Chapter 121
Before Nora could react, Abby broke free from Cole’s grip and ran straight into her arms.
Nora caught her easily, surprised but touched by the enthusiasm.
Cole approached with a small smile. “We’re here for the festival. Abby wouldn’t stop talking about the Moonlit Rite tonight.”
Abby pouted up at Nora, her big eyes full of unspoken hope. “Come with us?”
Nora hesitated.
She hadn’t planned on staying. Festivals weren’t the same anymore. She didn’t want to be surrounded by people and
reminded of what she had lost.
But then she caught something in Cole’s expression.
He had been watching her.
Not in a way that was intrusive, but in a way that told her he had noticed. He had seen her walking alone in the crowd, surrounded by laughter yet untouched by it.
Had he followed her intentionally? Something about the way he stood there, the quiet patience in his gaze, made her suspect that he had. And the strange thing was… she didn’t mind. Nora looked down at Abby, whose small hands clung to her coat.
Maybe, just for tonight… She could pretend.
She could be a part of something again.
A sudden surge of acceptance came through and she was about to say ‘Yes‘ to their kind offer that suddenly something stopped her words in the mouth…
She saw three familiar figures appearing in the crowd.
It was none other than Arnold, Linda, and Alex who had arrived for the Frostwolf Celebration.
Nora had been moments away from responding to Cole when her gaze landed on them. Her breath hitched, a cold shock running through her veins, numbing her fingers before she could even process why.
Arnold stood slightly apart from the crowd, his posture as composed as ever, broad shoulders relaxed but his presence commanding without effort. Beside him, Linda looked radiant under the soft glow of the ceremonial fires, an effortless smile gracing her lips. But it was Alex–the boy who once clung to Nora without hesitation–who truly made her stomach twist.
He held Linda’s hand.
98.4%
Chapter 121
The sight made her chest tighten, the edges of her thoughts fraying like an unraveling thread.
Cole noticed her hesitation immediately. His dark eyes flickered toward the same direction, landing on the trio. There was no change in his expression, no sharp intake of breath or visible reaction, yet somehow, she knew he had taken in every detail just as swiftly as she had.
Without missing a beat, he spoke, his voice deliberately steady, as if coaxing her attention back. “Abby invited us to check out the main celebration. What do you think?”
It took Nora a second to remember what they had been talking about. Her mind struggled to reorient itself, to pull away from the unexpected sight in front of her.
Abby was watching her expectantly, waiting for an answer.
Nora exhaled quietly.
There was no reason for her to hesitate.
“Alright, Let’s go.”
Cole didn’t comment, nor did he linger. With an easy grace, he matched her pace as they made their way to the heart of the celebration.
The Frostwolf Celebration was in full swing. The center of the festival had been transformed into a breathtaking display of tradition and history. White furs draped over wooden structures, pine boughs wove together to create intricate decorations, and soft lanterns cast a warm glow over the snow–covered ground.
In the center, a massive flame burned bright, surrounded by dancers moving in synchronized, fluid movements that imitated the rhythm of the hunt–the way wolves stalked, ran, and struck their prey. Each step was powerful, precise, embodying the strength of the pack.
Nora watched in silence, letting the music and energy of the festival pull her away from lingering thoughts.
She barely noticed Cole stepping slightly closer until he spoke again.
“Want me to take some pictures for you?”
The question was simple, casual, but it made her pause.
She wasn’t someone who usually indulged in taking pictures, but something about the way he offered made it feel like an anchor, a reminder that she was still here, still part of this moment, despite the ghosts of the past lingering at the edges of her mind.
After a moment of hesitation, she nodded. “Alright.”
Cole smiled and took out his phone, motioning for her to pose. She went along with it, standing near the backdrop of falling snow and flickering flames. The first few shots were just her alone, then Abby joined in, her lively energy bringing a much–needed ease to the moment.
07:15
After Heft. Alpha father and son went crazy bit
98.6%
Chapter 121
Then Abby, with her usual enthusiasm, suggested, “Let’s get one of all three of us!”
Nora hesitated.
She and Cole weren’t… anything, not officially. The idea of taking a picture together, in a setting as warm and intimate as this, felt strange.
But before she could say anything, Cole had already handed his phone to a nearby festival–goer. “Could you take one for us?” he asked smoothly.
The passerby smiled and took the picture without question. But just as they finished, they chuckled and commented lightly, “You make a nice little family.”
Nora felt her breath catch.
She opened her mouth to correct them, but Cole didn’t say anything–he just checked the picture with an easy satisfaction, as if the comment hadn’t fazed him at all.
Just then, not far away, Linda saw them.
She had been chatting with Arnold, her expression relaxed, but the moment her gaze landed on Nora and Cole, her
smile faltered.
From the distance, Arnold followed her line of sight, and their eyes met.
