CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

~Aiden~

I tried to stay calm, but I found no peace.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Father’s face, his laughter, Siarah’s voice, her presence. Their words replayed in my head, and I couldn’t spit them out. By dusk, my pillow was damp with sweat, and my heart felt like it was beating too hard for my chest.

Jayden had stayed with me that afternoon, saying nothing, just sitting there. He didn’t ask what I saw, but I knew he sensed it. My twin always did.

When he finally stood to leave, he said quietly, “Maybe you need some space. I’ll be in my room.”

Space? I needed a whole new world.

The night crawled by, one nightmare after another, until morning light forced its way through my curtains. Father’s messenger arrived before breakfast, announcing that the council meeting, the same “urgent” one from yesterday, was to resume at nine.

I didn’t rush. Instead, I sat on the edge of my bed while Nora laid my breakfast tray on the table.

“Eat while it’s still warm, sire,” she said softly.

“Leave it,” I murmured. Appetite had no place in my body today.

When I finally rose and got dressed, my body moved even when my mind didn’t want to. By the time I approached the meeting hall, raised voices filtered through the heavy black doors.

Jayden’s voice was the loudest.

“Father, there’s no way I’m heading the north of this pack! I have my own life, my own path. I don’t care for your politics!”

I froze at the doorway.

Father’s tone followed, raging with anger. “Aiden puts the affairs of this pack first! But you? You waste your time smearing paint on a canvas and call it a career.”

My hand gripped the doorknob tighter as I stepped in. Every head turned toward me.

“What’s going on here?” I asked evenly, though I already knew.

Father rose from his chair. “Exactly what you see, son. This…” He pointed at Jayden like he was filth, “...this useless boy refuses to take responsibility! The north needs leadership. Wolves are migrating in faster than ever, and he’d rather play artist than be a man.”

The elders exchanged uncomfortable glances. Beta Marcus stood, clearing his throat. “Your Majesty, perhaps Alpha Aiden could take over the northern affairs while Jayden focuses on other duties. The central pack runs smoothly under him already…”

Father slammed his hand against the table. “Then what use is Jayden? Tell me, Marcus, what is the use of this… this disgrace of a son!”

Two elders rushed to hold him back as he lunged toward Jayden.

Jayden didn’t flinch. “Enough!” he barked. “Enough of these shenanigans, Father. You’ve destroyed lives, homes, happiness, all for power. And now that you have it, you still want more? You want me to throw away my dreams just to fuel your greed? That’s never going to happen.”

Then, without waiting for a response, Jayden turned on his heel and stormed out, slamming the door behind him. “Bullshit!” he shouted from the hallway.

Father’s face darkened. “You see him? You all see that? I’ll ruin him! Disown him if I must! He’s a fool…”

I stayed still, watching him. I had no words to say. Jayden a fool? To me, it was Father who was the bigger fool.

The elders tried to calm him, murmuring words of reason. Beta Marcus finally spoke. “Perhaps we should adjourn this meeting and revisit the issue once everyone has cooled down.”

Father exhaled heavily and dropped into his chair, rubbing his temples. “Fine.”

I stood, not waiting for dismissal, and walked out without a word.

*****

Jayden’s room was only a few doors away. I knocked once and stepped in. He was standing in front of the window.

“Bro,” I said quietly.

He turned sharply. “Did you even hear the crap he was spewing? Me? Leave my career? To handle his politics?”

“Chill, bro. Calm down.”

He raked his fingers through his hair, breathing hard. “I can’t believe he’s my father. I hate him so much.”

“Trust me,” I said. “I hate him too.”

That caught him off guard. “You? You, the loyal one? You never question his commands.”

I leaned against the wall. “There’s a lot you don’t know.”

“What do you mean?”

“I overheard him and Siarah yesterday,” I said, my voice low. “They were… together. And they were talking. About Riya. About how they sent her to Dorian. It was all planned.”

Jayden went still.

“I knew it,” he said finally. “Something in me always said they both had a hand in this mess.”

I nodded. “They’re evil. Both of them.”

He walked out toward the balcony, lighting up a cigar and handing one to me. “Then let’s leave them to their own game, bro. Evil always catches up with itself.”

“Right? The goddess gives repercussions for evil,” I spoke quietly.

“Actually,” he said simply.

For a moment, silence filled the place as both of us stared into the sky.

Then Jayden smiled faintly. “There’s this event tonight, an art showcase. Wolves from different packs are coming to perform. Music, dance, painting, poetry… you name it. It’s gonna be lit.”

I shook my head. “Not in the mood.”

He nudged my shoulder. “Come on, bro. You need fresh air. You look like you’ve been living in your head for too long.”

I sighed. “Fine. Alright.” There was no point arguing with Jayden when his mind was set.

Jayden grinned, triumphant. He leaned over the balcony rail and shouted to the guards below, “Prepare the cars!”

The guards bowed in acknowledgment and hurried off. Jayden turned to me with that boyish spark in his eyes, the same one he’d had since we were kids sneaking into the forest at midnight just to see the stars.

We both started laughing. It was stupid, really, laughing after everything that had happened, but maybe that was the point.

For a brief second, the castle didn’t feel so heavy.

The smoke from Jayden’s cigar curled lazily into the sky as we stood side by side on the balcony, breathing in the crisp morning air.

“I’m glad I still have you,” I said quietly.

He smirked. “Please. You can’t get rid of me that easily.”

I chuckled, staring out at the horizon, the fields stretching beyond the pack walls, glowing gold under the sun. Somewhere out there, Riya was alive. Somewhere, the truth waited.

But for now, this moment, this fragile peace with my twin, was enough.

Maybe tomorrow

would bring war. Maybe it would bring justice. But today… today I was just Aiden. A brother. A man trying to breathe.