Chapter 106
Iris
ONE MONTH LATER
The sky was quite gloomy, the dark clouds threatening to turn the day into a rainy one. We should have stayed back in the house and cuddled all day, but there was something important to be done, and that was visiting the late Alpha Cronus's grave.
I stood beside Gradel, whose shoulders were squared, taut, showing how uneasy it was for him to be present here. If it was possible, I'd have suggested that we return home and come back when he was more comfortable, but he was as stubborn as a mule so I let him.
We stood in silence for a while and then he cleared his throat.
I touched his shoulder lightly and some of the tension dissipated. "I guess I'll have to leave you alone with him. Call on me when you're done," I informed him and turned around to leave.
But he grabbed my wrist swiftly and tenderly, prohibiting me from taking any other step.
With a low tone, he said. "Stay with me. I want you to be here with me while I reconcile with my father," He sounded unconvinced and reluctant, but I liked that he was making an effort.
Even though I felt uncomfortable being here, I still had to make some sacrifices.
"You don't have to worry, mate. I'll always be here with you,"
He nodded and took a step further to his grave, his attention trained on his portrait. He dropped a flower and fell to his knees, bending his head. It was at that point I realized that he was in tears.
"Father," He began, "We never saw eye to eye on anything related to the pack because of what you did to the people around you, including your family. You hurt our mother and killed her, and then you allowed a rift to grow between me and my twin. You even murdered your brother just to take his place as Alpha, and that mistake from many years back nearly cost me my life, my mate's and the safety of the pack. Why did you have to be so thoughtless and cruel?" Gradel lamented.
My eyes were already shimmering with tears, but I fought them. I was here for emotional support and not to become a mess.
"For years, I've loathed and resented you because everything you did hurt me in one way or the other. Mother should have been alive right now to reap the fruits of her labor, but you cut her life short and the annoying part is that I don't know what to feel," He confessed.
His body shuddered with sobs that tore my heart apart. Instinctively, my legs moved on their own accord and I dropped to the ground beside him, watching him silently.
"Yes, I don't know what to feel because you didn't live long enough to pay for all your crimes and a little more for me to decide if I could look past your mistakes and establish a proper father and son relationship with you. But after everything that has happened, I've decided that I don't want to bear grudges anymore. The moon goddess has blessed me with the best mate ever, and the pack is doing absolutely well under my reign. What more can I ask for?"
He sniffed and wiped his tears with the handkerchief I gave to him, and then he slowly got to his feet.
"There's no reason to keep holding onto the past when there's a great future ahead of me so as difficult as this is for me, I forgive you. You made several mistakes that I'd never repeat, but it's time to let you go so that I can enjoy the peace and happiness that the moon goddess has granted me. Iris, the woman you despised so much encouraged me to do this and I don't regret listening to her." He glanced at me. "Do you have anything to say to him before we leave?"
I nodded. "Yes," I agreed and stared at his portrait. "The only thing I have to say to you is that I forgive you and please continue to watch over us wherever you are," My lips quivered.
Gradel spread his arms and I leaned on him for an embrace; one that was strong enough to mollify every pain. We stayed that way until we couldn't anymore and he planted a kiss on my forehead.
The thunder rumbled and immediately we dashed off, veering toward the pack house which wasn't so far away. We'd barely gotten in when I caught the sight of a frail-looking woman whom I'd almost forgotten about her existence.
"May?" I called, my voice filled with doubt.
Who even let her in here?
Gradel gazed at me, silently asking if he should stick around but knowing how sneaky my sister could be, I let him off intending to tell him everything later on.
"Iris," She rasped and crossed over to me.
"Why are you here?" I asked coldly.
"To apologize,"
"Well, I don't remember asking for it," I retorted curtly.
She shook her head, her expression shrouded with sadness. My heart urged to empathize with her but the memories of what she did to me flooded into my mind. If she hadn't shown up here, I wouldn't have remembered I had a sister.
"Iris, I know very well that you don't trust me because of what I did and you might hate me after how I treated you, but I'm not here to ask you to let go of whatever you feel for me. I just want to show you how remorseful I am,"
I ran my tongue over my lips and snorted. "Alright. I can see your remorse and it's fine, now leave,"
My heart plummeted and I dug my teeth into my lower lip, wondering why I had to be so softhearted. Anyway, I'd encouraged Gradel to forgive his father, what would be so bad in forgiving my sister?
"Iris," She muttered and I rolled my eyes.
"Come here,"
She clutched onto her worn-out dress, and hesitantly advanced toward me. Then I took a cursory glance at her and my jaw dropped.
She had been the beautiful and slender one, always dressed to kill for every occasion, but standing before me right now was a woman with a deep hollow on her cheeks and neck, obviously tired of life.
Her hair had receded and her eyes had sunk deeper into their sockets and that didn't sit well with me. Instantly, I was overcome with pity for her and nudged her for an embrace.
"I forgive you, May. You don't have to keep living this way,"
She held me tight, but not strong enough to suffocate me. "No, I don't want to depend on you," She croaked. "Now that you have forgiven me, I'm at peace and you'll never have to see me again,"