Harlan approached his desk and sat wearily in his chair, resting his face in his palms, while Arkon watched him, realizing the severity of the situation and what the Alpha was going through. Trying to ease his tension, he spoke in a reassuring tone:
"Don't worry, Alpha. Adrian is smarter and stronger than you can imagine, and some rogues won't be able to defeat him or even touch him."
Arkon's words were somewhat comforting to the Alpha, but he didn't seem entirely convinced. Harlan sighed and said in a low voice, as if talking to himself:
"I know he's powerful. But you know nothing, Arkon... Adrian was in our custody until the day he would return home. What we face here is nothing compared to what he will face there. I wish he could stay away from here, but fate doesn't always work the way we want it to."
These words did not escape Arkon's ears, and he asked in surprise:
"What do you mean, Alpha?"
Realizing his slip of the tongue, Harlan straightened up and quickly said:
"No, nothing. You can go now, Arkon. I have some business to attend to. Also, always be there for Adrian—you're his only friend."
Arkon nodded and said, "I consider Adrian a brother, not just a friend. Don't worry, Alpha, I will always be there for him." He finished speaking and quickly walked out of the room, while Harlan remained seated, lost in his thoughts.
---
In the next room, Adrian sat meekly, looking down as his father, Longin, paced back and forth, his veins protruding and his sharp eyes filled with anger. The atmosphere was tense, the silence between them weighing heavily in the air.
Longin finally stopped and said in a sharp voice:
"Raise your head. Since when do Alpha sons lower their heads?"
Adrian lifted his head and couldn't help but smile slightly.
Longin, noticing the rare purity of his son's smile, sighed and then spoke in a calm yet firm tone:
"When are you going to stop your childish behavior? You're not a little boy anymore, and your actions don't just affect you—they affect everyone!"
Adrian raised an eyebrow, puzzled.
"What did I do? I didn't do anything to hurt anyone!"
Longin looked at him in shock, then clasped his hands together and said sarcastically:
"You really don't know? Hah... And here I thought you paid attention to the smallest details! Everyone in the pack knows you're the strongest here, and comparisons between you and your older brother are becoming quite interesting. Some want you to become Alpha instead of Harlan!"
He finished his words with a piercing stare, as if he had given up hope that his son would ever change.
Adrian's eyes widened in shock, and he quickly said, denying the accusation as if his father had just accused him of treason:
"No! What? But I didn't do it on purpose! And I don't want to be Alpha!"
Longin sighed, running a hand over his face helplessly, then said in a softer but still serious tone:
"I know that. Harlan knows it too… Have you forgotten that I'm your father? I know you better than you think. I don't want anything bad to happen to either of you. I don't want someone to use your actions to make a confrontation inevitable."
Longin slowly approached one of the chairs in the room and sat down, resting his face in his hands.
Minutes of silence passed, feeling like an eternity...
Adrian felt a pang of guilt, then finally sighed and spoke in a soft voice:
"I apologize, Father... I didn't realize my impulsiveness would cause all this. I wasn't even thinking when I smelled them."
He paused for a moment, as if choosing his next words carefully, then continued firmly:
"All I wanted was to protect the pack from any attack, just like any other member would."
Longin lifted his head and looked at him with paternal tenderness, then said softly:
"I know, son… I know that your mate's death shattered you, that you're still stuck in that moment. Your mind refuses to accept what happened. Even after ten years, you're still living in the past, refusing to move on with your life."
Then he continued, more firmly this time:
"So... I have made my decision. You will set out on a journey away from the pack. Maybe you'll find a girl to fall in love with, or perhaps another mate. Your chances of getting a second mate are high, especially since she was young and hadn't turned yet."
His words were final, unquestionable—but Adrian refused to accept them.
He stood up, his eyes wide with shock, then spoke angrily, for the first time not holding back his emotions in front of his father:
"No! I will not go! How can I forget her? I truly loved her! And if you don't know it, I do… I was waiting for her transformation to recognize me!"
His last words carried the pain of loss, and he continued angrily, "I won't think of anything until I find the one who killed her—and take my revenge."
His words were strong, yet sadness seeped into his voice, revealing the deep, unhealed wound. Would he ever find closure? That question remained unanswered.
Longin walked out of the room, leaving behind an erupting volcano. Moments later, the sound of furniture crashing, followed by an angry roar, shook the walls.
Longin stood by the door, listening to his son's screams as he tore the place apart. He only wanted what was best for Adrian, but now he wasn't sure if what he had done was right—or if it would only make things worse.
With a heavy sigh, Longin made his way to Harlan's office and stepped inside. He sat on the couch with his head in his hands, trying to gather his thoughts, wondering if he had made the right decision.
Harlan approached him, speaking in a quiet voice:
"Don't worry about him, Dad. He'll be fine. You know what he's been through isn't easy, but when he calms down, he'll understand that what we're doing is for his own good."
Longin lifted his head, his eyes filled with deep concern:
"It's not easy for me to keep him away from me and your mother. I'm afraid of what's to come. That's why I want him to find a mate before he learns the truth… I hope she'll be his anchor in the storm."
Harlan placed a reassuring hand on his father's shoulder and said with a small smile:
"I've never seen you like this before. You've always been the epitome of strength and toughness. What happened to the strong Alpha I knew?"
Longin let out a dry chuckle, then looked at Harlan and asked:
"If one day you saw danger approaching your child, and you couldn't do anything to stop it… how would you feel?"
Harlan fell silent, the thought alone was heart-wrenching. When he finally spoke, his voice was soft:
"You're right, Dad… Just thinking about it makes my heart clench, makes me feel scared, anxious… and angry too. I don't know how I'd react."
Longin nodded firmly.
"I'll go now. Your mother needs me. Try to talk to him, convince him."
Harlan replied confidently:
"Okay, don't worry. But… is he going alone?"
Longin shook his head.
"No, Arkon will accompany him. He hasn't found a mate yet either, and they'll be each other's companions on the journey."
There was a moment of silence before Harlan suddenly asked:
"And what if his mate isn't here? What if she's… in the Western Kingdom?"
Longin stopped, his expression darkening. The thought had never crossed his mind before, but now it rang alarm bells inside him.
He said slowly, as if the idea was just sinking in:
"I don't know… But until that day comes, which I pray never does, we'll search here."
Then he walked out, leaving Harlan behind, deep in thought about the terrifying possibility he had just voiced.