hapter 121
Chapter 121
Valencia’s POV
If Raiden were just a normal man, this decision wouldn’t be ours to make.
A doctor would have been responsible for easing his passing, making it clean, efficient, and clinical. But he wasn’t just anyone he was the Alpha of the Steele pack. And an Alpha’s death wasn’t a matter left to doctors or betas. It had to be done with respect, with honor.
With family.
This was our burden to bear.
I took in a slow, steadying breath, feeling the weight of the moment settle deep into my bones.
I had already made my decision.
A decision that might haunt me later.
But I’d still do it, over and over again, if it meant easing Dante’s pain.
Dante wouldn’t say it.
Caius wouldn’t say it.
But they were both suffering, caught between duty and grief.
If I could take that responsibility for them–if I could spare Dante from the torment of being the one to do it–then I would.
I turned toward him, reaching out to take his hand.
He was tense beneath my touch, his fingers stiff, as if he were barely holding himself together.
Silently, I pulled him forward.
As we stepped into Raiden’s dimly lit room, the air was thick with stillness. The scent of medicine and fading life clung to everything, making the walls feel like they were closing in.
Caius was already there, standing by the bedside, his hand wrapped tightly around his father’s limp one.
Marcelene stood beside him, her arm pressed against his in quiet support.
I could see it in his face.
The exhaustion.
The pain.
His usual bravado was gone, leaving only a son on the verge of breaking.
At the foot of the bed, Sir Joseph stood in solemn silence, his head slightly bowed.
The nurses who had been attending Raiden had already left. There was nothing left for them to do.
5
Chapter 121
This wasn’t a moment for outsiders.
This was a moment for family,
Sir Joseph stepped forward, placing a firm hand on Dante’s shoulder.
“You’re making the right decision,” he said, his voice low, steady. “Your father would be proud and at peace.”
Dante didn’t respond.
He just stood there, silent and still.
But through our bond, I felt it.
He wasn’t comforted by those words.
He wasn’t proud of this decision.
He just felt hollow.
The kind of emptiness that came from knowing something was inevitable–but still not wanting to face it.
I stepped closer to the other side of the bed, where the oxygen tube ran along the floor, feeding into Raiden’s nose.
Slowly, I knelt, setting down the small leather bag I had been carrying.
Gently, I reached inside and pulled out Castor, cradling him carefully before placing him on the empty space beside Raiden.
His egg barely made a dent in the mattress, but his warm presence was still there.
Because he would never get to meet his grandfather.
And Raiden would never get to meet him.
Dante exhaled sharply beside me, his fingers twitching at his sides. Then, moving with quiet hesitation, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to his father’s forehead.
It was brief, almost fleeting, but the sight of it made my stomach clench.
When he straightened, his expression was unreadable.
But his eyes-
His eyes looked lifeless.
I felt something crack inside me.
I had seen this before.
I knew what came next.
Dante was going to do it.
He was going to reach for the tube, to be the one to end it, to carry that weight–because he thought he had to.
14:27 Fri, 14 Feb
Chapter 121
Because he thought no one else would.
No.
My body moved before I even realized it.
Just as Dante’s hand reached for the oxygen tube, I caught his wrist, stopping him.
His head snapped toward me, his brows furrowing in confusion.
“What-
Before he could finish, I disconnected it myself.
The sound of escaping air hissed softly as the oxygen flow stopped.
Raiden’s chest, which had been faintly rising and falling, slowed.
And slowed.
Dante’s heart thundered through our bond, and I felt the sharp pang of it inside me.
My own breath hitched.
Had I stepped out of line?
Had I just made it worse?
I turned my head slowly, catching Sir Joseph’s gaze.
His expression was unreadable–but his eyes burned.
Iswallowed, looking to Caius instead.
His gaze flickered between me and the heart monitor, where Raiden’s heartbeat was slowing–rapidly.
And then, there was Dante.
He was still staring at me.
He hadn’t moved.
His lips parted slightly, his expression solemn.
“Why did you….?” His voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.
I clenched my fists, willing myself to stay steady.
“I’m part of this family too, aren’t I?” I said softly, my voice trembling slightly.
His eyes widened–just a little.
And then-
His red–rimmed eyes moistened.
68%
+5
14:27 Fri, 14 Feb
Chapter 121
I barely had time to react before he pulled me against him, his arms wrapping tightly around my frame.
He buried his face in the crook of my neck, his breath warm against my skin.
“I’m sorry…..Thank you,” he whispered.
So, so softly.
I exhaled shakily, my arms wrapping around him in return.
Because I understood.
68%
If I was right–if what he had been seeing in his dreams were his memories–then he had already lived this moment before.
And in that life, he had been the one to do it.
He had been the one to end it, to bear that weight alone.
I couldn’t let that happen again.
I wouldn’t.
The room was silent now, save for the rhythmic beeping of the monitor.
And then-
“Beeeeeeep-”
〃
The line went flat.
The sound cut through the room like a blade, sharp and final.
A soft, broken cry came from the other side of the bed.
Caius.
I felt his pain like it was my own, the rawness of it making my chest tighten.
I closed my eyes, letting silent tears slip down my cheeks as I held Dante closer.
Time stretched into something immeasurable.
And then, after what felt like eternity, Dante slowly pulled away.
His movements were slow, as if his body had suddenly become heavier.
Wordlessly, he turned to Caius, wrapping an arm around his brother.
I didn’t know what he whispered to him, but I didn’t eavesdrop.
I stepped away, moving toward Marcelene.
She didn’t say anything.
She just placed a hand on my back, grounding me in the quiet.
4/6
Pemance…
Open
68%
14:27 Fri, 14 Feb
Chapter 121
The hours passed in a haze.
The mansion was silent.
目
The preparations for the funeral were underway.
At some point, exhaustion won.
I must have fallen asleep.
I jolted awake when Marcelene’s soft voice broke through the silence.
“It’s time,” she murmured.
I blinked blearily, looking down to see Castor still nestled in my arms.
When I looked around, Raiden’s body was gone.
Only Marcelene remained in the room..
EX
Wolf traditions dictated that funerals had to be held within twenty–four hours to respect the deceased and ease their passing.
I stood, feeling the weight of sleep still clinging
A maid entered, carrying a plain black dress.
to
my body.
Marcelene was already dressed similarly, her red hair braided neatly.
She helped me change, her movements methodical.
And then, we left.
We walked in silence, exiting the Silver Moon estate, a line of betas and guards trailing behind us.
Marcelene guided me as we walked around the mansion and into the forested area. There was a cleared path within the shrubbery.
The path was unfamiliar at first.
Until-
My breath caught in my throat as we exited the greenery and walked into a massive clearing.
The lake.
The vast, shimmering lake surrounded by shrubbery and a distant hillside.
My heart rate spiked.
This place-
Wasn’t this…?
