Orathe's POV
Gray and I stood in a depression deep within the Dark Forest, gazing at the scattered white bones exposed at the bottom of the pit. In the dim night, they emitted a chilling aura. Gray remained silent, while I offered a nearly imperceptible smile at the sight of the skull.
"Mom, he..." Gray finally spoke, his voice a whisper.
"Yeah, Gray, just as I told you before you came here with me. Samuel has long turned into a pile of bones. When I found out he was the mastermind behind Alisha's kidnapping, I was so furious. I almost wanted to peel off his skin or cut him into pieces! No matter how I pressed him, he refused to tell me where he had taken Alisha, but he... he..."
Recalling the pain from before, I involuntarily paused my narration, composing myself before continuing, "He even told me he had killed Alisha... it almost made me completely break down... so later..." Gray walked up to me and gently embraced me.
Looking at the now tall and strong Gray, I felt a bit of relief.
I then softly said, "It's okay... it's all okay now. You are both here with me, and I have nothing else to worry about. But..." At this point, I looked up at Gray, "I chose to tell you the truth not because I have forgiven or accepted him, but because I know my son is now incredibly powerful, powerful enough to know the truth and handle it. I made my choice back then, killed him to vent my deep-seated hatred. Though it is a tragedy for you, I accept your judgment because, indeed, I was an unfit mother, unable to provide you with a happy family. I am so sorry, Gray."
Gray stared at the pit ahead. His eyes revealed a mix of inner conflict and pain. "I... I seem to have never really... known or understood him... I..."
I gently patted his arm. If it weren't for Gray insisting on knowing the truth, I wouldn't want him to undergo this psychological torment. However powerful he might be, discovering that his father was executed by his mother was still too cruel.
I squinted my eyes, feeling an increased disgust toward the pile of bones. Anyone causing distress and pain to my child should be punished.
After a moment of silence, Gray shifted his gaze away from the pile of bones and looked at me. "He is my father, my family, but... but you and Alisha are my family too, the people I love the most. So, if... if I have to make a choice..."
His voice sounded pained yet determined, and I realized what he was about to say. Before he could finish, I gently shook my head, interrupting the words he intended to speak, and softly said, "No, Gray, you don't need to make any choice now. It is all over now. Alisha is back with us, and today is her wedding day, so you don't need to force yourself to make any decisions now. Forget about all this; let's go back and be with Alisha. Today is an important day for her."
My dear Gray, you don't need to struggle with a choice because, in the past, I made a choice for you, an irreversible one. Forgive me.
Gray looked at me, wanting to say something, but in the end, he said nothing. He just hugged me tightly.
"If it makes you feel uneasy, you can find a time to prepare a grave for him," I gently suggested.
"Mom..." Gray choked up.
"It's okay. Seeing him like this must be hard for you. You and Alisha are the most important to me. As long as you two are okay, I don't care about anything else." I patted Gray's back like I did when he was a child.
"Never mind, let's... let's talk about it later. Today is Alisha's wedding day, and we can't be late."Hearing Gray's response, I gave a satisfied smile and left with Gray.
As the sky showed a hint of dawn in the last moments of leaving the Dark Forest, I glanced back in the direction of Samuel's skeletal remains. In my heart, I silently said, "Samuel, how do you like the burial place I chose for you? Your soul is cursed by the witch in my pack, never to find peace until its eventual extinction, enduring endless torment. But such a small matter, there's no need to let Gray know, right?"
Alisha's POV
I sat in front of the mirror, almost unable to recognize the person reflected in it. A colorful moonflower crown adorned my head, and a pristine lace veil draped over my shoulders. The strapless lace wedding gown sparkled in the sunlight.
"Moon Goodness, you look stunning, Alisha," Nova said, placing a hand on my shoulder and admiring the reflection with me.
As I looked at the girl in the mirror, her cheeks blushed crimson upon hearing Nova's words, and she gently lowered her eyelashes.
"I bet Louie, no, every gentleman present, will be mesmerized by you. You look like a fairy from a fairy tale," Nova whispered to herself. "If I were a boy, I wouldn't let you go to Louie."
I turned and lightly tapped Nova, then, with an anxious heart, holding my bouquet, I stepped out of the dressing room, heading towards the red carpet outside. I knew that at the other end of the red carpet, my future husband was waiting for me.
When I appeared, just as Nova said, the entire venue seemed to instantly fall silent. I felt many eyes on me—some astonished, some admiring, and even some envious or harboring various other emotions.
But I couldn't care less about them. It wasn't just because of my nervousness, but also because of the accompanying music. That song, I was extremely familiar with it. I had composed it for Louie and played it with my own hands—Soft Moon!
It was our love song, belonging only to the two of us. I never expected that Louie would choose this song for such a moment!
I looked at Louie in a black suit standing on the stage. From the moment I appeared, his gaze was firmly fixed on me, unwavering, as if I were his entire world. I was trapped in those tender eyes, like being immersed in soft moonlight.
Louie extended his hand towards me, waiting. Watching him with a happy smile, I listened to the familiar yet moving Soft Moon. Step by step, I walked towards Louie.
Just as I reached the first row, about to place my hand in his, I sensed a sharp gaze from the side, causing a wave of unease. Louie's face also showed signs of nervousness, and his peripheral vision glanced towards a seat on the side. Following his gaze discreetly, my entire being seemed to plunge into an icy world—Archie!