Chapter 463
Chapter 463
3rd Person’s POV
“Back then, after your father saved me, Thane, Isaac, and the others, he took us hunting. Roasted a whole young pig over a fire and made sure we ate until we couldn’t move.” A faint smile touched Jude’s lips at the memory. “He saved us and fed us on the same day.” His eyes returned to hers, unexpectedly earnest. “So why can’t I do the same for his daughter p>
The sincerity in his voice caught Lylah off guard.
She could still sense it whenever Jax Stillward’s name surfaced in conversation-that lingering guilt Jude
carried.
After a brief pause, she nodded.
“Great.” Immediately, Jude’s entire face brightened. “I’ll get a fire going here.” He was already rolling up his sleeves. “My team brought plenty of preserved food from Lunaris. We could hunt, but that would take too long p>
Lylah glanced toward the supplies. “I can help p>
“No p>
The refusal came so swiftly that she blinked.
Jude pointed at her as if issuing a military command. “You will sit there and do absolutely nothing p>
“Jude p>
“No arguments.” His wolf stirred beneath his skin, adding weight to the order. “I’ve watched you run yourself ragged since arriving in this Valley. Healing villagers all day. Investigating illnesses. Taking care of everyone except yourself p>
The expression he gave her was half stern, half exasperated. “You’re a Luna, Lylah. Start acting like one for five minutes p>
A reluctant smile tugged at her lips.
“And what exactly does that mean p>
“It means,” Jude declared, already reaching for the cooking supplies, “you sit there and let someone else take care of you for once. And since your guards aren’t here, I’ll handle it p>
Lylah stared at him.
Then, despite herself, she laughed softly.
“Alright p>
The victory in Jude’s expression was immediate.
Satisfied, he turned toward the fire pit.
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Chapter 463
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Unfortunately, confidence and competence were not always the same thing.
He looked so unfamiliar even with basic campfire preparation.
Lylah wisely kept that observation to herself.
Instead, she sat nearby and watched in quiet amusement as Jude wrestled with firewood, nearly dropped an entire crate of supplies, and spent several ininutes pretending he knew exactly what he was doing.
Eventually, with assistance from his team and a considerable amount of stubborn determination, dinner was prepared.
They gathered around the bonfire beneath a sky crowded with stars.
“After my father saved all of you…” Lylah looked into the flames, asking quietly, “Did you remain close p>
Jude’s expression softened immediately. “Yes. We did p>
For several moments, he seemed lost in memories.
“Your father had a way of making people follow him.” A faint laugh escaped him. “Not because he demanded it. Because he earned it. When news reached us that he had died p>
The sentence faltered.
“My wolf didn’t believe it p>
Lylah looked up.
Jude stared into the darkness beyond the fire.
“Then your mother passed not long after. We were devastated p>
The crackling fire filled the space between them.
Their conversation drifted from one memory to another, circling the past as the night wore on.
The following morning arrived cold and mist-covered.
Lylah finished her bath and stepped outside the cabin.
Dawn’s silver light stretched across the valley while distant pine forests stood cloaked beneath drifting fog.
Something felt different.
Several volunteers had already gathered outside.
Instead of preparing for assignments, they stood clustered together around a freshly delivered newspaper from Lunaris. Deprived of news and gossip for days, they pored over its pages like starving scavengers picking over a feast.
Lylah caught fragments of conversation.
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15:56 Sat,
Chapter 463
“This really happened p>
“I still can’t believe she did that p>
“What was she thinking p>
Someone lowered her voice.
“Doesn’t she care about her reputation as a Luna p>
The others immediately shushed her.
“Quiet. She’s coming p>
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The Betrayed Princess Rising