Chapter 324 The Journey Continues 2

Chapter 324: Chapter 324 The Journey Continues 2

Talia’s POV

My mother’s face softened. "She had silver hair, just like yours. And her eyes were the same shade of gold as yours. She was the strongest woman I ever knew, Talia. She taught me everything about our magic.”

My mother told me about the first time she met my father, and the way he had looked at her across the room. She told me about their first kiss, and their first fight, and the day they decided to be mated.

I watched my mother’s face change as she spoke about my father. The sadness was still there, but something else crept in. It was like a warmth, a softness, and a memory of a time when she had been happy.

"He was standing across the room at an alliance gathering," she said, and her voice was distant. "He was talking to some of the other Alphas, and he was laughing. It was the first time I had seen him laugh, and I remember thinking that it was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard."

I felt my heart tighten. "What happened next?"

She smiled, and I saw the warmth in her eyes. "He looked up, and he saw me. And everything else just... faded away. He walked across the room, and he did not take his eyes off me. And when he reached me, he said, ’I have been looking for you my whole life.’"

I blinked, and I felt the tears burning in my eyes. "He said that?"

She nodded. "And I believed him. I believed every word.”

I listened, and I felt like I was seeing her for the first time.

"Mother," I said. "I never knew any of this."

She smiled, and I saw the warmth in her eyes. "There is so much I want to tell you, Talia. So much I want to share."

I leaned closer. "Then tell me everything."

The carriage rolled on, and the sun was warm on my face.

I looked at my mother, and I felt the question rising in my chest. I had been holding it in for days, but I could not hold it any longer.

"Mother," I said, and my voice was soft. "Do you hate him?"

She looked at me, and I saw the surprise in her tired eyes. "Hate who?"

"Edmund," I said. "My father. Do you hate him for what he did?"

She was quiet for a long moment. The carriage rolled on, and I listened to the sound of the wheels and the birds.

Then she spoke, and her voice was soft. "No, Talia. I do not hate him."

I looked at her. "Why not? After everything he did? After everything he let happen?"

My mother looked at me, and I saw the sadness in her eyes. But there was no anger. There was only pity.

"I pity him," she said, and her voice was heavy. "He had everything, Talia. He had a mate who loved him, he had a daughter who adored him, and he had a pack that respected him. He had everything."

I listened, and I felt the tears burning in my eyes.

"But he chose nothing," my mother continued. "He chose Vivienne, he chose power, and he chose control. And in the end, he lost everything that mattered."

I looked at her, and I felt the weight of her words pressing down on me. "I think I understand."

She reached for my hand, and she squeezed it. "What do you understand?"

I looked at her, and I felt the grief and the pity mixing in my chest. "I pity him too," I said. "He had everything, and he chose nothing."

My mother nodded, and I saw the tears in her eyes. "Yes, Talia. That is exactly right."

I looked at my mother, and I felt the weight of everything settling on my shoulders.

"I used to be so angry at him," I said, and my voice was barely a whisper. "I used to hate him for everything he did, for letting Vivienne hurt me, for never protecting me, and for never loving me."

My mother squeezed my hand. "And now?"

I shook my head. "Now I just feel sad for him. He had everything, and he threw it all away."

My mother nodded, and I saw the tears streaming down her face. "That is what happens when you let fear and greed control you, Talia. You lose everything."

I looked at her, and I felt the love swelling in my chest. "I am glad I have you, Mother."

She smiled, and I saw the hope in her tired eyes. "I am glad I have you too, Talia."

We sat together in the silence, and I watched the trees pass by.

I thought about my father, and I felt the pity rising in my chest.

Because he had everything, and he chose nothing.