22: Cassian
The silence that followed was thick and suffocating. My mother, usually so composed and controlling, seemed momentarily at a loss for words. Her eyes flickered with some semblance of guilt, and for a moment, I thought I saw the mask slip, revealing something beyond what I knew her to be. But it was only a moment, and then the cold, calculating look was back.
“You should have more respect,” she finally said. “Everything I did, I did for the pack. For our family.”
I shook my head, feeling the weight of years of manipulation and lies pressing down on me. “No, Mother, everything you did, you did for Rolan and yourself. The pack, the family, those were just convenient excuses
Her eyes widened in shock, and I knew I had struck a nerve. But I didn’t care. I was never on board for all this pretending, and playing the dutiful son The resentment that had been simmering beneath the surface for so long was finally boiling over, and it was powerless to stop it.
“You think you know everything,” she hissed, her voice trembling with barely controlled rage. “But you know nothing. You are nothing without me Without my guidance, you would be lost.”
I laughed, a biter, hollow sound that echoed through the room. “Is that what you think? That I owe you my loyalty, my life, because you put me on this throne? You took the life of one son away to give it to your favorite.
Her eyes blazed with fury, but she said nothing, ber silence a tacit admission of guilt.
“You may have given me this throne,” I continued, “but you will not dictate how I rule. tris is my mate, and I will protect her. I will protect her and Abel from anyone who threatens thein, even you,”
She stared at me for a long moment, her face a mask of cold, calculating anger.
“You are siding with a maggot and her kin instead of your own family. It’s such a shame,” She said coldly.
With those words, she turned on her heel and stored out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
I returned to my paperwork, some part of me knew that she had not told allies, Werewolves were the Lycan’s sworn enemy, but I had begun to see beyond the hatred and tainted history of your kind. It was easy to fall into the habit of protecting her. I had to be mindful of that mate bond, before it did indeed begin to cloud my judgemem.
Then I heard a clamor and chaos. I got up and went to investigate. My beta met me, a perplexed expression on his face
“What is the matter?” I asked, making our to my throne room.
“Tia message from Ashfall Pack“.
I paused momentarily as I heard the name of the pack. Kavriel
“A simple message cannot have incited to much chaos, 1 countered, urging hins to get straight to the point
The throne room was opened for me and I stepped into anarchy. In the center of my throne room is a woman, clurching a mangled body. The person looked to have been tortured relentlessly for hours on end before succumbing to his injuries. Had this been Kavriel’s ‘message?
Surrounding the woman are other members of my pack and when they realize that I had made an entrance, they turn expectantly to me but do not dare move any closer. Rolan and my mother are in a corner with Zabila but do not bother and give him my attention.
I moved to my throne and sat down. “What has occurred?” I asked, referring to the corpse.
“Those maggots killed my sond The woman blurted, her face scrunched up in agony. “He went out for a hunt and did not return when he should have The woman broke down into sobs and could not continue.
Her companion placed a hand on her shoulder to console her before summing to me. “Today, he was found with a letter strapped to his corpse.” She explained.
“Give me the letter,” I ordered.
I was promptly given it and I read through the contents.
“Alpha Cassian, you have seen the consequences of your actions, I do not consent to your face of a marriage. 1. Judas Hawthorne, advisor to Alpha Kavriel and her father, ask you to return her, or more of your people will suffer our wrath.”
Her father was the one behind that murder of one of my people!
The voice I heard made me go sill. I nimed to find leis entering the throne room confused. “What happened“” Then her eyes found the marglei body and her hand went up to cover her mouth as she gasped in homor
“Come to see what your kind has done? Zahul approached while Iris remained pale faced “What your father has done!”
With Zahdla’s words, the whole hall went deathly silent. Realizing dawning on them as to who Iris was
The woman got on her feet, still catching that corpse. “You are one of those maggots, aren’t you?” Her face twisted in rage and grief. “You led them liere.”
Iris took a step back, her face ashen and eyes wide with fear. “My
by father…. I didn’t know,” she whispered. “Thad no idea he would do this.”
Zahula’s eyes were cold, full of contempt. “Your ignorance doesn’t absolve you. Your presence here has brought nothing but trouble. Zahi raised her hand to side.
Iris looked at me, desperation in her eyes. I could see the torment she was going through, tom between her loyalty to me and the horror of her father’s actions, I stood up from my throne The gesture alone silenced everyone in that hall.
“It would be better if you watched yourself, Zahila.” I warned. Zahila dropped her hand, I could feel Rolan’s glare on my back
But he was not the only one who felt rage. I looked at that corpse in the woman’s arms, my anger boiling up to the surface. With the boy’s size, he looked to have been about twelve. Our woods have never been dangerous, now that has changed. It was an unforgivable sin. Safety and security for our kind were what our pack boasted of now even that had been ripped away.
“Tris, is Judas Hawthome truly your father?” I asked.
She nodded, her gaze uncertain. “He is,“
horror of her father’s actions, I stood up from my throne The gesture alone silenced everyone in that hall.
“It would be better if you watched yourself, Zahila.” I warned. Zahila dropped her hand, I could feel Rolan’s glare on my back
But he was not the only one who felt rage. I looked at that corpse in the woman’s arms, my anger boiling up to the surface. With the boy’s size, he looked to have been about twelve. Our woods have never been dangerous, now that has changed. It was an unforgivable sin. Safety and security for our kind were what our pack boasted of now even that had been ripped away.
“Tris, is Judas Hawthome truly your father?” I asked.
She nodded, her gaze uncertain. “He is,”
“Then he will have to die for murder.”
