After I left Alpha father and son went crazy with regret

Chapter 10

After that day, Nora barely had time to dwell on Arnold and Linda.

Leo had flooded her inbox with dozens of gigabytes of study materials, and she needed to absorb it all as quickly as possible.

After hours of reading, she set down a thick book and nestled into the recliner, exhaustion weighing her

down.

Her eyes fluttered shut, but just as her mind began to drift, her phone vibrated in her hand.

The screen lit up with Zoe’s name, her best friend and eternal source of adventure.

“Come out and play, Nora!” Zoe’s voice bubbled with excitement. “It’s the Moonlight Feast Festival! Everyone’s out partying under the full moon….you have to come.”

The Moonlight Feast Festival…the first full moon night of summer…was a sacred time for the wolves. It was a night of celebration, of feasts, music, and dancing under the moon’s soft silver glow.

Nora hesitated, memories swirling in her mind. It was during the Moonlight Feast Festival of her eighteenth year that she had first awakened her wolf.

“Go,” Lena, her wolf, urged gently. “You haven’t relaxed in ages. And this festival… it’s where it all began

for us.”

After a moment of deliberation, Nora gave in. She asked Zoe for her location, grabbed her car keys, and

headed out.

The drive was brief, and soon she arrived at the festival grounds.

The full moon hung low in the velvety sky, casting its serene light across the open field. Strings of colorful lanterns swayed gently in the breeze, their soft glow intermingling with the flicker of a grand bonfire at the center. Exquisite tents dotted the field, adorned with ribbons and banners. Wolves of all ages gathered, their laughter and song filling the night air.

As Nora stepped into the lively scene, she scanned the crowd for Zoe. But before she could find her, her eyes landed on someone unexpected… a small, bouncing figure she hadn’t seen in far too long.

It was Alex.

The golden wolf–head mark around his neck glinted in the firelight, a symbol of his lineage. Nora’s breath caught in her throat.

Aloha fathe

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Chapter 10

It had been weeks, perhaps longer, since Alex had last called or spoken to her. She had told herself it didn’t matter, that she had moved on from him and his father. But seeing him now, so carefree and happy, left her feeling hollow.

Nora took a deep breath as she told herself to start getting over the feeling and learn to let go gradually.

up to say hello, she just quietly followed the small figure that was bouncing happily in front of

“Alex, come here!”

Linda appeared,

up as he ran to her, his arms flung wide. “Aunt

leaped into her embrace, clutching her

exclaimed, pulling a small box from his

delicate bracelet made of polished moonstones. Each stone gleamed softly, smoothed to perfection

fastening the bracelet around her wrist. “It’s beautiful, Alex. Thank you so

watching the

the days she had tirelessly bandaged Alex’s scrapes, the nights spent comforting him when he was sick,

he was, gifting Linda a token of affection he had

gaze shifted slightly, her expression softening further as Arnold stepped into

His tone wasn’t harsh, but firm, as though concerned about Linda’s comfort. “You’re too heavy to

in a way she had never

for her. Not when she had carried Alex on her

his favorite meals or worked tirelessly to

son.

Chapter 10

lifted, revealing the cruel truth she had refused to see. Arnold wasn’t incapable of affection or care.. he simply chose not to extend it

you’re here!” Linda straightened her hair and cocked her head, revealing the delicate curve of her neck, which was sparkling with a delicate necklace of moonlight gems. “Look, it’s the gift you gave me. I’ve worn it all night.

eyes lingering on

clearly chosen with care, a personal and

never bothered to make

you give Aunt Linda her gift? Why didn’t I know about it? You’re

along when he went to see

many nights had he spent at her side? Nora didn’t know the exact number, but she had stopped counting long ago. Even this morning, they had kissed in the

Linda clung to Arnold’s arm, her touch light and familiar, as though it

her voice soft yet

“Let’s go to

and grab something to eat,” she suggested,

gave a slight nod, his

on his toes. “Let’s go as a family for the holidays!”

Family.

convincing herself that she could build a

of the moon, the

had already chosen his family. And it didn’t include her.

chatted, Nora quietly slipped away, her chest aching with the weight of her realization. She had clung

new life, she

as they walked away. The image of

and son went craz,

Chapter 10

by the crowd, yet the