Chapter 22
Forgive, Not Forget
Alexa
“He really ain’t got a heart, does he?” Julius sneers, jerking his chin toward Mr. Moris.
That morning, everyone gathers at the abandoned train station near the club.
The old train Mr. Moris usually uses for transporting crates of goods is now packed with refugees from Silver Moon.
Out of nearly a thousand residents, only around two hundred managed to escape Alastair’s siege. Most of them are women and children.
At the front carriage, Jo rushes back and forth helping people board the train while checking supplies.
Nearby, Mr. Moris leans against one of the cracked platforms, smoking like none of this has anything to do with him.
Even until the end, the man shows no sign of wanting to help us fight.
No wonder Julius is pissed. Still, Harlow and I have already accepted the reality of it.
“Let him be,” Harlow mutters between the two of us. One hand stays buried inside his coat pocket while the empty sleeve on the other side hangs still against his body. “Dragging somebody half committed into battle only makes things worse for everybody else.”
“What kinda kingmaker acts like that?” Julius snorts. He storms toward the last carriage and slams the door shut behind him.
“Is it true he used to train Alpha kids in his pack?” I ask quietly, unable to hide my curiosity.
“Yeah.” Harlow lowers his gaze. “From what I heard, he was one of the strongest fighters in a northern pack. He had every quality needed to become an Alpha, but they asked him to train future Alphas instead.” His jaw tightens.
“And no matter how strong he got, his pack refused to even let him sign up for the Alpha trials. So eventually, he left. Since then, packs from all over have called him in to train Alpha candidates.”
My chest aches a little hearing that. It reminds me too much of how Silver Moon treated Harlow because of his Omega family status.
Especially Mr. Darius. A bitter part of me still hopes that the old man gets exactly what he deserves.
If people like him had stopped clinging to their stupid pride and traditions, Harlow could’ve become Alpha long ago.
Maybe Silver Moon’s chain of command wouldn’t have collapsed so easily.
Maybe we could’ve stopped Alastair before everything spiraled into blood and ruin.
The endless what ifs drift through my head until a light tap against my shoulder pulls me back to reality.
“Alexa.”
I turn around and find Mrs. Gertrude standing behind me. Her hair is tied back simply now instead of styled with wax like before. Her fingers twist together near her chest while she bites her lower lip.
“Harlow,” she says, nodding toward him.
Harlow gives her a small nod in return.
“Mrs. Gertrude...” Guilt tightens inside my throat immediately. “I’m sorry about Lorraine. She refused to leave. I tried to convince her.”
This is the first time we’ve spoken since yesterday. Of course she wants news about her daughter. And I still don’t have the heart to repeat the awful things Lorraine said about her.
“Oh...” Mrs. Gertrude’s voice weakens into almost a whisper. “I... I gave up trying to convince her too.”
Silence stretches awkwardly between us. Then her face crumples.
“I’m sorry, Harlow.” Her trembling hand rises to cover her mouth as tears spill down her cheeks again. “I treated you and Diana terribly.”
Harlow says nothing. Mrs. Gertrude lowers her head, shoulders shaking with quiet sobs.
“Now I finally understand what it feels like.” Her voice breaks apart. “Being separated from your own child...”
Before anyone can answer, Julius’s loud shout echoes through the station. “Everybody aboard! We’re leaving!”
The train horn blares through the cold morning air. Once the noise settles, Harlow speaks to Mrs. Gertrude in a calm tone.
“It’s alright, Mrs. Gertrude,” he mumbles. “I understand.”
She nods through her tears. For a brief second, her hand brushes against Harlow’s remaining hand before she turns toward me and gently cups my cheek.
“Stay safe, Alexa.”
I let out a small smile and nod. She boards the crowded freight carriage, sitting among the refugees on thin mats spread across the wooden floor.
Another sharp whistle cuts through the station. The train groans as magic hums beneath the metal rails. Harlow and I step farther back while Julius climbs into the conductor’s cabin, now acting as the train engineer himself.
I wave one last time and silently pray to the Moon Goddess that they make it safely to the First Light Pack.
Even after reaching the station near the territory border, they still have a long journey ahead on foot.
And with Beta Julius leading the remaining Silver Moon survivors, the threat of Alastair’s forces still hangs over them like a storm waiting to strike again.
But Harlow and I have another mission now. One just as important.
* * *
The asphalt road disappears behind us, replaced by a narrow dirt trail cutting deep into the forest. Inside the large-wheeled Jeep borrowed from Mr. Moris, we climb higher toward the isolated hills of Sapphire Hill.
At the edge of the old paved road, a crooked rusted sign leans to one side, barely standing anymore.
By the time we arrive that afternoon, magical fog already spills through the trees like creeping smoke.
Before it traps us inside the forest overnight, I press harder on the gas pedal.
The Jeep roars beneath me. Red dirt kicks behind the tires as the uneven road jerks the entire vehicle from side to side.
“Watch it, Alexa!” Harlow grabs the door handle as the Jeep nearly slams into a mound of rock.
I yank the wheel hard to the left just in time. The tires bounce over the rough ground while thick fog continues swallowing the road behind us. If we get trapped in that magical mist, we’ll be stuck here until morning. And we don’t have time for that.
“Hell, we ain’t gonna make it,” Harlow groans as the Jeep tilts dangerously along the steep terrain.
“Yes, we are!” I bite down hard on my lower lip, gripping the steering wheel tighter. “Just hold on!”
The engine growls louder beneath us.
“C’mon... c’mon...”
“Push harder! The mist is here!” Mythril howls in panic.
The Jeep launches over a massive bump. For one terrifying second, the wheels leave the ground. Then we crash back down with a violent thud that rattles the entire vehicle.
Ahead of us, an old fence shakes from the impact while a newly painted white warning sign stands crooked beside it.
BEWARE! PREDATORS AHEAD!
Just like Mr. Moris said. I exhale with a shaky breath and glance toward Harlow with an awkward smile.
“Looks like we made it.”
“You’re absolutely insane,” Harlow mutters, shaking his head with a disbelieving scoff.
We climb out of the Jeep and walk farther into Sapphire Hill. Honestly, we got lucky today.
The Jeep doesn’t run on Rider magic energy like most vehicles around these territories, but the weather stays clear enough for the road to remain dry. If rain had turned this hill into mud while magical fog trapped us inside, we would’ve been stranded for days.
“Uncle Harlow!”
A loud excited voice bursts from one of the tents nearby.
“Gina!” Harlow’s face lights up.
The little girl sprints toward him without hesitation, and Harlow scoops her into his arm as she laughs against his shoulder. Her mother, Lisa, walks over right behind her with a relieved smile. Soon more people gather around us.
Men and women wearing worn flannel shirts and heavy boots crowd around Harlow with warm greetings and surprised laughter. For a few brief moments, the exhaustion hanging over us almost disappears beneath the sound of familiar voices.
Then someone notices Harlow’s missing arm. The mood turns to an awkward moment. The laughter fades into uncomfortable silence as sympathy spreads across several faces. But Harlow only laughs and brushes the concern aside before anyone can say too much.
Lisa steps toward me with a gentle smile. “C’mon,” she says. “Y’all should rest inside.”
She guides us toward the only sturdy wooden cabin standing among the tents scattered across Sapphire Hill.
* * *
“Shit.” Jack trembles in his seat.
We finish telling Jack everything, and of course, the man is shocked by all the bad news. Jack gazes at Harlow, who adds a few logs to the fireplace, letting the warmth spread across the room.
“That’s the whole mess, Jack. Sorry we’re only telling you now after all this time since you left Silver Moon.” I offer him a small smile.
“Nah, it’s alright. Don’t worry about that. I’m just glad y’all made it here alive.” Jack shakes his head before taking another sip of his beer.
“Yeah, it’s kinda wild. Imagine my surprise when Mr. Moris told me you’d settled out in Sapphire Hill. Remote as hell, but land’s still worth something.” Harlow slides his chair over and slumps down.
“Well, uh... about the land. We practically got it for nothing. Deal was too good to pass up.” Jack drags out his words.
“That so? You done the Alpha coronation ritual yet? Got recognition from the other Alphas?” Harlow asks, tilting his head.
“Not yet.” Jack shakes his head.
Again, I notice how his back tenses. I could swear I heard his heartbeat racing inside his chest.
“But honestly, I was waiting for you, Harlow. That’s why I told Mr. Moris about this place, just in case you ever came back. It’s exactly like that plan we talked about before, remember?” Jack asks with a stiff smile.
“Mind telling me where you got that kinda money to buy this place?” Harlow asks, tapping the empty glass on the table.
Harlow’s dominance radiates throughout the cabin. Outside, people warm themselves around the main fire, sharing soft laughter beneath the night sky. Their voices gradually quiet, as if even they can sense the tension building inside the cabin.
Jack rises from his chair and kneels in front of me. Both fists press against his knees. My eyes widen at the sudden movement. His head bows low. Sweat beads along his temples. Harlow presses his lips together, his jaw clenched tight.