Chapter 115 Alive

Chapter 115 Alive
\- Princess Helena’s POV -
I was running for an unknown reason, but all I knew was that an old man kept chasing me.
My feet pounded against the cold ground, my breath coming out in short, shaky gasps. The night felt endless, the air heavy and suffocating. I didn’t know where I was running to. I didn’t even know where I was. The place was unfamiliar, covered in fog and shadows, like a world swallowed by darkness.
All I knew was that I had to run.
Because he was behind me.
His footsteps echoed slowly, calmly, as if he wasn’t worried about losing me. As if he knew I would eventually fall.
The moon hung high in the sky, full and bright, casting pale light across the empty land. It should have been beautiful.
But it wasn’t.
It was terrifying.
My dress tangled around my legs as I ran. My heart felt like it was about to burst out of my chest. I could hear my own breathing, loud and uneven.
Why was he chasing me?
What did he want?
Suddenly, my foot caught on something.
I stumbled forward.
And fell hard on the ground.
Pain shot through my knees and palms as they scraped against the rough surface. A sharp hiss escaped my lips.
Damn it.
How could I be so clumsy!?
I tried to push myself up, but my legs felt weak. Heavy. As if something invisible was holding me down.
“Princess Helena…”
A creepy voice called from behind me.
My whole body went cold.
That voice.
It crawled under my skin like poison.
I slowly turned my head.
A tall shadow loomed closer, stretching long across the ground. The moonlight was just enough for me to see his figure. Old. Slightly hunched. But not weak.
Not harmless.
I crawled backward, my hands shaking, my heart pounding so loudly it hurt.
“S-stop… don’t come closer…” I stuttered.
He didn’t listen.
Of course he didn’t.
Instead, he pulled out a sword.
The metal glinted under the moonlight.
My eyes widened. My chest tightened with terror. I tried to stand, but my legs refused to cooperate. It felt like I was trapped inside my own body.
The man smiled.
A wicked, twisted smile.
And when the moon’s rays finally lit his face clearly—
I recognized him.
“J-Jerson…?”
His eyes were cold. Empty. Filled with hatred.
“Die, Princess!” he shouted as he swung the sword toward me.
I froze.
I couldn’t move.
The blade was coming straight at me.
I shut my eyes.
“Mommy!”
My eyes snapped open.
Before the sword could reach me, I saw a small figure running toward us.
“Frost?” I gasped.
He was running as fast as his little legs could carry him.
“No! Frost, stop!” I screamed.
But he didn’t stop.
“Frost!” I screamed again—
And I jolted awake.
My eyes flew open as I sat up quickly, my chest rising and falling in panic. Sweat clung to my skin. My heart was still racing, my breath uneven.
The room was quiet.
Too quiet.
I blinked rapidly, trying to focus.
I wasn’t outside anymore.
I wasn’t on the ground.
I was on a bed.
A soft one.
Inside a room.
I looked around slowly.
The walls were tall, decorated with dark wood and gold details. Heavy curtains hung by the windows. A chandelier sparkled faintly above.
This place…
It wasn’t familiar.
But it felt grand.
I let out a shaky breath.
Good thing it was just a dream.
Just a dream.
But it felt so real.
My hands moved to my chest.
My heart was still pounding.
Wait.
Where am I?
Why am I here?
Memories rushed back like a wave crashing into me.
Jerson.
That old building.
His fists.
His kicks.
The pain.
My blood staining the floor.
And before I lost consciousness…
I saw him.
Wolfie.
And Frost.
My eyes widened.
Frost.
I didn’t care where I was.
I didn’t care how I got here.
All I could think about was my son.
“Frost…” I whispered desperately.
I pushed the blanket away and tried to stand up.
Pain shot through my body instantly. My legs trembled, barely able to hold my weight. My ribs hurt when I breathed too deeply.
But none of that mattered.
Worry ate me alive.
If something bad happened to my child—
If he was hurt because of me—
I would never forgive myself.
I took a shaky step forward.
“Frost is fine. He’s playing outside. Don’t worry.”
The moment I heard that voice, my whole body froze.
I didn’t need to turn around.
I knew who it was.
That voice.
Deeper now.
Stronger.
More authoritative.
But still so familiar.
So painfully familiar.
My fingers tightened around the edge of the mattress.
My heart…
It wasn’t steady.
It was a mess.
Love.
Longing.
Fear.
Excitement.
Pain.
All crashing into one.
I wanted to see him.
God, I missed him so much.
There wasn’t a single night in the past years that I didn’t think about him.
But I was terrified.
Terrified he would take Frost away from me.
Terrified he would look at me with hatred.
Terrified he would regret seeing me again.
“Helena…”
His footsteps came closer.
Slow.
Careful.
My vision blurred as tears filled my eyes.
I turned my head away quickly.
I couldn’t face him.
Not yet.
The moment he said my name…
Everything I had buried for years broke free.
The bed dipped slightly beside me.
He was sitting next to me.
Close.
Too close.
I could feel his warmth.
I could smell him.
That familiar scent of pine and earth and something uniquely him.
The butterflies I had forced myself to kill inside me were alive again.
Fluttering wildly.
Questions filled my mind.
How did I get here?
Did he save me?
Why now?
Why after all these years?
But my lips refused to move.
My voice was gone.
“Helena… talk to me, please.”
His voice cracked.
It sounded almost broken.
It hurt me.
He never sounded like that before.
He was always strong.
Confident.
Unshakeable.
Hearing him like this made my chest ache.
Then I felt his hand.
Warm.
Gentle.
He touched my chin and slowly turned my face toward him.
The moment our eyes met—
My breath caught.
It was him.
The man I had longed for.
The one my heart had cried out for every single night.
My mate.
“F-Froylan…” His name slipped past my lips, trembling.
His gray eyes darkened instantly.
They were sharper now.
Colder on the outside.
His face looked harsher.
More mature.
More ruthless.
He had changed.
He looked like a king.
But his eyes…
Those eyes still held the same emotions.
Love.
Sorrow.
Longing.
They mirrored mine.
“Where have you been, Helena?” he asked.
His voice was heavy.
“I’ve been searching for you… for what feels like eternity.”
His eyes were bloodshot.
As if he hadn’t stopped mourning me.
As if he hadn’t slept properly in years.
I froze.
Searching for me?
“W-why would you look for me?” I whispered.
My voice was barely audible.
His gaze burned into me.
“Because I love you, Helena,” he said without hesitation.
His voice was firm.
Certain.
“I always have. I always will. You are the first and the last woman I will ever love.”
His words were raw.
Sincere.
No lies.
No doubt.
My heart clenched painfully.
I shoved his hand away.
Turning my face aside.
“You don’t know what you’re saying, Froylan.”
“I know exactly what I’m saying.”
He caught my hand again.
This time, he pressed it firmly against his chest.
His heartbeat thundered beneath my palm.
Strong... Steady, and... alive.