Chapter 266

Chapter 266
Iris's POV

Mother nodded in confirmation. "Yes. She saw your special destiny long before you were born. Your birth wasn't just a joy for our family; it was seen as an auspicious sign for the North European pack."

"Then everything changed," Mother's expression suddenly turned grave. Her voice dropped, as if plunging into painful memories. "We received an urgent message from Freyja. Njord had been killed."

This sudden turn made me hold my breath. Mother continued, "The message came with the Alpha token—the one you now wear on your wrist." I unconsciously touched the token, finally understanding its true significance.

"The token represents an Alpha's power and soul," Mother explained. "For Freyja to entrust it to us was the ultimate act of faith. It meant she trusted us to keep it safe from falling into the wrong hands."

"We immediately knew something was terribly wrong." Mother continued, her voice tense. "An Alpha of the North European pack being killed meant the entire pack structure could collapse. Worse, Freyja's message hinted this wasn't an accident but a premeditated murder."

"So you and Dad decided to go help," I said quietly, trying to piece together the rest of the story. "But Dad couldn't leave immediately because of his pack duties."

Mother nodded in confirmation. "Yes. Your father was facing challenges within the Stone pack at that time. He couldn't abandon his responsibilities immediately. We decided I would go first to investigate, and he would follow as soon as he resolved the issues." Her eyes flashed with regret. "That was the last time we saw each other."

"When I arrived at the North European pack territory, everything was in chaos," Mother continued, her voice steady but her eyes full of pain. "News of Njord's death had spread, and power struggles had already begun. And Freyja—the Luna—was missing. Nobody knew where she was, or at least nobody was willing to tell me."

I listened quietly, feeling the tension and crisis in her words. She described searching for Freyja secretly amid the chaos: "I used the Lowell family's ancient connections and my personal tracking skills to avoid factions who were hostile toward me, looking for any possible clues."

"I tracked for three weeks," Mother's hands unconsciously tightened. "Through forests, mountains, and glaciers, following faint scents and traces. Finally, in a hidden cave, I found her." Mother's voice trembled slightly. "But it was too late. She had suffered fatal wounds, her life force fading rapidly."

I could see the pain in my mother's face as she recounted this memory, tears gathering in her eyes. "Freyja told me that Njord's death wasn't an accident, but a murder orchestrated by someone inside working with external forces. She asked me to investigate the truth, identify the betrayers, and protect the future of the North European pack."

Mother took a deep breath and continued, "In her final moments, she passed the Luna token to me—the one you saw tonight. She said that someday, the true heir would emerge, and the two tokens would be reunited, guiding the North European pack into a new era."

"From the moment Freyja died, I became a target," Mother's voice grew tense. "At first, I thought it was part of the pack's internal power struggle, but soon I realized I was being hunted by a professional organization of hunters—people who knew werewolves' weaknesses and behavior patterns intimately."

A shiver ran through me. "Like the people who attacked my house? The ones who tracked me to New York?"

"Exactly them, or different branches of the same organization," Mother confirmed, her gaze sharp. "This organization is far more powerful and ancient than we imagined. They're not just mercenaries hunting werewolves; they're more like a secret society with their own goals and agenda."

Mother stood up and paced the small room, her words becoming more urgent. "I quickly realized I'd walked into an elaborate trap. While on the run, I tried multiple times to contact your father, but all communications were intercepted. Later, I discovered they were monitoring the Stone pack simultaneously."

"You mean they've been watching us all this time?" This realization made me feel sick, imagining someone constantly lurking in the shadows of my life. "Then why did they only start moving against us recently?"

Because they were waiting for the token to resurface. Your father protected it too well. When it was transferred to you, you became their primary target. What’s more, my own investigation was getting dangerously close to their core secrets, forcing them to act desperately.," Mother explained.

I reflected on everything that had happened recently. It was all starting to connect. "But that still doesn't explain why you needed to completely disappear," I said softly, the question still lingering in my heart. "Why couldn't you secretly contact us, let us know you were alive?"

Mother's eyes reflected deep pain. "I tried, Iris. In the first few years, I came close several times, but each time I found their eyes everywhere. Twice, I nearly dragged you and your father into danger." Her voice lowered. "Finally, I made the most difficult decision—to sever all connections completely, even with the Lowell family. I had to make everyone—including those I loved most—believe I was dead. Only then would they stop trying to find you through me."

Hearing this, tears finally spilled uncontrollably down my cheeks. Mother carefully approached, extending her hand, hesitating briefly before gently wiping away my tears. "My greatest pain was not being able to watch you grow up, not being able to tell you how much I love you. Every birthday, every Christmas, I watched from a distance, unable to come closer, unable to embrace you, unable to tell you how proud I am of you."

I choked back a sob as I asked the most critical question: "Then why come back now? Why take the risk?"

Mother's expression turned serious and resolute. "Because the rules of the game have changed. When I discovered the Alpha token had appeared on your wrist, and saw you being drawn into the center of this storm, I knew I couldn't hide in the shadows anymore. I would rather expose myself than let you face this alone."

After hearing my mother's explanation, I fell into a long silence. Years of questions finally had answers, but with them came more complex emotions. "All these years... you've been hiding and investigating?" I finally asked quietly.

"Yes," Mother nodded, her eyes becoming determined. "I never stopped searching for the truth. I tracked those hunters, infiltrated their networks, piecing together clues bit by bit." Her gaze sharpened. "I was getting very close to the truth, but in doing so, I also touched some sensitive nerves. That's why they intensified their actions, trying to stop me at all costs."

I began connecting my mother's story with my recent experiences. "So those people who suddenly attacked us... they were after the token?"

"Not just the token," Mother said seriously. "They feared my years of investigation would expose their secrets. And when the Alpha token appeared on your wrist, things became even more complicated and dangerous."

I couldn't help but ask the question that had been weighing on my heart: "Dad... did he know you were alive?"

Mother's expression immediately turned painful. "No, he didn't. That was one of the hardest decisions I ever made—letting him believe I was dead. I knew it would cause him immense pain, but it was the only way to protect him and you."

Seeing the genuine pain and love in her eyes, I finally understood her choice, however difficult it had been. I stood up and slowly walked to her, initiating an embrace with this mother I had lost and found. "I understand, Mom. I can't say it doesn't hurt, but I understand."

She hugged me tightly, and I felt her body trembling slightly, her tears dampening my shoulder. In that moment, all words seemed unnecessary. In this simple embrace, fifteen years of separation seemed briefly bridged—not erased, but at least we could begin rebuilding from here.