Shattered Bonds A Second Chance Mate (by Yui) novel Chapter 261

Still His 261 Summary

The morning dawns with an unusual stillness, the world seemingly hesitant to begin the day. The air is free from the usual scents of blood and smoke, replaced by the fresh fragrance of dew and rosemary, a sign of Maria’s care for the gardens. Francesco sleeps peacefully beside Ellaine, his usual burdens momentarily lifted, revealing the man beneath the king and warrior. Ellaine cherishes this rare calm, allowing herself to hope the curse that has plagued them may finally be over.

However, this fragile peace is shattered when Ellaine senses something wrong—a presence watching her. She catches a fleeting glimpse of two cold, blood-red eyes reflected in the window, a chilling reminder that danger still lurks nearby. When she shares her fear with Francesco, he immediately suspects Drake, their relentless enemy, is observing them. Despite the threat, Francesco’s resolve is fierce; he vows to protect Ellaine and confront Drake’s hatred head-on, daring him to witness their strength and love.

Far from the castle, Drake remains hidden in the shadows, watching the intimate moments between Francesco and Ellaine. Haunted by memories of Liora, a woman who once showed him kindness, Drake’s bitterness is deepened by the resemblance Francesco bears to Totti and the warmth of his love for Ellaine. Drake’s anger and sorrow fuel his determination to see how long their love can endure, as he fades back into the mist, a silent and ominous presence.

That night, Ellaine struggles to find rest, haunted by the image of those red eyes and the weight of the looming threat. Though the bond between her and Francesco remains strong and alive, the fear of what Drake represents lingers. In the darkness, she whispers a message of love and forgiveness, challenging the coldness of their enemy. A faint, ancient voice replies, hinting that the conflict between love and hatred is far from over.

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The morning arrived with an unusual stillness, almost as if the world itself hesitated to begin the day. Even the birds seemed reluctant to break the silence with their songs, their usual morning chorus held back by an invisible weight.

For the first time in days, the air was free from the harsh scents of blood and smoke. Instead, it carried the fresh, delicate fragrance of dew mingled with rosemary—no doubt Maria had been tending the gardens again. That subtle aroma drifted gently through the open window, pure and soothing, as if the earth was pretending the recent devastation had never happened.

Beside me, Francesco remained deep in sleep, his breathing calm and even. The faint crease between his brows, usually so tense with worry and burden, had softened completely in rest. It was a rare sight—to see him stripped of his roles as king, warrior, and the last heir of a cursed lineage. In that quiet moment, he was simply a man. My man.

I let my fingertips trail lightly across his jawline, smiling softly when he murmured my name in a half-dream. “Ellaine…” he whispered, reaching out for me even in his sleep, as if our bond transcended waking hours.

I didn’t disturb him. After everything we had endured—the curse, the bloodshed, the relentless battles—he deserved this peace more than anyone.

Carefully, I slipped out of bed, wrapping my robe snugly around me. Pale morning light spilled over the wooden floorboards, casting a soft gold glow that touched the edges of our intertwined shadows. For a fleeting moment, I allowed myself to believe it was truly over—that the curse had finally lifted, that the world had granted us a brief reprieve to simply breathe.

Maria awaited me in the hallway, her usual gentle bow greeting me. “Luna,” she said softly, “breakfast will be ready shortly.”

“Something light, please,” I replied quietly. “For both of us. And tell Audrey to rest today. She’s been patrolling every night without pause.”

Maria’s smile was faint but sincere, reaching her eyes just enough. “Of course.”

It should have felt ordinary, normal even.

But as I moved through the corridor, past the rich tapestries and the soft murmur of servants preparing the day’s tasks, an uneasy sensation crept beneath my skin. A subtle itch, a pull—a feeling that something was amiss. Like the heavy weight of unseen eyes watching me.

I tried to dismiss it, convincing myself my mind was playing tricks after the vivid dream. The memory of Liora’s vampire eyes—cold, piercing—still haunted my thoughts.

Then, from the corner of my vision, a flicker caught the reflection in the windowpane.

I froze.

Slowly, I turned back.

The glass shimmered oddly, rippling like water disturbed by a breeze. And for a brief heartbeat, I saw them.

Two eyes.

Blood-red, sharp and unblinking.

Cold. Patient. Watching.

I blinked—and they vanished.

Silence settled again, broken only by the soft flutter of curtains and the steady rhythm of my own pulse pounding in my ears.

“Luna?” Maria’s voice floated softly from the end of the hall. “Are you alright?”

I forced a small smile and turned to face her. “Yes. Just… lost in thought.”

She didn’t seem convinced but didn’t press further.

When I entered the dining room, Francesco was already seated, fully awake and dressed. The morning light bathed him like an old masterpiece—golden hues highlighting the crisp white of his shirt, the shadows of his scars barely visible where the collar dipped.

His eyes lifted to meet mine, and in that glance, I sensed he had felt it too—the tension, the shift in the air.

“Bad dreams?” he asked quietly.

“Not dreams,” I replied softly. “Eyes.”

He frowned. “Where?”

“By the window,” I confessed. “Red. Watching.”

A heavy silence stretched between us before he reached across the table, taking my hand gently. His thumb traced the faintly glowing mark on my wrist—the bond that still pulsed softly whenever we touched.

“I won’t let anything hurt you,” he said firmly, voice low and steady. “Not ever again.”

“I know,” I whispered back. “But this feels different. It’s not the curse. It’s… something else.”

Francesco’s jaw clenched tightly. “Drake.”

The name fell like a blade between us.

I nodded slowly. “He’s watching. Studying us. Judging.”

He didn’t deny it. “Good,” he finally said. “Let him watch. Let him see that the blood he despises is no longer the one that betrayed him.”

Though calm in tone, the fire burning behind his words was unmistakable.

He was daring Drake to come.

Fear should have gripped me, but instead, I felt a fierce determination rising within.

If Drake wanted to witness what kind of beings we were, then I would show him. The white wolf was no prey. The white wolf stood fierce and unyielding beside her mate, baring teeth to gods and ghosts alike.

Far beyond the castle walls, hidden beneath the dense canopy of the forest where sunlight struggled to penetrate, a solitary figure lingered in shadow.

He did not breathe.

“I will see,” he whispered, voice almost gentle, “how long yours can live.”

Then, like a shadow learning to breathe, he dissolved into the mist and vanished.

That night, sleep eluded me.

The fire in the hearth burned low, casting restless shadows that danced across the walls. Francesco lay beside me, yet his hand remained over my heart as if to ensure it still beat.

The bond between us pulsed—warm, steady, alive.

But every time I closed my eyes, I saw those red eyes staring back.

Somewhere far off, a wolf howled—then another answered—then silence.

And into the darkness, I whispered words I wasn’t sure were meant for Drake or the lingering curse entwined in our blood.

“You can watch all you want,” I murmured. “But you’ll never understand what love is… until it forgives you.”

Outside, the wind shifted.

And for a brief moment—just a moment—I thought I heard a voice reply.

A man’s voice.

Low. Ancient. Cold.

“We’ll see.”

Conclusion

The quiet morning brought a fragile peace, a momentary respite from the relentless shadows that have haunted Ellaine and Francesco. In the stillness, their love emerges as a beacon of hope and strength, a testament to endurance amid the lingering threats that surround them. Though the world remains uncertain and the weight of past curses presses heavily, their bond offers a sanctuary where vulnerability and fierce protection coexist, reminding them both of the humanity beneath their burdens.

Yet, beneath the calm, the presence of unseen eyes and the return of old ghosts signal that their journey is far from over. The tension between hope and danger weaves through their hearts, underscoring the delicate balance between love’s power and the darkness that seeks to unravel it. As they stand united against the watching storm, their resolve shines brightest—not in denial of fear, but in the courage to face it together, anchored by a love that refuses to yield.

What to Expect in Next Chapter?

The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the simmering tension that now hangs over Ellaine and Francesco’s fragile peace. As the shadow of Drake looms ever closer, the emotional stakes rise, threatening to unravel the hard-won moments of calm. Readers can expect to feel the weight of unseen eyes and the chilling presence of past wounds that refuse to heal, testing the strength of the bond between the Luna and her Lycaon king.

Amidst this growing unease, the complexities of love, loyalty, and vengeance will intertwine, pushing characters to confront not only external threats but also their own fears and vulnerabilities. The delicate balance between protection and defiance will be challenged, and the quiet resolve seen in this chapter may soon face its most harrowing trial yet. Prepare for a chapter where every glance, every whispered word, carries the heavy promise of what is to come.