chapter 20

Chapter 20

Five years later

Writer's POV

An aged woman could be seen seated elegantly in the dimly lit room, a smirk playing on her lips as she watched the young men approach.

"Thought you'd completely forgotten about me. I'm kinda shocked seeing you here today," she mocked.

"Don't start, Mom. We both know how busy I've been these days," Henry replied, giggling.

"Don't give me that story, Henry. We both know that's not the reason you no longer have time for me!" The old lady batted her lids repeatedly like she might break down.

"Why are you always fond of making fun of me? You better stop it 'cause it won't work on me this time!" Henry ruffled his hair in frustration.

"Tell me, why are you still keeping the baby despite knowing he's your brother's child? He's your enemy, you fool!" Henry chuckled.

"Mom, I love Alisha, and I'm willing to do anything for her!" The old lady clenched her fists in anger.

"Sometimes I wonder if I was the one who gave birth to you! That dude is your brother's heir! He's the key to him becoming the alpha! Are you just going to stand and watch him take everything we've labored for? Come on, son!" The old lady said, obviously trying to talk sense into him.

"I know what I'm doing, Mom. I need to use her to get back to Darien! I know why I'm keeping her!" He added, walking around in circles.

"You should know how tricky Darien can be! You shouldn't underestimate him."

"He's not as smart as he looks, Mom! Just calm down and let me do things my way!" he half-yelled.

"This is the same thing you said the day you got yourself thrown out like a criminal! You told me to let you handle things, and now look exactly where you've landed us! Why can't you just obey me for once?" The old lady fired back angrily.

"You now want to blame me? If it's so easy, you could've stayed in the castle! You shouldn't have faked your death just so you could run here and hide from him! You should have fought him, Mom!"

The old lady stood from her seat, taking slow steps toward Henry.

"I'm still your mom, Henry! You only follow my orders and not the other way around! Don't push me, Henry, don't!" Henry sighed tiredly.

"You need to sit back and watch me play this game, Mom. It's all perfectly planned out. I won't disappoint you this time," the old lady shrugged.

"Fine! As long as you don't expose our plans, you will have my full support," Henry nodded.

***

Alisha's POV

"Come back here, Daniel!" I chased after my son, who took my handbag and refused to give it back.

"No, Mom! Come get it!" He insisted, running around.

Well, it's been five years since I left the alpha's house. I delivered my baby months after I left the pack. I named him Daniel, after my dad.

Having Daniel is the best thing that ever happened to me. He grew up to become a replica of Darien, and that's one thing I hated most. Seeing him every day reminds me of him.

He finally stopped running, allowing me to catch up with him. I quickly grabbed his hands and forcibly took the bag from him.

"Don't act like you caught me. I only let you take the bag because I'm tired of running," he chuckled. This is one thing he admitted from his father: he never admits he's wrong. He's always sharp-tongued.

"Whatever! Let's just go home already; it's been four hours already," I complained.

"I'm waiting for Dad to come pick me up. Why's he not here?"

"I'm here." Henry appeared from behind.

"Where have you been, Dad? Mom and I have been waiting for an hour." He ran into Henry's arms. He hugged him tightly, cupping him in his arms.

"Sorry, Daddy was busy, but I'm here now. Let's go home," he turned to me.

"Hope he didn't stress you too much?" I smiled briefly, nodding my head.

**

Grayhound Pack

Darien's POV

“Five years have passed, yet everything still plays in my head like it happened yesterday. After she left, a seer told me she was the key to getting back my wolf. The seer also told me she was my mate. I blamed myself for not having my wolf intact. I was so useless; I couldn't even recognize her. I didn't value her; instead, I treated her like trash. Now I regret it. I regret every single thing I did to her. I've searched for her everywhere during the past years, but my attempts have turned futile. After she left, I came to realize how attached I've become to her. I miss her.

"Sir, Mr. Wren is here to see you," a guard announced.

"Let him in." Wren quit being my beta five years earlier like he said. These past years have been so tough and hard for me. First, she left, and then Wren. I feel so empty as it stands.

"Good afternoon, Alpha," Wren bowed. He's refused to forgive me after what happened. We are more like an Alpha and his subordinate. That's exactly how he wants it. I tried convincing him to return to being my beta, but he never bought any of it.

"We will be celebrating my son's birthday in three days. I came to..." he paused.

"Continue!" I ordered and he nodded. "His birthday wish," he ruffled his hair. "He requested your presence as his birthday wish. I've personally come to beg you to help me fulfill his wish." You might be wondering; he found his mate three months after Alisha left. They had their first baby a year later; he's four now, and their second child, who's also a boy, will be turning two in two days. Sometimes I'm jealous of him. I wish I hadn't forced the breeder to leave.

"It's fine if you don't want to. I will just find something else," he turned to leave.

"I will be there. Consider it a repayment for all you've done for me." He smiled before finally walking out of the room.