Chapter 4: The weight of the Ocean

At the Ocean Crest Pack’s private beach, Hugo stood knee-deep in the waves, a bottle of whiskey dangling from his fingers. The sun was setting, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, the vibrant colors reflecting on the gently rippling water. Today marked three years since his father’s death—his human father, that is. It was the night he walked out of his human life because his family had disowned him. The night he wandered lost in the woods and met Damien. That night had changed everything, binding him to a destiny he still struggled to accept.

The waves lapped against his legs, cold and unrelenting, as if trying to ground him in the present. He looked up at the sky, his sea-green eyes searching for a sign among the drifting clouds. A breeze rustled his hair, carrying with it the faint scent of salt and seaweed. “Are you watching, Dad?” he muttered, his voice barely audible over the crashing waves. “Am I doing this right?”

A bright beam of sunlight broke through the clouds, warming his face despite the cool breeze. For a brief moment, he felt his father’s presence, a comforting reminder of the man who had taught him resilience and integrity. Hugo took a deep breath, the salty air filling his lungs, and tipped the bottle, pouring the whiskey into the ocean as an offering. The amber liquid disappeared into the waves, swallowed by the vastness of the sea.

Behind him, the crunch of sand underfoot announced someone’s arrival. Hugo didn’t turn, recognizing the steady, familiar gait of his Beta, Zeke. The man stopped a few paces behind him, his presence a quiet yet unyielding support.

“The pack needs you, Hugo,” Zeke said, his deep voice steady but tinged with concern. “And so do you. You can’t keep carrying this burden alone.”

Hugo turned slowly, his expression unreadable but his eyes shadowed with weariness. He studied Zeke for a moment, the trust between them unspoken but unwavering. “I’m fine, Zeke. Let’s focus on keeping the pack strong,” he replied, his voice even but hollow.

Zeke crossed his arms, his dark eyes narrowing slightly. “You’re not fine, and you know it. I’m not just your Beta; I’m your friend. Whatever’s eating at you, we’ll face it together. But you’ve got to let someone in.”

Hugo turned back to the ocean, the waves now darker as the sun dipped below the horizon. He didn’t answer right away, the weight of Zeke’s words settling over him like the tide. The truth was, he didn’t know how much longer he could keep pretending. The cracks in his resolve were widening, and the responsibilities of leading the pack felt more like chains than a calling.

“Do you ever think about walking away?” Hugo asked quietly, his voice barely carrying over the rhythmic crash of the waves.

Zeke’s expression softened. “Every leader does at some point. But walking away doesn’t mean freedom, Hugo. It just means leaving others to carry the weight you’ve set down.”

Hugo closed his eyes, letting the words sink in. For three years, he had tried to be everything the pack needed—protector, provider, Alpha—but it had never been enough. Their expectations loomed like shadows over every choice he made, a silent judgment he could never escape... and all because he was a bitten werewolf, not born... not one of them. In striving to meet their needs, he had lost pieces of himself, fragments of the man he once was. The whiskey bottle slipped from his grasp, floating momentarily before the waves claimed it.

“I just wish I knew if I’m making the right choices,” he admitted, his voice thick with emotion.

Zeke stepped forward, placing a hand on Hugo’s shoulder. “You’re not alone in this. The pack believes in you.”

Hugo let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "Do they? Sometimes I wonder if they truly believe in me or if they just tolerate me because they have no choice. A bitten Alpha will never be enough for them, no matter how hard I try."

Hugo finally turned to face his Beta, a faint, grateful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Thanks, Zeke.”

The moment lingered, the rhythmic crash of the waves filling the silence. But then Hugo’s gaze sharpened, the faint hope dimming as he caught an edge of tension in Zeke’s expression. His instincts kicked in, sensing the urgency beneath the Beta’s calm demeanor.

“What brings you out here, Zeke?” Hugo asked, his tone now steady and focused. “Something’s wrong, isn’t it?”

Zeke nodded, his jaw tightening. "It’s Malrik. He’s started attacking our patrol wolves on the outskirts of our territory. Two of them barely made it back alive, and the others are on edge. He’s testing our defenses, Hugo. We need to act fast before he gets bolder."