6

The ambulance siren was the only sound heard in the dark night. Lexton looked absolutely devastated, with a body that could only droop weakly beside Gama's stiff body.

"Wake up, Gamaliel! Wake up!"

The Alpha's shout broke the silence of the forest, echoing up to several dozen meters away. He no longer thought about Fredo who had fled to who knows where by now.

Lexton had completely forgotten all about him, as his single greatest concern was for Gama.

"Wake up, Gam!" repeated Lexton again. His hands were almost weak, with trembling that could not be hidden.

Shaking Gama's body, Lexton groaned and was almost desperate.

"Didn't you hear me?! I order you to get up right now!" Lexton roared again. His voice echoed, stifling the rumbling in his chest that was getting more and more suffocating.

Oliv and the other members had almost reached Lexton's location, who immediately stopped walking a few meters after finding their leader kneeling on the ground.

"For God's sake, Gam! In the name of the Alpha, I'm asking you to wake up! Get up, please..."

Lexton's voice caught in his throat for the last time, followed by a heavy-sounding exhale.

Oliv and the other Alfacht fighters almost simultaneously took a deep breath, bowing their heads as they watched the scene unfold in front of them.

Lexton was bowed limply, with his back bent helplessly. He was still trying to shake Gama's body, chanting prayers in his heart for God to be kind and make Gama breathe again.

Oliv took a few steps to approach Lexton, then squatted right behind the man.

"Alpha, the ambulance is waiting," he said softly.

Lexton raised his head slowly, his hands covered in Gama's blood. His mind was still blank, but he knew he had to move fast this time.

As quickly as the bullet had pierced Gama's chest, so quickly did Lexton lift the Beta into his arms.

Breaking through the night, Lexton's eyeballs cut through the bushes to find their way back. Racing against time, Lexton realized he had never really prayed to his God in all this time.

'Please, just this once.'

Lexton's footsteps did not slacken, no matter that his shirt was soiled with blood.

'Give me one chance to make amends tonight, so let him live.'

The ambulance sped off at high speed, carrying half of Lexton's body inside. But no matter how much the Alpha pleaded and repeated the same prayer, this time fate was not on his side.

Arriving at the hospital, Gama received first-class treatment to remove the bullet lodged in his body.

Lexton repeatedly ran a hand through his hair, trying to shake off the deep worry.

Oliv suggested that the Alpha return to the mansion to change, as Gama was already in the hands of the skilled doctors working for their clan.

Lexton agreed, then turned back to the mansion to clean up. Wasting no time, Lexton drove back to the hospital thirty minutes later.

Still hoping for a miracle in the wee hours of the morning, as his steps seemed to falter towards the floor where Gama was.

But the news he received just hit him in the heart, making his world really start to crumble slowly.

Gama did not return. At all.

---

Gama's funeral ceremony was held privately. The news of the death of the second pillar of the Alfacht clan reached the needy, including the clan leaders who had a vested interest.

Lexton did not want to receive any bouquets or mourning funds, nor did he even go downstairs to greet the mourners.

Confined to his room, Lexton spent his time gazing at what was happening downstairs through the slit in his large window.

Mourners passed by, dressed in jet black. A color that symbolizes sadness, a color that implies deep sorrow. So was Lexton, who was also wearing a dark black suit that afternoon.

A knock on the door broke Lexton's reverie, followed by Oliv's presence in the doorway with a respectful gesture.

"Sir."

Lexton turned around, looking at his current subordinate.

"What's wrong?"

Oliv raised his head, closed the door, and stepped into Gama's room. Stopping with a good distance to spare, Oliv wanted to report something.

"I'll close the fence at two in the afternoon," Oliv said.

Closing the mansion's fence meant that they were done with the funeral procession and would no longer receive any guests who would come afterward.

Lexton cleared his throat softly.

It was almost over. People would soon forget Gamaliel Vernon, with everything that man had. No longer would Gama's name be known throughout the country, as a friend and second pillar to Lexton, the Alpha.

The world would soon forget Gama, but that would not happen to Lexton. Because no matter how hard he tried, he could never forget the biggest mistake of his life.

A mistake that should never have happened, had he not lowered his guard over Fredo's whereabouts the other day.

"Do I have to clean up Mr. Gama's things now?" Oliv asked cautiously.

It was a hereditary custom in the Alfacht clan to get rid of all the belongings of their organization's fallen members in battle, right after the funeral was over. And that should also apply to Gama today.

Lexton raised his head high, looking up at Oliv with a look in his eyes that was hard to define. There was a deep sense of sadness there, mixed with regret and despair.

"No need," Lexton replied in a low tone. "I'll take care of the Beta's things myself, and no one is to touch or enter Gama's room but me."

Oliv nodded his head. Thinking it must be difficult for Lexton to let go of Gama, just as he was doing his best not to get lost in sadness. After all, Gama was also his best friend.

"Yes, sir," Oliv said in understanding. Glancing for a moment at the watch he was wearing, the man checked the time.

"Then excuse me, sir," said the young man again, intending to retreat from there.

There were still many mourners to greet downstairs, and so he needed to get downstairs quickly. Just about to reach for the doorknob, Oliv's movements stopped when he heard his name in the air in the room.

"Oliver Janson."

The man turned around, finding Lexton still staring at him intently.

"Yes, sir?"

Lexton took a deep breath.

"As of this moment, you have my back," Lexton said. "Maybe you can't immediately take over the Beta position left by Gama, but try to always give your best to the organization."

Oliv gasped and simply widened his eyes. He hadn't expected Lexton to choose him over the other fighters, when he also felt he wasn't qualified enough to stand behind their clan leader.

"But, Lord--" Oliv stammered with considerable shock, looking incredulously at Lexton.

"I know you and Gama are good friends," Lexton said again. "At least he'll be at peace there when he sees his good friend behind me now."

Oliv was at a loss for words. She had never seen this side of Lexton. Because all Lexton had shown to his men so far was superpower and ruthless domination.

But Gama's departure had really scratched something else in Lexton's life, and Oliv understood why his clan leader chose not to go downstairs.

Because Lexton was too hurt.

Because Lexton was the first person who might be willing to trade his life if it could bring Gama back.