the confessor

Laziel Brahm

“You did what?” I hissed after spitting out my coffee, unsure if I'd heard the somber-eyed wolf correctly.

“Has the wine from last night not left your system yet? What the fuck do you mean you're bringing Selene to the fortress?” I heaved, slamming my coffee down on the dark marble counter as what was left of my appetite shriveled to nothing.

Ronan’s face looked like he had swallowed a mother-load of small prickly nails that had begun stabbing at his throat.

“I mean she’s here, Laziel…in the fortress. Dante invited her in for confessing,” He warbled, and I put up a mask of indifference to hide the panic steadily welling in my chest.

“Did he now?” I drawled, wondering if it would do any good if I chucked the entire table at the backstabber's head.

How the hell could they go behind my back to do this?

Selene was here in my fortress. I almost couldn't believe it!

The last time I had seen the raven-haired woman, had been after I’d caught her on her back, accepting cock from one of the local guards who was balls-deep in her pussy.

I’d lost it for hours then, refusing each of her requests to meet and having her banished from the pack the next night, into the smaller wolf villages up the mountain.

“Is there no chance for us to be together, Lazzy? I can't live without you, I swear it—” She begged, with tears staining her thick black lashes.

“If I ever see you again, Selene, it would be too soon. Get out of our lives and never come back.” I’d snapped, watching as the guards drove her out into The Darkness, the loud hisses and wheezing from its ghouls cutting off when the gates banged shut.

That had been the last time I ever fucked any woman.

Hell, I had enough adrenaline and testosterone in my system now to drown a bloody horse. Perhaps it was why I couldn't get the buxom woman out of my head.

My mind wandered as we descended the spiral stone stairs from my tower chambers, marching toward the carriages approaching in the distance.

The grand hall was already teeming with elite wolves chattering excitedly. Like some poor woman’s life wasn't already on the line.

I watched the chairman settle into his chair after a tense discussion with the Alpha, the folds on his forehead deepening into a hard groove.

I could sense the malice wafting from his body in waves when the soldiers walked in with the familiar-looking woman in their midst.

Selene Willow was a force to be reckoned with. All ravenous black hair and indigo siren eyes with sharp pointy fangs that extended out of the sides of her mouth.

“Lazzy! Its you! My goodness, you’ve gotten so big and strong!” She cooed, bright indigo eyes twinkling with mischief as she splayed her hands on my chest, before I stepped back, keeping a tight mask of indifference on my face.

Dante’s imposing presence kept me from telling the wench to go to hell, so I settled for the next closest thing.

“Selene. You look as beautiful as ever,” I muttered tightly, making the Alpha’s lips stretch to a thin line of acceptance.

“Approach my throne.” He boomed, making me step away from the edge, back to my position at the back of his throne.

Ronan’s hazel eyes were appraising when I caught them, and I resisted the urge to roll my own eyes.

“Look at you, being all mature instead of a crash-out barbarian,” He hedged, and my hands bunched to fists at my side.

Time seemed to pass in a blur as the indigo-eyed woman flirted and spoke with His Highness, and the tightness in my chest grew with each second that passed.

All too soon, the large double doors were being swung open, and Mara’s haunted face popped up.

The overhead lights and the candles on either side of the red carpet buzzed and dimmed and the rattling of her chains silenced the murmurs whittling through the crowd.

I still couldn't figure out the quietly stubborn woman after the way she’d flared at me back at the crystal pond.

Was she going to be the Phoenix that would lead this pack out of The Darkness? 

Or was she going to be the Grim reaper who would sink us all?

Whispers scratched at my ears and I resisted the urge to slap my hands against it when Selene stepped back from the throne.

“Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, we witness this pack’s first confession in three decades. I have assured His Highness of the purity of my magic, so rest assured—” Selene announced in a raised voice, straightening her shoulders and jutting out the sculpted globes of her large breasts.

“Kneel before me,” She snarled the command at the redhead who bent her knees reflexively, slamming down on the carpet with a loud cry.

“Confessor, tell us. Did Amara Eldwood, formerly of Shadow Pack, kill our beloved princess?” Caius heaved, the tension in his voice sharp enough that it could have cut through stone itself.

Selene’s sharp indigo eyes met mine when she glanced back at the dias, the corners of her lips firming with determination as she stabbed her claws into the sides of the woman’s head.

Mara Eldwood let out a blood-curdling scream that could have woken the dead as the pressure from the confession blew through the hall like a gale.

Small yellow lights rattled overhead and dust from the concrete fell from the ceiling in small puffs, making the crowd’s murmuring grow into a frenzy.

I watched the Alpha stiffen on his throne before leaning forward, his knuckles almost whitening where he had them trapped on his armrest.

He fancied her. 

The realization shocked me and I struggled to shake off the twinge of jealousy I felt.

She had looked terrified when I met her in the gardens, fresh off of another nightmare and spooking her in return.

“We begin the confessions now. Hold her up…” Selene’s sterile bark made the woman’s eyes widen in horror as she struggled against the guards, her soft green dress ripping to reveal even more of her full breasts.

“Christ.” Ronan cursed, brushing his hands through his hair as a current of need so strong I felt my mouth water radiated from the throne.

Dante.

“Control yourself or you’ll give us away to the commander.” I gritted through clenched teeth, watching his throat bob and the air of longing vanish just before the commandant’s hawk-like eyes flashed to us.

He shifted in his seat at the right hand table with the rest of the elders, the pinched line of his bushy brows and the red tip of his bulbous nose all tell-tale signs of his rage.

“He would want a show, Laziel… do I have your permission?” Selene’s whisper earlier in the night came back to me now and I stifled a gasp when the full impact of her meaning slammed into me like a trainwreck.

“You good, bud?” Ronan muttered, casting me a long sideways glance that warned me to get my shit together.

I swallowed hard, steadying myself when the first of the redhead’s blood started to trickle from her ears, bursting through her nose and dribbling down into her mouth as she screamed.

“No…no, please! Please make it stop, in begging you—” she blubbered, falling to her knees in such agony that my lips parted and I felt Ronan’s hand snap around my arm.

I wasn't aware i’d been moving toward the woman, damned near crossing the Alpha’s throne to get to her.

Selene wasn't supposed to do this damn it! I expected fireworks, hell, even a couple of shattered windows and flickering lights!

I had no idea the show she so generously offered would include torturing my mate-to-be!

What the fucking fuck?

“Enough, Selene. Please,” I whittled, groaning when her head snapped back violently and she inhaled a breathless croak.

The power in the great hall plunged so low that only the silhouettes of the spellbound wolves flickered in its dim light before bursting back to full strength.

The sizzling scent of burning flesh— the power of Selene’s magic rent through the air, and I caught Ronan’s eyes as he glanced away, his hands clenching to fists at his side.

“Did you kill the Princess? Did you have anything to do with her death? Did you conspire to cause harm to Infinity Pack in any way?” Her loud tenor lifted in the air as if scattered by an invisible force.

“No…no, no, I swore to you that I didn't have anything to do with this. I just want out…home, please just let me go back home,” the shadow screeched, bucking wildly against the broad-shouldered guards trapping her arms on either side of her body.

My wolf flared angrily inside me, enraged by her treatment, but I bit down hard enough on my tongue to draw blood.

Her hiccuping cries rent at my heart, and I caught the flash of hurt in Caius’ eyes just before he wiped it clean of emotion.

The runt. I disliked it when men like him threw a fucking attitude about everything.

Dante had spoiled him too much. Dotted on him like he was the strawberry shortcake of the fucking gang.

“For moons sake, Alpha, how much longer is this going to last?” Ronan groaned, tortured hazel eyes sweeping up to lock on mine.

My glare narrowed on Caius’ face where he stood on the front lines of the crowd, but his expression remained unreadable.

The other two done everything short of begging for him to join us like he usually did in the podium, but the twat insisted on creating a scene.

I knew he would feel the same gut-turning pain we all did, watching the woman who was most definitely out mate be tortured in front of the entire pack.

I couldn't help the resentment that washed over me in waves. 

“I’m going to kill that fucker when this shit is all over. Break that pretty high nose of his in so it matches his black heart.” I snarled under my breath, ignoring the fact that my own heart was darker.

I never said I wasn't a hypocrite had I?

“Right behind you, buddy.” Ronan growled, jaw working before he jammed his fists behind him, straightening his shoulders.

Caius had everything so fucking good with Dante. 

Blasted hells! 

It always felt like I'd been competing for the attention the Alpha so freely lavished him with.

But things were going to be different now. 

I would make sure Ronan ruled with an iron fist alongside Dante, none of that empathetic bullshit the blond hotshot was always on about.

I was going to make sure our pack was the strongest, stronger even than the commander’s army of rebels.

Even if it meant forging deeper into The Darkness to find the elixir of the goddess’ power.

Even if I risked what little sanity I had left in return.

All too soon, the red-haired maiden’s convulsion ceased and she collapsed to a heap on the bright red carpet.

I could feel my body catch on fire when Selene’s milk-white eyes turned to face us, before those enchanting indigo orbs rolled back down to lock on mine.

She was beautiful…even after everything that had happened, but my heart no longer panged for her.

I could think of no one else beside the red-haired woman and the strange visions she’d brought with her.

“Is she alright? What is it, Confessor?” Ronan’s tense bark echoed and I watched Caius edge closer to the center, leaning so far out that I was sure he would topple over.

Selene paused a beat too long. Enough for me to wonder if she truly just craved the attention the pack was throwing at her now.

“She speaks the truth. Amara Eldwood of Shadow Pack had nothing to do with the Princess’ murder,” Selene deadpanned, turning to face the King who fell back on his skull throne, his eyes hidden from me behind the wild black hair that curled around the sides of his handsome face.

I didn't need to see him to know what he was thinking.

Thank the saints and the goddamned heavens