Chapter 564
“Won’t you give me a hug?” Gabriel inquired of Cynthia, looking deeply into her violet eyes. He closed the gap between them and hugged the Moon Goddess tightly. “Your blessings are going to pave a path for me p>
He pulled away slowly and finally lifted the glass of water. Finishing the water in a single draught, he set the glass down. “I’ll be leaving now since I’ve received the answers I came for p>
Cynthia nodded. She wished Gabriel would stay, even just for a day, but she knew he wouldn’t agree. Besides, he had his own urgent duties to fulfill now.
As he walked toward the door, Cynthia remained right behind him when he suddenly halted.
“I have one more question to ask,” Gabriel said, turning back to face her.
“Hmm. Say it,” Cynthia said with a gentle smile.
“Why did Amelie have to undergo such terrible hardships? Why was Alex her first mate? And why did I feel an instant connection with Noah, who’s not biologically mine?” Gabriel questioned, the concerns for his family overriding his haste. “You bless the mates. As soon as she turned eighteen, her mate should have been me, not Alex p>
“Both of you were cursed by Ophelia,” Cynthia replied, her tone becoming solemn again. “I needed to find a way to bring both of you together in this life, despite the interference. Amelie was destined to go through that fate as a necessary, painful path. And Noah’s connection with you was the only thing that could ensure you would help Amelie and bring her to you, circumventing the curse’s initial power p>
Gabriel nodded his head, finding that it was the exact theory he had already considered.
“Thank you for your help so far,” Gabriel said with a warm smile and finally set a foot out of the house.
Cynthia, too, stepped out and closed the door behind her.
“Why does no one know about this settlement? They are living like us, but I suppose peacefully,” Gabriel asserted, looking around the small, quiet community.
“The settlement began only a few years ago. Mostly they were either banished or cast out, or declared rogues in their respective packs,” Cynthia explained. “Their leader is a strong woman, who prayed to me to give her strength and guidance to build a safe place for their kind p>
“So, they know p>
“No,” Cynthia interrupted, cutting him off gently but firmly. “They do not know the depth of my true identity, or my current predicament. They just think it’s the blessing of the moon p>
“But if the bigger packs know about them, they will destroy them,” Gabriel remarked, still concerned for the rogue settlement.
“It won’t happen,” Cynthia stated confidently. “My blessings are with this pack for the time being. When I feel they can thrive on their own, I’ll leave this land p>
Gabriel hummed. “Your tasks are big, but if you weren’t here, everything would be out of order, I believe. Who was appointed all these years? There must have been several others filling your role p>
“Yes, there are several,” Cynthia answered. “The Lunar God decides who will take the turn after several centuries, acting as the temporary steward of the werewolves.” She leaned in one final time. “You have to keep all of this a secret, Gabriel. Every piece of information I have given you p>
“I will. I promise. But I’ll tell Amelie that you were my mother in the past,” Gabriel gave his word. “Can I come to you after I’ll end Ophelia?” Gabriel inquired.
“When that happens, you’ll find me right in front of you. Don’t worry,” Cynthia stated with a serene smile. “Now, you should go. Do visit your father’s grave. It is laid at the same place where it was centuries ago p>
Gabriel nodded. He bowed his head slightly in respect before finally leaving that place. He walked back through the premises of the ruined palace until he reached the outer garden space, which had now turned into a small, overgrown jungle. It didn’t take him long to locate the grave of the last King of Aurevalis. Gabriel had never taken the throne after his father died in the past life, and the curse of Ophelia had slowly destroyed the whole kingdom.
He got on his knees and moved his hand over the ancient tombstone, carefully removing the soil and weeds that had covered its top. And then, he saw the name engraved on it.
“King Leonard, Last of Aurevalis p>
“I’m sorry for being so late,” Gabriel whispered. “I hope you’re resting peacefully on the other side. I met the woman who was my mother in the past. Ophelia will pay for everything, Father, including the fall of this kingdom. And I promise that I’ll rebuild this land once I finish Ophelia. You loved this place so much,” he muttered.
Then, standing up, he spotted some wild white flowers, which were tiny, star-shaped blossoms, and plucked them. Making a quick, simple bouquet of them, he laid that on the tombstone.
He recited a silent prayer before giving one last glance at it and walked away.
By the time he reached the location where Karmen and Denzel were awaiting him, evening had fallen. They had already prepared a tent-house for rest. Karmen quickly rose from the folding chair placed outside the tent.
“We need to leave,” Gabriel commanded. “I suppose the pilot has had enough of his rest. Where’s Denzel p>
“He’s inside, sleeping,” Karmen replied, his brows furrowing as he took in Gabriel’s tense, focused expression. “But have you found the answers you were looking for p>
“Yes. Let’s go back,” Gabriel ordered, moving directly toward the chopper which was still resting on the open space of the land.
Karmen realized Gabriel had found something profound and urgent, which was the reason why they were leaving so early. He quickly moved to carry out the order.
“Your Highness,” the pilot greeted with a bow before entering the chopper. Gabriel, Karmen, and Denzel, who had been woken up by Karmen, quickly settled inside too. Wearing the ears protection, the chopper lifted high into the sky and shortly left the land of Aurevalis behind.