Reborn to Cage My Sister's Killer

The pure silver chain slammed onto the oak floor with a clang. Kael flinched and jumped back. Tears filled his eyes as he rushed to hide behind Elder Eden Hale.

Eden frowned and blocked me from reaching Kael. “Leo, pure silver can burn a wolf to death,” he snapped. “Don't you know that?”

Kael peeked out from behind him. His voice shook as if he might cry. “Don't you like me, Leo? I only wanted to play with Selene.”

My blood ran cold. I knew that look. In my previous life, Kael had fooled us all with the same innocent face.

But this time, I knew the truth. He had been taking the bone-shrinking drug for twelve years. He wasn't a six-year-old pup. He was a twenty-three-year-old Alpha.

I stared him down and slowly stepped closer. “Elder Hale, all the pups here play this game. Why won't he? Is he hiding something?”

Eden immediately scolded me. He said Kael had been taken away from his parents and sent into enemy territory. The poor pup had suffered enough. I shouldn't scare him with silver.

I knew why Eden was protecting him. He was responsible for the truce. If Kael got hurt while staying with us, the blood pact would punish Eden and our pack. He wasn't foolish. He had no choice but to protect Kael.

Kael clung to Eden's leg and rubbed his wet face against the Elder's pants. “Elder Hale, don't blame Leo. I'm just stupid.”

Whispers spread through the room. Everyone looked at me like I was the bully.

I realized how helpless I was. I was only six. If I told them Kael was an adult, they would laugh at me. But if I attacked him without proof, I could put my pack in danger.

Heavy footsteps came from outside. My father, Alpha Marcus Vale, strode into the room. “What's going on?” His golden eyes swept over everyone, and his presence made the whole room tense.

Kael saw Dad and quickly moved farther behind Eden. Eden immediately complained, “Marcus, your son is threatening the hostage with pure silver.”

Dad glanced at the silver chain, then looked straight at Kael. “How old are you?”

“Six,” Kael answered.

Dad gave a cold laugh. “A normal six-year-old pup would cry or freeze at the sight of pure silver. But you didn't. You moved toward the door, ready to run. A scared pup wouldn't think about an escape route. A trained wolf would.”

Kael went pale. “Hunters attacked me before. That's why I learned to watch for danger.” Then he fell to his knees. “Alpha, if killing me will ease your anger, I won't resist.”

“Marcus, if you lay a hand on him, you'll break the blood truce!” Eden shouted in panic. “The backlash will hit everyone in Silver Moon!”

Dad's face darkened.

Suddenly, footsteps raced down the stairs. My sister, Selene Vale, entered the room. “What's going on?”

The second Kael saw her, he rushed out from behind Eden and ran to her. “Leo wants to lock me in chains. I'm scared.”

Selene bent down, picked him up, and patted his back. “Don't be scared. Leo is only teasing you,” she said.

Then she turned to me. “Leo, put the chain away. We treat guests with respect in this house.”

I clenched my fists. My chest burned with anger. Last time, Selene had held him the same way. She had loved and protected him. And he had killed her for it!

I slowly relaxed my hands and kicked the chain under the couch. Then I rubbed my eyes. “I'm sorry, Selene. I'm just scared of wolves from other packs. There's something about his scent I don't like.”

Selene sighed and stroked my hair. She told me the war wasn't Kael's fault. He was only a pup. Since he would be living with us, I had to be nice to him.

Kael took my hand and gave me an innocent smile. “Leo, we're friends now.”

His palm was cold. Then, for just a second, his smile disappeared. His eyes turned cold. He wasn't scared of me. He was angry because I had ruined his plan.

I smiled back. “All right. Since we're friends, you can share my room from now on.”

Selene looked shocked. She knew I hated anyone touching my things. I gave her my sweetest smile. “I want to stay with Kael all day and keep him safe.”

Kael's smile froze for a second. Then he quickly put on his shy little-pup face again. “Thank you, Leo,” he whispered.

That night, I lay awake in the dark and pretended to sleep. My breathing stayed slow and steady. One hand held the pure silver dagger beneath my pillow.

A soft sound came from Kael's bed. He thought I was asleep. He sat up and slipped out of bed without making a sound. No six-year-old pup could move like that.

He crept to the door and opened it just enough to look outside. Selene's room was right across the hall.

I opened my eyes just a little. Kael stood at the door, staring at Selene's room. After a few seconds, he slowly looked back at me.

His eyes glowed green in the dark, like a wolf hunting its prey.