True Alpha's Chosen Mate-Chapter 280: Final Act I: Darkest Hour IV

Meanwhile, in the west wing of the imperial palace, the night was chilly and was oddly silent. Vampires and wolves alike loitered the surroundings; some still breathing and holding onto dear life, others laid flat, dead.

"Tito."

Tito had his head hung low, standing still, with Daniel standing behind him, their back facing each other. The meter distance between them felt shorter with how they could hear each other’s heavy breaths after an intense duel.

"Brother, why?" asked Daniel in a somber tone, raising his head at the broadening portal in the sky. His eyes glinted with bitterness, wounds, and blood evident on his face and across his bare top.

"Why?" came out a deep voice as Tito blinked his eyes ever so tenderly, staring at the ground that had painted in red as blood dripped down from him. "Because... why not?"

Daniel’s face contorted as he pressed his lips, its corners going downward, fighting back the tears that were tempting to escape his eyes, but to no avail. It still ran down his cheek.

"Sorry," came out a whisper, lips quivering, almost choking in his own breath. "Sorry."

A subtle smile appeared on Tito’s lips. There was not a trace of hatred or regret. If anything, he looked relieved and at peace. It was as though he did a job well done and took pride in it.

No wonder many admired this man. Although his intimidating appearance and humongous build could scare many people at first glance, his heart of gold was bigger than his physique.

Actually, it was bigger than anyone else. He had a heart of a hero. But the thing with heroes was that they would sacrifice themselves for the ’greater’ cause.

Instead of survival, heroes would lay their life on the line for others.

"Toby..." Tito whispered as that child’s face suddenly crossed his head. The face of Toby’s worried face when he told them he would have to do something slightly added some bitterness to his eyes.

He shoved his hand inside his pocket, taking out a knitted ball that Toby made for him. It was one of the first ones Toby knitted together with the matching scarf he made for Rinnie and Hugo.

Tito valued this ball and took it with him at all times as a lucky charm. He had seen how Toby worked hard for it, after all.

"Can you tell the child I had fun?" Tito requested under his breath, hearing the muffled cries from behind him. "That he shouldn’t feel bad. If I ever cross his head, please tell him he shouldn’t cry. Just look up because I will be looking back at him from there with a smile."

Daniel chewed his lower lips, closing his eyes while tears pooled under his eyelids. "Mhm..." a forced hum slipped past his lips, covering his already closed eyes with his palm.

"Thank you, big brother," he continued wearily, wishing he could tell all those to Toby. That child was like his son and it was a shame that he couldn’t see him again.

"Also, tell Alpha Hugo..." he winced and coughed with his lips closed, stopping the blood that still leaked from the corner of his lips. "... I regret nothing."

"Mhm..."

Daniel remained on the spot, muffling his cry until there was only silence and his cries. Tito didn’t speak anymore, still standing on the same spot mightily.

Until the end, Tito carried himself with pride and dignity. Even with his chest hollowed out, he was able to stay alive and have a last conversation with the crown prince.

"You should’ve just killed me..." Daniel’s shaking voice shattered the seemingly impregnable and deafening silence. "... killing me is better than sacrificing yours just to bring me back."

Tito had all the strength and capability to take down the crown prince in his feral state. He was that strong, but he chose a route far different from the rest.

Daniel collapsed on his knees, clutching his chest that felt like being stabbed by a thousand daggers all at once. He was the one who stood victorious, alive. And yet, Daniel was the one who was on his knees, weeping his heart out as if he was the one who got his heart ripped out of his chest.

"I’m sorry... I’m sorry... I’m sorry..."

Those words repeated like a broken record until his volume was barely above a whisper. There was a long silence after that, stuck in the same spot as if frozen in time. When Daniel recovered slightly, he finally looked back.

Tito was still standing motionless, like a statue. His broad back still looked reliable and strong, despite the painful sight of the hole in the left side of his upper back.

He died standing. He might fall with a light push, but he still looked intimidating, though.

Ironic to say, but his posture was the end, fitting for an honorable warrior like him.

"Tito..." called Daniel, broken from the inside. "Thank you... for loving us."

If true love existed, Daniel would consider Tito’s love for all of them as one.

******

"Your Highness?"

The knight carrying Toby as they passed through the gates of the palace slowed down at Toby’s command. The latter was staring at the gates, clutching the man’s shoulder.

"Can we wait here for a bit?" he glanced at the person carrying him, ignoring the growing distance with everyone fleeing ahead of them.

"But Your Highness --"

"My uncle and aunties, grandpa, and Father are still there." Toby pursed his lips as tears shimmered in his eyes. "Uncle Tito said he will be back immediately. He might get worried if he returns and sees we’re all gone."

"Your Highness..."

"Please?" Toby put on a puppy face that was hard to say no to. "We’re already outside. Just for a few minutes, please? Uncle Tito is fast, even though he’s humongous. So he will catch up to us soon."

The warrior, who didn’t actually share the same perspective as this innocent child, could only sport a bitter expression. Inside the imperial palace was hell. They had seen what happened to Priscilla, and they already had a vague idea why Garrett took Deimos away.

For Tito to go somewhere instead of staying with this child, something more dangerous was surely happening. There was no telling that Tito would even come back; he might already be dead as they speak.

He still nodded, regardless. "Just for a few minutes, Your Highness." The knight’s heart sank when Toby smiled and looked at the gates with eyes full of hope.

"They will come," whispered Toby, staying optimistic about it. "They are strong, so..."

Just then, Toby furrowed his brows as he looked heavenward. It was snowing. However, when the white substance hit the back of his hand, he gazed down, only to see it wasn’t as cold as the snow.

It was more like... a ball of small wool.