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.

how much things

noticed the shift in

the

he leaned in slightly, voice quiet but firm.

blinked, caught off guard.

H

her. “Did you bring

ember from the central fire, carrying it home as a

carried Alex in her arms as they collected

year, she

Aluba father and son went

99.2%

Chapter 122

sharp wave of realization settled over her, pressing against the ache in

Alex–saw him excitedly holding onto Linda, preparing to receive the ember from the sacred fire–she realized that maybe, just maybe, she had been the only one still holding onto the

shaking her head slightly. “I didn’t bring any. Let’s forget about it this

more detached than she intended, but she didn’t correct

never been particularly drawn to these traditions. The only reason she had participated all these years was because of Alex. He had always loved the Frostwolf Celebration, delighting in every part of

this year

wasn’t by

was about to step back from the altar, Abby reached out and pressed a small copper basin

cheerfully. “I’ll share half of my warmth and happiness with you, okay?”

Nora froze.

bloomed in her chest,

deep within her, something she had been trying to ignore all night–the feeling of being

respond, Cole, who had

bring one either,” he said casually. “I was just here to keep the kids company. If that’s

as if he had sensed her hesitation and

stand beside her.