Chapter 250: The Weight of Truth

Brynhild’s eyes fluttered, lashes trembling like she was struggling to stay awake. She still felt the pain from the surgery and needed the rest after all.

She turned to Orion and then patted a spot on the bed.

Orion took that as his cue, planting himself on the spot she touched.

Her eyelids drooped again before she forced them open. "I’m tired, Orion. I don’t think I can keep my eyes open much longer. We’ll... probably finish this whole talk another day."

He nodded. "You need to rest. We can talk when you’re stronger."

She let the silence stretch for a moment. Then, softly, "Before I sleep... I want to tell you something."

Orion straightened, attentive.

Brynhild took a deeper breath, steadying her words. "Do you remember what you told me and Lysander... back when we got together?"

Orion blinked, surprised. "That was years ago."

"Mm," she hummed weakly, "but you said something. Something you should remember now."

Her voice carried a faint rasp; she wasn’t quite steady yet. But her tone—her tone was clear and determined.

"You remember how some people talked," she continued. "How they whispered that Lysander was this brilliant healer... and shouldn’t be with someone like me. Someone they thought was scarred. Someone who lost her sight."

Orion’s jaw tightened. "Not everyone thought that way. And besides, look at you now, the pack worships you right now."

Brynhild chuckled lightly. "They worship the moon goddess, but I understand what you mean." She paused. "And yes, not everyone thought that way, but some did... and they were loud about it."

"I don’t understand where you’re going with this," Orion told her.

She shifted slightly, wincing but refusing help. "I’m getting there," she told him. "Back then, you looked at both of us like we were the dumbest creatures alive and said—’Don’t mind the ones who gossip. They will always gossip.’"

A small, breathy laugh escaped her. "You said that if we kept listening to people... kept trying to adjust our lives to fit their requirements... then we were weak. That we would be living for them instead of for ourselves. That when we’re at our highest, they’ll clap, smile, celebrate with us... but when we’re at our lowest? They’ll scatter, disappear, pretend they never knew us."

Orion’s lips quirked. "That does sound like me."

"You told us the world and our lives are ours to live," she pushed on. "That fear of gossip shouldn’t make us cowards—too scared to do what we wanted, too scared to live the way that made us happy."

A soft chuckle came from where Lysander sat. "You also told us we were mad for listening to stupid talk."

Orion snorted. "I did say that."

Brynhild’s smile widened faintly. "And you were right."

Then her expression sobered.

"You’re being weak right now, Orion."

"I think careful is the word," Orion told her.

Brynhild shook her head. "No," she told him sternly. "You are being weak."

"You’re scared," she said. "You’re focusing on what might happen tomorrow. On what people will say when they find out. On the future Ronan specifically told us not to obsess over."

"I can still hear his annoying voice in my head," Lysander said, then tried to mimic Ronan’s voice as he spoke: "We deal with the future when it meets us on the road we walk."

Orion looked away, jaw working. "But that doesn’t mean we can’t prepare for said future."

"We can. But is that what you’re really doing?" Brynhild asked him.

"I like to think that’s what I’m doing. I even told Tobias to be on the lookout in case he gets any information at all," Orion told them.

Brynhild gave him a look. "I’ll be honest, I am also curious about Sophia’s past and who she is, but let’s be honest, Orion—will finding out who she is change how you feel for her? That’s the question you should be asking yourself. The pack members supporting or accepting Sophia should not be your main concern; you can’t please everyone after all. Besides, some people were against you being alpha when we came here... although that opinion has died down drastically, you get my point."

"I’m having difficulty getting it. You mean it should not matter what her past is as long as I... she has me?" he asked her.

"Yes." Brynhild said with a smile. "Even if her past brings dangers to our doorstep, we’ll fight. We’ve been fighting our whole lives, Orion. Just because we have to fight more shouldn’t make us scared. And it should not make you scared either."

Orion was quiet as he absorbed her words.

"I’m not saying you should tell the pack you guys are together now... be greedy and selfish and keep her to yourself for as long as you can. But don’t hide it because you are scared of what will happen when you have the means—me included—to fight when danger faces us in the eye," Brynhild told him.

Orion smiled at her. "Message received."

"It better be received. Now, get away so I can get some rest," she told him.

Orion chuckled. "I’ll give you space soon." Then he leaned in and hugged her. "I’m glad you’re still here."

Brynhild chuckled, hugging him back. "Me too. Besides, who would be able to speak some sense into you when you’re being dense?"

"Um... Ronan?" Lysander asked, making them all chuckle.

Orion released Brynhild and stood up from the bed, but before leaving, he asked them:

"What name did you guys decide on?"

"Raina," Brynhild told him.

Orion smiled softly. Raina was Brynhild’s twin sister’s name. She was no longer with them, but her story and spirit would forever be with them. He wasn’t surprised that Brynhild would name her child after her sister.

"I hope she gets to be as strong as Raina," Brynhild said softly.

"She’s here, Brynhild," Orion told her. "She’s not only as strong as Raina but the both of you too."

"You can be soft when you want to," Brynhild said, eyes closing.

"Only in some rare instances," Orion chuckled.