Chapter 5 - If You Go Back, You Break

“My mother is here?”

The words barely sounded human.

Jaxon nodded once.

“She came alone. No escort. No weapons.”

Silas’s expression turned colder than I had yet seen.

“No one from Silver Ridge comes alone.”

I was already moving.

Silas caught my wrist before I reached the hall.

“You’re not going out there like this.”

“Like what?”

“In heat. Emotional. Vulnerable.”

Anger snapped through my panic.

“I am not a child.”

“No,” he said, stepping closer. “Children are easier to protect.”

I yanked my hand free.

“My mother could die.”

“And walking into their trap may kill you first.”

“Then let me decide that.”

His eyes flashed.

“That is exactly what I’m trying to force myself to allow.”

The room went still.

Even Jaxon looked between us like he had stumbled into something dangerous.

I shoved past them both.

“Move.”

Silas moved first.

He walked ahead of me.

Blocking every possible threat without asking permission.

I hated how safe it made me feel.

The main bar had gone quiet.

Broken furniture lined the walls. Blood streaked the floor. Men stood armed near every entrance.

And near the front doors, trembling in a gray cloak—

My mother.

Her hair had more silver in it than yesterday.

Her face looked thinner.

When she saw me, she burst into tears.

“Mira.”

I stopped three steps away.

A thousand childhood memories hit at once.

Hands braiding my hair.

Hands holding me down while they branded me.

Love and betrayal wearing the same face.

“Why are you here?” I asked.

She reached for me.

I stepped back.

Pain crossed her features.

“They gave me one chance to bring you home.”

Silas folded his arms beside me.

“Touching speech. Try the truth.”

She looked at him with fear.

“So the rumors are true. The rogue Alpha keeps her.”

My voice turned sharp.

“He does not keep me.”

She flinched.

Good.

I wanted someone else to feel it for once.

My mother clasped shaking hands.

“Mira, please listen. Alpha Darius is furious. Kael is humiliated. They say if you do not return before dawn, I will be punished for helping you escape.”

“You did not help me escape.”

Her eyes filled.

“I left the west gate unlocked.”

I froze.

“What?”

“I could not save you openly,” she whispered. “So I did the only thing I could.”

Memories flashed.

The gate that should have been barred.

The path is strangely empty.

No guards in the west corridor.

My throat tightened.

“You should have told me.”

“If I told you, they would smell the lie on you.”

I wanted to stay angry.

It is harder now.

Silas’s voice cut in.

“Convenient timing.”

She turned to him desperately.

“I know how this sounds, but they will kill me.”

Jaxon muttered from the side, “Or they sent her to say that.”

My mother shook harder.

“I brought proof.”

She pulled back her sleeve.

Purple bruises ringed her arm.

Finger marks.

Fresh.

Rage exploded through me.

“They did this?”

She nodded.

“For failing to raise you properly.”

Silas went very still.

The dangerous kind of still.

I stepped forward before I could think and touched my mother’s bruised skin.

She broke down sobbing.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “For every time I stayed silent. For every time I told you to endure. I thought survival was enough.”

Tears burned my eyes.

“It wasn’t.”

“I know now.”

Silence spread through the room.

Even the bikers looked away.

My mother gripped my hands.

“Come home tonight. Publicly submit. Once they calm down, we will find another chance.”

The old Mira would have considered it.

The old Mira was dead.

I slowly pulled my hands free.

“If I go back, there will never be another chance.”

Her crying turned frantic.

“Then they will kill me!”

The words struck exactly where she intended.

Guilt.

Blood-deep and immediate.

I staggered back a step.

Silas moved beside me.

Not touching.

Just there.

“Enough,” he said.

“She is my daughter!” my mother cried.

“And she is not your bargaining chip.”

My mother stared at him.

“You know nothing about mothers.”

Something dark crossed his face.

“You’re right.”

The room chilled.

Jaxon looked suddenly uncomfortable.

I glanced at Silas, but he gave nothing away.

My mother turned back to me.

“You care what happens to strangers in this place, but not me?”

“That is unfair.”

“Is it false?”

I opened my mouth.

Nothing came out.

She saw weakness and pressed harder.

“If you stay, I die with the shame of raising a rebellious omega.”

There it was.

Not just fear.

Pride.

Pack reputation.

Even now.

Something inside me settled.

Cold.

Clear.

“You still don’t understand,” I said quietly.

She blinked through tears.

“Understand what?”

“That I did not run because I was rebellious.”

I stepped closer.

“I ran because I wanted to live.”

Her mouth trembled.

“Mira…”

“You asked me for years to survive. Now I am doing it in a way you cannot control.”

She sank into a chair, devastated.

Silas’s gaze slid to me.

Approval. Fierce and silent.

It warmed places I did not trust.

My mother looked up slowly.

“If you will not come… then at least speak to Kael.”

The room erupted.

Jaxon laughed outright.

Silas did not.

That was worse.

“No,” he said.

She ignored him.

“He came with me. He’s outside.”

My stomach dropped.

“You brought him here?”

“He said he only wants to talk.”

Jaxon cursed.

Several bikers reached for weapons.

Silas’s jaw clenched so hard I heard it.

“He what?”

The front doors opened before anyone could stop them.

Kael Thorn walked in like he owned the air.

Fresh clothes.

Cleaned wounds.

A smug smile.

And behind him came ten armed Silver Ridge wolves.

My mother sobbed.

“I’m sorry.”

I stared at her.

“You lied.”

She couldn’t meet my eyes.

Kael’s gaze found me first.

Then slid to Silas.

Then back to me.

“You really thought I’d let another man lock you in a room all night?”

Silas stepped forward.

“You brought armed men into my house under truce.”

Kael shrugged.

“I brought witnesses.”

He held up a folded parchment stamped in silver wax.

“Regional council summons.”

The room went dead silent.

Kael smiled slowly.

“Mira Vale is ordered to return to Silver Ridge immediately for judgment.”

He looked straight into my eyes.

“And if she refuses…”

He broke the seal and read the final line.

“Her mother dies before sunrise, and sanctuary law is void.”

Then he added softly—

“Choose carefully this time.”