Chapter 35: Chapter 35

Clara's POV

Erik already had a house before I even got here, but when he became busy, we moved one of the rooms at the pack house near his office. We are planning on staying there since Vincent will lead the pack directly. What would be Tia's reaction when she comes out of her seclusion? Is she surprised, or does she already know this would happen since she lived for a thousand years?

Erik went to his meeting with Vincent. They talked about how they would tighten the security until Tia was gone. We will be moving out of the pack house and will move back to Erik's house. Angela is in charge of my library, while Lia is in order of Erik's office. Everyone was busy moving around, and I didn't want to be a burden, so I went to the greenhouse to look at the tulips.

As I walked inside the greenhouse, I saw Vincent's back, enjoying the scenery. "What are you doing here, moping?" I joked. "Ha-Ha" He faked a laugh and rolled his eyes at me. "I was just missing Tia," Vincent confessed. "Don't worry, and she won't leave you. Maybe you are the one who's going to leave her," I said. He looked at me like I was losing my mind, but I just raised my brow at him. "I can feel that she is still hesitant to be marked," Vincent said. I sighed and smiled at my brother sadly. "Vince, she witnessed the deaths of her mates countless times. You know how painful it is to lose your soul mate; she has been through it repeatedly. Imagine how hard it is for her, but she still agreed to marry, and that can only mean one thing, brother," I said, trying to enlighten him. "You are right. What's wrong with me?" He noted feeling frustrated. "You love her too much," I said and bumped my shoulder to his arm. "Isn't that normal, sister?" He said, blushing.

I laughed at him, liking his reaction. "So, how is the new title?" I asked. Erik mentioned that he kept on avoiding the issue since we got crowned.

"Not that big of a change. I'm still Erik's slave," Vincent said and playfully grunted. "You should tell him that," I offered. "Nope, not a chance," He said immediately, and I rolled my eyes at him.

"I'll have to go. I need to check the rooms," I said, excusing myself.

We have a passage in the pack house through our house. It's in the hall, and the passage is behind our throne. If they need something to discuss, we will be there, and Erik keeps on whining that it is troublesome. I entered the pack house and headed to the kitchen before heading home.

I saw Edward sitting by himself and sat beside him. "Hi," I greeted. He stood and bowed to me appropriately.

"Your highness," He said. I giggled at his cuteness and touched his head.

"Why are you eating by yourself?" I asked curiously since Angela was always beside him. Edward always tags along with Angela wherever she goes.

"My parents are working, and since I'm a good boy, I can eat by myself," He explained.

"Wow, Edward is all grown up now," I praised him. He took a plate and gave it to me. It was a sight to watch when he was trying his best with his little hands to serve me some food.

After he had served me the best he could, I thanked him and started eating. "It's delicious," I said. "Of course, mommy cooked all my favorite meals," He said proudly.

We both ate our meals quietly. He finished his food before me and said goodbye, saying he would go and pick up his mommy. I smiled at him and looked around the kitchen. I would not eat the previous days if everyone were not here in the kitchen, but now I can manage to eat on my own. Maybe because of the trial, or perhaps even if I'm here alone, I know I'm not alone.

I quickly gobbled my food and left the kitchen. I entered the hall and opened the door connected to our house. I looked around, and the design of the house changed. It looked dark when I first came here, but now it feels warm and cozy.

The house seemed huge, imagining that it was only Erik and me who would be staying there. I made my way to the room where I visited. First, I followed the way that I remember. I opened the door to our room and gasped. It was vast, and the ceiling was too high. Our bed has curtains on the sides, and we also have a sofa in the room.

They went overboard designing our room, but I won't deny it. It was amazing. The one who reconstructs our house works fast. I felt curious about what my library looked like, so I rushed to check if it was already done. I knocked, but no one answered, so I opened it myself.

I entered and was stunned. I was so amazed that I just stood there staring at my library. When I had enough staring, I walked around looking through the books. One book caught my eye, and it was a fairytale book. I took and opened it, and I smiled as I was reading the book.

"That's the first gift that my father ever gave me."

"Agh!" I shouted, startled at the one who talked behind me.

I saw Erik laugh, covering his mouth with his hand. "Don't scare me like that!" I scolded him.

"I'm sorry, babe, I thought you felt me," He said, grabbing me by the waist to get closer. My arms found their way to his neck. "Anyways, the first?" I asked.

"Yeah, and I was 11 years old at that time," He said. I gave him a look, not believing what he said. "He gifted you a fairytale? When you were 11?" I asked again.

He laughed. "Yes, he did. It was the first and the last," He said.

I was about to reply to him when someone knocked. "Your majesty," the warrior greeted. When he noticed that I was there, he turned to me and bowed. "Your highness," He said.

"What is it?" Erik asked, irritated that our moment got interrupted.

"The office is ready, and Alpha Vincent asked for a meeting," He reported. Erik nodded at him, and he left.

"Why would Vincent need to send someone when he can just mind-link me," Erik said, still whining at the interruption.

"Do you want me to come?" I asked, changing the subject.

"Sure," He said smiling, he offered his hand to me, and I happily accepted. We walked towards the hall walking while holding hands.

Before we enter the door connected to the hall where our throne is located, there is a table for our crowns. We wore our crowns and entered the hall, sitting on our thrones.

"What happened?" Erik said with a threatening voice.

"Ian has returned," Vincent reported.

Ian entered the hall. "Your majesty, your highness, Alpha," he greeted and bowed.

"What do you got?" Vincent asked Ian.

"I followed the trail until I arrived at the end of the east," Ian reported. Erik showed a confused look on his face.

"What do you mean?" Vincent asked. "The trace of the person vanished. It was at the borders of our neighboring country at the east," Ian explained.

"Your majesty!" Vincent exclaimed. "Calm down. It is not enough evidence to say they are spying on us." Erik said.

"I think the enemy wanted to divert our attention to the neighboring country," I said.

"Yes, there are so many possibilities. The country is not yet stable for us to wage war on another country," Erik explained.

"Since you went to the east, what is progress in our borders?" Erik asked Ian.

"They are currently building their homes. As per their report, they just arrived yesterday evening," Ian informed.

"Okay, good," Erik said.

Erik's POV

After the meeting with Vincent and Ian, Clara and I returned to the house. Clara took a bath, and I went to see the look of my office. We were supposed to live in the pack house, but Tia scolded us, telling us not to be such a baby. Tia was already in seclusion, but she ensured that she had instructed us enough before leaving. She left a report for me to read after I recovered from being poisoned.

I invited my mother to live with us since only Clara and I will live here. Melissa left with her mate, and I didn't want to leave my mother alone in her house. Before I went to our room, I made my way to my mom's room. It was their old room with my father.

I knocked, and mom greeted me with her smile. "Hi, mom," I said.

"What brings you here, son?" She asked while fixing her clothes in her walk-in closet.

"Just want to check if everything's fine," I asked. I got a bit worried when I asked her to move in since this place is full of memories of my father.

"Everything is okay. I was happy that you asked me to live with the both of you," She said, smiling widely.

She continued unpacking her clothes and sat at the side of her bed. "What is it, son?" She asked again. My eyes grew big, but I immediately masked them.

"I want to ask about the incident," I asked.

"This is the first time. You never questioned anything before," She said. She took the picture frame on the bedside table and looked at it sadly.

"I want to hear everything now," I said softly.

"You and your father fought as usual. That night, there was an explosion. Not only once, but part of our lands exploded continuously. We didn't even know what was coming since we couldn't hear anything. We just smelled the smoke," She said, and she started to cry.

"Your father got surprised, but he got scared since you were out. But at the same time, we were praying that you won't come back for days as usual. Your father was outraged and called some of the guards on standby. The warriors are out conquering some lands. We didn't stand a chance, and we weren't given a chance. We were all busy putting off the fire, trying to save the lives of our pack members. You could hear the pups screaming, and it was horrifying. Your father did some rounds but never found the one who caused the explosion, so he focused on saving the pack members, but rogues came as he was trying to save the pack. They attacked everyone and killed every one of them. The warriors prioritized us, but your father insisted on fighting, so he ordered some of the warriors to take me and run. I took Melissa when we were about to escape your father was growling, mind-linking me to run, he was shouting, and I saw him rushing towards us, his voice was full of panic, I looked at the house behind. I saw some sparks, and I knew that it would explode at that moment. I panicked, took Melissa, and tried to run, but the explosion caught up with us. I couldn't walk, and Melissa was unconscious. Your father was standing before us, covering us from the rogues and killing the rogues who tried to attack us, while your father ordered me to stand up and run. My back was injured, but I forced myself to stand up and grabbed Melissa's arm to carry her. While we were running, your father protected us from the back, but suddenly they stopped attacking, we were surprised, and then your father howled in pain. I looked back and saw him on the ground, and he was wriggling on the ground, trying to escape from something. He couldn't stand up and was only on the ground. The rogues then came toward him and forced him to drink some liquid. After making sure that your father drank it all, they left. All of them left. I shifted and dragged your father together with Melissa into a safe place. On the way, one of the guards became conscious and helped me. When we arrived at an abandoned hut, the guard died, he was gravely injured, and while carrying your father, his blood poured" She stopped talking, gulped, and started sobbing. She hugged the picture frame that had the picture of my father and looked at me with eyes full of tears.

I was about to move towards her when she talked again. "Your father shifted back to his human form, and I was shocked to see his body. His veins became obvious, and it was black. His eyes became red, and he was screaming in pain. He kept on sweating, screaming. I tried everything to keep him alive, but what could I do in that situation? I couldn't do anything, and I cried and prayed. He screamed in pain until his veins exploded, and he became quiet. I cried, tugging his body, hoping that he would wake up, and he did. While blood is pouring throughout his body, he looks at me and smiles" She sobbed, trying to calm herself for her to talk.

"Don't be too sad, and I won't be gone too long. Take good care of our son. That son of mine inherited some of my personality. It got annoying, it was like fighting myself, but most of the time, he was like you. I'm happy that he didn't see me lose. I've wanted to give him the world, I was just getting started, but I lost immediately. Forgive me, my love. Forgive me. We won't be apart for too long."

"That was it, and then he died. He kept coughing blood while talking, his voice was getting weaker with every word he said, and I was just there watching him die alone. He suffered alone, and I was watching. It was the most painful thing. I blamed the moon goddess for a while at that time. Asking her why my mate, why only my mate, days have passed, Melissa, who I've forgotten, woke up and buried your father. I couldn't move, I couldn't talk. It was like a part of me died alongside your father. My wolf also stopped responding, and I just stared at Melissa while she was trying her best to carry your father and bury his body. Then she dragged me back here and focused on your safety. She dragged me around to look for you. We went to your favorite place, but you were not there, and we saw you back at the pack house, and that was it"

"That was it, it only took minutes, and your father was dead," she said, ending her story.

I walked toward her and hugged her. I comforted her until she calmed down. "Who do you think it is, mom?" I asked softly.

"Why? Do you suspect someone?" She asked with wide eyes.

"Alpha Louis," I said.

"No, that's impossible," she said, standing up and pacing around the room. "Why mom, he, and dad always fight," I asked, confused.

"No, sweetheart, that's just how their relationship works," she said, shaking her head.

"How can you be so sure, mom?" I asked again.

"Because Louis is a guy that is always true to his words," she said, looking at me seriously. She was confident that Alpha Louis was not the traitor, but I am also convinced he is. I stayed quiet and smiled at her sadly.

"Okay, mom, you should rest. See you tomorrow," I said and kissed her on the forehead before leaving the room.

The story of the incident my mother told me about kept repeating in my head. I went to our room and saw my mate sleeping peacefully while hugging my pillow. I walked towards her, sat beside her, and touched her hair. I stared at her for a while and left the room to have a run.

"I've wanted to give him the world, I was just getting started, but I lost immediately."

With my father's words lingering in my thought, I rushed outside, shifted mid-air, and ran through the forest. I ran and let my paws take me everywhere. My last stop was the river where I always hid from my father and where I first met Clara. I've thought about when we first met and smiled thankfully at the moon for giving me such a fantastic mate.

"When we arrived at an abandoned hut, the guard died"

I remembered what my mother told me after my father died, and when Melissa woke up, they looked for me. So, it must be near here, but I never found some hut in here throughout the years I ran this territory. I ran around the territory, looking for the hut. The moonlight and my sense of smell were my only guide in the forest. I ran around while the story my mother told me kept on repeating in my head.

I should have listened to my father more, and I should have talked to him more. Rather than escaping from him, I should have stayed and faced him. My father always put us first before the pack. He never once failed to give me attention to everything I did. I should have just stayed there and faced him every day rather than running away.

I regret so much that I began to miss my father. I miss him so much that I am starting to feel sorry and angry at the one who is responsible. Even if my father was strict with me, he was a good leader and a companion. Why betray him? I can't think of any reason why they would betray him.

I howled in the forest with all I got, letting all my regrets go. I ran around the territory, forgetting about the hut. Forgetting about everything, I was thinking one thing while I was running. It was my father's last words.

"Dad, I am now the king of werewolves. The country may be small compared with the world you were aiming for, but this country is my world. I got what you wanted for me, and I'll pass it on my own too. Dad, I was never disappointed in you. Even if I saw you lost, I will never think lowly of you. I will always remember how you stood in front of us, leading us magnificently."

"I'm sorry for everything, father."