True Alpha's Ch Chapter 85: Why did I have to survive for Everfell?

Chapter 85: Why did I have to survive for Everfell?

I was told that Hugo had to settle so matters. Hence, our plan to et tonight was canceled. I stood outside the balcony, hands on the railings while letting the night breeze hit my face.

"Hugo is right," I whispered, staring at the darkness far ahead. "I am also changing."

I gazed up at the half-moon shining up above. When I first t Hugo, I usually kept my thoughts to myself. Before I open my mouth, I would think about it multiple tis. I always thought if what I was going to say was necessary or not — a habit of mine that I picked up while growing up.

But now... I let my emotions speak and not my head. It felt strange. I didn’t consider it as a bad habit to pick up. If anything, it felt refreshing in a way.

I grew up with the ntality that my words would change anything or help anyone. If it was unnecessary, I would just keep it to myself to save myself the trouble of aningless conversation. Surprisingly enough, even though so of my conversations with his sisters were pointless, I found it enjoyable.

"Even so, I feel a bit frustrated Hugo had to go sowhere," I murmured along with a faint sigh. "Since when did I get frustrated over such trivial things?"

Mother and Father used to visit , but there would be tis I wouldn’t see them for a week or a month. I was more understanding back then — obedient and satisfied with that sort of life. I didn’t demand because I was already happy if I get to see Mother once a week or spend dinner with Father once a month. That was what I called frequent.

Maybe I was just used to spending all day and night with Hugo that I couldn’t help but look for him. That getting to spend an hour with him was not enough anymore. Even when I spent more ti with Ashton in the past didn’t make

feel empty during his absence.

"Moon, I feel conflicted," I whispered, sadness flickering across my eyes. "I want to go ho... this longing that is enveloping my heart is torturous."

The reply I received was the silent howl of the wind. I peeled my eyes away from the moon and gazed down at the empty garden.

"Please keep Hugo safe," I wished from the bottom of my heart, having this gut feeling that without my knowledge, Hugo would take a rough path to keep

safe. "What happened in Everfell... please don’t let it happen to your people."

I stayed on the balcony for a long ti before I returned to sleep. As I slipped under the blanket and stared at the ceiling, I let out a deep breath. I closed my eyes at the thought of wanting to see Hugo before I succumbed to the darkness.

As I entered a state of slumber, I was brought back to an old mory of the ten-year-old .

I gritted my teeth at the sound of whips hitting the back of my thigh. I clasped my skirt, holding it up as I knew Mother would be angry if I let my skirt go.

"Rinnie, you understand why mother is punishing you, right?" she asked, walking from behind

before she squatted down in front of . Mother had this incomprehensible smile, looking at

with desperate eyes.

I pressed my lips into a thin line. "Yes, Mother. Rinnie tried to go out, that is why she is punished." She smiled and nodded at my weak reply.

She stroke my hair and sighed. "My baby, Mother is just protecting you. People will try to take you away from us and harm you. You understand that Mother just wants to keep you safe, hmm?"

"Yes." I nodded while staring into her eyes. She wrapped

in her embrace as if she didn’t whip

multiple tis until my knees wobbled.

This wasn’t the first ti she disciplined , but I made sure it was the last. It wasn’t because her thods were harsh or it traumatized . The reason I stopped attempting to sneak out was that... the look in her eyes scared . My mother was a gentle person whom I loved sincerely.

I didn’t want her to lose her composure every ti she had to discipline . I didn’t want to look into her eyes and wonder where did my mother go.

In that almost forgotten mory of the past, I rembered standing there for as long as I could with my mother embracing . I couldn’t sit, as the lashes on the back of my thigh stung. It was as if... Mother tried to cripple

if she could. Now, it made

wonder... what if I stayed stubborn and didn’t learn my lesson?

I wondered if I could still walk.

"This is all to keep you safe, my baby," she whispered in my ear. Those words she would always utter slowly grown strings that attached to my joints like a marionette that controlled my entire life.

"This... is all for you. So, always listen to Mother, alright?"

My eyes lowered, feeling the tremble in her embrace. "Yes, Mother. Rinnie will always listen to Mother from now on."

When I blinked, I was brought back to the night of the attack. Mother looked at

with the sa fear and desperation in her eyes. She shoved my shoulder lightly.

"Survive," she said, and I rembered staring at her blankly. "My baby, you must... survive. I won’t let them take you with them."

"Mother..." I whispered while staring at her, ignoring the noises outside the shut door.

Mother smiled as she cupped my face, staring at

as if she was etching my face deep in her head. A shallow breath slipped past her pale lips as her eyes softened.

She leaned closer and whispered into my ears. "Survive. Take the secret passage and run away. Don’t ever stop or look back, my baby. Survive for ... for Everfell." I watched her draw her head back as she spun

on my shoulder so I could face the small and secret passage hidden behind the shelf.

"Go." She pushed

lightly while I looked back at her. "Survive, Rinnie. Mother will co to you later."

I bit my lower lip. I wanted to refuse her, but after living the life of following what Mother would say, I instinctively gritted my teeth and ran away. Leaving her behind with her words repeating in my head over and over and over.

Survive.

The word was akin to a curse that kept

moving without looking back. Survive... was the word that until now bound .

Why did I have to survive for Everfell?