The Decision

Liam.

“We have tolerated most of your decisions, alpha.” Elder Gordon said with a heavy voice after listening to my proposal to let Caleb stay in the pack. The other elders watched him as he spoke. “But letting him back into a territory will be a big mistake we can’t let happen. We’ve heard the stories of his escapades. We can’t let him stay.”

Five elders sat in a semicircle facing me. I was seated at the head of the table, observing them. Murmurs of agreement rose from his colleagues. 

“My brother is not an enemy. He’s of the same blood as I.”

They were talking about him as if he were some kind of monster. When I was younger, the things I was told about the darkness that possessed him scared me. I had grown up scared of him, but with time that fear had lessened.

Stories about his wild and reckless behavior reached the pack, but the things he did were not as bad as one would expect. He was just like any wild rogue, trying to survive by any means necessary. Occasionally he went too far, but I always figured there was a justifiable cause. After meeting him, I wasn’t afraid anymore.

“But the goddess cursed his blood. He carries misfortune everywhere he goes. In fact, two pups in the nursery fell ill on the night he arrived. Do you really think that’s a coincidence?”

“Was it the first-time pups fell ill? Get serious, all of you. You can’t blame that on him. Find out what really caused the sickness. This irrational fear and superstition will not help the pack.”

This was beyond ridiculous. People had been getting sick long before Caleb thought of returning to the pack. Obviously, it was not about to stop because that was part of life.

“He was exiled for a reason, Alpha Liam. The bond between twins is strong, but it cannot erase a curse. You trust him because emotions have clouded your judgment. What if he loses control?”

I didn’t say anything. I thought for a while before looking up. “He’s my brother, and I’ve been aching to meet him all my life. This is the best chance I’ve got to get to know him.”

Caleb did not seem like he was back to cause any trouble.  I had spoken to him and realized he just wanted to belong. He wanted to live among his people, having lived away for so long. Above all, he wanted us to get to know each other. Since my parents were dead, he was the closest person I had.

Imagine being thrown out of your pack as a baby and being left at the mercy of the elements. It was so cruel that the elders did not even give him a chance. Maybe he would have lived a completely normal life. My father always said it was for the best, but it seemed he was just trying to convince himself. It was a good thing that my mother passed a few weeks after having us because the heartbreak would have killed her.

“This is not okay,” Carol Jensen said. “I’m sorry, but I have to say you shouldn’t let yourself be fooled by him.”

I stood up. “As long as I stand as the alpha of this pack, my brother stays. If that’s a problem for any of you, you’re free to challenge me.”

Silence fell into the room. No one spoke. “You wanted a strong alpha. You got one. The meeting is over.”

Before anyone could do anything, I left the room, leaving them visibly stunned. After leaving them, I went to my office and did some paperwork.

Three hours later, I was walking beside my brother, both of us carrying gear from the training grounds. We had gone there to spend time together, away from the prying eyes of the pack. At first, I thought our meeting would be awkward and tense, but it turned out to be the opposite.

We were talking about the elders. Caleb mimicked elder Joshua’s sour look so accurately that I laughed out loud. He had only spoken to the man twice but could mimic his expressions. 

“You got that one perfectly,” I commented.

“I’ve had years of practice. Mocking authority is my thing. Ask anyone in the rogue camps. Some loved me, and others tried to kill me.”

“Must have been a crazy life.”

“You don’t know the half of it. That’s why I’m back. I’m tired of moving up and down, going from place to place and never having a place to call home. It sounds fun. Most people who break away from packs have fun for a few months before deciding it’s not as fun as it seems. Routines seem boring, but I could kill for one.”

“I’m glad you’re back. We hear so many things about you.”

“I bet most of them are bad.”

I nodded. We reached a fallen log and sat on it.

“Well, I guess I’m not much of a straight arrow,” he said, cracking his knuckles. “But I’m not here to cause trouble. I need some peace, even just for a little while.”

Everyone judged without really understanding him. I was determined to listen to his side and give him a chance, even if it made everyone go against me.

I stared at him. His face looked rougher than mine and more tanned. “I wonder what it would have been like to grow up with you. I always felt something missing.”

“It would have been so much fun. We could have replaced each other and no one would ever know. We could have played pranks on everyone.”

I smiled, thinking about it. He was right. They robbed us of something so important. 

“I was always thinking of you. Even when I was robbing people or doing some other stupid things. I felt like someone should have been there beside me. Sitting here with you. This is the first time I don’t feel hollow.”

“Me too,” I said, feeling a tightness in my chest. For the first time in my life, I didn’t feel alone. We were silent for a while, lost in our thoughts. 

After about ten minutes, Caleb broke the silence.

“Why her?”

I glanced at him. “What?”

“Your fiancée. She’s beautiful but not exactly the type of woman I thought you’d choose. She seems boring, like the kind of woman that folds laundry for fun.”

“She’s strong-willed, smart and very loyal.”

“I don’t mean it in a bad way, but as the alpha, you could have had any she-wolf in the region. There are more powerful bloodlines that would offer their daughters to you. So why select an average woman. I saw you today, and could tell you’re not in love with her, so that can’t be it.”

“You don’t have to worry about that.”

“Why did you lie to her and everyone? I know the moon didn’t choose her. It was you and the elders.”

I stood up. He was my twin, but this was a highly sensitive topic.  “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Something is off,” he said.

I went and stood in front of him. “If you want to stay in this pack, you’ve got to learn to mind your own business. Don’t go talking about this to anyone, especially Stacey. In case you need to know, I’m the only person on your side right now. Don’t ruin that.”

Contrary to what everyone thought, Stacey miller was no average werewolf.  Even she didn’t know what she was capable of.

In due time, the pack was going to find out who she was.