A Breaking Bond

While Charleza heads home, the pack members in the ballroom continue their celebration of the full moon and the news that their future Alpha has found his connection.

“Aler, my office.” Alpha Fynlo says quietly as he leans toward his Beta.

Under normal circumstances, he would have used the mind-link, but he wanted to send a message to the rest of the Mildglow family.

“I thought I was clear when I told you to treat Charleza as one of your children. I tolerated it when Rozena raised her, because it benefited the pack and me. What I never agreed to was the lack of responsibility you and Calyree showed.” Alpha Fynlo is looking at his Beta as he sits down.

“We never wanted a third child. Unfortunately, due to circumstances, Calyree got pregnant, and the discovery was made after it was medically unwise to terminate.” Beta Aler explains to his Alpha once again.

Alpha Fynlo slowly shakes his head as he closes his eyes for a moment. He has heard it before, and it still doesn’t make sense.

“Why not give her up for adoption? I have asked this before, and I am tired of not getting an answer.”

“As I mentioned before, it was a family decision to let my mother raise Charleza. We considered adoption, but my mother wouldn’t hear of it.” Beta Aler has repeatedly given this information to his Alpha, but something about it never felt right to Alpha Fynlo.

After Beta Aler has left the office, Alpha Fynlo leans back in his worn leather chair. He stares at the stack of manila folders on the dark wood desktop without actually seeing them.

His mind keeps returning to the words: a family decision. He slowly turns his chair, but his eyes don’t register the room's familiarity.

The large windows to his left show a view he can describe with his eyes closed. He can navigate to the sitting area a few steps down blindfolded. He can find the books on the bookshelf to his right and the family photos on different surfaces throughout the room.

This office has been the same since his grandfather took over as Alpha, and he knows it like the back of his hand.

“Did he tell you anything new?” Luna Janed asks after she closes the door behind her.

“No. Same answer as always. A family decision.” Alpha Fynlo has turned his chair the other way and pulls his mate onto his lap, burying his nose in her hair.

Neither speaks as they hold the other a little tighter. Neither has an answer to why a parent or their shifter half could ignore a child.

“Dad, why is it necessary to remind Rivanon of a sister who is jealous of her?” Lohan asks as he walks into the office without knocking.

“Who says that Charleza is jealous of Rivanon?” Luna Janed lifts her head to look at her son.

Lohan sits in a chair in front of the desk, facing his parents. He hasn’t bothered to close the door, and with a sigh, Luna Janed gets up to close it behind him.

Her eyes meet those of Rivanon, and she suspects the door was left open on purpose.

“Everyone knows she is jealous of Rivanon. Of her blond hair and blue eyes, of her intelligence, and now of the connection between Rivanon and me.” Lohan answers.

Alpha Fynlo jumps to his feet and starts pacing behind his desk, while Luna Janed stares at her son in disbelief.

“Lohan, there is no reason for Charleza to be jealous of Rivanon’s intelligence. She graduated without any issues and has been working outside the territory for a few years now. Whether or not she is jealous of the blond hair and blue eyes is anyone’s guess.

I do know that I have never heard her complain about it. What I would like to know is who told you that Charleza was jealous of your connection?” Alpha Fynlo asks while his mate sits next to Lohan.

“Rivanon and Calyree. They told me that Charleza said Rivanon didn’t deserve a connection, and that she was too stupid to be a Luna.” Lohan says after a minute of silence.

Luna Janed looks up at her mate, remembering what Gamma Telo said in the ballroom after Charleza was accused by her mother.

Alpha Fynlo dismisses his son without looking at him. The door slams shut, and he sighs, turning toward his mate.

“When will someone address the elephant in the room?” Alpha Fynlo chuckles as he shakes his head. Luna Janed isn’t always tactful when she is irritated or when someone beats around the bush.

“I’m not going to. Lohan knows the consequences, and I have warned him twice already. If they believe the laws don’t apply to Lohan because he is my firstborn, then they are in for a surprise.” Both stare at the door as a soft knock sounds.

The door slowly opens and Ealish, a Sigma, walks in while Alpha Fynlo gestures toward a chair in front of his desk.

Ealish is one of the teachers who kept him informed about Charleza’s progress in school. She is also one of the few pack members who know the entire truth about her connection to the pack’s Beta family.

“I am sorry to disturb you, but when I saw you heading to your office with Beta Aler, I knew this was the best time for me to talk to you, Alpha,” Ealish says as she folds her hands in her lap.

Luna Janed looks at her mate, but he seems to be as surprised by this visit as she is.

“Ealish, why don’t you tell us what is bothering you? I am convinced that together we can come to a solution.” Alpha Fynlo sits down behind his desk. Deep down, he fears they might not be able to find a solution.

“I have enjoyed living here, teaching the children and making this my home, even after my parents died. Don’t think for a moment I haven’t thought this through, because I have changed my mind several times, and each time I returned to the same conclusion.

For my own peace of mind and for the good of this pack, it is best if I leave the territory and find another place to live.” Ealish doesn’t look at Alpha Fynlo as she tells him what is on her mind.

Alpha Fynlo and Luna Janed speak through their mind-link. Neither understands where this is coming from, and both understand Ealish will not tell them.

“Have you thought about where you will go, Ealish? I can make a few calls to allied Alphas and ask if they are willing to take you in.” Alpha Fynlo says after a while.

“I have already found a job in Ebonpost. They would like me to start as soon as possible.” Ealish answers.

Ebonpost is a small town about half an hour's drive from the Dark Wind territory, and anyone who works outside the territory usually finds a job there. Every shifter who lives in a town, village, or city has chosen to live without pack hierarchy for whatever reason.

 “I, Ealish Brightshine, break my bond with the Dark Wind pack and denounce Alpha Fynlo Whiteblade as my Alpha.” Despite knowing it was coming, a roar escapes him as the bond breaks.

Ealish doesn’t wait for anyone to excuse her and walks out of the office as Lohan and Aler approach. She moves to the left as Lohan reaches for her, and continues to walk away from the office and out of the pack house.

No one notices the swinging of plant leaves or the back door closing. Everyone is too busy questioning what happened to notice a figure moving quickly past the office windows.