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Home / Werewolf Maikling Kwento / Brothers’ Regret After I Left / Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

Lahat ng Kabanata ng Brothers’ Regret After I Left: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

14 Kabanata

1

The night of my first shift at eighteen, my two older brothers brought home a twelve-year-old orphaned Omega. My Alpha brother seized the rare healing herb I'd spent all my savings on and gave them to her instead. My Beta brother snarled with fury, "Get out! Don't come back!"They even took the orphan girl on an international vacation to the Caribbean islands I'd always dreamed of visiting. Many days later, when they returned to the pack, they were shocked to discover I'd accepted a position required fifteen years of isolated herbal research.I could never return home.That night, they went crazy.…The day I accepted the Head Healer's offer happened to be the Full Moon Festival—the most sacred day for werewolf families to reunite and celebrate together.My mentor walked me to the door of the healing chambers, her voice gentle as she offered her final advice:"In five days, you'll begin your fifteen years of isolation, Ember. Remember to say proper goodbyes to your family."The North

2

The hospital room soon returned to their happy atmosphere without me.Willow twirled in front of the mirror, admiring her Moon Goddess dress with pure delight. Her voice was excited as she spoke:"Last week, everyone in my class was talking about how beautiful the Caribbean seas are."When I grow up, I want to see them too. I'll definitely wear this dress on the beach!"Axel stroked her head affectionately: "Why wait until you're grown? It's no big deal—we can go see it this year."Ryker chuckled softly: "Perfect timing. Both of us have time off at the end of the year. We'll take you."Their conversation flowed easily as they discussed travel plans. Within half an hour, they'd even booked the flights.Willow cheered and jumped excitedly, leaping into Axel and Ryker's arms.After a while, she seemed to suddenly remember I was still there. She tilted her head and asked me:"Sister, do you want to come too?"I remembered that I needed to tell Ryker and Axel about my departure. This seemed

3

I turned around.Only to find Axel standing right behind me, his arrival completely silent.His expression was ice-cold, his gaze fixed on my fully packed suitcase.Ryker leaned against the bedroom doorframe, looking at me with an equally frigid stare.Willow had followed them in and was quietly staring at my luggage.The barely concealed anticipation in her eyes was impossible to miss.For a moment, I considered telling them the truth.But then I remembered Axel's impatient words: "Those things aren't our concern. You don't need to tell us."Suddenly, I didn't dare speak openly anymore.This way, when I finally left, I could at least lie to myself.I could pretend they simply didn't know I was leaving, rather than admit they didn't care.My hand slipped into my coat pocket, knuckles aching from how tightly I clenched my fist.I spoke with feigned casualness: "I'm just moving my things to change rooms. Like I said, the master bedroom is for Willow."Axel's expression softened slightly.

4

Ever since I could remember, my parents were rarely home.They dedicated almost their entire lives to herbal research.They would often leave for a year or more at a time.Besides the hired Omega servants, the only ones who took care of me were my twin brothers, eight years older than me.When I was six and just starting elementary school, I was bullied by classmates because I was smaller and weaker than them.My parents were thousands of miles away, so I came home and cried under my blankets.Fourteen-year-old Axel came into my bedroom late at night to check if I had kicked off my covers.When he pulled back the blanket, he saw my tear-stained face.He held me and wiped away my tears just like Mom used to do.While patting my back, he comforted me:"It's okay. Big brother will protect Ember."The next day, he went to my school and beat up all the bullies. The teachers caught him and punished him by making him serve as a combat training partner for the elite Alpha wolves.When I couldn

5

It's okay, it's okay.Soon I wouldn't see them again, wouldn't disturb their perfect little family with Willow anymore.I returned to school, moved into the dormitory, and continued perfecting my herbal research notes.The next day, while heading to the library with Derek, I ran into Axel and Ryker.I pretended not to see them, found a seat, opened my notebook, and continued writing word by word.Willow dragged them to sit not far from me.I could hear the girl's giggling voice from time to time.Axel and Ryker patted her head: "Be good now. In a few days, we'll be off to the Caribbean."Hearing their words made it hard for me to breathe, so I got up and went for a drink of water.When I returned, my notebook was in Willow's hands.Axel and Ryker had gone to get books from the shelves.Willow was alone, tearing pages from my notebook.Alarm bells rang in my head as I rushed forward and snatched the notebook from her hands.She immediately threw herself dramatically to the floor, hittin

6

The day I officially prepared to enter the classified research institute was my third day after arriving at the neighboring pack.The institute's Director Chen took us all out for lunch.After several rounds of drinks, everyone was a bit tipsy.By the end, many sitting around the table had reddened eyes.Director Chen told us to make one last call to family or friends, then added seriously:"If you're afraid or reluctant, it's not too late to back out now."People around me began taking out their phones to dial, with occasional muffled sobs breaking the silence.I sat quietly for a long while before finally taking out my phone and opening Facebook.I checked and saw that Axel had updated his status.They had taken Willow to the Caribbean.In the photos, the ocean was stunningly beautiful, like an enormous spilled palette of colors.Willow wore the beautiful Moon Goddess dress.She looked back at the camera from the endless beach, her eyes crinkling with happiness.Director Chen's voice

7

The housekeeper shook her head: "Miss hasn't come back at all."Axel frowned: "It's been over a week. Tomorrow is the Full Moon Festival—how could she not be back yet?"The housekeeper, who had worked for the family for many years and had a soft spot for Ember, replied coldly: "I wouldn't know."Axel wanted to ask more.Willow rolled her eyes impatiently and clung to his arm, whining:"She'll come back eventually."Brother, forget about that. "Come see the new storybook I bought. You can read it to me tonight."Axel suddenly felt irritated.He remembered how Willow had spoken Ember's name with contempt in the Caribbean.Now she clearly didn't care that Ember had been gone for days.How much sincerity was there in her constant use of "Sister"?The housekeeper turned back toward the kitchen, muttering:"Since the master doesn't care about Miss anymore, why even bother asking?"Those words pierced Axel's heart like an invisible thorn.Willow complained under her breath: "She's a grown wo

8

Axel's phone slipped from his hand, clattering to the floor.On the screen, the call duration continued to tick upward.The bedroom fell into a silence so complete you could hear a pin drop.He felt like he had misheard something.What did the professor mean—how could Ember possibly come back?His breathing quickened, his heartbeat thunderous in his ears.It was as if a string in his mind had suddenly been stretched to its limit, about to snap at any moment.Axel's mind went blank. After a long moment, he picked up the phone."I don't think I understood you. What did you just... say?"The voice on the other end grew increasingly distant in his ears.That mental string finally snapped."Others might not understand, but you, Axel? How could you not understand?""If you hadn't withdrawn at the last minute, Ember wouldn't have gotten that position."Ember told me you withdrew for that girl... Willow, right?"Axel's face drained of all color.Despite the winter chill, cold sweat beaded on h

9

Axel desperately clawed back a shred of rationality from the overwhelming fear, despair, and bewilderment.He instinctively objected: "No, she didn't contact me."Yes, they had been siblings for over twenty years.Even if things had grown distant between them, even if her heart was filled with resentment,She should have at least said goodbye before entering a ten-year closed research program.So, she must not have gone.Professor Zhang replied confidently: "That's impossible."I was in the private room and saw it with my own eyes when I stood up—she dialed your number."It was... last Saturday, around noon."Axel was about to deny it again.But in a flash of realization, he suddenly remembered something.Last Saturday, around noon.That would have been about five in the morning in Norway.That day, at five in the morning, he had just finished showing Willow the Northern Lights.Willow had insisted on taking many photos and excitedly played until nearly dawn before returning to the hot

10

Axel opened his mouth, but it took him a moment to produce any sound.As if trying to comfort himself, he repeated Willow's words:"She'll... she'll come back eventually."She's a grown woman, she's not going to get lost."Ryker's eyes burned red, misting with unshed tears.His hand trembling uncontrollably, he violently grabbed Axel by the collar."She left with Derek!"I checked the school security cameras. She was dragging her suitcase, leaving with Derek!"Ryker's voice shook more severely as he tightened his grip on Axel's collar, nearly cutting off his breath."Do you understand what I'm saying? She went with Derek!"Derek—do you not know what he's doing now? Don't you know?!"Breathing became difficult, but Axel forgot to move.After the enormous fear and despair, all that remained was a bottomless, yawning confusion.How could he not know what Derek was doing?As the pack's Alpha, Axel himself, along with senior colleagues, had personally reviewed and approved the list of parti

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