Chapter 16
After leaving my father’s room, I went to the courtyard.
Coming back to this place wasn’t really something I had wished.
Helena’s memories remains here so no matter how hard I tried I still couldn’t hate it.
“Enjoying the view alone?” Kael said joing me where I stood. He sat on the low wall of the courtyard, his eyes on the horizon. I stood by his side, my arms folded, the wind brushing against my skin. We hadn’t spoken much since the council scene.
“I think the council’s still recovering from that revelation,” Kael murmured without looking back.
I smirked. “Good.”
He turned, his eyes tracing mine. “You’re not staying, are you?”
I stepped closer, shaking my head. “Not even if the moon begged me.”
Kael reached for my hand.
I let him.
It was quiet, for a moment.
Then a voice sliced through it like a blade.
“Well, this makes sense.”
Kael’s hand dropped. We both turned.
Damien stood a few feet away, his mouth curled into something that wanted to be a smile but couldn’t hide the annoyance. His gaze flicked between us.
“You’ve moved on quickly, haven’t you?” he asked, taking a step closer. “From Luna to rogue
lover.”
‘Don’t test me,” I warned.
He ignored it. “You could’ve come to me. Talked. But no-of course not. You’d rather be touched by-him.”
Kael stood slowly.
‘Back off,” he said, his voice low.
Damien’s jaw clenched. “You think I’ll let you stand here like you belong?”.
I looked at the guards nearby.
‘Escort Alpha Damien out of this section,” I said flatly. “He’s lost the privilege of appearing where I choose peace.”
The guards didn’t hesitate, they were Red fang warriors. Damien’s face twisted. “You’re ordering guards now?”
Kael took a step toward him. “She earned that right.”
Damien’s hand moved like he might strike.
Kael grabbed his wrist mid-air.
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“I wouldn’t,” Kael warned. “Try that again and they won’t be dragging you to your Alpha. They’ll be dragging your corpse.”
“Enough!” I said.
More guards arrived immediately.
“Alpha Damien,” one of them said, with a bow. “Alpha Jareth wants to see you. Immediately.”
Damien yanked his arm back from Kael and glared at me.
“This isn’t over.”
“No,” I said. “It’s been over. You just didn’t know it.”,
He left with the guards, his footsteps heavy with rage.
*****
The Red Fang quarters were colder, darker. Damien stepped in slowly, every muscle tight.
Alpha Jareth stood alone, facing the hearth. He didn’t turn when Damien entered.
“You wanted to see me?” Damien asked.
Alpha Jareth finally turned.
“I did.”
Alpha Jareth stepped forward slowly. “I’ve heard what you did.”
“I know what it looks like-”
“No,” Alpha Jareth interrupted. “You don’t. Because if you did, you wouldn’t have dared to shov your face in front of my daughter.”
Damien stiffened.
Alpha Jareth kept going. “I heard everything. The fire. The exile. The mockery. I only spared you from punishment because of Helena.”
Damien’s mouth twitched. “I never meant for Helena to die. I failed to protect her. I’ve paid for that every day since.”
‘And yet,” Alpha Jareth said, his voice hardening, “you treated her sister like she was nothing.”
Damien looked away. “I didn’t know how to-”
‘She loved that boy like her own,” Alpha Jareth snapped. “Held this pack together when you couldn’t even hold your son.”
Damien swallowed.
Alpha Jareth’s eyes narrowed. “Do you want to know why I haven’t ripped you limb from limb yet?”
Damien said nothing.
“It’s because of Alice,” Alpha Jareth said. “She asked me not to.”
Damien’s head lifted, stunned. “She what?”
“She asked I spare you,” Alpha Jareth repeated. “Even after everything. And you want to know the worst part?”
He stepped closer.
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4:16 pm & D
“She still had to protect you from me.”
Damien’s mouth opened, but nothing came out.
“She is more Alpha than you’ll ever be,” Alpha Jareth growled.
Alpha Damien fell on his knees immediately. “I don’t deserve forgiveness.”
“I’m not the one who needs that, you should go do the right thing to Alice.”
Alpha Damien stood up slowly and bowed.
Alpha Jareth waves his hands for him to leave.
He clenched his fist tightly at his side. He was also an Alpha, how can he be so vulnerable?
Damien left to go find Alice.
He stepped out almost at the courtyard and paused when he noticed something strange behind. He turned in quick time to dodge the knife that was thrown at him.
“You are a fast one.” The unknown person said with a grin.
“Who are you?” Damien growled and looked at him but couldn’t see his face clearly. He was covered in a hood and only his dark eyes were visible.
4.16 pm D
