Chapter 228 - Nearing The End
Chapter 228 – Nearing The End
Cora jumped out of the colossal wolf's back she was riding on and sprinted to Daniel and Alice's vicinity. She was panting, darting her eyes between Daniel and Alice. The two had already exchanged several blows previously, and it was evident in Daniel's dirty clothes.
"Alicia," called Cora in disbelief, eyes settling on Alice. "What the hell are they talking about?"
"Cora, how come you're here?" Daniel inquired solemnly, shifting his eyes at a particular wolf among the pack who came with Cora. "Han, you told her?"
"I had no choice when my wife is walking to her death," came out an answer as the wolf morphed back to his human form ever so slowly. "As her husband, I can only try my best and prevent her death."
"Alice, did you really betray us?" Cora inquired as soon as Han spewed his remarks, eyes fixed on Alice. "Why? Why did you do it? Explain and we will understand, sister. Just tell us… why?"
"Han, how dare you bring her here?" Alice spoke telepathically, and all wolves could hear her voice inside their head. As for me, I could hear her voice, heart, and screaming soul. She didn't appreciate Cora's presence, especially knowing Cora might witness her death.
There was no going back in here. Alice would never change her mind; her husband just added more pain to his wife's heart.
"Alice." Han's eyes darkened as he balled his hand into a fist. "Is this truly what you want? Do you think…" he choked as a glint flickered across his eyes.
"… do you think this is what Jarom wants?"
It was painful. Everyone knew that. For Han to love someone whose heart wasn't entirely his. Or rather, Alice's heart was never his, to begin with. Even when Alice married him and accepted him as his mate, she had never stopped loving her previous lover.
Even so, I was certain that despite knowing this, Han still loved her dearly. Alice was not hard to love. Anyone would fall for her. It was just that someone else already claimed her heart — Jarom, no one else.
"Uh… how would I know what he wants and not?" Alice replied in a voice that was only above a whisper. "Jarom is dead long ago, and you all hid that."
"Alice…" Cora's face crumpled as her eyes sweltered.
"Cora, Han, Garrett, stay out of here. This mission must only be executed by me. If any of you interfere, you will face grave consequences." This time, Daniel's eyes glinted with determination. He could've taken down Alice before, but he tried to persuade her even if it sounded impossible.
Because of that, Cora had to witness everything. It was Daniel's miscalculation. This was the bitter taste of hesitation. There were always consequences.
"Dan." Cora ground her teeth with her hands balled into a tight fist until they turned white. "Alice. Don't die like this. Please… not this sister. Not like this."
Her voice faded into the howling of the wind, shaking her head lightly. It was the first time I had seen Cora put her vulnerable heart out there. Since she was a person with a strong and carefree personality, her sincere words hit differently.
Alice's heart waned for a split second before she tucked her emotions somewhere so no one else would touch it. A loud and taunting growl resonated from Alice, stomping her paws as a warning to Cora.
"Stay away or I'll bite your head off, Cora," she warned, eyes bloodshot. "Even you, Han. Anyone who intervenes in this fight will die."
She darted her sharp eyes at Cora and Han before setting them to Daniel. The latter slowly shifted to his wolf form, wanting to fight her in the same form as hers. This would be a brawl, with the ending already foretold.
"Daniel!" Stubborn as she was, Cora yelled her heart out as she took a step forward. However, this time, the gigantic wolf, her husband, stood in her way. Garrett simply shook his head, warning his wife to respect Alice's decision.
"No…" Cora whispered, staring directly at the wolf standing before her. "How can I let her… die like this?"
She then turned her head to Han, Alice's husband. But the latter couldn't move anymore, even though he had already taken a step forward. Han slowly raised his head and set his eyes in our direction; specifically, in Hugo's direction.
"What…?" Baffled, Cora followed Han's gaze, only to see Hugo and me standing at the top of the border. Hugo bore a cold and unchanging front, pulling an aura to Han's to stop him from interfering.
'This is how she wants to die… I will kill whoever interferes with my sister's final wish. Consider yourself warned,' he spoke in our heads, letting everyone know his stand on this. I could not help but looked at Hugo's side, noticing how perfectly he had hidden his heart.
Alice glanced up in our direction and I noticed how her eyes smiled gently. But when she set them back to the big black wolf opposite her, all emotions aside from killing intent disappeared.
HOWL
Two loud howls echoed that nearly reached the heavens. And in a blink of an eye, the ground they were standing on shook and crack, meeting halfway with their mouths open, bearing their sharp teeth. Before Daniel and Alice could come in contact, I snapped my eyes and looked up at the moon.
'Are you happy now?' I asked, staring at the moon with nothing in my eyes. 'Alice had fulfilled the promise. She betrayed her kind and now she is on her way to you. Are you happy now?'
I closed my eyes, clasping my hands together for a sincere prayer. 'May her soul find the freedom she sought. I asked for her blessing and guidance and healing for those who would be left behind in this world.' I prayed for her soul from the bottom of my heart.
Tonight would be one of the saddest nights in Ronmin Empire. Even with this distance, I could hear the emperor's weeping in front of his wife's grave, the lovely chatterings of the young, clueless Tempest, and then the silence that overlaid all other sounds.
We're near the end.