Chapter 102: Chapter 102

JONEA

When the reindeer sleigh stopped, I froze, staring at the giant tree in front of me. It towered so high the top was barely visible, and its trunk was so wide it looked like it could hold an entire village inside. The tree felt alive, glowing faintly from the cracks in its bark, radiating a magical aura that was both calming and mesmerizing.

But the most shocking part wasn’t the tree—it was the scene around it. Dragons of all sizes roamed the area. Some floated gracefully in the air, while others moved on the ground, their massive forms exuding a kind of elegance I never thought possible.

As soon as we stepped off the sleigh, every dragon there froze for a moment, then bowed deeply in respect. Their gazes were fixed on Aland, reverent, as if they worshipped him.

“Dragon King!” one of the dragons roared, its deep voice echoing in the air.

I froze. “Dragon King?” I whispered, staring at Aland in confusion.

He gave me a small smile and extended his hand, inviting me into the magnificent treehouse. “I’ll explain later, Jonea. Let’s go inside first.”

The moment we stepped inside, I was speechless. The interior was stunning, far beyond anything I could’ve imagined. Natural light streamed through cracks in the tree, blending with the shimmering crystals hanging from the ceiling, creating a warm, calming atmosphere. The spacious rooms, with furniture seemingly carved from the tree itself, embodied a perfect harmony of nature and elegance.

Still, I couldn’t fully appreciate the beauty around me. My mind buzzed with questions and confusion.

“Aland, what’s going on? Why are they calling you the Dragon King? And why did you bring me here?” I pleaded.

Aland just smiled again, but instead of answering, he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me into a tight embrace. I was startled by the intimacy of it, but before I could protest, he bent down to kiss the top of my head.

“Jonea,” he whispered softly, “you have no idea how much I’ve missed you.”

His embrace tightened, as if he was afraid I might disappear again. I wanted to hug him back, to tell him I missed him too, but an image of Daran’s solemn face suddenly flashed in my mind, filling me with unease.

Aland finally led me to sit on a large sofa that looked like it had been carved straight from the tree’s trunk. He gazed at me for a long moment before finally speaking. “They made me their leader.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, confused.

He sighed, his eyes distant as if recalling something hard to express. “They believe I’m the Silver Werewolf with dragon lineage. I didn’t know it before, but they showed me proof, and…” His intense gaze met mine. “I accepted the responsibility because I want to protect them. And I want to protect you.”

I was stunned. It was hard to believe what I was hearing. “So, you’re really… part dragon?”

Aland nodded. “And that’s why I brought you here. I want you to stay with me, Jonea. You don’t need to break your seal anymore. Just live here with me. All I want is you.”

My heart trembled at his confession. Honestly, it had always been my dream—to live peacefully with Aland, away from the chaos of the outside world. But one thing kept me from accepting his offer outright.

“Aland…” I hesitated, trying to find the right words. “I’m bound by a contract with Daran. I have to give him my sacred blood. If I don’t…”

I couldn’t finish. My mind filled with dreadful possibilities of what might happen to Daran if I broke the contract.

Aland’s gaze sharpened, his jaw tightening. “Daran? This is about him?”

I stammered. “I just don’t want him to be in danger…”

His eyes narrowed, and his voice grew colder. “You’re still thinking about that Lycan sorcerer, aren’t you?”

I stayed silent, unable to respond.

I tried to change the subject. “Aland, don’t you want to leave this place? We could live together, exploring the world as adventurers. I don’t want you trapped here. Are you really happy in this place?”

His expression softened as I caressed his face. He kissed my hand, but I could see the sadness hidden behind his smile.

“I’m happy if you’re here, Jonea,” he whispered. “But you’re right… There’s a part of me that longs for freedom. But I can’t just abandon my responsibility.”

I looked at him silently, my heart a tangle of confusion and guilt. How could I make Aland happy when I was still bound to my contract with Daran? And how could I ignore Daran’s feelings if he might be in danger?

The questions swirled in my mind, making it harder to find an answer.

Aland stared at me intensely, as if trying to read my thoughts. Then, with a voice soft but piercing, he asked, “Is all of this because of that Lycan sorcerer, Jonea?”

His question hit me like a sharp blade. I wanted to deny it, but the words caught in my throat. What was I supposed to say?

The fire crackling in the corner of the room felt warm, but the tension between us was cold and heavy. Aland stood before me, his expression hard and serious, while I could only stare at the dancing flames, avoiding his gaze.

“Jonea,” his voice was quiet but sharp, “I brought you here because I was worried about you. That sorcerer seems to be trying to tame you like those reindeer.”

I was startled by the emotion in his voice, but I still stayed silent.

“What hurts me most,” he continued, “is that you don’t seem to mind.”

I felt his sharp gaze pierce my back. I swallowed hard, trying to steady my trembling heart.

In a quiet voice, I began to speak, though I still couldn’t meet his eyes. “Aland, I’ve lost everyone I loved and cared about in my life.”

I paused, trying to keep my voice from trembling. “Even when I thought I’d lost you too, Daran was the only one who accepted me… and helped me. He stayed with me, even at a cost. That’s why I never asked him questions he didn’t want to answer.”

I took a deep breath, my voice starting to shake. “Even though I know I might just be his prey, I’m willing to do it… if it means breaking my seal and saving you.”

Silence. The room seemed to hold its breath.

Suddenly, Aland stepped forward and gripped my shoulders with both hands. He shook me hard, his face filled with restrained anger.

“Are you insane, Jonea?!” he shouted, his voice trembling with emotion. “You’re throwing your life away? You’re using yourself as a bargaining chip for my safety? What good is my freedom if I lose you?”

I looked into his eyes, filled with pain, but I didn’t look away. I knew he wasn’t just mad at me—he was mad at himself too.

“Because if we keep hiding here, sooner or later Luke Draken’s forces are going to find us,” I said firmly, though my voice shook a little. “So why not stop running and face them together? If we combine our strength, I’m sure we can beat them.”

Aland shook his head, his eyes brimming with tears he couldn’t hold back. “Jonea, you don’t understand,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “I... I’m just a burden to you. All of this happened because I’m weak. I can’t even protect you. I’m... I’m only dragging you into danger.”

“Aland…” I reached out for his hand, but he took a step back.

“Stop, Jonea!” he shouted, his voice cracking with emotion. “You need to stop thinking about me and start being selfish for once. If you keep doing this... I don’t want to see you anymore! I should’ve been the one to die so you could live without all this weight on you!”

His words hit me like a thousand needles. I wanted to scream, to tell him he was wrong, that I didn’t want to live without him. But the words just wouldn’t come out.

He turned away, guilt and despair written all over his face. Watching him like that broke me. I couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Aland…” I stepped closer and grabbed his hand. He turned to look at me, his eyes filled with deep sadness.

Without even realizing it, my hand moved to his face, gently brushing against his skin. He closed his eyes, like he was trying to find peace in my touch.

“We’re both hurting, Aland,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “I… I can’t lose you again.”

He opened his eyes, and before I could say anything else, his lips met mine. His kiss was full of longing and desperation, like he was trying to pour all his pain and love into that single moment.

I felt tears streaming down my cheeks, but I didn’t care. I kissed him back, letting myself get lost in the overwhelming emotions between us.

Somehow, without realizing it, we started peeling away the walls between us. The clothes we wore became meaningless.

In that desperate moment, we found an escape. Our bodies clung tightly to each other, trying to erase the pain that haunted our hearts for so long.

But even in the middle of that intimacy, Daran’s face flashed through my mind. And for the first time, guilt over what I felt weighed heavily on me.

As we lay together, caught between exhaustion and overflowing emotions, Aland looked at me with such tenderness but also so many unspoken questions.

“Jonea…” His voice was soft but pierced through me. “Is all of this… because of that Lycan sorcerer?”

I froze, the words stuck in my throat. What could I even say?