Punishment for Joy

Eventually, the laughter fades. Mae lets out a loud yawn, followed by Savannah groaning about sore hips from lying on the ground. The stars above are still shimmering, but the air has cooled, and dew clings to our clothes and skin.

“We should get back,” Savannah murmurs, sounding reluctant. “Before someone notices.”

Mae sighs dramatically. “What’s life without a little danger?”

Lloyd rises first, brushing grass from his clothes. Then he turns toward us, offering a hand to each of us in turn. “Come on,” he says. “I’ll walk you back.”

We exchange glances. It's dangerous—getting caught out this late could mean punishment. But Lloyd’s presence feels like armor, like he could somehow make anything forgivable.

We move in silence through the trees, our steps muffled by the moss and soil. I trail a little behind, my thoughts a muddle of loyalty, guilt, and something else—a strange warmth that refuses to burn out even as Cole’s name echoes in my mind.

We barely make it to the edge of the pack's northern trail when a sharp voice slices through the air.

“Halt!”

Mae grabs my arm, Savannah lets out a breathy curse, and we freeze. Two guards materialize from the shadows—gammas we hadn’t accounted for.

“What do we have here?” one says with a sneer, stepping forward. “Sneaking out for a late-night run, girls? You know the rules.” My heart jumps into my throat. I feel Mae tense beside me, her mouth already opening—probably to spin something half-true. But before she can speak, a low, commanding voice sounds behind us.

“They’re with me.”

We all whip around.

Lloyd emerges from the shadows at our backs, calm, casual—and radiating authority like a second skin. His silver gaze gleams under the moonlight, steady. His hands are in his pockets, but his stance… his stance demands obedience.

The guards freeze.

“Lloyd,” one stammers. “We—uh—we didn’t know you were with them—”

“That much is clear.” Lloyd steps forward, past us now, eyes sharp and expression cool. “I brought them out to gather moon-herb for the Luna. Under the full moon, it’s stronger, and she’s been struggling to sleep.”

The other guard, who’d been so proud posturing just seconds ago, drops his gaze.

“We meant no offense, sir. Just doing our rounds,” he mutters. Lloyd regards them coldly for a few seconds. You could cut the tension with how thick it is. Lloyd stops directly in front of them. His voice, when he speaks again, is cold steel wrapped in velvet.

“If you were doing your rounds properly, you would have sensed me sooner. Or do you not recognize an Alpha’s presence anymore?” The word Alpha lands like a thunderclap. Both guards instinctively bow their heads, the shift in power tangible in the air.

“No, sir,” they mutter in unison. “Apologies.”

Lloyd stares them down for another moment, the silence stretching, thick with unspoken things. Then, with a subtle flick of his hand, he waves us forward. “Go on. You’re dismissed.”

The guards nod quickly and retreat into the trees without another word.

I blink, stunned. Savannah and Mae are already halfway down the path, eager to put distance between themselves and what just happened. But I remain rooted.

“You didn’t have to do that,” I whisper, in awe at how natural it seemed for Lloyd to command the gammas.

Lloyd’s gaze finds mine again. There’s something restrained in his eyes—something heavy and quiet.

“I did,” he says. “They needed to be reminded.”

I frown. “Of what?”

He takes a step closer, his voice low. “That I am not beneath them.”

There’s a beat of silence. Then he gently places his hand on my back, guiding me forward. As we walk, the air around us still humming from his command, I can’t stop the guilt creeping back in. I’m not supposed to feel safe like this. Not with him. Not when I’m supposed to belong to someone else.

The others peel off one by one—Savannah with a grateful hug, Mae with a whispered joke and a dramatic wink—but I hang back.

Lloyd stays by my side, silent as we walk the familiar path to the pack house. The night air has grown cooler, brushing against my skin and sending small shivers down my spine, but his presence is warm beside me. Comforting in a way I didn’t expect.

We reach the front of the house, but he doesn’t stop there. He follows me up the steps and down the hall, until we’re standing in front of my door.

I hesitate, hand on the knob, unsure what to say or if I should say anything at all. My fingers tighten around the cool metal as I glance at him from the corner of my eye. He’s looking at me—not through me, not past me, but truly at me.

“Thank you… for tonight,” I say, my voice soft, laced with sincerity and something a little raw.

His eyes meet mine—clear and calm, but something stirs behind them. An emotion I can’t quite place. Soft. Open. Real.

“You needed it,” he says quietly. “A night where you could just breathe.”

His words land deeper than I expect. I swallow hard, the lump in my throat forming before I can stop it. How did he know? I nod slowly, as if that’s enough to say the dozen things tangled inside me.

My voice comes out small. “You didn’t have to walk me back.”

“I know,” he replies, voice gentle. “But I wanted to.”

There’s something about the way he says it—simple, unwavering. It doesn’t feel like an obligation. It feels like a choice. The kind that leaves a mark.

There’s a silence. Not heavy. Just… full. Like something hangs in the space between us, unspoken but understood. I don’t want to step inside just yet, afraid the moment will vanish the second the door closes.

He takes a slow step back, his eyes still on me. “Goodnight, Scarlet.”

His voice wraps around my name like a memory—like it matters. I glance up—and his expression stops me.

That look.

It isn’t possessive or intense or demanding. It’s just… warm. Genuine. Like he sees me. Like he wants nothing from me except for me to be okay.

Something flickers in my chest, both unfamiliar and familiar all at once. My heart squeezes unexpectedly, confused by how safe I feel in his presence when I shouldn’t.

“Goodnight, Lloyd,” I whisper back, my voice almost catching.

He holds my gaze for one more moment, something unreadable passing between us—tender and almost bittersweet—then turns and walks away with quiet steps down the hall.

I linger in the doorway, watching his figure disappear into the hallway’s shadows. My room feels too still now, too quiet. As if his absence left a space behind that hadn’t existed before.

Once I’m alone, I lean my forehead against the door and let out a slow, quiet breath. Hot tears drip down my face as the guilt and shame flood back in. Was I so desperate to go to Lloyd? I cover my mouth swallowing a gentle whimper. Must I always cry?

The Next Morning

I wake to sunlight gently streaming through my curtains, warm and soft against my face. For a moment, I forget everything—the forest, the ritual, the fear. I only remember stars and the sound of laughter. The calm of Lloyd’s voice. The way he looked at me like I mattered. But the spell doesn’t last long.

A sharp knock cuts through the air like a blade. Not gentle. Not patient. A series of hard thuds that demand, not request. I sit up slowly, heart already starting to tighten. The door swings open before I can respond.

Cole strides in.

He’s already dressed in dark training gear, posture stiff, jaw set like stone. There’s an edge to his movements—controlled, but barely. His eyes scan the room like it’s a battlefield and I’m the soldier who failed him.

“You weren’t in your room last night,” he says flatly, crossing his arms.

No good morning. No warmth.

I blink, caught off guard. “I—Mae, Savannah, and I went for a walk. We just needed air.”

Cole’s nostrils flare. He takes a step closer, the tension rolling off him in waves. “You snuck out, Scarlet. With no protection. No clearance. Do you have any idea what kind of message that sends to the pack?”

The calm I woke with begins to dissolve. I shrink back into the sheets, hands twisting in my lap. “I—I didn’t think it would be that serious. We were safe.”

“You didn’t think,” he snaps, and I flinch at the steel in his tone.

He sees it—how I retreat—and his features shift for a split second. Regret? Or annoyance? I can’t tell. He exhales and scrubs a hand down his face.

“I’ve been trying, Scarlet. Trying to prove to them that you’re capable, that you belong by my side—and you’re sneaking out like a pup on a dare.”

His words cut deeper than they should. Shame burns in my chest, curling low in my stomach. But then I think of the stars again. The quiet. The way Lloyd didn’t make me feel like a burden.

“We didn’t go far,” I say softly, scrambling for his approval. “And… Lloyd was with us. He made sure we got back safely.”

That gets his attention.His head tilts slightly, lips pressing into a thin line. “Lloyd?” he echoes, voice sharp.

I nod, cringing as I realize maybe that was a mistake. The silence that follows is tense and brittle, like a stretched wire ready to snap. His jaw ticks as he looks away for a moment.

“I’ll have a talk with him,” Cole mutters, but it feels more like a warning than a decision.

Something in me rebels at that. I pick at my bed cover, eyes downcast. “He didn’t do anything wrong. He helped.”

Cole turns back to me, his eyes colder than I expect. “You don’t know him like I do, Scarlet.”

I open my mouth—but there’s nothing to say that wouldn’t make things worse. I look down instead, the peace from last night now a memory slipping through my fingers. That wasn’t true, I should know him the most.

Cole moves toward the door but pauses just before stepping out. “Training’s mandatory this morning. You’re not exempt.”

I swallow thickly, and nod. He gives an unimpressed huff before walking out of the room. I quickly get dress and hope that today will be one of the easier training sessions. When I arrive I instantly notice the lack of any other omegas. I lower my head to all the warriors who look at me oddly.

“Line up!” Cole calls, eyes narrowing as he surveys the room. I rush to get in the line even though I feel out of place. I try my best to look like normal. Cole walks down the line, eyes guarded. It isn’t until he stops in front of me that he finally speaks again.

“Scarlet, we will need to see how your fighting is so far, you will spar with Gamma Rhea,” Cole says, coldly. I gulp, glancing at the gamma in question. She is not a gentle warrior. She is known to be brutal and ruthless. I see many confused looks being thrown around in the crowd. I simply nod and walk forward.

Gamma Rhea walks slowly to me, her eyes unsure but determination shines through. Cole gives the signal, and she doesn’t hesitate. She lunges forward, aiming for my face with a powerful punch. I managed to duck in time, terrified. The kick she sends makes it’s mark. I double over, struggling to breathe.

She takes this time to bring her knee up towards my face. I place my hand over my face in time to slightly cushion the blow. I stumble back and fall into the dirt, moving my hands to look to Cole. He doesn’t call an end, instead he signals to the hesitating gamma to continue.

Gamma Rhea kicks me in the ribs, hard. My head start to spin as the pain is almost unbearable. I cough out a pathetic whimper. Gamma Rhea stops, beginning to look sick.. Black dots begin to cloud my vision. I can feel blood seeping out as I pass out.