Chapter 256

Chapter 256
Lucas

The atmosphere had grown oppressive, the air itself seeming to congeal with unspoken grief. After the disastrous dinner where Katherine had collapsed, everyone had scattered to process what was happening in their own way.

Selene and Vortend had taken all the children, including Daisy's, out for a few hours to give them a brief respite from the heaviness that had settled over the house.

I hadn't seen Vivian since she'd left to check on Katherine, and I understood why. Some moments demanded privacy, especially when saying goodbye.

I leaned against the wall in the hallway, staring at nothing in particular. Katherine was dying—everyone knew it, but no one wanted to say it aloud. As if speaking the words would somehow accelerate the inevitable.

The thought sent a pang of unexpected grief through me. I barely knew the woman, yet her imminent loss had cast a shadow over all of us.

My thoughts drifted to Gia, whom I'd just visited. Her poisoning symptoms were worsening too, though not as rapidly as Katherine's decline.

The irony wasn't lost on me that while my mate's birth mother was slipping away, the Moon Shadow Syndrome had mysteriously improved.

At least Caleb, Dominic and I were making progress gathering evidence against those responsible. I'd been sending encrypted files to my contacts at the International Health Organization, building a case that couldn't be ignored or dismissed.

'No one gets away with this,' I thought grimly. 'Not on my watch.'

I needed air. The walls of the manor felt like they were closing in, memories of prison cells flashing unwelcome in my mind. I made my way to the terrace, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it.

A sound from the side of the manor caught my attention—a deep, shuddering breath. My heightened senses detected someone trying to control their breathing. I moved silently along the stone path until I spotted Harrison standing with his back to me, hastily wiping tears from his face.

I understood immediately. He'd left Katherine's room to give Archer, Daisy, and Vivian time alone with their mother. The stoic Alpha was breaking down where he thought no one could see.

---

I approached quietly, extending my cigarette pack. "Need one?"

Harrison startled, not having detected my approach. His eyes were red-rimmed, and despite his attempt to compose himself, the devastation was written clearly across his face.

He hesitated before taking a cigarette from the pack.

"Thank you, boy," he said, his voice thick with emotion.

I lit his cigarette, then leaned against a cold marble column to smoke mine, gaze fixed on the sky. Neither of us spoke for several moments, the silence punctuated only by Harrison's occasional uneven breath.

"You know," Harrison finally said, "I've never had much luck with women. Always being betrayed or deceived in some way."

He took a long drag, the smoke escaping in a shaky exhale. "But Katherine... her soul is beautiful. Inside and out."

His voice dropped to nearly a whisper. "Knowing she's going to leave me is killing me."

The proud Alpha's voice broke on the last words, his customary strength crumbling under the weight of impending loss.

I watched the smoke from my cigarette curl upward before responding. "It's pretty shitty, no doubt about that."

My eyes remained on the sky as I continued. "But imagine how she feels, knowing she's going to leave? She's probably trying to stay strong for all of you."

I flicked ash from my cigarette. "So, make her last days so beautiful she forgets death is coming. Tell her everything you want to say now, all the things you would have said over the next thirty years. Tell her while you still can, while she's still here."

I finally looked at him directly. "Life isn't a fairy tale. We could die at any moment... but that's life. So live without regrets."

Harrison contemplated my words, his cigarette burning forgotten between his fingers. Then his shoulders began to shake silently, his hands coming up to cover his face as tears escaped through his fingers.

The sunlight caught in his silver-white hair, giving him an almost ethereal appearance—an Alpha brought low by the most human of emotions: grief.

I heard the sound of children's voices in the distance, signaling the return of Selene and Vortend with the kids.

I reached out through my bond with Selene. 'Can you come to the left side of the manor? Your father's not doing well.'

Her response was immediate. 'Oh god... I'm coming right now.'

I watched as Selene quickly directed Vortend to take the children inside. Little Lily began whimpering, sensitive enough to pick up on the sorrowful energy permeating the air. Vortend scooped her up, whispering comforting words as he ushered the other children through the door.

---

Harrison turned to me, his composure somewhat restored though his eyes remained haunted. "Thank you, boy. You're right."

He straightened his shoulders, the gesture of a man used to carrying burdens. "I know I've failed you, and I'll keep trying to do better."

His gaze met mine steadily. "I truly am sorry I was blinded by your mother's deception."

He ran a hand through his silver hair. "It doesn't make up for what happened to you—I'll never forgive myself for that. But I want to know you. Life is short, as you say. I don't want to waste it."

I avoided his eyes, focusing instead on the sky as I continued smoking. "I guess I owe you an apology too."

The admission felt strange on my tongue. "I shouldn't have blamed you without knowing all the facts."

I shrugged. "But like you said, there's no point dwelling on what we should have done."

Selene approached then, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She smiled gratefully at me, clearly having overheard our conversation. She stood between us, her presence somehow bridging the gap that had existed for so long.

"We were all deceived," she said softly. "We all suffered for different reasons."

She reached out, placing one hand on my arm and the other on Harrison's. "But now we're together. We'll get through this together."

Harrison nodded firmly. "We will."

He pulled both Selene and me into a tight embrace, his Alpha strength now channeled into a father's warmth. I hesitated before awkwardly returning the hug, giving Selene's back a light pat.

"At least I still have my children," Harrison murmured. "I'm fortunate in that."

I shifted uncomfortably in the prolonged embrace. "Okay, whatever, I'm not used to hugs."

Selene's lips quirked into a small smile. "Unless they're from Vivian?"

I felt my expression soften involuntarily. "She's the exception," I admitted, thinking of the way Vivian's touch seemed to calm the perpetual storm inside me.

Harrison released us, a knowing look crossing his face. "I'm happy for you two. Vivian is good for you."

I allowed myself a small smile, hoping our conversation had helped Harrison in some small way. We all had our demons to face, and for now, at least, we were facing them together.