Chapter 10
“Ev, calm down. Didn’t Dad always say to stay calm so we can handle any situation properly? Alexa might have explained what she saw, but she never entered Grimfur Pack, and she only managed to escape,” Evan said, trying to reason with me.
Then, he continued, “We don’t know what’s really happening inside. But I‘ m sure Alpha Deryl can handle this. We are not alone, since every Pack is working together. It’s like the Grimfur Pack against the world.
I took a deep breath, trying to soothe the rising anxiety in my chest. Evan’s words. were meant to comfort, but there was still a part of me that could not shake the worry gnawing at my heart.
So, after our conversation, I headed back to my room to calm myself, but as I passed the guest room, Alexa stepped out, almost bumping into me.
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She seemed awkward, hesitating as if she wanted to say something but didn’t know how.
“Just pass by,” I said, stepping aside. But seeing her hesitation, I added, “If you have got something to say, go ahead.”
“I… I just wanted to apologize,” she stammered.
I sighed, feeling the weight of that word. How many times had I heard apologies lately?
“Alexa, I already told you, I‘ m fine. Disappointed, yes. But there’s nothing more to be done, so let’s just…”
My words trailed off. What more was there to say?
Alexa, sensing the unfinished thought, continued, “I also wanted to thank you for helping me yesterday. I don’t know what I would have done without your support. This might sound rude, but all I can think about yesterday and right now is only
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Jeremy.”
I forced a smile. “I know. But I think Jeremy will be fine. You believe that, don’t you?”
For some reason, comforting her eased some of my own pain. I could have been angry, lashed out, but instead, I found myself offering reassurance to the woman who had stolen Jeremy from me.
Alexa’s face softened into a small smile,
one she had not worn since her arrival.
“Yeah, I believe that.”
I just nodded before we parted.
There was no verbal forgiveness, no official release from the hurt, but somehow, I
knew one day I might find it in my heart to forgive her, even if the scars of betrayal remained.
***
The next morning, the Pack gathered to see off Deryl and the troops as they prepared to
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head to Grimfur Pack.
It reminded me of the times when I was little, accompanying my father on missions. like that. I watched them, silently praying they would all return safely, unlike my father, who had only come back in name.
Deryl approached me before they left, his confident smile trying to reassure me. “Here,” he said, handing me a small pendant.
I raised an eyebrow, trying to lighten the mood. “Is this one of those ‘keep it until I return safely‘ kind of things? Let me guess, if you don‘ t make it back, I get to do whatever I want with it?”
Deryl chuckled, tapping my nose playfully.
“Such a troublemaker. No, just keep it safe. I promise, when I return, I will tell you the secret behind it.”
I smiled, patting his shoulder. “You better come back, Deryl. Everyone’s counting
on you. And for the secret, I will look
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forward to it.”
He nodded; his expression soft but determined. “I will come back. With everyone safe.”
As I reached to take the pendant, Deryl raised it out of reach. “Ah–ah, not with your hands. You‘ re wearing it.”
He slipped the pendant around my neck, his fingers lingering for a moment longer than necessary.
took the chance to whisper, “If you see eremy, give him a good slap for me.”
Deryl smirked. “How about I bring him back so you can do it yourself?”
The thought of seeing Jeremy again sent a pang through my heart, but I tried to brush it off with a laugh.
As they marched off, the Pack returned to their duties. But before I could move, Alexa whispered, “I think Alpha Deryl likes
you.”
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Her words hit me like a gust of wind, making my heart race and cheeks flushed.
“What?” I managed to stammer, completely caught off guard.
“You feel it too, right?” she added. “Please tell me this isn‘ t unrequited.”
I opened my mouth to reply, but nothing came out. The truth was, I had no idea how to respond.
Instead, I quickly busied myself and made my way to the academy, pretending everything was normal. But the truth was far from that.
Days later, the announcement came that the investigation team had returned triumphant.
The Grimfur Pack had indeed been harboring sinister plans. They aimed to control several neighboring Packs by allying with rogues to dismantle their foundations.
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Her words hit me like a gust of wind, making my heart race and cheeks flushed.
“What?” I managed to stammer, completely caught off guard.
“You feel it too, right?” she added. “Please tell me this isn‘ t unrequited.”
I opened my mouth to reply, but nothing came out. The truth was, I had no idea how to respond.
Instead, I quickly busied myself and made my way to the academy, pretending everything was normal. But the truth was far from that.
**
Days later, the announcement came that the investigation team had returned triumphant.
The Grimfur Pack had indeed been harboring sinister plans. They aimed to control several neighboring Packs by allying with rogues to dismantle their foundations.
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Their strategy was to attack first, then call the Alpha Packs under the guise of discussing it, only to imprison the Alphas and seize power while their Packs
weakened.
Fortunately, the scheme was foiled. The captured Alphas were rescued, and the Grimfur Pack‘ s reign of terror was. brought to an end.
Justice was served, as Deryl handed over their punishment to the Packs that had suffered the most from their treachery. Ast a result, Grimfur Pack was dismantled,
their ambitions shattered.
So, when Deryl‘ s team returned to Blazemane, the Packs cheered their victory.
Jeremy was among them, immediately rushing to Alexa‘ s side. They embraced at the border as though they had been separated for years, their reunion overflowing with emotion.
I watched from afar, did not intend to
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disturb while touching the pendant Deryl had given me.
I continued to scan the crowd, searching for him. But suddenly, I heard a guard shout, “Take Alpha Deryl to the Pack clinic, now!”
“What happened?!” My heart stopped, panic rushing through me. “What happened to Deryl?!”
No one answered, and dread gnawed at me. Evan, ever my calming anchor, stepped beside me, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Ev, relax. Everything‘ s going to be fine. You know Deryl, he’s a fighter.“.
But my voice trembled as I whispered, “No… no, it’s not fine. He promised
me.”
Memories of my father’s demise surged to
the surface. How we were told that we could not even bury his body because nothing remained, only the tattered clothes he had worn, fulfill my mind.
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Evan pulled me into a tight hug, his voice soft yet determined, “He promised, Ev. And he will keep that promise.
Those were the last words I heard before the world around me faded into blackness.
***
When I opened my eyes, I was in the Pack clinic, the sterile smell of the room hitting me as I regained consciousness.
Jeremy, battered and bruised, sat in a chair next to my bed, his face pale and weary.
“You‘ re awake, Everly,” he said, relief flickering in his eyes. “I will call the doctor.
I shook my head weakly. “No need. I’m fine. Shouldn’t you be the one in need of a doctor? Look at you.”
Jeremy gave a faint smile, but I could see the pain in his eyes. “These wounds will heal,” he replied, brushing off my
concern.
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I frowned, “Jeremy, don‘ t lie to me. I know a silver bullet wound when I see one,
and the gash on your side? Silver dagger, isn’t it?”
He chuckled softly, shaking his head.
“You‘ re always the smartest. They have even called you a troublemaker around here, it seems suits you.”
But I could not laugh. That was not the time for teasing.
Jeremy‘ s face sobered, realizing the weight of the moment. He looked down at his hands before speaking again.
“I’m sorry, Everly. For everything. I know it’s too late, but I want you to know I see now how wrong I was. I admitted it by signing the paper right before I went to the Grimfur Pack as you requested.”
I listened, my heart heavy but silent.
He took a deep breath, his voice barely above a whisper. “I failed you. I failed us. The night after I came back from
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Blazemane, I heard from the healer if you lost our baby in a rogue attack. I am sorry, it was all my fault.
“I was so caught up in the chaos, the attack, I thought sending you to the healer would protect you. But I should have stayed. I should have been there for you. Instead, my indifference was like an atomic bomb that destroyed everything between
- us.
33
I closed my eyes for a moment, letting his words sink in before responding, “Jeremy, maybe this is how things were meant to be.”
“No,” he shook his head, his voice. breaking. “It’s my fault. You don’t have to forgive me. Especially….”
My heart skipped a beat at his next words.
“I apologize for what happened to Deryl. too,” he added quietly, guilt weighing down his every word.
I sat up, my pulse racing. “What do you
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mean, Jeremy? What about Deryl? What happened to him?”
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