Chapter 14
I didn’t ask more questions.]]
At least I believed that when it came to life and death, Freya wouldn’t lie to me.[]
Knowing her personality, if she wasn’t talking, it definitely meant–someone had told her not to.]
Why should I force her to answer? My wolf was too exhausted to push for more pain.
“Freya, come with me to see Grandma.“[]
…0
The old woman had really been terrified beyond belief.[]
When we went to see her, she was still sleeping, mumbling in her dreams: “Alina, run away, don’t hurt Alina.“[]
My tears immediately burst forth like a dam breaking. I gently laid my head on her blanket and sobbed until my whole body shook, my wolf whimpering in grief.[]
Freya stood beside me, starting to speak several times but stopping herself, and in the end… she said nothing at all.]]
Until the day I was discharged.]
Only then did she hesitantly hand me a letter, her scent heavy with reluctance.[]
“This is from Lucian. He asked me to give it to you.”
I didn’t make a fuss about it and took it without ceremony, though my wolf recoiled slightly at his name.
“Alina, you’re really not going back to the Darkwood pack territory?“]
“No, without Mom there, it stopped being my home long ago. I’m planning to take Grandma abroad.”
“Grandma helped me contact a master designer in The Moonlit Glade who’s agreed to take me as an apprentice. It’s perfect–I can take her somewhere to heal.”
Freya didn’t try to make me stay, just gently hugged me, and I could smell her tears.
“Little Alina, I support whatever you want to do, but don’t forget–you still have me in The Howling Vale. You’re not alone in this world, so remember to come back!“]
-Inodded quickly, looking at her–gentle expression and feeling like this usually carefree childhood friend had grown up
overnight, forced to witness too much pain.
On the plane headed overseas, I covered the sleeping Grandma with a blanket, then pulled out that unusually thick letter from my bag, my hands trembling slightly.
When I opened it, I discovered… this didn’t look like Lucian’s handwriting.
Though that Alpha was carefree, he really did have beautiful penmanship–bold and nowerful strokes that
strength.]
But this letter was written in shaky, crooked characters, like a child wrote it, and a badly injured child at that…
It took me great effort to make out all the words, each one hitting me like a physical blow.
[Alina, I suddenly realized it’s been nearly ten years since I last wrote you a letter.]]
[Ironically, when I was little listening to old pack legends, I always fantasized about personally writing you a mating bond declaration when we grew up–devoted mates, growing old together. How wonderful, how romantic… Alina, I’m sorry.]
[I think that during those long years, I forgot the promises I made in my youth. The word “love” is easy to say, and young wolves‘ vows never lack talk of “forever,” but please believe me–fifteen–year–old Lucian was sincere.]]]
[I always thought we’d definitely end up together, so I didn’t need to pay attention to those details. I loved you, I knew it, and that was enough…]]
[So, Alina, I’m sorry. Sorry to you over all these years, and sorry to… my fifteen–year–old self. I think I was ridiculously wrong. But how fortunate I am that on the day we were destined to part, in those supernatural flames, I found again the heart and courage to love you like I did at fifteen.]]
[Alina, I wish you happiness, I wish you strength, I wish you pride, I wish you–never meet another mate as foolish as me. Goodbye, Alina.]]
Between the pages was a stock transfer document, already dampened by tears I didn’t realize I’d shed.]
Looking carefully, I saw it was from Kaelan…]
He hadn’t left any words, just transferred 70% of his pack’s business shares to me.
Actually, I wasn’t short on money.
Over the years, though I might have been emotionally neglected, just the inheritance Mom left me was enough for me to live comfortably.
But since he was giving it, I’d take it. After all, it was all from what Dad had built anyway.[]
Freya was right–only an idiot doesn’t take what’s rightfully theirs.
I gently wiped the tears from my face with a tissue and turned to look out the cabin window, my wolf finally settling into a kind of numb peace.[]
Sunlight streamed through the rolling sea of clouds, illuminating everything with brilliant light.]
I touched my chest and leaned gently against Grandma.]
The old woman drowsily patted my back with her hand, like she was coaxing a wounded pup to sleep.
I suddenly felt that this… was just fine. For the first time in years, my wolf wasn’t in pain.]
