Chapter 197

197 Proper Farewell At The Eternal Sleep Lake

The two men stood solemnly at the edge of Eternal Sleep Lake that morning.

Above them, the gloomy clouds covered the vast expanse of sky. The greyish fluffs were reflected in the clear lake water, drifting in an unhurried pace from the edge of the lake to the center.

Ronan held the urn with both hands. His empty gaze drifted along the water surface, seeking solace in the resting place of all werewolves, generation after generation.

Lucien touched the small spot on Ronan’s back.

“Ronan?”

The Alpha snapped back from his trance and cleared his throat.

“My Mom was an only daughter, the last person who carried the name of the Fangblade family. Her parents doted on her a lot. Although the family never belonged to any pack, she was raised properly as a high-born she-wolf, more than what most Alpha’s daughters can say about their upbringings.

She is loyal and has never once strayed from the righteous path.

When her parents asked her to marry into the Silverback family, she agreed without a single word of complaint. Even though she knew the circumstances that surrounded her future husband.

.....

She kept to herself, working hard to be a good Luna to Infinite Eclipse Pack and a better mother for her son.”

Ronan’s voice trembled when tears fell across his cheeks.

“Mom, I love you. I am going to miss you so much. Thank you for giving birth to me, raising me, and teaching me how to be a good Alpha.

Without you, there will not be me.

And I am sorry for not being there during your last moments.”

Lucien rubbed Ronan’s upper arm to soothe him.

“Lady Adele Fangblade was a remarkable person,” he said. “I wish I had the chance to get to know her. I would love for her to get to know me, too.”

Ronan wiped at his eyes.

“She knows you.”

Lucien widened his eyes in disbelief.

“Huh? How?”

Ronan sniffled.

“Well, she was my confidante. I told her everything about us. Starting from our meeting, our breakup, our reunion, up until now.”

“...”

Lucien was a little speechless. “I wish I knew about her earlier.”

Ronan chuckled.

“It was a little difficult to do that when we were busy preparing for war and other things. Besides, I always thought that we had more time.”

Lucien nodded apprehensively.

The good times never lasted long enough, the bad times never ended soon enough. Time was but an independent constant. It flowed gently but also mercilessly, forcing all living beings to drift together into the sea of uncertainty.

“Shall we?” He asked softly.

“Mmhm.”

Ronan took off the lid of the urn and tilted it toward the lake.

A gust of wind blew almost immediately, taking with it the content of the urn and letting it spill into the lake.

“Goodbye, Lady Adele Fangblade,” Lucien whispered.

“Bye, Mom,” Ronan choked with sobs.

When they finished scattering the ash, snowflakes started to fall from the sky into the lake. At the same time, the sky cleared up and the sun shone brightly upon them.

Lucien shielded his eyes from the sun when he looked up at the sky.

“It is a good day to return to the Moon Goddess,” he remarked.

“Mhm, it is,” Ronan said, smiling sadly.

It was almost as if the sky opened up for Lady Adele Fangblade, accepting the most precious daughter back to her mother’s arms.

Ronan leaned closer to Lucien and kissed his lips under the falling snow. Lucien’s lips were icy cold. Not too different from his own.

They had been standing outside for almost an hour after all.

When Lucien spoke about scattering Lady Adele Fangblade’s ash into the Eternal Sleep Lake, Ronan was at first reluctant.

He had wanted to keep her ash with him.

But then Lucien convinced him that every werewolf must complete the cycle and return to the Moon Goddess. The werewolf society denied her the right, so Ronan as her son had to make it happen for her.

Now that it was done, Ronan felt as if the chains that tied his heart to the bottom of the sea ever since his mother passed away were broken.

His mother was free.

And so was he.

Ronan smiled at his mate.

“Thank you for being with me, Lulu.”

Lucien patted Ronan’s cheek lovingly. “I would not want to be anywhere but here with you.”

Sharing your pain and joy, we will always be together. You and me.

“Alright,” Ronan said, clearing his throat again. “Shall we go?”

“Mmm, let’s go,” Lucien replied.

Their job was done.

The two werewolves made their way to the waiting car at the forest entrance.

By chance, someone was standing near their car.

Ronan’s face was distorted into a mask of fury when he saw who it was.

It was none other than Dane Silverback.

The elder man was draped in a thick black coat. His eyes drifted from Ronan to Lucien, and finally settled on the empty urn in Ronan’s arms.

Lucien swallowed. His steps inadvertently became slower, but Ronan’s did not. It was as if he was prepared for a confrontation.

The father and son stood in front of each other, the first time they met after they parted at the mortuary.

“So,” Dane Silverback narrowed his eyes at Ronan. He pulled at Ronan’s collar and saw the bite wound that Lucien left on his nape.

Anger flashed across his eyes.

At his son, and then at Lucien.

He did not want to believe his nose at first. He just had to take a look, and Ronan was more than happy to show him.

“Do you want to see Lucien’s nape too?” Ronan taunted with a cynical smile.

“No need,” Dane snapped.

Ronan chuckled when Dane released his collar angrily, passing him a slap on the chest right after.

The elder man walked past Ronan. When he stood in front of Lucien, he only had a few words to tell him, “You are going to regret this later.”