201: STILL, SHE LOVES HIM

STILL, SHE LOVES HIM

Hate was an emotion that they were far too familiar with. Cane knew hate intimately, while love was something he deemed he didn't deserve to receive.

It would be easier for Aria to hate than love him.

In the streets, Cane and Jace could see the clamouring start when they saw Aria walking down the street in her white dress. Her long hair cascaded down her back, while she looked around her frantically, hoping to see that one face that she really wanted to see.

She couldn't believe it. Even in her last moments, he still refused to see her. The last time she saw Cane was when he was lying on the bed. That was her last memory of him.

Aria ignored all the people around her that kept saying anything and everything. Their voices were buzzing in her ears, they sounded incoherent, because that was not the voice that she wanted to hear. She missed him so dearly.

Walking on either side of her were Aderan and Ethan. They accompanied her until she reached the altar, where she could see the gallows.

Both Ethan and Aderan helped her to climb the steps and everything else went in a blurr for Aria. The sun was not scorching hot and the wind was a little bit too cold this winter, but it had not snowed yet.

She was standing on a platform, which was erected higher than people's eye level. There was a loop of rope before her eyes, but it was not fear that she felt, instead disappointment and emptiness.

Her eyes searched for him, even during the last few minutes of her life, she chose to seek for his presence. In this vast crowd, on this bright day, in between words that her pack members said, amidst this commotion and even in the torment and disappointment, she looked for him relentlessly…

Yet, she couldn't find him.

She wished she knew that it would end like this. She wished she had pushed him out of her heart when it wasn't too late and stopped seeking justification for her feelings toward him. She wished she didn't fall for him…

But, the truth was; if by some miracle she had given a second chance, she would still choose to love him all the same.

She admired him when he was with Miss Leane. Watching how warm and affectionate he was with her dear missy, she often wished she would have a mate like him.

And when, finally, she got him, it was not that version that she imagined of him, still, she loved him with all of her being. She accepted the pain without any complaints. She stayed by his side just like how her missy would, but the truth was… that warm and kind man no longer existed, still, she wanted him.

Even when Cane told her the truth bluntly, emphasizing how he didn't love her and reminded her over and over again about their mutual agreement, still, she was stubborn about justifying her own feelings for him.

Somehow, she knew from the start, there was nothing to look forward to pertaining to what they had, still, she chose to close her eyes.

And now, what was left of her?

Aria felt numb when Ethan hugged her briefly, as he whispered into her ear; I will see you soon. She didn't even ask what he meant by that.

Because even now, she and the rest of the Howling Wolf pack were not aware of the decree from the palace. Not even the news about the great offense that Ethan had committed, which could potentially cost him his life, was spread.

Aria didn't know about that and probably would never know, but Ethan had given up on this life and would accept whatever punishment came his way. Knowing Alan, the Gamma believed he would be in Aria's position sooner than later once they touched the capital city's grounds.

Aderan stepped forward and looped the rope around her neck, he said something, but Aria didn't deem that important. Nothing seemed important for her right now.

The only person that she wanted to see was not here. She lifted her head and blinked at the bright light of the winter sun…

========================== 

Iris tried to find Cane. She couldn't shake Kaz's eyes off of her mind because the look that he gave her simply haunted her. It was a mix of disappointment and disdain…

Even though she couldn't make him change his decision, at the very least, she could give it a try. She could find solace in that.

Yet, no one knew where he was.

In the end, she ended up on the streets, where she saw Aria walking toward the gallows. She was wearing a white dress, her olive skin looked so clean, which meant she was treated well even in the dungeon, but that was not important right now.

Her clouded eyes looked around and Iris knew who she was looking for.

She felt a pang in her heart and felt so bad for her. Even after what had happened and the fact that three innocent children's lives were gone because of her greed, she couldn't help feeling this pain in her heart to see the misery in those eyes.

If she could, she really wanted to drag Cane here, so Aria could see him for one last time, even if he couldn't revoke his order. Wasn't this too cruel to her?

"What are you doing here?"0

Iris felt someone tug her arm and turned her body around. She was startled, because she thought she was being attacked again, since she was among these people, but it was Redmond.

"You shouldn't be here, these people are grieving, they can misdirect their grief toward you again like before," Redmond chided her lightly.

"I- I am looking for Cane," Iris replied truthfully, which made Redmond click his tongue in annoyance, because he could read her intentions.

"Nobody can stop this from happening. Come, I will bring you back to the pack house." He held her hand and was about to take her away from there when everyone gasped in shock.

Iris couldn't hear it, but their strong reaction made her turn her body around out of instinct, yet Redmond pulled her closer and pressed her face against his chest to cover her eyes. "Don't look."

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