Chapter 11
The wind at the cemetery was as
sharp as a blade, cutting against
my face and numbing my skin.
I stood before the cold stone,
staring at the name engraved on
it–Noah.
“For the glory and safety of the
pack, he was sacrificed.”
Leon stood beside me, his
voice chillingly calm, as if the
“sacrifice” he spoke of was not
but monaly
dianagabla
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“For the glory and safety of the
pack, he was sacrificed.”
Leon stood beside me, his
voice chillingly calm, as if the
“sacrifice” he spoke of was not
our son, but merely a disposable piece on a chessboard.
I turned to look at him, rage
burning in my chest, threaten- ing to consume me whole.
“Sacrifice?” I repeated each syl-
lable slowly, “Are you telling me that you personally killed our son for the glory of the pack?”
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lable slowly, “Are you telling me
that you personally killed our
son for the glory of the pack?”
Leon’s gaze darkened slightly,
his voice devoid of emotion.
“Yes.”
My fingers trembled slightly,
my palms turning pale from the tight grip.
I knew that if I continued
to press him now, he would
respond with the same icy in- difference–or worse, complete
silence.
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difference–or worse, complete
silence.
But I couldn’t ask.
I couldn’t let him realize that I
already knew the truth–Noah
didn’t die for the pack. He died
for Selina.
My sister.
The woman he truly loved.
A chill ran down my spine, but
I forced myself to maintain my
composure. I took a slow, deep
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A chill ran down my spine, but
I forced myself to maintain my composure. I took a slow, deep breath, making my voice sound as steady as possible. “So that’s your final answer?”
Leon looked at the tombstone,
his expression showing no guilt -only the absolute certainty
of a man who believed he had
made the right decision.
“This is the truth, Evelyn. You
need to accept it.”
Accept it?
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Accept it?
My hands clenched tighter, nails
digging into my palms.
How I wanted to rip apart his
mask, to demand why he didn’t
even bother lying to me, why he
didn’t offer a single excuse to
ease my pain.
But I couldn’t.
If I exposed him now, what
would he do?
Show remorse?
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If I exposed him now, what
would he do?
Show remorse?
Explain himself? Deny it?
No, he wouldn’t.
He would simply give me the
same cold stare and say, “It’s
done. You can’t change it.”
And then, he would start guard- ing against me–perhaps even
eliminate me first.
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eliminate me first.
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I couldn’t let him know that I
had seen through everything.
So I had to endure it.
I slowly loosened my grip, mak-
ing my emotions appear more
controlled.
Lowering my head, I fixed my gaze on Noah’s tombstone, as if I was truly accepting Leon’s
so–called “truth.”
“I understand,” I said softly, my
voice devoid of any discernible
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13
voice devoid of any discernible
emotion.
Leon studied me for a few
seconds, as if trying to gauge my
reaction. Finally, he nodded and
turned to leave the cemetery.
Only when his figure disap-
peared completely from sight
did I unclench my hands.
The deep crescent marks left
by my nails had broken the
skin, and droplets of blood
dripped onto the black marble
tombstone, merging with the
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tombstone, merging with the
engraved letters.
I gently traced Noah’s name,
whispering, “Mommy won’t let
your death be in vain.”
A few days ago
“Mom, why hasn’t Dad been
training with me lately?”
Noah looked up at me, his dark
eyes filled with confusion and a
hint of disappointment.
I crouched down, running my
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yo mu
Co cu mi
hint of disappointment.
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*** wu u
I crouched down, running my fingers through his soft hair, of
fering a gentle smile. “Your dad
has a lot of responsibilities right
now. Once he’s done, I’ll ask him
to take you hunting, okay?”
Noah frowned slightly, reluc-
tant but still nodding. “But he
promised me.”
My heart clenched. I had long grown used to Leon’s coldness, but Noah was still just a child.
He didn’t understand the bur-
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but Noah was still just a child.
He didn’t understand the bur-
den of power, nor did he know
how ruthless his father could
- be.
B
“Then… can you train with me,
Mom?” he asked expectantly.
I smiled warmly. “Of course.”
His face instantly brightened as
he grabbed my hand and pulled
me toward the training grounds.
After practicing some basic
techniques, Noah suddenly
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His face instantly brightened as
he grabbed my hand and pulled
me toward the training grounds.
After practicing some basic
techniques, Noah suddenly
stopped, looking at me with se-
rious determination. “Mom, I’m
going to get really strong. When
I grow up, I’ll protect you.”
My chest tightened, my eyes
burning with unshed tears.
I cupped his cheek gently,
my voice soft. “Alright. Then
Mommy will wait for the day
Noah grows up to protect me.”
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I cupped his cheek gently,
my voice soft. “Alright. Then
Mommy will wait for the day
Noah grows up to protect me.”
But Noah would never get the
chance to grow up.
Leon and Selina’s Conversation
The dimly lit room smelled
faintly of medicine.
Selina lay on the bed, her face
pale, her breathing weak. Leon
stood beside her, gazing down at
her with conflicted eyes.
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B
Selina lay on the bed, her face
pale, her breathing weak. Leon stood beside her, gazing down at her with conflicted eyes.
“What are you hesitating for?”
Selina’s voice was frail but firm.
carrying an unshakable deter-
mination. “I’ve already checked.
Noah’s liver is a perfect match
for mine.”
Leon’s hands curled into fists.
He remained silent for a long
time before finally speaking in a
low voice, “He is my son.”
Selina’s lips curved into a weak
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time before finally speaking in a
low voice, “He is my son.”
Selina’s lips curved into a weak
smile, a hint of mockery in
her expression. “But he is also
Evelyn’s son.”
The room fell into a brief
silence.
“Leon, we don’t have another choice,” Selina whispered, her
voice barely audible. “Do you
know what the doctors said? If
I don’t get the transplant soon,
I won’t live past three more
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choice,” Selina whispered, her
voice barely audible. “Do you
know what the doctors said? If
I don’t get the transplant soon,
I won’t live past three more
months.”
Leon’s breathing grew heavier. He looked at Selina’s frail face, memories of their past flashing through his mind. The conflict in his heart slowly crumbled, replaced by a chilling resolve.
Finally, he nodded, his voice low and unwavering. “I understand.”
