Chapter 26 Eighteen Years of Silence
Three days passed. Damon recovered slightly–and tried to escape again.
He didn’t get far
efore Mr. Knox’s men hauled him back.
“Damon, it’s time to let go.”
Mr. Knox stood there in a hospital gown, looking paler and older than ever.
Seeing him like that, Damon finally stopped struggling.
“I won’t last much longer,” Mr. Knox said quietly. “I don’t know how much more
time I have. So consider this my dying wish, stop chasing Ariel. Let her go. Let
yourself go.”
Damon lowered his gaze, unreadable emotions swimming in his eyes.
After a long silence, he finally forced the words out.
“Okay. I won’t look for her again.”
”
Mr. Knox exhaled like a burden had been lifted. His body gave out shortly after.
11:40 AM
Chapter 26 Eighteen Years of Silence
Damon stayed by his bedside until the very end.
And from that moment on, something in him changed.
The warmth he used to carry whenever Ariel was mentioned–gone.
*
D
What was left was a cold, steely resolve. No longer the man who smiled in her
presence, Damon became a machine built for one thing: rebuilding Thornfang
Pack.
He practically lived in the Alpha’s office.
Under his leadership, the pack rose once more to power.
F
The love story that had once inspired thousands faded into obscurity.
Only Damon still wore his wedding ring.
And whenever anyone asked about it, he would smile gently and say, “My
mate is wonderful. We’re deeply in love. She’s waiting for me at home. I just want to finish work and hurry back.”
Chapter 26 Eighteen Years of Silence
But he rarely went home.
Without Ariel, that place was just another empty building.
Those who knew the truth thought he had lost his mind.
Those who didn’t thought he was the most devoted Alpha they’d ever seen.
Many she–wolves tried to tempt him. He rejected them all.
Eventually, to quiet the gossip, he adopted a gifted werewolf boy and raised
him with care.
Eighteen years passed.
The boy grew strong and capable–ready to take over.
“Be loyal to your mate. Never lie to her.”
That was Damon’s final piece of advice before he handed Thornfang Pack
over and quietly left for Frelandia.
Chapter 26 Eighteen Years
of Silence
He arrived at the gates of Ariel’s private villa and thought:
徒
Grandpa, I’ve honored your wish. I didn’t see her for eighteen years. But now,
let me fulfill just one of my own.
The sound of wind chimes rang out–soft and familiar.
This time, the villa’s door was open. The chalkboard read. “Now open.
Welcome to stay.”
Knock knock.
He tapped the door gently.
“Do you have any rooms available?” he asked.
13
Inside, a young mixed–race girl called out, “Mom, someone wants to check in!”
Ariel stepped out-
And Damon turned and fled.
He no longer had the courage to stand before her.
She had a new family now. A new life. One that had nothing to do with him.
So he bought a house not far from the villa.
Opened a small post office.
He started writing letters–to his past self.
Most people thought the post was a novelty. Still, every so often, someone
would drop in to send a message to the past.
One of Damon’s letters simply said. “Be good to Ariel.”
Though they lived just two streets apart, he and Ariel never crossed paths
again.
He eventually learned that the girl was a child Ariel had adopted.
But he never approached her.
11:40 AM
Chapter 26 Eighteen Years of Silence
He only watched from afar.
Guarding the last piece of warmth he still had left.
1
甘
