In the end, the tears could not be held back. A single tear fell and trickled down Vione’s cheek. She surrendered to the fear that weakened her body and soul.
“Tell us, Rowena,” Vione whispered, looking at Rowena with hope in her eyes. “How great is the risk of crossing the time portal? Because I swear!” This time she met Rowena’s eyes. “I’ve never seen Usher so weak.”
Usher shuffled out of his seat. “Vione,” he whispered, reaching out to grab Vione’s hand. “You-”
Vione dodged, creating a distance that stunned Usher. “I don’t want to risk your safety to change the past, Usher.” She shook her head several times and turned back to Rowena. “So, tell us, Rowena.”
Rowena’s eyes closed dramatically. She couldn’t bring herself to look at Vione when she had to reveal a truth she had hidden from him from the beginning. “The time portal drains power. Ordinary people can’t go through it. Even werewolves, vampires or witches would lose energy. If the energy loss is too great, the most likely outcome is death.”
Vione stumbled. “Why didn’t you say so in the first place, Rowena?” she demanded. “You shouldn’t have offered it like that.”
“I’m sorry, Luna. I-I…” Rowena couldn’t finish her words. She could only bow her head. “I’m sorry.”
“I can’t believe you did this to us. You shouldn’t have offered such a dangerous way,” Vione protested incredulously. Then she turned to Usher. “I’m not going to let you go through the time portal again, Usher. I don’t want to lose you.”
Usher struggled to get up from the bed. “Vione, please calm down. Besides, can’t you see my condition right now?” He tried to reassure Vione carefully. “I’m fine.”
Vione shook her head as she stepped back to avoid Usher. “No, Usher. Let me plead with you this time,” she replied, grimacing with restraint. “I don’t want you to die. I don’t want to lose you, and after this, after you’ve fully recovered, we’ll leave here. I don’t want us to stay here anymore.”
Rowena’s face suddenly lifted. At the same time, Ayla approached her and tried to calm her.
“Rowena.”
Rowena was stunned, her eyes staring blankly at Vione. “Luna, I’m sorry and I apologize, but I never intended to hide this from you. Besides, I wouldn’t risk your life. Alpha’s death is obviously a death for you as well.”
Rowena’s words were true. The lives of Usher and Vione were intertwined. The death of one would mean the death of the other.
A glimmer of reason tempered Vione’s rage. But it didn’t mean she would change her decision.
“I only wanted to help, Luna. It’s the only way to help Alpha change everything. I only want to help so that Alpha can change the present, so that all misfortune can be avoided,” Rowena continued seriously. This time she took the risk and kept her eyes on Vione. “And also, so that you don’t have to suffer. Because I believe Alpha will do everything to make you happy in the present.”
Vione fell silent. Rowena’s words swirled in her head, causing confusion. Her resolve was slightly shaken. But she didn’t want to take the risk.
“You can say anything, Rowena, but it won’t make me waver.”
With that, Vione left immediately. Ignoring Ayla’s call to her, she walked away with the conviction she would keep.
Rowena let out a long sigh. Vione’s departure stirred her emotions.
“Rowena.”
Rowena turned to find Usher approaching her with hesitant steps. “Alpha.”
“Forgive Vione. She was too worried about my condition to speak without thinking.”
A thin, wistful smile appeared on Rowena’s face. “I don’t mind at all, Alpha. I know she doesn’t want anything bad to happen to you. She loves you very much.”
Usher was silent for a moment, a strange feeling suddenly creeping into his mind. Then he remembered his initial concern about Rowena’s intentions. He had forgotten them and now they came back at the right moment.
But there was no time for Usher to dwell on all the oddities and suspicions. The most important thing for him was to make sure that Rowena would continue to help him.
“Rowena, I hope this doesn’t make you think about not helping me anymore. After all, I need your help to use the time portal.”
“Are you sure, Alpha?” Rowena asked with eyes that betrayed her uncertainty. “You saw it yourself. Luna doesn’t want you to do it again, so-”
“I will talk to Vione. I will convince her. Besides…” Usher took a breath and felt a tightness in his chest. The guilt was still there. “… like you said, this is the only way I can change everything.”
Rowena could see the burning determination in Usher’s eyes. His hope to change the present was so palpable. Unfortunately, it also brought guilt to her mind. “Alpha, there’s something else I need to tell you.”
“Go ahead, Rowena.”
“I can actually help you get through the time portal. As long as you want, I’ll always help you, but there’s no guarantee that the past can be changed. There’s no guarantee that the present can be changed.”
Usher fell silent.
“Fate is a mystery. Some things we can change, but some things we cannot avoid. Forgive me, Alpha, but the possibility remains that what you’re doing will be in vain.”
Usher nodded without showing surprise, as if he already understood. “I know. I suspected it.”
“Then?” Rowena frowned at Usher’s answer. “Does that mean you still want to go back to the past, Alpha? Do you still want to try, even though there’s a chance you might fail?”
Without hesitation, Usher nodded again. “Of course, and that’s why I hope you’ll keep your promise to help me through the time portal.”
Usher’s resolve silenced Rowena. Now she couldn’t find the words. For she could feel Usher’s worry, and she believed that of all of them, it was Usher who was the most worried.
Usher was worried. He was afraid. He couldn’t imagine what it would be like if fixing the past didn’t change the future. Unfortunately, this was the only hope he had.
“My chances of failure are indeed there, but that also means that I have a chance of success. It’s for that chance that I’m going to try, Rowena.”
*