After I left Alpha father and son went crazy with regret

Chapter 121

Before Nora could react, Abby broke free from Cole’s grip and ran straight into her arms.

Nora caught her easily, surprised but touched by the enthusiasm.

Cole approached with a small smile. “We’re here for the festival. Abby wouldn’t stop talking about the Moonlit Rite tonight.”

Abby pouted up at Nora, her big eyes full of unspoken hope. “Come with us?”

Nora hesitated.

She hadn’t planned on staying. Festivals weren’t the same anymore. She didn’t want to be surrounded by people and

reminded of what she had lost.

But then she caught something in Cole’s expression.

He had been watching her.

Not in a way that was intrusive, but in a way that told her he had noticed. He had seen her walking alone in the crowd, surrounded by laughter yet untouched by it.

Had he followed her intentionally? Something about the way he stood there, the quiet patience in his gaze, made her suspect that he had. And the strange thing was… she didn’t mind. Nora looked down at Abby, whose small hands clung to her coat.

Maybe, just for tonight… She could pretend.

She could be a part of something again.

A sudden surge of acceptance came through and she was about to say ‘Yes‘ to their kind offer that suddenly something stopped her words in the mouth…

familiar figures appearing

and Alex who had arrived

gaze landed on them. Her breath hitched, a cold shock running through her veins, numbing her fingers before she could even process why.

the crowd, his posture as composed as ever, broad shoulders relaxed but his presence commanding without effort. Beside him, Linda looked radiant under the soft glow of the ceremonial fires, an effortless smile gracing her lips. But it was Alex–the boy who once clung

held Linda’s hand.

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Chapter 121

the edges of her thoughts fraying

his expression, no sharp intake of breath or visible reaction, yet somehow, she knew

as if coaxing her attention back.

they had been talking about. Her mind struggled to reorient itself, to pull away from

was watching her expectantly,

Nora exhaled quietly.

no reason for

“Alright, Let’s go.”

her pace as they made

furs draped over

of the

silence, letting the music and energy of the

barely noticed Cole stepping slightly closer until he spoke again.

take some pictures

simple, casual, but it made

he offered made it feel like an anchor, a reminder that she was still here, still part

of hesitation, she

out his phone, motioning for her to pose. She went along with it, standing near the backdrop of falling snow and flickering