No one had seen this coming, not even Rowena. She stood frozen as Vione ran toward her and remained still as Vione hugged her tightly.
Rowena was completely still. Her world seemed to stop spinning at that moment. Impossible, she thought. This must be a dream. There was no way Vione could…
But the embrace and the tears of longing felt all too real. And no dream could ever evoke such overwhelming emotions. This was proof enough-Vione truly recognized Rowena as her mother.
“Vi-Vione.” Rowena’s voice trailed off. She blinked several times before gathering the courage to raise her arms and return Vione’s embrace. “Y-you know who I am?”
Vione nodded repeatedly through her streaming tears. Her grip tightened as she said, “You are my biological mother. You are…” She felt an indescribable joy as her long-held hope finally came true. “… Mama.”
Countless days had passed as Vione clung to the hope that one day she would meet her biological parents. The fact that Addy had found her on the edge of the Amerotha Forest was never enough to make her resent her birth parents. She knew it sounded illogical, but deep down she was sure there was a reason for what they had done.
Now, as the future Vione’s memories merged with her own and Rowena embraced her in return, Vione knew her suspicions were right. Rowena must have had a strong reason, for she could feel the love in her touch so clearly.
“Oh God, Vione.” Rowena sobbed even harder; her tears fully unleashed. They cried together, united in an indescribable moment of deep emotion. “Forgive me, Vione. Oh, God. I love you.”
Rowena’s first expression of love pierced Vione’s heart. It was a statement that would stay with her forever, never to be forgotten.
“I…” Vione smiled through the tears that continued to stream down her cheeks. “… I love you too, Ma.”
Rowena was further engulfed in an endless ocean of happiness. For her, who had been praying that Vione would be found safely, this event was beyond her wildest expectations. She had never imagined that Vione would recognize her, nor had she dared to hope. She had made peace with the fact that it was impossible for Vione to know her. They had never met, and all this time she had protected Vione from afar.
But fate had intervened. The same fate that Rowena had cursed for years had unexpectedly given her this joyful surprise. And so, there was something she had longed to do, something she had held back for decades.
Rowena loosened their embrace, just enough to see Vione’s face clearly. She cupped Vione’s cheeks, gazed lovingly at her face without tiring. Then she froze as she noticed something in Vione’s eyes.
Something was different. Something extraordinary had happened to Vione. Rowena could sense it, and the moon pendant around Vione’s neck seemed to confirm her suspicion.
“Vione,” Rowena whispered with a heavy voice. Her tears stopped flowing. “Tell me, has something happened to you?”
Vione remained silent, aware of the many people around her. But her silence was an indirect answer to Rowena.
Rowena held her breath, then her gaze grew more intense as she studied Vione. She had to be sure, and she wasn’t wrong. V-Vione has two wolf spirits.
*
Now everything made sense. The mystery of the missing moon necklace worn by both Usher and Vione, Vione’s abduction without the knowledge of the palace guards, and the fact that Vione recognized Rowena as her biological mother all had a single explanation. It was all due to the arrival of the future Vione.
Vione turned to Usher and asked for confirmation. “How is the pack now?”
“Just like what happened in the future,” Usher replied with a heavy sigh. It was hard to admit, but he had to. “It seems the strangeness is affecting us here as well. Especially since the victims of the war still haven’t recovered as they should. It seems the Nimbria pack has indeed poisoned our pack with Bernathra magic.”
“Then this is the only way to save the pack,” Vione concluded firmly, glancing between Usher, Rowena and Ayla. Her conviction was palpable. “The power in the Amerotha Forest will heal the pack.”
Ayla smiled at Vione. “No wonder the Amerotha Forest is considered a sacred forest with such immense mystical energy. As it turns out, it’s all because of your sacrifice, Vione.”
Vione fell silent, pondering Ayla’s words as if they reinforced her belief that the Amerotha Forest could indeed heal the pack from Bernathra’s magic. Then her focus shifted back to Rowena.
Rowena knew what Vione was thinking. So, she spoke without hesitation. “I can perform the healing ritual, but there are a few things you need to consider, Vione.”
“Tell me, Ma.” Vione’s eyes widened with excitement. “What do I have to do?”
“First, you must recover, for the ritual and the power are tied to you,” Rowena replied thoughtfully. She didn’t want to see Vione suffer for the sake of others. Therefore, Vione’s safety would be her priority. “I’ll prepare some potions to help you recover quickly, and since you now have two wolf spirits, it shouldn’t take long. They will watch over you together.”
Vione nodded. “Thank you, Ma.”
Rowena took a moment to soak in the joy of Vione’s sweet words before continuing. “The next thing you need to do is deal with Alpha, Vione.”
All eyes suddenly turned to Usher. No one spoke, but they all seemed to understand Rowena’s meaning, leaving Vione feeling uncomfortable.
“To save the pack, you must have a bond with them,” Rowena explained, ignoring the blush that was growing on Vione’s cheeks. Then she turned to Usher. “Vione must become your Luna, Alpha. That’s the only way she can be spiritually bound to the pack.”
Usher was taken aback. A swirl of emotions flickered in his eyes. “I have broken our bond, but for the pack there is only one Luna for Alpha Usher.” He looked at Rowena. “Forever, Vione is my Luna, the Luna of Frostholm Pack.”
Usher’s words stirred a whirlwind of emotions in Vione. Her heart trembled, caught between longing and hope. There was something she wanted to ask, but fear crept in. Even after Rowena and Ayla had left, she still couldn’t find the courage to speak.
Vione surrendered. When it came to Usher, she felt completely powerless. So, she pushed her curiosity aside and decided to take in her surroundings, the large and magnificent room she was in.
It’s been a long time since I last set foot in here, Vione thought with a bittersweet smile. She walked slowly around the room that had once been her personal room- the chamber of the Luna of The Frostholm Pack. “Nothing has changed at all.”
Everything was exactly as she remembered it. Every piece of furniture, the layout, nothing had moved at all. Even the curtains were still pastel purple-her favorite color.
“I told the Omegas not to touch your room.”
Vione jumped, turning instinctively. “U-Usher.”
“Is there something you don’t like?” Usher asked as he approached her. “I can have the Omegas take care of it right away.”
“No.” Vione replied quickly, trying to calm herself at Usher’s sudden presence. “I like it, Usher. I just didn’t expect it to be like this.” She smiled. “Thank you.”
Usher was momentarily stunned. In fact, he too was struggling with self-control. Unfortunately, Vione’s sweet smile was wearing down his defenses.
It seemed too long for Usher. He couldn’t even remember the last time he had seen Vione smile like that. All the tragedies that had happened had robbed her of any reason to smile, and he was the cause of it all.
Usher felt guilty, so he said, “Vione, there’s something I have to tell you. I’m sor-”
Vione put her index finger on Usher’s lips, stopping his words. It wasn’t hard for her to guess what he was going to say. “Don’t say anything. I know everything that happened wasn’t your fault. So, I hope you don’t feel guilty.”
An overwhelming wave of emotion swelled in Usher’s chest. His heart felt tight, like an invisible weight pressing down on him. He struggled, but Vione’s gentle touch on his lips silenced him, quieting all the accusations and curses that were ready to be aimed at him.
Usher looked deep into Vione’s eyes. He sensed the presence of two wolf spirits in them. But that wasn’t his focus, he wanted to reach the deepest part of Vione’s heart.
There was one thing Usher wanted to know, but at the same time he feared that reality might not match his hopes. So, he put his wishes aside and said something else instead.
“What I said to Rowena earlier,” Usher lowered Vione’s finger from his lips. Now he held her fingers gently. “Not everything was said.”
Vione blinked, lifting her face to meet Usher’s. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that it’s not just the pack that will always see you as their Luna, even though our bond was once severed.”
Vione’s eyes widened. “Usher.”
“As it is for me,” Usher continued firmly. He stepped forward, closing the distance between them. “For me, there is only one Luna, who will always reign in my heart.”
Vione froze. She really couldn’t move or speak. Every cell of her body felt paralyzed. Her nerves seemed to stop working. She was completely mesmerized by Usher’s unexpected confession.
“Only you will always be loved by me.” Usher cradled Vione’s face. Then he poured out his heart with an undeniable truth. “In the past, present or future, I am destined to love you.”
*