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.

that thought in mind, Nora didn’t go up to say hello, she just

“Alex, come here!”

voice broke through the chatter. Linda appeared, stepping into view with

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

leaped into her embrace, clutching her

Linda!” Alex exclaimed, pulling a small box from his pocket. “I made this for you!”

box to reveal a delicate bracelet made of polished moonstones. Each stone

around her wrist.

watching the

hurt struck her chest. She remembered the days she had tirelessly bandaged Alex’s scrapes, the nights spent comforting him when he

Linda a token of affection he

slightly, her expression softening further

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

voice was gentle, attentive in

consideration for her. Not when she had carried Alex on her hip for hours, leaving her arm

his favorite meals or worked

son.

Chapter 10

lifted, revealing the cruel truth she had refused to see. Arnold wasn’t incapable of

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 her

necklace was clearly chosen with care, a personal and thoughtful

to make for

give Aunt Linda her gift? Why didn’t I

certainly couldn’t take Alex along when he

but she had stopped counting long ago. Even this morning, they had kissed in the office.

and familiar, as though it

voice soft yet deliberate.

“Let’s go to

of the venue and grab something to eat,” she suggested, a smile playing

gave a slight nod, his expression unreadable.

Alex chimed in eagerly, bouncing on his toes.

Family.

a blade. She had spent years convincing herself that she could build a family with Arnold, that their bond as mates

under the silver light of

already chosen his family. And it didn’t

aching with the weight of her realization. She had clung to hope for far too

that had once marked the start of her new life, she

rooted to the spot, watching as they walked away.

and son went craz,

Chapter 10

by the crowd, yet