At Chloe's house...
Adrian entered the house quietly, only to find his mother sitting in a dark corner, so lost in her thoughts that she didn't even notice his entrance.
He approached her silently, wrapped his arms around her shoulders from behind, and said in a warm voice:
"I see you're so busy that you didn't even notice me."
Chloe smiled at the sound of his voice and lifted her hands to grasp his, stroking them tenderly with her thumbs:
"I was busy with you, not without you."
Adrian chuckled behind her and said slyly:
"If my dad finds out about these affairs, he's going to be so jealous that I'm getting the attention of his beautiful girlfriend!"
Chloe laughed and shook her head:
"You'll always be childish, Adrian."
Adrian grinned as he looked at his mom:
"Only with you, my beauty."
He sat down next to her, but his smile quickly disappeared when he noticed the redness of her eyes and the traces of tears that hadn't been completely wiped away.
Adrian's voice was low but full of concern:
"I'm the cause of your tears, aren't I?"
Chloe tenderly stroked his cheek:
"No, baby... You are the cause of my happiness. You are God's gift to me, and how can His gift make me cry?"
Adrian looked directly at her:
"Then why were you crying?"
Chloe sighed, ran her fingers over his forehead like she used to do when he was little, and then said in a soft but firm voice:
"Because I learned of your father's decision—a decision that I reject."
She raised her eyes to his, her gaze a mixture of love and determination:
"But I will support your decision, whatever you choose."
Adrian lay down on the couch and rested his head on his mother's lap, who began to tenderly massage his scalp. It was an old habit from when he was a small child, and it always calmed him down.
Adrian's voice was quiet but certain:
"I've thought it through. I don't want you to be sad, but I want to go."
Chloe paused for a moment from massaging him, and he continued in a steadier voice:
"I need to get away from the herd... It's not easy for me to lose her, and I can't replace her. I want to explore some places... Maybe I'll find what I'm looking for."
Chloe tenderly stroked his head and said in a warm voice:
"As long as you find happiness in it, I will support you. When are you leaving?"
Adrian replied:
"In less than two days. I'll finish some of my assignments and hand over the rest to my brother to give to someone else."
Chloe asked, concerned:
"You're going alone?"
Adrian, with a slight smile:
"No, Arkon will be with me. My parents asked him to accompany me."
Chloe nodded:
"Arkon is a good kid... But he would have done it even if he wasn't asked. I hope he comes to see me before you leave; I haven't seen him in a while."
Adrian responded:
"I know... Arkon is the best friend I've ever had. I'll tell him."
There was silence for a while, and Adrian gradually began to fall asleep. Chloe waited for a while, then gently lowered his head from her lap and placed a comfortable pillow for him. She then stood up and headed to her room, where she stood in front of a hanging portrait of a two-year-old boy, his bright smile adorning his innocent face.
Chloe looked at the picture, her eyes filled with longing and sadness, then whispered to him:
"I've never stopped grieving the loss of you... I'm still hurting even now, and I will continue to do so until I meet you in the next life, baby..."
She finished silently, but her tears flowed as if she had stored them up for many years.
---
The next morning...
Adrian woke up to the voice of his father, who was sitting across from him, his gaze holding a mix of sternness and concern.
Longin spoke firmly:
"Have you thought about what I told you yesterday?"
Adrian straightened up and wiped his face with his hand before responding confidently:
"Yes, I have... I'm going tomorrow."
Longin stood up, approached him, and placed his hand on his shoulder, giving him a strange look that Adrian couldn't understand.
He said in a low voice, but it carried a mysterious weight:
"I know that everything I'm doing is to make sure you're okay... One day, you'll understand."
He then walked out of the house without another word. Adrian stood there for a few moments, contemplating his father's words, but he couldn't decipher the meaning behind them.
---
Adrian spent the day training in the forest, a place that made wolves tougher, where towering trees and solid mountains mimicked their strong hearts. After training, he checked the pack's boundaries and ensured the guard shifts were switched before Arkon joined him, carrying some food.
They ate together, talking about the journey ahead and the challenges they would face. As the sun set, Adrian returned home to find his mother and father, Harlan and his children, and Oliver and his family waiting for him.
He ate with them and listened to their reminiscing, while Arkon telepathized with him:
"I'm at the edge of the herd, ready to go."
Adrian stood up, took one last look at his family, said goodbye, grabbed his things, and set off for the border.
Adrian arrived at the designated spot, where Arkon was waiting for him. They exchanged a silent glance before setting off together, past the boundaries of the herd, into new, unknown lands.
Arkon looked around seriously:
"We must be careful... Some Alphas don't allow outsiders into their lands, and if luck is not on our side, we could end up in a battle we don't need."
Adrian nodded silently, realizing the gravity of the journey.
After hours of walking, the sun had reached the middle of the sky, and they approached the border of the nearest herd.
They stood at the border, realizing that the guards had sensed their presence. It wasn't long before a pack of wolves appeared, snarling, baring their fangs, and surrounding them with sharp stares. At the front was the Beta, who scanned them with alert eyes before shifting into his human form.
"Who are you, and what brings you here?"
Adrian answered confidently:
"I am the former Alpha's son of Klek's pack, looking for my mate, and willing to pass through different packs until I find her."
The Beta's features changed for a few seconds before he returned to his stoic expression, then said:
"The Alpha welcomes you, but you will not stay long. Finish your purpose and leave before nightfall."
Adrian and Arkon nodded, and the Beta continued:
"I have summoned all the single girls; they will be here soon. But you must come inside with us, so as not to jeopardize them."
Arkon looked at Adrian with understanding, as if to tell him that their journey would not be easy. It is not easy for an outsider wolf to enter another pack's territory, and those who accept it are few and far between. There are strict conditions, including that before the moon appears in the sky, he must be outside the pack's territory to avoid angering the dominant Alpha.
Moments later, the girls lined up in an open courtyard as Adrian began to pass among them, scanning their eyes for that innate connection that would reveal his mate. Arkon was behind him, watching cautiously. The moments passed in silence, each girl looking at him expectantly, but he felt no connection. Arkon didn't find his mate either, and the girls went back to their places.
This was to be expected, Adrian thought. But instead of leaving after failing to find his mate, he asked to stay for a day.
"I've heard that the Sylvan pack is one of the best at tracking. I want to learn from you."
The Beta looked at him appraisingly, then said:
"It's not easy, but I'll see what can be done. Come with me."