Freya's POV
Finley's words also ignited a longing in me for the moment when I would be admired by many people, which would mean a lot to me.
"Honestly, Finley, are you really not going to return to the pack?"
Ever since I made the decision to follow Henry, who was now my brother, Finley learned about it and made a determined choice to come here with me.
Finley paused for a moment and gave me a mischievous smile. "What? Are you going to kick me out?"
I pouted and replied, "I'm seriously asking, is it really okay for you to be away from the pack for so long?"
Finley's expression turned serious. "It's okay, after all, what can a wolf who has lost his fighting ability contribute to the pack? Whether he stays or goes."
I flinched for a moment, thinking of the terrible injuries Finley had sustained and the brutal battle that had robbed him of his fighting prowess, turning him from a proud Gamma into a lawyer.
Fortunately, Finley was so talented that he excelled in any field.
"Do you still miss him?" Finley's blunt question caught me off guard.
I pursed my lips and waved my hand, trying to get Kingsley's face out of my mind.
"I don't want to deceive you, Finley, but I realize that's all in the past now."
"I'm sorry that I haven't been there earlier to take care of you, that I've allowed so many terrible things to happen to you. If being a part of your past was moon goddess' plan, then I genuinely hope that our meeting had some significance," Finley said, his emotions running deep.
I took a deep breath, knowing what he wanted to say next.
"Now that I'm by your side, I think I'm ready to take good care of you too, Freya. I can't deny what's in my heart anymore. I love you, and I yearn to be with you," Finley confessed, squeezing my hand tightly. His eyes were filled with longing, and it felt like I could sense the wolf inside him howling with excitement.
"Finley, honestly, I'm not sure if I should say yes to you right now. I'm a little uncertain about whether our relationship is friendship or love."
I gently withdrew my hand from Finley's grasp and turned my back to inspect the bottle of perfume I had created, which I named Remembrance'.
"If I can find a suitable owner for this perfume next week, I promise to accompany you to the ball."
My heart raced as I spoke these words, as they required a great deal of courage, even for me.
"A ball? Is that all there is to it? It took a lot of determination for me to reveal my intentions, you know?"
Finley's face showed a hint of disappointment at my response.
"What if I meant it as attending as your mate?"
"Are you serious?!"
Finley immediately displayed a delighted expression, clearly needing some time to process this news.
"Forget it if you're not happy about it."
I pursed my lips and deliberately turned my face away.
"Okay, we have a deal. I'll prepare for tomorrow's event right away."
Finley said and exited with his hands in the air.
As I observed Finley's joyful demeanor, an inexplicable wave of sadness washed over me.
Finley had been so kind to me.
I understood his feelings, and he would undoubtedly make an impeccable mate in every way.
But even though I enjoyed spending time with him, I didn't have that fluttering feeling in my heart. However, I realized that he would be happy if I accepted him.
So, even if it was to repay him, why should I refuse?
I thought to myself, unable to resist picking up the bottle of perfume I had meticulously crafted.
I named it "Remembrance" because, during its creation, I had been thinking about my miscarried baby.
My baby never got a chance to experience this colorful world.
During countless sleepless nights, I would think of my baby, who would appear in my dreams, urging me to love myself and the world.
Whenever I recalled this, a smile of happiness would inevitably spread across my face.
"Baby, I promise you that after tomorrow, I'll go over there and bid farewell properly to my old life."
Just as I was getting ready to go to sleep, holding the promise of the future close, Finley's phone call suddenly came.
"Alice, why are you still up? It's not because you're so excited about tomorrow's event that you can't sleep, right?"
Though I couldn't see Finley's face, I could tell from his voice that he was smiling.
"Finley, I want to thank you. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have everything I have now. I'll seriously consider to accept you as my mate."
I said sincerely as I picked up the phone and glanced out the window at the bright moon.
"Hey, don't suddenly get melodramatic and say those words. We just agreed. If ‘Remembrance' can meet the right buyer tomorrow, you have to attend a ball with me as my mate."
Finley on the phone sounded a bit nervous.
"Well, if ‘Remembrance' can meet the right buyer, I'll definitely thank him in person. After all, it's my first independently made perfume."
"Yeah, he's also a witness to our new life. I have to be grateful to him as well. Alright, alright, it's getting late. You should go to sleep now."
Finley hung up the phone, and I quickly drifted off to sleep with visions of tomorrow.
The next day's event proceeded as planned, and a large group of customers arrived early in the morning for the appreciation session, holding high expectations for the new works introduced by the mysterious Alice.
So when Bardier took my bottle of perfume and walked to the front of the stage, a crowd of enthusiastic customers immediately gathered.
"This bottle of perfume is the latest creation by Master Lost Dreams, and it's named 'Remembrance'. We all have unforgettable memories in our lives, but the meaning of those memories differs for each person. Likewise, everyone will have a unique experience when they smell this perfume."
After Bardier's introduction, customers eagerly approached him to experience "Remembrance."
After a group of noblewomen had finished smelling it, a strange expression uniformly appeared on their faces.
"Is Alice's formula incorrect? How can this perfume have such a rancid odor?"
"No, why am I detecting a foul stench? This smell is incredibly unpleasant, like a rotting fish in a filthy gutter."
"Is this truly the work of Alice? Why is the quality so poor this time?"
With these disapproving comments, people walked away from the stall, voicing their complaints. Soon, my bottle of perfume, placed prominently in the center of the booth, went unnoticed.
What made "Remembrance" unique was its ability to evoke the deepest memories. If those memories involve bad feelings, the perfume carried an unpleasant scent.
"Don't worry; perhaps they just don't understand it. This bottle of perfume hasn't encountered anyone who truly appreciates it. You go ahead and tend to the rest; I'll inform you if I hear any news later."
Just as I was feeling disheartened, Bardier approached me, patted me on the shoulder, and gave me an encouraging look.
"Thank you, Bardier."
I nodded at Bardier and walked towards the other pavilions. I followed the crowd as they visited other perfume booths. Despite the various scents constantly filling my nose, I remained somewhat distracted.
As I contemplated heading back, a familiar voice suddenly emerged from the crowd.
"Freya! Someone bought ‘Remembrance'!"
I turned to see Finley squeezing through the crowd, waving a card excitedly in his hand.
"Bardier told me. A gentleman bought 'Remembrance.' He saw the gentleman shed tears after smelling it and immediately purchased it. He also left this note."
Finley said gleefully as he handed me the card.
"It's hard to imagine anyone else in this world who could move my soul with a bottle of perfume. Upon smelling that fragrance, I knew I had her back. Thank you so much, Alice."
The beautifully written words on the card made my heart race, and for some reason, the wolf within me howled with excitement.
"Where is he?"
"I don't know. He's probably gone. Bardier saw him heading south."