Chapter Ten

BROKEN 

LUCIEN 

The Alpha’s voice echoed through the whole hall.

Everyone froze.

“WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?”

The guards holding the whip dropped their arms. Bren hung against the post, crying and shaking. Captain Rolkan stared at me with anger and fear mixed on his face.

My father, the Alpha, walked forward slowly, his steps were loud and heavy. His eyes were locked on me first, then on Bren, then on the blood on the floor.

He stopped in front of us.

“Lucien,” he said, voice deep and cold, “explain this.”

I took a breath. “Bren stabbed Erwin. I gave him the rightful punishment.”

Silence.

Then my father turned his head sharply toward Captain Rolkan.

“Is this true?”

Rolkan bowed his head. “Yes, Alpha. But the punishment—”

My father raised a hand to silence him.

Then he looked back at me.

And he shouted.

“ARE YOU MAD?!”

The hall shook with his voice.

I stared at him, my chest tightening. My ears rang. Everyone turned to me with wide eyes. My throat felt heavy, and for a moment I could not breathe.

“Father—”

“No,” he barked. “I asked you a question. Are you mad? Have you lost your mind completely?”

Heat rushed to my face. I felt the shame burn under my skin. The whole hall watched. Guards, servants, warriors… all of them staring.

They knew he disliked me.

But hearing it out loud… this directly…

It cut into me in a way I could not hide.

I stood straighter. “He stabbed someone who did nothing wrong.”

My father stepped closer until he was right in front of me. “And you ordered thirty-two lashes? On Rolkan’s son?”

“He used a blade,” I said. “He almost killed Erwin.”

“That is not your decision to make!” my father roared. “You think you can do whatever you want because you sit in that chair? You think you have the right?”

I clenched my fists. “I do not want rights. I want justice.”

“JUSTICE?” he threw his head back and laughed without humor. “Do you know what justice is? You have never fought for this pack. You have never stood on the front lines. You have never shed blood for your people.”

His eyes sharpened.

“YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT JUSTICE IS.”

My jaw tightened. Pain shot through my wooden leg, but I stood still.

Rolkan stepped forward. “Alpha, my son—”

My father snapped, “Quiet, Rolkan. I know you are loyal to me. I would never let your son be beaten like a criminal.”

I could not believe what I was hearing.

“He stabbed someone,” I said again. “He stabbed him. He hurt him badly. He—”

“ENOUGH!” my father yelled. “No more arguing!”

The entire room remained still. No one breathed too loudly. No one moved an inch.

My father pointed at the guards.

“Untie Bren.”

The guards hurried to obey.

Rolkan ran to his son and held him as Bren sobbed into his chest. The sight made something burn inside me again, but this time it wasn’t anger. It was something else. Something heavier.

My father then raised his voice.

“Everyone is dismissed.”

People rushed out fast, not wanting to be near the storm building in the Alpha’s voice.

Only three people stayed:

Me.

Rolkan.

And Bren.

My father turned toward us again, eyes full of fury.

“Lucien,” he said, “you embarrassed this pack in front of everyone.”

“I did what was right,” I said. “That boy could have killed Erwin. Someone needed to teach him—”

“Do not talk back to me!” he snapped. “I will not let you shame me again.”

His voice grew colder.

“You will apologize to Bren.”

My eyes widened. “What?”

Rolkan blinked, surprised. Bren stared at me with confusion and fear.

My father repeated himself slowly.

“You. Will. Apologize.”

I shook my head. “No.”

Rolkan looked at me, shocked. “My prince—”

“I said no,” I repeated. “I will not apologize to someone who stabbed an innocent person.”

My father stepped closer and leaned down to my level, staring into my eyes.

“You will apologize,” he said, voice low and dangerous, “or you will prove to everyone in this pack that you are worthless. You will prove that you have no sense. No power and no strength.”

I swallowed hard.

“I did nothing wrong,” I answered. “And I will not apologize.”

My father’s jaw tightened. His eyes burned with anger.

Then he said the words that broke something inside me.

“You should be grateful that Rolkan fights for this pack,” he growled. “Because you never could.”

The words landed like a blade.

He didn’t stop.

“Rolkan defends this land. Rolkan bleeds for us. Rolkan keeps our people safe. What do you do, Lucien?”

He stared at my wooden leg.

“You limp.”

The world went quiet.

I couldn’t speak.

Rolkan looked away, uncomfortable.

Bren looked confused again, wiping his tears.

I felt something deep in my chest twist painfully, but I kept my face blank.

“You should bow your head,” my father said, “and thank the warriors who fight for the place you sleep in. Because you will never stand beside them. You will never stand strong like them.”

His words hit me harder than the shouts.

I finally spoke, voice low and sharp. “Is that all?”

“For now,” he said coldly.

I nodded once, turned around, and walked out before my face betrayed anything.

The guards watched me leave. Some looked away. Some looked sorry. Some didn’t look at all.

I walked down the hall slowly, careful not to limp more than usual. My leg hurt, but not as much as my chest.

I reached my chamber door, stepped inside, and shut it behind me.

I locked it.

I didn’t want anyone to come in. Not a servant. Not a guard. Not even the air from the hall.

I walked to my bed and sat down heavily.

Then I laid back, staring at the ceiling.

My hands were shaking.

My jaw ached from clenching it too long.

And my heart…

My heart felt like something heavy sat on it.

I closed my eyes.

I didn’t cry.

I didn’t make a sound.

I just lay there, listening to my own breathing, trying to understand how a person could feel this much pain without bleeding.