Chapter 164 - Was He Really Worth It?

Tyrone had prepared everything they needed for the camping trip before quickly picking up Raine and Aire. Raine tried her best to act normal despite everything she had just found out. It was really a lot to process, but still, she kept her calm. She really just wanted Aire to have a wonderful time with them. Maybe later, once Aire was asleep, would she talk to Tyrone about her small revelations.

A few moments of driving later, they arrived at their destination. Raine immediately grabbed their backpacks before then beginning their trek up the mountain. 

"Mommy, give me your mobile phone. This is a nice place. You and Daddy should have some photos," Aire suggested. "You two are lucky to have me as your photographer, you know?"

At her words, Raine handed the little girl her mobile phone. Aire then also asked for Tyrone's mobile phone before then taking some photos of the couple every once in a while, switching between the two phones every other shot.

"Why is it always us? You should join in…" Raine commented with a smile.

"I can't, Mommy. My face will be deleted from it once I disappear," Aire regretfully smiled. Tyrone looked at Aire, who gave him a nod before nodding to Raine as well.

"She found out, Daddy," Aire simply replied. 

An awkward silence followed after the little girl's reveal. Nobody dared to speak, as if frozen midstep in the middle of the forest.

A bubble seemed to pop as Aire broke the silence, "Let's continue walking. The sun will set soon. It'd be nice to witness it from a nice spot on top of the mountain. Let's hurry."

Aire then walked ahead of them. Tyrone had a map with him and a radio that the admin provided. 

"We're actually the first ones who tried to camp in the mountains. They plan on opening it tomorrow, but I requested them to fast-track it for tonight…" Tyrone informed as they were walking, breaking through the awkward atmosphere. He already thought Raine might ask many questions, but she remained reticent. It was probably Aire who mentioned to her the risk of asking for more details.

"How did you convince them?" Raine finally spoke.

"I told them that I planned to propose to my girlfriend tonight," Tyrone shamelessly stated, making Raine cough.

Aire chuckled and scolded, "Wow, Daddy… If you do that later, you should've kept quiet about it. To keep the suspense intact."

Tyrone only chuckled as Raine shook her head. She didn't take his words seriously, knowing that Tyrone was just joking about it. He had simply created an alibi to convince the admin to allow them to camp today.

Hiking up the mountain, they took a small break every once in a while. Reaching a suitable spot to set up camp didn't take them much time, however...

"This looks nice!" Aire commented as she raised her arms, feeling the warm breeze hitting her body. Meanwhile, Tyrone readied the tent, with Raine helping him out.

"How long have you known?" Raine couldn't help but ask, her curiosity getting the better of her while Aire was away searching their surroundings while taking photos of them.

"Just a few days ago, I managed to put the pieces together because Aire talked far too maturely for an eight-year-old kid. She knew too much that I got suspicious…" Tyrone explained. "Also, you two have so many similarities between each other that none would even question that she was your daughter. I'm sure you felt it, too, that strong connection to her. I got to confirm it when she asked me to accompany her in giving you and the rest some presents. She got you a wolf pet. Draki; a name taken after her wolf name." 

"Why is she here then?" 

"To mark her mate, apparently," Tyrone sighed. "She's too stubborn like you. I already warned her not to act on impulse. Altering things from the past can cause disastrous consequences…" he explained.

Raine's eyes widened as she gasped in terror, "Are you sure she listened? What if she managed to sneak out without us knowing and marked that mate she's referring to? What will happen to Aire in the future?"

Tyrone froze and glanced at Aire. "It can't be… She promised me that she'd behave…" he whispered with a hint of doubt in his voice.

Aire looked at them with a broad smile and yelled, "Smile, Mommy and Daddy!"

"She won't tell us that, Tyrone. We'll probably only find out about it in the future," Raine weakly whispered. She somehow doubted that Aire would behave. She was their daughter, after all. Obviously, she would've inherited more than her inherent stubbornness.

"Who's the person that she came here for?" Raine asked.

"She didn't want to tell me…"

"Can I at least ask her who it was?"

"No. That may cause some change…" Tyrone whispered, "If both of us found out who that boy was... All she said was that the boy was from the Convel Society. Someone who was bound to be a ruler."

"This is so frustrating!" Raine anxiously growled as she fumbled over the tent out of lack of focus.

"I'll handle this. Why not go to Aire?" Tyrone suggested. 

Raine immediately nodded. Dropping the tent, she grabbed a blanket and rolled it on the ground.

"Aire, come here. Sit with me while we wait for Daddy to finish the tent and prepare our dinner," she called out, Aire quickly sitting beside her. "So, Daddy told me you came here to mark a man. Aren't you still a bit young to think about romantic affairs?" Raine calmly asked.

"I'm already twelve. Going thirteen once I come back to my era, Mommy. I know what I feel and want By that age. It's love…"

Raine gulped at her words. With a sigh, she murmured, "I think that's just infatuation, dear. Way too early for love."

"Mommy, It's a werewolf thing. Later, you'll understand what I mean… The Mate Pull developed earlier with me, and it's quite strong that I can't just let him go," Aire explained.

"Can you tell me more about him? How was he in your era? Was he handsome? What are his characters?"

"Of course, he is handsome. A lot of women flocks around him Mommy and it's annoying. He was crowned King weeks before I left to time travel."

"He's too old for you, Aire!" Raine burst as she did the math.

"Just ten years older, Mommy," Aire murmured with a grin.

Raine tried her best to calm herself and, with a faint smile, coaxed, "Sweetie, how about you spare Mommy specific details like a name perhaps…"

Aire chuckled before laying down her head on Raine's lap, "I know what you're trying to do, Mommy. Suppose I tell you or Daddy his name… You two might kill him just to make sure that I can't mark him. But it's already too late. I marked him already. While I know that I might face the consequences once I come back, I'm sure that I'll be able to overcome it no matter what it is. Besides, I have you and Daddy by my side, so I don't fear anything…"

Raine was stroking Aire's hair, it's color a rich red auburn much like hers. With a cracked voice, she whispered, "Was he really worth it?" 

"Yes, Mommy. He is… Like how Daddy was worth it for you to fight for and hold on to…"