What needed to be done

/-Ezra-/

The drive back to the pack was silent. No one spoke, not even Carden. My hands were gripping the steering wheel harder than necessary as I kept glancing at the side mirror. I could still smell the smoke, still see that twisted sky, and that damned anklet burned into my mind.

I decided to drive because some men had stayed back to clean up Carden’s mess. I had privately given orders to one to bury Melucia’s body in a separate grave and it was to be marked because in spite of everything, she was still the mother of my sons.

When we pulled up, a crowd was already gathering near the meeting hall. They knew something was wrong. There was obvious tension in the air. I stepped out of the vehicle, and the crowd parted like a wave, their eyes full of questions. I didn’t give them any answers.

Inside the hall, Carden stood in front of me, his face blank. Behind him, the elders were lined up. They were like a wall of stoic faces, ready to defend him. They looked like they already knew what they were going to say. Like they had everything figured out.

I folded my arms across my chest, my gaze cold as I studied them. No one spoke right away. Finally, one of the elders, Darius, cleared his throat.

“Alpha, we did what needed to be done,” he said, his voice calm.. “The witches were a threat. Their magic was too dangerous to leave unchecked.”

I didn’t move nor did I blink. “That’s not the problem,” I said.

Carden shifted on his feet, avoiding my eyes. The elders exchanged glances.

“It is the problem, Alpha,” another elder said. “You know what witches can do. Letting them go was too big of a risk.”

I shook my head slowly. “The problem is that I gave them my word,” I growled. “I promised their priestess they’d be free. I promised them their freedom!”

I could see how discomfort passed through a few of their faces, but it was gone in a second. They were good at this — justifying their actions and convincing themselves they were right.

Darius stepped forward. “Alpha, we had to protect the pack. You gave them your word, yes. But sometimes, promises have to be broken for the greater good.”

I felt something snap inside me, but I didn’t let it show. My face stayed calm, expressionless. I looked past Darius to Carden. His jaw was clenched, his eyes fixed on the floor. He probably realized that what they did was wrong. He just wouldn’t say it.

I took a breath, forcing down the anger simmering in my chest. “This wasn’t just about protecting the pack,” I said, my voice flat. “This was planned. Between all of you and my own Beta.”

A heavy silence followed. No one denied it. They didn’t need to.

Looking at all them, I realized that these were my elders, the people who were supposed to have my back. And my Beta, the one person I was supposed to trust the most. But they went behind my back, took my promise, and stomped it into the dirt.

I shrugged, my shoulders feeling heavy. “Fine,” I said in a cold voice. “If you think this was the right call, then whatever happens because of it—you deal with it.”

They knew what I meant. They also knew how vindictive dying witches could be. And broken promises had a way of coming back to bite you. Hard.

But none of them spoke up. None of them admitted they were wrong.

I said nothing more and just walked out of the hall, leaving them to their justifications, their plans, and the consequences.

I went over to the nursery where the twins were and pushed the door open. The warmth in this room felt very different from the chaos outside, and it enveloped me, calming me down.

The maids looked up when they noticed my presence, then quickly dropped their heads. They bowed quietly and hurried out, leaving me alone with the twins.

I stepped closer and saw the little babies wrapped up tight in their blankets, Axel and Dani. My sons. I smiled; the feeling of being a father was overwhelming. It filled me with a sense of purpose and joy I had never known before.

I leaned over the first crib and Axel stirred. His dark hair was a mess. He looked a lot like me. No doubt about it and I felt a sense of pride running through me.

Then I turned to the second crib.

Dani’s breathing was softer. His skin was a little lighter. His lips, his nose... they were hers. Melucia’s.

I forced the thought back. I didn’t want to see her in him, but I did. No matter how hard I tried to push it away, it was there. I took a step back, reminding myself that I got what I wanted and that was all that mattered now.

Exhausted, I turned and left the room. The door clicked shut behind me, but the feeling in my chest didn’t go away.

One of my men was waiting outside. He looked tired as well but straightened immediately when he saw me.

“Alpha,” he said quietly. “The priestess’s body has been buried, and her grave is marked, just like you instructed.”

I nodded. “Good.”

He paused. “Do you want to know where it is?”

I swallowed hard, thinking about it. “No. You are dismissed.”

Before he left, he reached into his pocket and pulled out something. He held out his hand, and there it was.

Melucia’s gold anklet.

I stared at it. That simple, delicate chain. I remembered it on her ankle, always catching the light. Now, it was just... here. Cold. Lifeless.

I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do with it, but I took it, holding it tightly in my grip. I hadn’t asked for the accessory. I didn’t need a reminder of her but I shoved it in my pocket anyway and walked away.