1. Punished

Aria's POV

Tears streamed down my cheeks, which I quickly brushed away, not wanting everyone to see how sorry I was for what had occurred. The war ended with a large number of losses on our side. It was a horrible sight to behold.

I was able to deliver my sister from the fangs of death. But there is one thing I failed to do, save my best friend. Asaiah died. She died rescuing me from the wolf, sacrificing herself for someone insignificant like me. 

As I gazed at our fallen shifters, the guilt slowly ate me up while my heart bled with regrets. It was my deeds that precipitated the conflict. None of this could have happened if I hadn't allowed my emotions to dominate me. 

The grieving and distress of the bereaved hit me hard in the head. It never dawned on me that one choice could have such far-reaching consequences. One stupid decision from me, and many people suffer for it.

"You should not have let the rogue out, Alpha! Look what happened now!" one of the locals shouted, and the rest agreed.

They want justice. Oddly, the Alpha had not told everyone that I had caused the carnage, that I was the one who set the rogue free. If ever, I am more than willing to embrace their anger.

I glanced at my sister, only to see her staring at me. Her eyes were dark and dour, contrasting with her usual gentle and calm countenance. I can tell that she's not happy. Nobody should be pleased with what happened.

"Whether the rogue is imprisoned or released, his group will still attack us," Alpha Luke responded.

There are over a hundred complaints from the crowd. Their voices are elevated high in the air, making noise. Half of them planned to pursue the rest of the enemy who had fled the fight. And the rest speak in such muddled terminology that I have yet to understand what they're saying.

"Whatever happened, happened; you are allowed to mourn, but I don't want to hear any complaints from now on. Tomorrow morning, I will bring justice to the dead; now, leave!"

Everyone was forced to leave the packhouse. Alpha Luke then directed several omegas to bring the deceased to the grave of the fallen warriors, which they instantly did.

"Aria, go to the tribunal," Mysha ordered. "The officials will decide what penalty you will receive."

I immediately and without hesitation obeyed her commands. My parents, injured in the fight, just gazed at me as I walked by without saying anything. They are disappointed as they always are.

It was past midnight, yet we were all fully awake. I sat silently while the officials discussed stuff barely a distance away from me. They may be debating what punishment to impose based on the offense I committed.

Alpha Luke intentionally coughed to draw everyone's attention. I was clutching my hand as cold began to pour through my veins, and fear slowly crept up in my heart.

"After deliberating and analyzing the situations, we all came to a decision," Alpha Luke paused and glanced at me, then at my sister. A hesitant expression flashes on his face for a brief second before he continues the announcement.

"As punishment, Aria Summersault is no longer part of the Pack," he declared. "And this decision will be effective starting tomorrow morning."

After Luke announced my punishment, the room became silent. Nobody objected, not even Mysha or my parents, who were in the room with me. I tried to absorb his words, but they left me with a hole in my heart. The price is heavy.

I look over at my sister, but she isn't looking at me. She seems cool with me going off the rails. She would usually object and administer mild discipline, but this time she did not. I somehow expected this, but for some reason, it hurts. 

If I remember well, Luke said that the rogue's group would still attack us whether or not he was released. I only expedited things, but what happened last night will still be bound to occur in the future. Or am I wrong?

With a heavy heart, I left the room. 

This price must be my karma for Asaiah's death. And to everyone who died because of me. Maybe this punishment is what I deserve—being banished will bring the fallen justice.

'Where are we going?' 

I disregarded my wolf's query and continued running till I reached the mountain's summit. I sat on a rough rock and saw the grandeur of the landscape. Only a few lights were on, and the rest were utterly dark.

The idea that I wouldn't be able to see this sight again made my heart throb. This place is where I was nourished and blossomed. Where I first shifted and where I know the joys and sorrows of life.

Suddenly, an unexpected gust of cold air touched me and temporarily lightened my gloomy mood. Nature comforted me when no one else could. 

I now realize what can be done with just heart and emotion— that occasionally, the brain should function rather than the heart because feeling leads to disaster. And sometimes, sympathy brings further ruin. 

'What are we going to do now?' Kaia asked again.

I sighed and let the turmoil of emotion fill my emptiness again. It was now evident that this was the justice Alpha Luke promised to the grieving. My banishment.

'We'll leave this place.'

The sun was already lurking on the horizon, sending signals that it was almost her time to rise and fill the darkness with light again: her time, my end.

'Where?' she wonders.

A certain resolve has been fixated in my heart for quite an hour now. I am resolute enough not to make myself go rogue in the woods. I'd rather wrestle my way through the human realm than stay in ours with no one to rely on.

With that in mind, I returned home and got all my clothing and essentials. After gathering my stuff, I proceeded to the parking lot and ran into Mysha. I pretended not to see her and dashed inside my car.

Last night, Alpha Luke ended every connection I had with them. Somehow, I realized it was best to cut myself out of their lives for good. Still, I couldn't help but be saddened by my parents' cold shoulder. They have long been like that but part of me hopes for a little change.  Know I was irrelevant in their lives but I’m still their daughter. Can’t they just cut me some slack?

The sense of abandonment yields again, making it more refined than it already was, weighing equally with the guilt I've felt for the dead. 

"Aria," Mysha called, knocking.

Instead of entertaining her, I turned on the engine and drove my car out of the pack's village. I don't have time for drama. If she worries about the punishment placed on me, she need not be since I have accepted it. But if she wants me to apologize again, I will refuse. Let's say a thousand sorries will not bring back the dead, nor will they ease the pain. Or they may do.

"Shit!" I hissed, letting out a thousand curses after pressing the brake.

I got out of my car to see who I had hit. Strangely, no one was there. I checked everything, but there was only me in the center of this foreboding road lined by tall trees. I doubt my vision made a fool out of me. I was positive I had run into something.

As I struggled to make sense of everything, Kaia suddenly appeared. Her expression was a combination of worry and delight.

'Did you catch a whiff of it?' she inquired.

Her question made me furrow my brows in a much deeper confusion when a very enticing smell reached through me. It was intense but, at the same time, sweet. Like a blend of morning dew, vanilla, and coffee—if that makes sense.

'Watch out!' Kaia shouted.

Her warning came too late, and I flickered like a broken lamppost when a grey wolf landed in front of me. It's as if my spirit left my body for a split second before I could process the situation.

What the hell is going on?

I approached it with caution when I spotted blood dripping from its body. I could tell it was severely injured. While investigating its state, I detect a different fragrance originating from the area this grey wolf has come from and cast a glance into it. A fight?

'Let's help him,' Kaia offered.

I shook my head. 'Remember what happened last time?' 

The desire to help this injured wolf was overwhelming, but I couldn't just act based on impulse. 

What if this wolf is a rogue?

I don't want to make another mistake and save a menace that might trigger chaos and kill innocent individuals. If that happens, I'll have to bear another burden that will afflict me for the rest of my life. 

'A life, Aria, is a life. Regardless of whether they are a rogue or not. They deserve to be saved,' Kaia argued.

This time, I had to disagree with her. Rogues are unforgiving; they kill without compassion, as was the case with us last night, affecting innocent people. They don't even have a trace of gratitude in their blood. I saved that motherfucker, but in return, he killed my people.

'Kaia, saving should not be applied in every situation. Some individuals deserve to be saved, and some do not.'

However, Kaia only rolled her eyes as if she couldn't understand my point. And instead of acknowledging my words, she asked me another question. 'Is it still alive?' 

The motionless wolf surprisingly moved right after she blurted those words out, indicating that it still had life. Kaia changed the subject, leaving me no choice but to stop pushing through the previous debate and focus on this poor thing in front of me.

'We better help him,' Kaia added, 'I can sense another stench coming our way.'

But instead of listening to her comments, I got into my car. She wanted to shift, but she couldn't without my consent. Perhaps she'll learn she's not the only one in control. Besides, I have a problem of my own. So, to each our own. 

I restarted the engine, fastened my seatbelt, and was about to depart when Kaia's voice interrupted me again, leaving me frozen this time.