Part 1: Epilogue

Part 1: Epilogue

I used to think that being an Alpha king meant just sitting on your throne, taking care of your people, and thinking of ways that would help the kingdom flourish. But I was wrong. Being an Alpha king means so much more than that; it also includes sacrifices and pain. I questioned my older brother's decisions back then, but I forgot that he's also just like us. He may be a great leader, strong and brave, but he also has feelings. Apart from being the Alpha king of the kingdom, he is also a brother who loves his family.

Being the Alpha king has never been easy. When I became the Alpha king, I finally understood Alpha Devon's feelings and hardships, especially when Athena came into my life. Having her is both a pain and happiness. Pain, because she became my weakness. She was my only weakness, not only physically but also emotionally. Everything about her is a source of weakness for me: her tears, her cries, her pains, her broken voice. I can't bear to see her hurt because I get hurt more every time, I see her struggling. But no matter what I do, I still hurt her.

"Do you think it's a good idea?" I asked Delta Robin as we looked out over the vast land of my constituency. Athena tried to run away. She was desperate to escape from me and I can't stop being mad at her, but I can't totally get mad at her. At some point, I could understand her. At some point, I knew the pain she felt.

But after I saw her almost get eaten by the rogue, I felt a strange fear. I was afraid of losing sight of her. So, I know that even if she begs and kneels before me, I will never be able to let her go. But can I let her get hurt in my company?

"Is it about Luna Athena?" Delta Robin asked. I didn't say anything because I knew he knew about it. I heard him sigh.

"Do you know why your brother almost chose to leave Solidad before?" Delta Robin inquired. "Why?" I asked. "Your brother thought it wouldn't look good on Solidad if he brought her to our world when Solidad is used to the world, she grew up in. It's a risk that Alpha Devon needs to take. Alpha Devon doesn't want Solidad to regret going with him. Your brother was willing to break their mate bond and let Solidad live her life, but Solidad willingly chose him. Solidad fell in love and she chose to conquer the world where she doesn't know a thing," Delta Robin explained.

What he said made me think deeply. In terms of decisions, Alpha Devon and I are very different. While he was ready to give Solidad a choice, I was the opposite of Athena.

So now I'm thinking, is it a bad move? Am I really going to let Athena get away from me?

That's why I decided to follow her wishes. I let her see her mother, and for the first time, I saw the light in her eyes. At that time, I felt her gradual opening to me. I can finally see her heart opening for me. I thought everything was going according to my plan. But I was wrong. When Athena is with me, I feel like I am slowly unfolding the secrets behind Alpha Devon's death, and I am slowly coming to peace with Athena's warmth. Because the problems we have to face are yet to come. While I was in the middle of investigating everything, Athena was slowly dripping away from me. I don't know why she suddenly changed. She could hardly look at me.

"Where is she?" I asked Stone while I was inside my office.

"She's in the library, Alpha," Stone answered quickly. I sighed because we didn't see each other for most of the day. She was even cold to me when we ate our lunch.

That's why when I knew she was coming to my office, I put aside what I was doing just to talk to her.

"Do we have a problem, Athena?" I asked, trying to catch her eyes, but she couldn't even look back at me. What is wrong with her?

"None. I'm just not in the mood. I'll leave now," she said a bit coldly. I gritted my teeth when she tried to get away, so I immediately blocked her way. "No. You'll not leave this room until you tell me our problem. And don't you ever deny that we don't have any problems going on, Athena. I'm not dumb. I know we have. You almost ignored me the whole day. I went to the library to talk to you, but Anna said you were busy. I let it pass. At lunch, I was talking to you and you just gave me a cold treatment. I am used to your snarling not this," I chuckled without humor in the end.

“I'm not feeling well."

"Liar," I accused because it was obvious. She can't lie to me. I know everything about her. I can easily tell when she's lying or not. I've memorized every detail about her, so she can't lie to my fucking face! But damn, she sounds mad and I don't know why.

"What is it that makes you upset, Athena?" I asked her, almost pleading.

"Don't play with my feelings, Damon," she said and then stormed out of my office. That was a hellish night for me. I didn't know why she was mad. I don't remember doing anything bad.

I promised myself that I wouldn't do anything that would hurt her because I didn't want to lose her to me, but look what's happening now. It's the opposite of what I wanted!

Until I finally found the truth of her indifference.

"I am your Luna...but you have another woman in your heart."

I don't know what to say to her. I know what she meant, but she's wrong. I've never loved anyone else other than her, but I know she thinks or everybody thinks that I've had feelings for Neticia before. But instead of telling her the truth, I ran away. Because telling her the truth means revisiting the past, and the past means Alpha Devon, my older brother who sacrificed his reputation, pride, and ego to save the life of his younger brother. I wasn't ready yet. I still need more time.

But I also can't let another day pass with Athena avoiding me. I'm afraid one day she'll decide she doesn't want me anymore. When I had the courage to tell her, I explained everything about the past without breaking down and I managed to do that. Since then, my relationship with Athena has gotten even stronger. But when Jules Simson, my known cousin, came back to the palace, everything changed. I know Jules is mad at me for being the reason why Alpha Devon turns his back on justice for our parents. Perhaps Jules is now plotting something to take me down and get the throne from me.

As the investigation goes deeper, I have found out the biggest secret of what happened in the past. Stone's mate was violated while saving my parents, and she was one of those abandoned by Alpha Devon when he decided to save my life rather than get justice for what happened before. I was beyond mad when I found out the truth. I want to send Alpha Devon back and punch him at least once just to vent my rage on him because I felt so guilty for being the source of their anguish, which is also why Stone betrayed me; I truly trusted Stone; I treated him as my brother.

He became my companion when I was alone. I tell him the problem whenever I'm confused. I treated him as my family. But... in the end... he chose to exact revenge on me for the sake of her beloved... Anna. I can't blame him because it's his right to be angry and hate me... but I can't forgive him for hurting Athena... right in front of me. The doctors are now attending to her inside the room, but remembering her pale skin, her weak voice, her blood, and her sleepy eyes makes me feel fear I've never felt before.

I feel a mixture of pain, bitterness, and anger. I felt pain because I couldn't bear to see him take his life, bitterness because I never thought this would happen, and anger...anger at myself that I didn't even think about Athena’s welfare when I decided to die at Stone's hands. It was all my fault! I didn't think about her feelings. I've decided recklessly. I didn't think that she would be hurt so much if I made a decision like that, but now...it's too late. I've already done it! Damn it!

Because of the anger I felt, I couldn't stop myself. "Calm down, Alpha Damon. I know Athena will survive it." Delta Robin tried to comfort me. I marched myself towards the prison cell, and there I saw Stone, staring coldly at the wall. I quickly grabbed his jaw and pulled him closer to me. If it hadn't been for the iron barrier, I would have hurt him even more with my rage. "I will fucking kill you if something happened to Athena, Stone!" I raged.

He lowered his head. I don't know what he's thinking, but I don't care anymore. I know he has a strong reason for being angry with me, but I can't let anything bad happen to Athena just because of him!

"It...doesn’t include in my plan to hurt Luna Athena..."

What Stone said astounded me. I heard Anna behind me crying. I just noticed that she was here too.

"But you did," I said emphatically.

"I will accept any punishment, Alpha Damon," Stone said, and I can see how sure he is about what he said. I gritted my teeth.

"Do you know how hard that is, Stone?" He lowered his gaze to the floor even more because of what I said.

"Because I never thought that a time would come that I would have to give you punishment," I said. I heard Anna's crying behind me even more. I swallowed hard. "Now I know why in every one of my investigations people always die. My only way to find out the perpetrator of Alpha Devon's death is because someone is betraying me...and all of my men. I didn't think it was you..." I swallowed hard.

"...because I trust you," I added. For the first time, I noticed the liquid dripping down Stone's chin. It's not noticeable because he doesn't even move, but I know the non-stop flow of his tears and I can't help but feel the stinging pain in my chest. I've never seen Stone cry and this is the first time I saw his tears. I felt bad because his tears mean sorrow and pain. I let him go. He threw himself on the floor of the prison. I took one look at him before I turned my back on him.

"I will let you live, Stone, but...promise me..." I swallowed hard. "...that I will never see your face again," I said before I completely left there.