Chapter 95: An Old Friend
Drystan's POV
I swallowed hard as Beta Alex ushered Nova and me into Astrid's dimly lit quarters. My nose twitched slightly when the heavy scent of medicinal herbs entered my nostrils. The air inside the room is thick with the scent of medicine and tense anticipation. As I entered inside, my gaze fell upon Astrid, her lithe form motionless upon a specialized treatment cot, surrounded by a flurry of white-clad physicians tending to her with solemn concentration.
Astrid's clothes are also changed into a white hospital robe. She looked pale and fragile inside the glass, a sign of how her life was slowly seeping out of her.
Nova gasped softly beside me, her delicate features etched with concern as she took in the scene before us.
I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly running dry. Different emotions churned within me: fear, worry, and no small measure of guilt. It's my fault that Astrid is fighting for her life. I should be the one lying in that bed, not her. Because of me, she had lost her child.
"H-How is she?" I managed to ask without my voice breaking.
Beta Alek opened his mouth to answer. However, he suddenly bowed, sending a wave of tension through the air.
I slowly turned around when I felt an immense power behind me. Slowly turning, I found myself face to face with an imposing figure Theron, the Alpha of the Shadowfang Pack.
I watched as he treaded inside the room with four guards lined up behind him. Two on his left and two on his right.
The atmosphere in the room turned instantly tensed because of his presence. Everyone stopped what they were doing as they bowed their heads to their Alpha.
Not wanting to offend anyone, I also bowed before Alpha Theron, copying the posture of the people around me. Nova also followed suit with a fearful expression on her face.
Standing before us is the infamous Alpha known all over the world. We would be seeking death if we offended him.
Alpha Theron continued walking inside without sparing us a glance. Astrid instantly caught his attention when he entered the room. He slowly approached her with a deep look in his eyes as he stared at her right through the glass. Feeling curious, I raised my head a little to steal a look at him. No one aside from me dared to lift their heads even a bit to risk their lives just to have a peek like what I did.
Nostalgia hit me when I saw him again after so many years. The last time I saw him, we were still teenagers.
We just used to be unruly teenagers who always indulged ourselves with misconduct and mischief. We never took anything seriously and did what was fun.
Although I had an outstanding academic background and had made a lot of achievements, when I was with Theron, we only knew how to have fun.
Seeing him again after all these years reminded me of the past and the fun that we shared together.
Theron's face didn't change much from the last memory that I had of him. He is still the same. However, his bright face had turned sagged and dull, and strands of silver had tainted his onyx hair.
We were not the unruly teenagers that we used to be anymore. Time had already etched its mark on us both. The weight of our
responsibilities and the trials of net
years had transformed us into the men that we have turned into.
The added age in Theron's features is a testament to the burdens of leading a Pack through this changing world.
Decades had already passed when we separated. I wonder if we could still bring back our friendship or if it would make us feel awkward.
Our parting was so sudden. Theron did not finish his years in the academy just like I did. Theron left early when his father suddenly took him out of the academy and called him back to his Pack.
I thought Theron would still go back. Our schooling was not yet finished. However, Theron's short break at school became permanent. He never came back, and since then, we've lost our connection. We never had the chance to formally give our goodbyes. After that, I thought we would never meet again.
My eyes narrowed suspiciously as I continued to observe him in secret. I studied his stoic expression and the deep look he had in his eyes as he stared at Astrid.
The way he looked at her was so intense; it was like he had already seen her before, and it was like he knew her. It's almost like he misses her?
What's with that gaze?
"Rise," Theron muttered monotonously without taking his eyes off Astrid.
Everyone stood back up in unison and stared at him expectantly.
"Where are the other guests?" Theron asked as he finally turned to face us.
A hint of recognition flashed through his face when he saw me. My whole body tensed, not knowing how to react.
Before, we just used to be
classmates. There was no need to
be formal or feel afraid of offending each other, but now he is the Alpha of the Shadowfang Pack, and the Pack that I lead is nothing compared to his. The difference in our status stretches a long distance between us.