EPISODE 130
The crowd fell silent.
All eyes turned toward Syrus, their gazes roaming over his imposing figure. The dark cloak draped over his shoulders, the leather bands wrapped around his forearms, and most significantly, the carved totem hanging from his belt. The murmurs began, hushed but urgent, as recognition set in.2
Moon Shard. He was from the Moon Shard Pack.
The revelation sent ripples through the onlookers. The initial curiosity they had toward Caleb turned into something else entirely. The shock was evident in their widened eyes, in the way they took an instinctive step back.
A child of the Moon Shard Pack?
No wonder he was so intelligent, so sharp. The blood of warriors ran through his veins. His potential was undeniable. From my peripheral vision, I caught Seram stiffening. He masked it well, barely, a flicker of reaction on his face, but I knew him. I could feel the weight of his stare pressing into me, the questions swirling in his head.
Although he had already confirmed my death, there was still an inkling of hope in his heart that I was alive. And maybe seeing me in this pack exchange fueled those thoughts, hoping it was real. But reality forced him to face something illogical.
If I hadn’t died five years ago, how in the world would I have ended up in the Moon Shard Pack?
He knew as well as anyone that no lone wolf could have made it that far. The path was treacherous, filled with obstacles, many of them deadly. As a pregnant wolf about to give birth, simply climbing a short hill had been enough to exhaust me to the brink of death.
Me reaching the Moon Shard Pack? Impossible. And the child… the child was supposed to have been devoured by the wolves. How could he have survived that??
Seram’s gaze shifted, hesitating for just a fraction of a second before landing on Caleb. The boy sat comfortably in Syrus’s arms, his tiny arms crossed, the frown still on his lips. He wasn’t making a scene anymore, but frustration lingered int his knitted brows.
His features, striking even at his young age, drew Seram’s attention. His expression darkened slightly, something flickering in his eyes.. recognition, maybe. Familiarity. As if he had seen those features before.)
His stare must have been too intense because Caleb’s small voice suddenly cut through the tense air. “Stop looking at me, creepy old man,” he said with a scowl.
A few of the bystanders chuckled. Seram somehow did not get offended but instead smiled. He stepped forward, the sudden warmth in his demeanor a stark contrast to his usual presence. Of course, he had to be careful. He was addressing members of the Moon Shard Pack.
He couldn’t afford to offend them.8
“My apologies,” he said smoothly, bowing his head slightly toward Syrus. “I should have stepped in sooner before things escalated. I take full responsibility for my wife and son’s behavior. I sincerely apologize for their actions.”
Syrus was reasonable, though not always lenient. His sharp eyes’swept over Seram, assessing him. He understood the situation for what it was, a fight between children that had gotten out of hand, dragging their mothers into the mess. And
& given how things had played out, Caleb clearly had the upper hand.
“I see,” Syrus finally said. “It’s true that the fight got out of hand, but I won’t put all the blame on your side. My own child played a part in this mess.“2
He turned his attention to Caleb, “Apologize.”
Caleb huffed, stubborn to the core. “I did nothing wrong.“8
A muscle in Syrus’s jaw twitched. “Caleb.”
“No.” Caleb lifted his chin defiantly. “He deserved it.”
Seram, instead of pushing the matter, simply chuckled.!
“No need,” he said, waving a dismissive hand. “Boys will be boys. Strength is something to be praised, not punished. It is the incompetence of my own son that should be criticized.“”
Syrus, appearing uninterested in engaging any further, exhaled heavily. He had only come because the warrior he sent out had reported that Caleb and I had encountered trouble. He had been worried and left his post just to check on us. Luckily, it was just a small matter.
“I have other matters to attend to, Syrus said. “Let’s talk another day about covering the expenses for your son’s treatment “Z
“You don’t have to,” Seram said.!!
“No, I insist. Caleb did leave your son with some bruises. Now, if you’ll excuse me.“X
He turned to leave, adjusting Caleb to his arms. But before he could take a step. Seram’s voice rang out again. “How old is he?
Syrus halted, glancing over his shoulder, not even questioning why Seram would ask such a thing. He hummed before answering. “Five.”
Seram nodded as if contemplating something. “He seems like a good influence. Perhaps my son, Lucas, could befriend him “X
Syrus didn’t react much to the suggestion. “That’s up to them.“}
Seram nodded, watching as Syrus strode away, Caleb still perched in his arms. I let out a quiet breath, trailing behind them. But Seram didn’t move. He stood there, unmoving, lost in thought. His fingers curled slightly at his side, his gaze locked onto the spot where Caleb had just been.
If our child had lived, he, too, would be five years old by now.
The realization must have struck him like a bolt of lightning because suddenly, his entire body tensed. He exhaled sharply, shaking his head as if trying to rid himself of the thought. He looked at the child once again, then at me as I matched Syrus’s pace.
His heart started drumming in his ribs, intuition clawing at his senses. The child…, the longer he looked at him, the more wrong it felt. It was like looking into a mirror.!!
son.
Caleb looked a lot like a child version of him.”
His breath hitched. A slow, creeping dread spread through his chest, twisting into something undeniable. That was his
And then, before I could disappear from his view….
“Marian.”
The name slipped from his lips before he could stop himself. I turned. It was instinct. A reflex so ingrained that I failed to suppress it. The moment our eyes met, a cold wave crashed over me.
I made a mistake.
Seram’s expression darkened, his pupils dilating in pure, unfiltered shock. I could practically see the pieces falling into place in his mind, clicking together like an irreversible truth. My breath caught. My fingers twitched at my sides. I forced my expression to remain neutral, even as my heartbeat pounded against my ribs.
This could be salvaged. I had to salvage this.
I tilted my head slightly, forcing a confused frown onto my face. “Yes? How do you know my name? Have we met.
before?”
Seram did not answer. He couldn’t
