Chapter 249
Eight years ago, Alpha Camp
The end of the summer holiday was nearing. The alpha children who were obliged to attend Alpha Camp were crying from delight in anticipation. The weeks in the training ground had been torturous.
Most of them were glad to finally be done with the rigorous training at the Alpha Camp and be able to get back home to their families.
Still, some were reluctant to leave.
Not because they loved the Alpha Camp so much, no.
They were typically tangled in a summer romance. Among the couples that were formed during these weeks were Ronan Silverback from the Infinite Eclipse Pack and Lucien Clearwater from the Silent Walkers Pack.
These two alpha boys were in line to be their pack’s next Alphas. Although their relationship could be considered adorable, some camp instructors hated to see them focus more on romance than on summer camp activities.
“Love is the begin of calamities,” so Instructor Lucas said while shaking his head.
.....
“Oh, I don’t think so,” Instructor Alana said, giggling. “Lucas, don’t you think you are too cruel to them? They are fated mates. Fated mates! That alone is already rare enough.”
“Pah! Fated mates are nothing but fairytales! Ronan Silverback believes himself to be in love because Lucien Clearwater is a pretty lad, that’s all.”
Instructor Alana giggled.
“Isn’t he? He is prettier than his twin sister. If one is to believe the circulating rumor, Lucien manages to captivate other prominent pups too.”
Instructor Lucas pulled a disgusted face.
“I hope those are girls!”
“No, those are boys,” his colleague said, dashing his hopes with one single statement. “Kinnon Youngshaper, can you believe it?”
Instructor Lucas was shaken.
“Kinnon Youngshaper?? That’s only Ronan Silverback’s future rival! How could he allow himself to fall for Lucien Clearwater??? What is wrong with these children? Don’t they know what Alpha roles entail???”
“Oh, Lucas, you are so ancient-minded,” Instructor Alana waved at his concerns dismissively. She spied out of the window and saw the two alpha pups in question right away.
“Oh, there they are. Ronan and Lucien.”
Some distance away, Ronan was busy putting together a crown of flowers. Next to him, Lucien was drawing something in his sketchbook.
“Good God, what future Alpha engages in such womanly handiwork?” Instructor Lucas snapped after the air. “The ancestors of the Silverback family shall turn in their graves.”
“A future Alpha in love,” Instructor Alana giggled. “I bet that Lucien is going to toss away that flower crown.”
If there was anything that Instructor Lucas loved more than arguing, then it was gambling.
“Twenty dollars that he will keep it. I think Lucien is the less manly one between those two.”
“Deal.”
Instructor Alana directed her gaze at the couple that they were betting on. There was a smug smile lacing her lips. Whether Lucien was the less manly one between them, she did not know about. What she knew was that Lucien was not that easily appeased.
When Ronan was done with his creation, he put the crown on top of Lucien’s head.
Lucien flashed him a beautiful smile for exactly three seconds before he took off the flower crown and hurled it at his boyfriend’s chest.
“I am not a girl,” he snapped. “Stop treating me like one! Go find other girls to wear that crown!”
Lucien stalked away in the middle of the conversation, leaving Ronan behind. The latter had to chase after him and beg for his forgiveness.
“Sorry! Sorry! Lulu, don’t be mad...! Boys can wear flower crowns too!”
Lucien turned his head and glared at Ronan.
“Name me one male person whom you know that wears a flower crown on his head.”
“...”
Ronan wanted to say, “You” but then Lucien was going to beat him up for sure.
Huffing angrily, Lucien stalked away from their spot, leaving Ronan to chase after him.
Back inside the building, Instructor Alana held her hand out to Instructor Lucas.
“Twenty dollars.”
“...”
Instructor Lucas cursed under his breath as he rummaged inside his pocket for his wallet.
“You are just lucky,” he grumbled.
“Or not,” Instructor Alana replied with a wink.
Both instructors continued arguing about how heirs of the Alpha position must behave while they enjoyed the relaxing Sunday.
Good times never lasted for long. Head Instructor Jeriston came into the room not long after, his face ashen.
“You two,” he said as soon as he saw two of his instructors ogling at him. “Find me Lucien and Annalynne Clearwater, now.”
“The boy was just here,” Instructor Alana said, peeking through the window.
“I think they went in that direction,” she pointed into the woods.
“Get them here. I will be waiting.”
Head Instructor Jeriston took a seat and crossed his arms before his chest.
Instructor Lucas tugged at Instructor Alana’s sleeve, wordlessly telling her to follow him. Instructor Alana was a curious one, though. What happened on this beautiful Sunday that caused clouds to gather over Head Instructor Jeriston’s head?
“Head Instructor, is something wrong?”
Instructor Lucas almost slapped his thigh in regret, but now that his colleague already popped up the question, naturally it would be a waste if he did not stay to hear the answer.
Head Instructor Jeriston was usually not a chatty one, but the news was probably too heavy to bear alone.
With a heavy sigh slipping from his lips, he took off his glasses and rubbed the place where his glasses just hung at his nose.
“The Alpha of the Silent Walkers Pack, Gordon Clearwater, committed suicide. He is now in the Intensive Care Unit at St. Clarence. It is unclear whether or not he will make it.”
Instructor Lucas’ jaw dropped to the ground. Instructor Alana widened her eyes in shock. Both of them were frozen on spot for a few minutes, unable to utter a single word.
Then, Instructor Alana grabbed her colleague’s arm and pulled him toward the door.
“Excuse us, Head Instructor. We will find Lucien and Annalynne Clearwater now.”
Gordon Clearwater was Lucien and Annalynne Clearwater’s father.