53 – Olive Branch
“What’s this?” I asked Landon as we walked through the castle gardens, my eyes narrowing at the ornate envelope he held in his hand.
He smiled sheepishly, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. “It’s another lovely letter from another wonderful pack,” he replied, his tone laced
with sarcasm.
I didn’t even bother opening it. Instead, I tore it into pieces, letting the fragments fall to the ground like confetti. “Another one for the growing collection,” I said with a sigh.
Landon laughed, the sound echoing through the tranquil garden as he followed me. “You really should keep some of those,” he teased. “They might make for an interesting read someday.”
“Cassian!”
I rolled my eyes before even turning to meet my brother. His face was flushed with anger, his fists clenched at his sides as he stormed towards us. “What may I do for you, brother?” I asked without an ounce of interest, my voice dripping with boredom.
“Don’t fucking patronize me,” he spat, his words laced with venom. “Mother told me the horrible things that you said to her! You disrespected the woman who gave you everything.”
“The woman who gave you everything,” I countered calmly, my eyes meeting his with a cold, unflinching gaze.
His eyes widened, as if he had never considered the blatant favoritism our mother showed. “She gave you the throne, she made you Alpha. It was my birthright.”
As if he would have taken it with the curse attached to it. But I did not waste my breath on explaining that to him. Instead, I remained silent, watching as his anger grew.
“Now, you can’t talk. Cat got your fucking ton-”
Bonk! A ball hit Rolan on the head out of nowhere, interrupting his tirade. “Who dares to—”
We all followed Rolan’s line of sight. On the other side of the garden stood Abel, clutching another ball and looking petrified.
Rolan’s anger grew exponentially as he began to march towards the terrified child. “You little maggot,” he roared, his face contorting with rage.
Before Rolan could get too close, I stepped in front of him, blocking his path without touching him. “Leave him alone, Rolan,” I said calmly, my- voice carrying a note of authority that I rarely used with my brother.
Rolan seethed, but he stopped in his tracks. Abel, from behind me, gave me a conspiratorial secret smile that showed he had done it on purpose. I threw the ball back to Abel, returning his smile with a secret one of my own.
“Don’t ignore me, Cassian!” Rolan demanded, his voice rising in anger.
Abel, undeterred, threw the ball back to me, as if asking to play.
I caught the ball and began to play toss–ball with Abel, actively ignoring Rolan. Landon laughed at the whole scene, which only fueled Rolan’s fury.
“Pay attention to me!” Rolan shouted, his face turning an even deeper shade of red.
But I continued to play with Abel, tossing the ball back and forth, enjoying the moment. Abel’s laughter was infectious, and soon I found myself genuinely smiling.
Landon’s laughter rang out again as he watched Rolan’s growing frustration. Finally, unable to take it any longer, Rolan stormed off, muttering curses
under his breath.
As Rolan disappeared from sight, I knelt down to Abel’s level. “Well done, Abel,” I said, holding back the urge to ruffle his hair. “You handled that
perfectly.”
Abel beamed up at me, his eyes shining with admiration. “Th–th–thank you, U–U–Uncle Cassian. Y–y–you’re the b–best.”
We continued to play in the garden, enjoying the simple joy of the game. For a moment, the burdens of leadership and the weight of my responsibilities were forgotten, and I was just an uncle playing with his nephew, both of us relishing the bond we shared.
The garden was a place of beauty and tranquility, with meticulously trimmed hedges and vibrant flowers in full bloom. The scent of roses and lavender filled the air, and the gentle hum of bees added to the serene atmosphere. Abel and I moved around the garden, exploring its hidden nooks
and crannies while tossing the ball back and forth.
“U–U–Uncle Cassian, wh–why is Uncle R–R–Rolan always so angry?” Abel asked, his innocent eyes searching mine for answers.
I sighed, taking a moment to consider my response. “Rolan feels like he was wronged, Abel. He believes he deserves things that he doesn’t have, and that makes him angry.”
Abel frowned, his small brows knitting together in thought. “B–b–but it’s not r–right to be mean to people b–b–because you’re angry.”
“You’re right, Abel. It’s not right,” I agreed. “But sometimes, people let their anger control them, and they hurt others because of it.”
Abel nodded, his expression serious. “I–I–I won’t be like that. I’ll be a g–g–good Alpha, like y–y–you.”
His words warmed my heart. “I know you will, Abel. You’re already a good person, and that’s what makes a good Alpha.”
We continued to play, our laughter mingling with the sounds of the garden. Abel’s energy was boundless, and his joy was contagious. I found myself relaxing more than I had in a long time, the weight of my responsibilities momentarily lifted.
Setting
21:04
38- Olive Branch
As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the garden, Abel and I sat down on a stone bench, taking a break from our game.
“U–U–Uncle Cassian, d–d–do you think things will ever g–g–get better with R–R–Rolan?” Abel asked.
I sighed, looking out at the setting sun. “I hope so, Abel. But it’s up to Rolan to change. We can only hope that he finds a way to let go of his anger and see things differently.” I said, knowing well that my brother would never actually change.
Abel leaned against me, his small body warm and comforting. “I–I–I’ll help him if I c–c–can.” He was cluelessly cute.
I smiled, touched by his compassion and the innocence of his naivety. “I know you will, Abel. You have a good heart.”
We sat there in comfortable silence, watching the sun dip below the horizon. The sky turned shades of pink and orange, and the first stars began to
twinkle in the twilight. The garden was bathed in a soft, ethereal light, and everything felt peaceful and right in the world.
As the last light of day faded, Landon approached us, a smile still playing on his lips. “It’s getting late, Cassian. We should head back.”
Abel held a branch and gave me the other end to hold.
“S–s–so that we can h–h–hold hands,” he said.
I held the other end of the branch, and we walked into the castle as though we truly were holding hands.
