. And you have me. That makes us dangerous.”


    He smiled then–slow, genuine,ced with pride and longing before leaned in, pressing <b>his </b>forehead against mine. “My moon and stars”


    I give him a smile “My Lycan Alpha,” I whispered.


    We leaned in, our foreheads resting together, a promise spoken in silence.


    The night was quiet, filled only with the sound of distantughter and wind rustling the trees.


    But far beyond the hills and forests that surrounded Florence, something darker stirred.


    Luca was still out there.


    And the war wa


    <b>war </b>was far from over


    AD


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