In that moment, Alex suddenly understood the most hollow aspect of life: dedicating your entire existence to harboring resentment, only to have your revenge target be a fantastical, imagined enemy who doesn’t even know who you are. What’s the point of seeking revenge against someone who is oblivious to your hatred?
That person simply didn’t care.
His father had countless children throughout his life, and Alex was among the fortunate ones. His mother, a skilled florist in the court, could keep busy with her craft even while taking care of children. However, many weren’t as lucky-some children died prematurely, and others were born to peasant women summoned only for their looks and expelled from the palace after giving birth.
His mother wisely never mentioned having a night of passion with an alpha, so when she bore a child, people initially asked questions, but gradually, everyone got used to it.
Strictly speaking, even without a father, his days wouldn’t have been so bleak. His life wasn’t supposed to have such a dismal outcome.
At that time, he thought, how could power corrode people to such an extent? He vowed never to let himself or those around him fall into the ignorance of power. Little did he know, his bedmate had already begun scheming for power.
He was too afraid that the temptation of power would make Peirene lose basic judgment. Therefore, he had to exile her using magic. He clung to some hope that she was so powerful that simple magic couldn’t trap her. As long as she realized that war couldn’t solve all problems, he still wanted to bring her back.
Unfortunately, one wrong step, like a domino falling, and once the first piece collapsed, the entire set would follow suit.
“What’s your name?” he asked.
Urania, standing nearby, looked disgusted. She always knew this person couldn’t even remember the names of these children, truly squandering her initial expectations.
“I’m Carl, Alpha.” The boy’s eyes sparkled, gleaming with a transparent light. “Mother hopes I can become a towering man, helping to alleviate concerns for the tribe and our home.”
He was already of an age where he could participate in hunting during the Spring Hunt Festival.
Alexander vaguely felt the interchange of years and memories. In a spring with endless dampness and continuous rain, grass and animal fur wore coats woven from raindrops. Nobody wanted to hold the ceremony that year. May still brought incessant rain, indicating it wasn’t a suitable year for hunting.
Except for Peirene. Calmly wearing a raincoat, she swiftly traversed the forest in the pouring rain, continuously shooting arrows outward. For a moment, the rain and the arrows intertwined, making it hard for everyone to distinguish. They only knew that it was swift, and nothing was visible.
In the end, Peirene achieved a bountiful harvest, and miraculously, after that day, the long rainy season came to an end. Post late spring, they welcomed the same fervent summer as every other year.
These were children as young and magical as Peirene at that time. Alex marveled, approached, and touched the child’s cheek.
“You have a good mother. Just like me, I also have the best mother in the world.”
Carl tilted his head, feeling puzzled. “Does the Alpha love your mother too?”
Alexander smiled, “No need to be so formal; she’s your grandmother. Yes, just like you love your mother, I love my mother deeply too. Unfortunately, she passed away too early, and I couldn’t witness anything with her.”
He took a step back, and beside him was the priest of the Frost Moon Pack, an elderly figure, hunched and supported by someone. He held the crown and slowly approached.
As he passed by Alex, the elder glanced at him. Alex awkwardly took two steps back to let him pass.
“Carl Frost Bourne, you will become the alpha of the Frost Moon Pack. From now on, the heavy responsibility of the whole clan will rest on your shoulders. Will you, with your dignity and your life, pledge eternal loyalty to our tribe, risking everything to guard the honor of the family and the safety of the people? Can you do that?”
“Yes, sir, I can!”
The young boy’s clear voice echoed through the entire hall of the palace, and everyone applauded together, their faces showing relief. They had always thought Ethan would take over the pack, but fortunately, that wasn’t the case.
Alexander also felt relieved. He no longer carried the heavy burden of expectations on his shoulders. In the future, he could simply be a gardener, tending to the garden, just like his mother.
The Elder walked out of the gates of the Frost Moon Pack, still sighing. He originally thought the negotiations would be somewhat difficult, but who would have thought that Alexander was the one most eager to let go of the Frost Moon Pack.
Alexander followed them, deciding to check nearby for a place suitable for planting flowers, where he wouldn’t be found or disturbed.
Urania turned back to assess Alexander. “Are you really not planning to return to the Frost Moon Pack?”
“I haven’t contributed anything to the Frost Moon Pack, and there’s no one here worth my nostalgia. I prefer staying alone for peace of mind.”
Equally comfortable being alone, Urania could only shrug, indicating acceptance.
“Oh, there’s one more thing.” The Elder suddenly remembered, something Grace specifically asked him before leaving. “How did you handle Ethan’s body?”
“It’s still in the ice coffin.” Alexander looked at him with confusion. “What’s wrong?”
The Elder didn’t know how to broach this subject; asking a father for his son’s remains seemed inappropriate. However, this was Grace’s earnest request, and regardless of the outcome, he had to try.
“Well, before I came, my daughter Grace specifically told me a request.” Now Grace had started calling him father. “She hopes to take Ethan’s remains, as she promised Ethan to visit his grave every year. Also, she said Ethan wanted her to dance a dispelling darkness dance on his grave after his death. I know this may sound hard to accept for most people, but this is what Grace said, Ethan’s final request.”
Alexander didn’t answer immediately because he was trying to figure out who Grace was.
“Is she the former partner of Aldrich’s child?”
“Yes, that’s her.”
Alexander felt a bit sad. “Did she and Ethan go through a lot together?”
“I believe so. Their relationship was even deeper than I imagined. Originally, I should have refused her, but thinking about the grief in her eyes as she watched Ethan leave, I can only come and implore you, hoping you can fulfill her wish.”
If there was someone in this world who loved my son as much as Peirene did, then it wouldn’t be a bad thing to let her visit Ethan together.
He said, “Ask her. If she’s willing, she can choose a suitable place to bury my child. She can go whenever she wants, and I’ll also bury Peirene and my mother there.”