Chapter 386
In this chapter, Parker finally breaks his silence, revealing that there is someone he must save—Lina, a woman whose health is failing. Freya, caught off guard by this revelation, recalls her past investigations into Parker’s disappearance and the mysterious woman who helped him survive. Parker explains that Jenny, whose stem cells match Lina’s, is crucial to Lina’s survival, meaning if anything happens to Jenny, Lina will die.
The tension between them is palpable as Parker admits the truth and suggests Freya should rest. They spend a restless night at a roadside inn, and at dawn, Parker brings flowers to their parents’ graves. Despite his lost memories, Parker’s primal connection to their parents—Arthur and Myra—stirs deep emotions of grief and guilt within him. The visit to the Hall of Martyrs is a solemn moment where Parker kneels and pays respects in a ritualistic manner, showing his deep, instinctual bond to his heritage.
Parker apologizes for not returning sooner and for not being there when Freya brought their parents’ ashes home. He also expresses regret over having to protect Jenny, despite the slander against their parents connected to her. Freya reassures him that Lina saved Parker’s life and promises to try to get the charges against Jenny dropped, revealing her past relationship with Silas and the end of her chapter with Caelum. Parker vows to find his own way if Silas won’t listen, while Freya remains determined to try to help. The chapter ends with a mix of hope, unresolved tensions, and a deepening bond between Parker and Freya.
Chapter 386
Freya’s Perspective
When Parker finally broke the silence, his voice came out rough and strained, as if he had been dredging up words from the depths of a frozen lake.
“I… there’s someone I have to save,” he rasped. “Jenny can save her p>
I stood still, caught off guard.
For a moment, the fierce forest-wolf inside me paused, my breath caught halfway in my chest. Flashbacks of old intelligence reports raced through my mind—the fragments of information I had painstakingly gathered about Parker’s disappearance, the mysterious woman in D-land who had aided his survival, the one who had followed him to C-country after the Williams Family took him in.
A woman whose health was failing. A woman whose name…
“Freya?” Parker’s brow furrowed as he noticed my sudden silence, confusion flickering in his eyes.
My voice was barely above a whisper. “The person you need to save… is it Lina p>
A faint, painful smile tugged at the corner of his lips—not the confident grin of the brother I once knew, but something fragile and worn. “Yes. I have to save her p>
I wasn’t shocked. Not really. If Parker had found out years ago that I’d taken a sample of his DNA for testing, he would have guessed I’d dug deep into everything—his past, his timeline, the handful of people closely connected to him.
Lina was one of those people. A woman in long-term care, her condition deteriorating. And now…
“How do you think Jenny can save her?” I asked cautiously. “Jenny isn’t a healer p>
Unless—
The realization hit me like a sudden wave.
“Jenny’s stem cells match Lina’s p>
It wasn’t a question.
“It’s a match,” Parker confirmed quietly. “If Jenny gets kicked out of the Williams Family, if anything happens to her… Lina dies p>
Silence settled between us, heavy and suffocating, thick with unspoken emotions.
Eventually, he let out a slow breath. “You wanted the truth. That’s it. It’s late. You should rest p>
There was nothing more to say.
We climbed out of the car, found rooms at a small roadside inn, and slept fitfully for a few restless hours.
At dawn, I stepped outside just as Parker approached, holding two small bouquets of pale yellow mountain daisies.
I blinked in surprise.
He shrugged, an embarrassed smile flickering across his face. “I can’t show up empty-handed p>
Them.
Arthur Thorne and Myra—our parents.
Even without his memories, something primal stirred in Parker’s wolf whenever I mentioned them. The night before, when I told him they had died three years ago during an overseas mission, and that I had gone alone to retrieve their ashes, the grief that swept over him wasn’t a product of memory.
It was instinct. Deep in his blood.
And guilt.
So heavy it weighed down his shoulders like cold iron.
I said nothing, unlocking the car door.
We drove in silence toward Ashbourne Legion’s Hall of Martyrs.
The morning air was sharp and biting, mist curling low around the aged stone memorials. As we stepped onto the sacred grounds, the scent of pine mingled with the earthy aroma of old stone and a faint trace of lingering moon-magic. The atmosphere was solemn, ancient, and strangely comforting.
I carried my flowers; Parker carried his.
We stopped before the twin markers—Arthur and Myra. Our parents. Warriors of the pack. Heroes.
I took a steadying breath. “Dad, Mom… I brought Parker p>
My voice trembled despite years of training to control it.
“He’s alive. He’s lost his memories, but I believe he’ll remember everything someday.” I gently laid my daisies on the grave. “You can rest easier now p>
Beside me, Parker stared at the black-and-white etchings of their faces—stern, proud, unyielding. The kind of wolves who had forged the Iron Fang Recon Unit, who raised children to stand tall even when the world crumbled around them.
For years, Parker had believed he was alone.
But here was the undeniable truth, carved in stone.
And I saw something within him fracture—quietly, without a sound, but forever.
He turned toward me. Then back to the gravestones. Then—
“Dad. Mom.” His voice broke. “I’m back. And… I’m sorry p>
I spun to face him sharply. “What are you apologizing for p>
“For not coming back sooner,” he whispered. “For not being here with you—” His gaze shifted between me and the graves. “—when you went to bring them home p>
His eyes flickered with pain.
Suddenly, he dropped to his knees, his spine straight, shoulders squared like a soldier presenting arms.
Then—
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Three deep kowtows—forehead pressed to cold stone, the echoes ringing through the silent hall.
Instinctual. Ritualistic. Born of the wolf.
I swallowed hard.
After a long moment, Parker rose.
“And I’m sorry,” he added, voice rough, “that even though someone slandered Mom and Dad… I still have to protect her p>
Jenny.
He waited, almost bracing himself, as if he expected me to call him a monster.
I turned back to our parents’ memorial, then looked at him.
“Lina saved your life,” I said softly. “Repaying a life debt… I get that. I’ll talk to Silas about dropping the charges. I might be able to get the police to dismiss the case p>
Parker’s eyes widened in surprise. “You’ll try p>
“Lina saved you,” I said firmly. “That means she saved our family. I want her to live too p>
Relief washed over him, but confusion followed. “But… Silas. You really dated him p>
“I did,” I admitted simply. “After the Lunar Severance Phase with Caelum ended, I… tried again. With Silas p>
I no longer flinched when I said Caelum’s name. That chapter was closed—ashes scattered to the wind.
Parker stared at me. “You were with him p>
“Briefly,” I said. “But it’s over. For good p>
He exhaled slowly. “If Silas won’t listen to you… I’ll find my own way p>
“I’ll still try,” I assured him. “But it might not work. And p>
The weight of the past and the uncertainty of the future hang heavily between Freya and Parker, yet beneath the shadows lies a fragile thread of hope. Their shared grief for their parents and the unspoken bonds of family begin to bridge the chasm that memory loss and betrayal have carved. In this quiet moment of vulnerability, they find a tentative understanding—one that acknowledges pain but also the possibility of healing, forgiveness, and protection for those they hold dear.
As dawn breaks over the sacred grounds, Freya’s resolve to fight for Lina’s life and Parker’s quiet acceptance of his role within their fractured family hint at a new beginning. Though the path ahead is fraught with obstacles and lingering doubts, the chapter closes with a gentle promise: that love, loyalty, and courage will guide them through the darkness, binding their fragmented hearts in the hope of reunion and redemption.
The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the tangled web of loyalties and sacrifices that bind Freya, Parker, and those they hold dear. As Parker grapples with the weight of his past and the fragile hope of saving Lina, tensions are bound to rise—not only from external threats but from the emotional turmoil simmering beneath the surface. Freya’s determination to protect her fractured family will be tested, especially as the shadow of Silas looms large, threatening to unravel the fragile peace they are trying to forge.
Expect a stirring exploration of trust and resilience, where alliances might shift and the true cost of saving a loved one becomes heartbreakingly clear. The delicate balance between duty and desire will challenge both Freya and Parker, forcing them to confront painful truths and make choices that could redefine their futures. With the echoes of the past haunting their every step, the next chapter will leave you wondering just how far they are willing to go to protect the family they’re rebuilding.
Florence
Florence is a passionate reader who finds joy in long drives on rainy days. She’s also a fan of Italian makeup tutorials, blending beauty and elegance into her everyday life.