Gray's POV
If someone harmed Alisha, but managed to have Alisha and Orathe keep silent, then that person could only be...
Orathe looked at me, a hint of apology in her eyes. "I think you have guessed who that person is. Yes, it is your father, Samuel. He used to serve as the Gamma of our pack, so he was very familiar with the layout and weak points of our pack. The entire kidnapping plan was orchestrated by him."
Though I had guessed, I couldn't accept it. In disbelief, I asked, "Could there be some misunderstanding? The day Alisha went missing, I was with him the whole time, he didn't have the time to... to kidnap Alisha. " And why would he do such a thing? As far as I remember, despite his separation from Orathe, he was still good to me, a powerful and silent wolf. He had no reason to kidnap Alisha.
Orathe walked to the window, placing her hands on the sill, gazing outside. In that moment, her eyes seemed to pierce through the sky into the distant horizon. "Gray, when I was 16, I inherited the Alpha title of Blood Dawn from my father, but at that time, I wasn't strong enough. To maintain the stability and strength of the pack, my mother arranged my marriage to Samuel. He was the strongest wolf in the North at the time, no doubt about it. I must admit that without marrying him and gaining his support, I might not have successfully upheld the honor of the Dyess family, who has always been the ruler of the Blood Dawn. For that, I have always been grateful. Of course, what I am most grateful for is having you with him." Orathe looked at me tenderly, a faint smile on her face.
"In that case, why... why did you separate? Did you stop loving him later?" This question had always been buried in my heart, but I had never asked Orathe. Yet, in my heart, I already knew the answer, and it had to do with Alisha's father.
Upon hearing my question, Orathe's gaze turned icy. "I must tell you, Gray, I never loved him. Though I never expected to be fortunate enough to meet my own mate, I married him, not out of love, but of responsibility. But even so, I never thought of betraying him, especially after having you. However, our marriage, from the beginning, was about power and conspiracy and ended for the same reasons."
"What do you mean? Did he..."
"He abandoned our marriage vows, because he wants to snatch the power of ruler from me. In our third year of marriage, he launched a coup, attempting to seize the Alpha's throne. As my power grew day by day, he sensed the threat. I no longer complied with his wishes and gradually broke free from his control, gaining a voice more significant than his. After several intense conflicts, he resolved to make himself Alpha. Luckily, I escaped during the turmoil, wounded, and then... met Alisha's father, who helped me, allowing me to survive and become pregnant with Alisha. Later... I decided to return to Blood Dawn to reclaim what was rightfully mine and parted ways with him."
"Mom, I... I'm sorry..." I stumbled over my words, unsure of what to say.
"No, Gray, this has nothing to do with you. As I said, whatever happened between Samuel and me, I am immensely grateful to him for bringing you into my life. I am proud of you. At the time of the rebellion, you were just over 2 years old, unaware of what was happening, so I never told you about this. As for Samuel, considering his past assistance to me, I pardoned his death sentence and banished him from Blood Dawn. Sometimes he comes back to visit you, and I allow it. Although you haven't said it, I know that as you grew older, you longed to meet your father. And now that I have taken Alisha away from her father, I can't stop you from meeting yours."
"Thank you, even though... but when I was with him, I was very happy. How can he… I…" I said in a low voice. Every time Samuel appeared, it was a joyful period in my memory. He would teach me how to fight, dive, fish, climb trees... He would hoist me on his shoulders, toss me into the air and catch me firmly. He even took me on expeditions to the Dark Forest, and with him, I never felt afraid. In my mind, he was the best father in the world, flawless except for not being able to be with me for long periods.
"But this decision led me to commit a huge mistake," Orathe's voice suddenly became heavy.
"Mom..." I already knew what she was going to say.
On the day Alisha was abducted, Orathe happened to be away. Initially, I wanted to stay in the pack to be with Alisha, but Samuel suddenly appeared, saying he wanted to take me out for a hunting expedition. I couldn't resist the temptation of hunting, so I left the pack with him.
However, when I returned with the hunt, I received the news of Alisha's disappearance. I loathed myself immensely. If only I hadn't left, if I had chosen to stay, maybe Alisha wouldn't have been harmed! These years, I have been living in guilt.
I asked in agony, "Why?" Why would Samuel hurt Alisha?
"Once he lost hope of becoming Alpha himself, he always hoped you would become the next Alpha of Blood Dawn. When Samuel learned that I had Alisha with another man, he feared I might pass the Alpha throne to her. So... so, he decided to eliminate Alisha in advance. Hence, he deliberately took you out that day, both to remove you from the scene and provide him with an alibi. In fact, he had arranged for his men to infiltrate Blood Dawn and, along with that wretched person, Eram, kidnapped Alisha. Fortunately, it seemed like he intended to use Alisha for sacrifice, which is why he didn't choose to kill her initially. However, during Alisha's escape, she accidentally heard his voice and saw his face, which caused her more suffering and almost cost her life."
Hearing this twisted my heart in agony. The culprit who harmed Alisha turned out to be my father! No wonder Alisha refused to disclose it while recounting her escape; it was excruciatingly painful, and I didn't even know how to face her!
"So, Gray, I kept the truth from you all this time to spare you from this mental torment and anguish. But now, as you have become the Alpha of Blood Dawn, you must learn to face this cruelty and strengthen your heart! Only then can you lead our pack grow stronger! Moreover, I want you to know, the pain a failed marriage brings to a woman is too deep and cruel. I have experienced sorrow, and I don't want Alisha to go through the same! Even her mate couldn't bring her happiness, so I don't believe in this Louie."
My mind was in turmoil. Samuel's face, Orathe's words, Alisha's marriage, our childhood... It all flooded my mind, threatening to explode. I bit my tongue hard, trying to calm down. The last image that surfaced was Alisha, recounting her experience of fleeing into a hollow tree after her return. She had stolen a glance at me, seeming afraid to upset me, then lowered her eyes, pretending as if everything was normal when she described seeing Erma and an unknown rogue, who actually should be my father, Samuel. Alisha feared I would be saddened or blame myself if I knew the truth, so she used her way to protect me...
Looking at Orathe's serious expression, I replied slowly, "Louie is not like Samuel, and he is even more different from Archie. If it weren't for Louie this time, Alisha might not have safely returned to Black Dawn. Mom, in this battle, I witnessed with my own eyes... he used his own life to protect Alisha, snatching her from death's grasp, so I believe he will take good care of Alisha."