Epilogue
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I've always wondered that of all people, why does it always have to be me?

When the war in Avrieda happened, why does it have to be me that has to be separated from my family?

When Cartenia adopted me and my other siblings, why does it have to be me who she favored among all of us?

When I became the beta in Malcolm, why does it have to be me who only needs to show people respect while they couldn't even spare some to me?

When I thought I had the life I wanted, why does it have to be me who needs to lose a mate?

Palagi kong naiisip kong bakit sa lahat nalang ng pagkakataon ay kailangan kong magparaya para sa iba. Noon, pilit kong sinasabi sa sarili na may darating pa na mas mabuti, pero hanggang sa tumatagal, ni isang beses hindi ko man lang naramdaman kung ano ba talaga ang para sa'kin. 'Yong bagay na alam kong nakalaan talaga para sa sarili ko, na kahit anong tulak palayo ay alam kong babalik pa rin ito.

"Oh, Callum, naparito ka?" iyon ang bungad sa'kin ng kapatid ko na si Crowick.

Nakapasan ito ng mga kahon at nakita kong may dalawa pang natira mula sa truck kaya kumilos na ako para tumulong. "Gusto ko lang sana batiin ang kapatid ni Dorothy. I heard that she arrived some days ago."

Sabay naming nilapag ang mga kahon sa gilid ng bahay kung saan nakabukas ang isang pintuan, na sa tingin ko ay daan papasok sa kusina ng bahay nila.

"Oo! Akala ko nagkita na kayo. The alpha and his lady visited yesterday to greet her, akala ko ay sumama ka."

Nagkibit balikat nalang ako, "Busy, eh." tinawanan nalang ako nito bago kami lumabas.

"Gusto sana kita ipakilala kaso kakagaling lang nun sa doctor, kaya baka tulog." sambit niya kaya napatingala ako papunta sa isang balkonahe na lagi kong pinagmamasdan sa tuwing napapadaan.

There was a fade scent of sweet vanilla that caught my nose. Napangiti nalang ako doon.

"Sige, saka nalang ulit kapag pareho na kaming bakante." pagpaalam ko bago huling sinilip ang balkonahe ng babaeng hindi ko malimot-limutan.

It was that one time when I first saw Aldeheid looking outside her balcony. She was in her usual white lace dress that afternoon, staring at the sun coming down from the sky. She was so beautiful to look at. Her soft features and small smiles were something I couldn't stop thinking about. I even remembered being jealous of the sunlight having to touch her face shamelessly, while all I could do was watch her.

I really thought that she was something so beautiful to look at that even though their street was not the usual street I'd walked to everyday.

Months passed by yet there was still no chance of me meeting her. That is why I started making the move and tried to persuade Dorothy to let her family watch the festival to enjoy, after all, nothing's more important than watching our love ones having fun.

Hindi ko talaga inakala na masisilayan ko siya sa labas ng bahay, sa harap ko pa mismo. Mabilis kong ginuhit sa isipan ko ang itsura niya nang nakaharap. She was absolutely more beautiful, especially with her dress that really fits her personality.

That was the first time I ever heard her voice but in spite of what she uttered that day, I guess that's what strive me from meeting her again. To correct her misconception and learn more about her. And I didn't know that wishes would still happen, especially when you less expected them.

"Alam mo ba kung anong gusto ko maging?" kuha ko sa atensyon ng nakatalikod kong asawa.

She immediately looked at me from behind. She was peacefully sitting on a swing tied to a branch of a tree, and in front her was a serene view of a lake. "Ano?" she asked, chuckling.

"Hangin. Para masilipan kita." biro ko na ikinatakip niya agad sa kanina'y lumilipad niyang palda.

"Callum!" she embarrassingly hid her face from me and I knew that she wasn't angry nor mad.

Umupo ako sa damo na katabi ng tela na inilapag namin. Sa gitna nun ay ang mga pagkain dala namin at unan.

"Why are you sitting there?" Alde asked.

Natawa nalang ako, "I wanted you to have all the space." mungkahi ko bago dahan-dahang ginaya ang sarili paupo sa tabi niya.

She sat there like a young lady lost in the beauty of the place around her. She had a little book on her lap, and braided hair messes above her head whenever the wind blows quite violently. I stroked one part of her bangs, that was just actually some strands of her hair messed up.

I could only stare at her while remembering the times I had to ask somebody else for help just because I was too confused of what was happening.

Ramdam ko pa kung paano sumakit ang ulo ko kakaisip ng dahilan kung paano niya ako napapakalma. I didn't even know why I was craving her presence, her scent, and especially her blood. I am a beta and I was trained to have self control when I was young. Kaya hindi ko alam kung paano ako nawalan ng control sa gabing iyon. Everyone at the tavern was so baffled by what happened, but the amount of confusion they've had couldn't compare to what I felt that time—especially when she tamed me.

"Do you want to know what surprise I got for you?" my Alde asked, her head tilting slightly and eyes smiling.

Napangiti ako doon, "Now I remember, what is it that you want to tell me?"

It was actually her idea to have a picnic. Biglaan desisyon niya ito kagabi kaya pinilit kong makumbinse ang alpha na hindi muna papasok ngayon. Good thing that lady Jarriet was there with him that he was able to say yes. Lady Jarriet was almost due, kaya lagi na pinagbibigyan ni Harrison sa kung ano mang gusto nito. The alpha just thought to make things a lot easier for her delivery even though he know that he couldn't take off the pain she was feeling. Kaya dinadaan niya nalang ito sa simpleng mga pabor ng asawa.

I looked at Aldeheid whose cheeks suddenly burst into tomatoes, napakurap ako doon. "Teka—ba't ka nahihiya? Come on, tell me, I promise not to laugh." I assured.

She chuckled, "I'm not shy...I'm just..." my brows shoot upward to ask what, "I'm just so happy..." she continued which instantly made me smile.

"Ako rin because I'm here with you. But is there something else you are so happy about?" I held her hand to kiss the top of it.

Looking at her now couldn't help myself to reminisce those times we had to quietly meet up in her balcony just so we could talk to each other. For her, maybe it was because she needed some answers, but for me, three reasons was also to just see her, to hear her voice, and to let her familiarize my presence. At sa mga araw na iyon na lumipas, hindi ko man lang namalayan na unti-unti na pala akong napapalapit sa kaniya. I don't know if it was because we were blood linked, but since we never knew what was happening to us that time, I really thought that what I was feeling was something deeper than infatuation.

She slowly opened the book and took the card that was wedge between the pages. She handed this to me. My forehead creased, "What is this?"

"Open it." she said excitedly.

Nanatili ang ngiti ko sa labi sa kabila ng pagkakalito. Dahan-dahan ko itong binuksan upang hindi ko masira ang magara nitong desinyo. From the design itself, I could already tell that she made effort to make this. Kaya nag effort rin akong huwag itong sirain kahit pa man halos mapunit ko na ang iilang desinyo nito.

Mas lalong lumawak ang ngiti ko nang marinig ko itong humagikhik nang bumungad na sa amin ang nakasulat dito.

It was a medical result that I never remembered us taking. "What?" I said, my smiles slowly fades. As I read the results, everything around me became silent and blurry. One last word and I couldn't figure out what to say. My voice was muted but my heart was so loud that I could hear it from outside. And that was the very first moment I cried from joy.

"I'm going to be a dad?" I cried in front of her. Tumango ito at hinagkan ako bago ako mahigpit na niyakap. "You are!"

For the first time ever, I never knew a time would come that I'd be able to answer the question: "why does it always have to be me?"

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nyariina