Vione closed her eyes. She could feel Usher’s presence. There were no footsteps or other sounds, but her intuition never failed to detect Usher’s presence, just like now.
A moment later, a gentle touch landed on Vione’s shoulder. Her breath caught in her chest, and her body tensed instantly. Then she felt the touch turn into a gentle stroke, accompanied by Usher’s voice calling her name.
“Vione.”
Vione flinched. She let Usher’s fingers slip from her shoulder. She recoiled. “Say nothing, Usher. I will never let you go through the time portal again.”
But Usher didn’t give up. He grabbed Vione’s wrist. He held on to Vione and would not let go.
Vione struggled. “Usher.”
“Please, Vione,” Usher pleaded insistently. He pulled Vione into his embrace. “Please, listen to me.”
Vione ignored Usher’s plea. Instead, she continued to try to break free. She pressed against Usher’s chest with both hands, but her efforts were in vain. Usher didn’t budge.
“This is the only way I have, Vione. So please. Let me finish this.”
Vione’s resistance grew. Her behavior became more uncontrollable. She rebelled to free herself from Usher’s embrace. “Let me go, Usher,” she demanded harshly. Then, without much delay, her eyes radiated an unstoppable desperation that resembled anger. “I don’t want to discuss this anymore.”
Usher was taken aback by Vione’s resistance, but he couldn’t back down now. “Please, Vione, listen to me.”
“No, Usher! You!” Vione’s hands pressed harder against Usher’s chest. “You should be the one to listen to me! I don’t want to lose you, Usher! I can’t…” Suddenly, the terrifying image filled her mind-Usher insisting on going through the time portal and meeting his death there. Her words fell from her tongue, replaced by uncontrollable sobs. “I can’t, Usher.”
Vione’s defenses crumbled. Her strength vanished. The resilience that had been her anchor was suddenly shattered. In the end, she was powerless in the face of the fear that engulfed her, leaving her limp.
Usher quickly embraced Vione. He held her tightly to keep her from falling. “Forgive me.”
Vione’s eyes closed. Warmth seeped from the corners of her eyes, then flowed in the form of tear streaks. Her fingers, which had been pressing against Usher’s chest, were now clenched in helplessness. “Usher.”
“Forgive me, Vione. Forgive me.”
Vione didn’t want to hear Usher’s apology. To her, it was an unmistakable signal of Usher’s unwavering desire. Usher’s purpose remained unshaken.
“Forgive me, Vione, but please. Let me finish what I started. This is my only chance to atone for all the mistakes and sins I’ve committed. Please.”
Vione understood. Perhaps, of all of them, she was the one who understood Usher’s suffering the most. Perhaps only she could truly understand the depth of guilt and remorse that Usher carried.
That’s why Vione’s mind was in a tangle of emotions. She didn’t want to risk Usher’s safety, but on the other hand she was aware of her duty as a Luna. She should always support the decisions of her Alpha. That was the way it should be, but she couldn’t stand it.
“Can’t we just end it all here, Usher?” Vione asked quietly. Her voice trembled, revealing the vulnerability that fear was constantly eroding. “What if we forget it all, Usher? Why don’t we start a new life together from now on? Can we do that?” She drew back slightly, creating some distance to raise her face and look at Usher. “Please.”
Vione’s tears and pleas pressed against Usher. His heart felt torn. Confused, he wavered between his duties as Alpha and his personal desire to live happily with Vione.
Usher was as helpless as Vione. “Forgive me, Vione,” he begged, wiping the tears from Vione’s cheeks. “You know better than anyone how much I love you, Vione.” Then he cupped Vione’s face with both hands. His eyes locked on Vione’s with a gaze filled with many emotions-there was sadness, fear and hope. “One of my long-standing desires has been to live with you through thick and thin. So please believe me. I really want to start a new life with you, but I can’t.”
Vione’s eyes closed again and her tears flowed more freely. She had already expected Usher to reject her plea.
“We can go on with our lives, but I’m sure all these bad memories will never let me go.”
Vione lamented. “Usher.”
“This is my only chance, Vione. I won’t be able to forget this guilt. My sins are too great, and there’s no forgiveness that can erase them,” Usher continued painfully. All the shadows of the past filled his mind, showing the endless suffering that had befallen his loved ones. “I cannot live with the reality that I caused their deaths, Vione.”
Vione shook her head. “No, Usher.”
“It’s all my fault, Vione.” Usher tried to hold back a grimace as a pang squeezed his heart. “Mama, Garth, Cora, Storm and Berg. I caused their deaths.”
“No, Usher. You did it unconsciously. Mireya.” Vione tried to dispel Usher’s guilt with an undeniable fact. “This is all because of Mireya. She’s the one who caused all this. You were under her control, Usher.”
Usher nodded with a bitter smile that he couldn’t hide. “I know, it’s all because I was under Mireya’s control. But that doesn’t change the fact that I’m the one who caused her death. And worst of all, I destroyed the pack.”
“Usher.”
“So please, Vione. Let me redeem this guilt,” Usher said as he swallowed the lump in his throat. The bitterness spread and he realized it was nothing compared to the guilt that would haunt him forever. “Let me fix everything that happened.”
Usher’s pain and determination had merged, creating a decision that wouldn’t change. Vione knew it, she had known it from the beginning. It’s just that her selfish love had hoped Usher would change his mind. She had tried to persuade him, but it hadn’t worked.
Now there was nothing Vione could do. She couldn’t shake Usher’s resolve, and the only thing she could do now was to continue to support Usher. She had to strengthen her Alpha’s heart.
“I know you’ve never wavered in any decision you’ve made.”
Usher felt despondent. “Forgive me, Vione. I can’t grant your request, but you must know that I’m doing this for you above all else.”
“I know that too,” Vione nodded, trying to smile. Unfortunately, tears continued to fall from her cheeks. “I know, and remember this, Usher.” Then she looked at Usher with all her emotions. “I will always wait for you. No matter in the present or in the past, I’ll always wait for you. So come back to me.”
*