After I left Alpha father and son went crazy with regret

Chapter 122

Something unreadable flickered across his face. Not anger, not surprise–just something quiet, buried beneath layers

of restraint.

Linda, however, had no such restraint. Her lips curled slightly, and in a voice just loud enough for Arnold to hear, she mused, “I didn’t realize Nora was here too. And is that Cole with her?”

Arnold’s eyes lingered on Nora a second longer before he finally looked away. His voice was indifferent. “Probably

a coincidence.”

Linda tilted her head slightly, watching Nora with an expression that was difficult to decipher–something between amusement and calculation.

Alex, still engrossed in the festival, barely noticed the exchange. He was too busy tugging at Linda’s hand, eyes wide with excitement. “Can we go get the fire now?” he asked eagerly.

Linda smiled down at him, her fingers brushing through his hair in a way that looked so natural, so effortless. “Of

course.”

Nora, having turned back to face the celebration, caught sight of them just as Alex led Linda toward the sacred

flame.

Her heart gave a sharp, painful lurch.

It wasn’t the sight of Arnold that made her feel unsteady. It wasn’t even Linda’s presence.

It was Alex.

The way he reached for Linda, the way he sought her out first, when once upon a time, it had always been Nora’s

hand he held onto so tightly.

realized just how much

have noticed the shift in

the

voice quiet but

blinked, caught off guard.

H

her. “Did you bring anything

ember from the central fire, carrying it home as a symbol of

in the past–always carried Alex in her arms as they collected their blessing together.

this year, she had forgotten.

father

99.2%

Chapter 122

settled over her, pressing against the ache in

as she looked back toward Alex–saw him excitedly holding onto Linda, preparing to receive the ember from the sacred fire–she

gaze, shaking her head slightly. “I didn’t bring any. Let’s forget

she intended, but she didn’t

had always loved the Frostwolf Celebration, delighting in every part of the

year was

by her

from the altar, Abby reached out and pressed a small copper basin into her hands.

Auntie, you can come with us this year!” Abby declared cheerfully. “I’ll share half of

Nora froze.

in her chest,

didn’t know what to say. The gesture was simple, yet it touched something deep within her,

could respond, Cole, who had

was just here to keep the kids company. If that’s the case, I’ll

in his tone, as if he had sensed her hesitation

stand beside her.