Threads of Fate

The sun was already setting. The feast for the night had been laid because no one could bear being idle. I had taken charge of the hunt for tonight because I needed to subdue. To take my anger out on something.

And yet... they were still not back.

"Mummy? Aunt Mila and Aunt Lily are still not back. Is it because of my butterfly?"

I swallowed hard and looked down at Amanda. She was looking up at me with wide, innocent eyes, her other hand playing around with the tiny cutlery in her food.

"Maybe. You know, butterflies are hard to catch. But nonetheless, they will be back soon enough."

She nodded but leaned closer. "I miss Aunt Mila. I miss Aunt Lily. They promised that they would show me the pink dress they made for me."

I held her a little tighter. I had no answers. If by morning, they weren't back, we all knew. Something had happened. Alpha Cole would have struck again.

"Jackson!" Alan, who had been guarding the territory entrance, said, causing the rest of us to straighten.

"Grandpa?" Amanda said, and I immediately nodded, a wave of relief flooding through me.

They were back. They were really back.

I ran forward to the entrance, where Jackson slowly walked through, his smile small and forced. Behind him... behind him was no one.

My brows furrowed, and I turned to him. Everyone else checked, and no one said anything to welcome the four other people who had gone to Blackmoon with him.

"Where are the rest?" Alan asked before I could, his voice low, expectant.

I nodded as if it would somehow make the answer come faster.

"In Blackmoon," Jackson answered simply, as he took a seat. He suddenly looked older, more fragile.

"Grandpa Jackson, are Aunt Mila and Aunt Lily coming back soon?"

Jackson gave her a forced smile before his eyes fell to me. I turned to one of the younger girls.

"Take her in."

The girl immediately accepted Amanda from me. She clung on to my dress for a second, and I held her hands.

"Mummy will be there soon, okay?"

She nodded, but once the girl turned away, she started to cry. I hated it. I hated that I would most probably have more bad news for her little, pure heart after.

"Talk to us, Jackson," I said, my voice low. "Why did you come back alone? Why are the rest in Blackmoon? What exactly are they doing there?"

He sighed and leaned back. "They are in prison. I saw them escorted to prison."

All colours immediately drained from my face. I had, for a split second when Jackson's arrival was announced, felt a bit of hope that the Alpha Cole I had desperately been in love with five years ago was still somewhere in there, hanging on.

Now...

"How did you come back?" Alan asked. "I may understand why Gabriel is imprisoned, but what if Mila, Lily, and Sarah?"

Jackson bit down on his lips. "We met Alpha Cole. At first, he was... very understanding. He even praised us for coming forward. All of a sudden, one of his officials came in with a woman. Turns out one out of the two soldiers who were injured succumbed to his injuries. The woman was the soldier's widow, and they demanded justice. Alpha Cole gave it to them, but he picked only Gabriel. Sarah said she wouldn't leave Gabriel alone. Mila and Lily too. Alpha Cole asked me to leave so that if Gabriel had any family, they could be present for his public execution a day after the full moon ball. The ointments I took were useless."

I gasped, my hand covering my mouth. "A... a public execution? Gabriel is only eighteen!"

"It is a matter of honour for them. Alpha Cole has something to prove to his subjects, and this is the best way for him to show them that he is on their side. It is unfortunate, but can we really blame him? He lost two soldiers."

"That is bullshit!" I yelled, my chest heaving hard. My heart was breaking so loudly I thought pieces of it would fly right out of my ribcage. "Gabriel is barely of age."

"But he is still of age! He killed two people and the other is hanging by a thread." Jackson swallowed hard, and I caught a glint of tears on his eyes. "Maybe this is the best for all of us. If Gabriel gets away with murder once, he might not have any qualms..."

"You know Gabriel, Jackson," I said, stepping forward. "He is the sweetest boy. He can be a little reckless..."

"Exactly." Jackson stood up. "Would you say the same thing if you were still Alpha Cole's bodyguard and all you see when you look at Gabriel is a young, untamed killer?"

I swallowed hard, tears filling my eyes. Because I knew, if I was with him, Gabriel would be punished by my own hands.

"He is protecting his people. Why aren't you protecting yours, Jackson?"

"Selena," Alan said, holding me back, but I was too far gone.

Jackson's eyes met mine, and the vulnerability in there slowly curdled to anger. "Don't you dare say that to me, Selena."

"No, you go there, hoping to come back intact, and you come back alone, like a coward, after leaving all four back there. Mila and Lily are more of men than you will ever be because you let that bastard Cole get in your ear and now you wish your own..."

The slap landed on my cheek hard, causing me to stumble back, tears running down my cheeks steadily. My hand slowly came up to cup my cheek, my chest heaving hard.

"I did everything I could to protect Gabriel. Gabriel was troublesome, and always beat up the younger kids. He had anger problems that Sarah refused to address and had trouble controlling his wolf. I told Sarah not to let him go on a hunt just yet and she snuck him out with Mila and Lily. I am not surprised he killed someone. What the fuck are you going to say to the woman who has to go to bed without her husband? Will you explain to them that because Alpha Cole betrayed you, you feel entitled to justify anything wrong that happens to him and his pack?"

My lips quivered as I turned to face Jackson. He was barely holding back his rage. I had never seen him like that.

"I am going to go there," I said simply, my chest heaving. "I am only going to return with Mila and Lily."

Jackson took a step back. "Fine, then. Go. Do whatever you want. If Alpha Cole decides on a punishment for Gabriel, maybe you can take it up with him then."

My eyes darted between both of his, and I turned away, leaving the rest standing around.

"Selena," Alan said, walking into the dimly lit room. I was pacing the length of the room. Amanda had cried herself to sleep before I even got back.

"Don't. Don't tell me I am wrong."

"You are right," Alan said, causing me to stop.

"What?"

"Even if Gabriel killed soldiers, we both know Alpha Cole is simply being cruel. Maybe this is a power trip for him. Maybe this is his way of putting everyone else in their place. He had no right to keep the other three. He had no right to declare public execution for Gabriel. Jackson had no right to hit you."

He covered the distance and gently cupped my cheek, his thumb running along the skin.

I swallowed hard, that familiar feeling of dread climbing in my chest, but I leaned into his hand, letting Alpha Cole's hatred win.

He gave a small smile, then let his other hand settle on my waist.

"Will you help me, then?"

His eyes darted to my lips. "I could. What do you want?"

"I want to enter Blackmoon on the night of the full moon. The security would be a lot more relaxed, and everyone would be distracted. Entering the palace through the servants entrance would be easy, since I know they normally have dance troops for the ball. I know where everything is, and I can use the underground exit meant for rhe Alpha's escape in cases of treason or war if anything goes wrong. Besides, it would be best to sneak then out through it. I will be able to bring them out."

Alan nodded slowly. "Do you need me to come with you? What of Amanda?"

I shook my head. "I should be fine alone. It will be quick. But I will need you to take Amanda. I can't just leave her here, and I trust you. Maybe bring her with us but you will wait outside the palace, in the omega settlements. Those places are unguarded and none of the violence will get to that part of the pack no matter what. We can leave fast once I have the others."

Alan nodded slowly. "What happens if you see him?"

I bit down on my lower lip. "That is why I intend to borrow your hunting silver gun. Mine is not enough."

"Will you kill him?" He asked, leaning closer, his fingers tracing the edge of my waist. He looked almost expectant.

I swallowed. I couldn't imagine killing Alpha Cole. I couldn't imagine...

"Yes. If... If I meet him and he tries to stop me, I intend to kill him."

Alan gave a small smile. "Fine, then. I guess I can forfeit the dance you promised me for that."

He turned and walked away, and I stood there, feeling his fingers on my skin like a claim. The full moon night was in two days. Until then, Mila and Lily.