JUDGEMENT
1177 Words
ALARIC’S POV
Melvin closed the door quietly behind him after giving me a quick update on the men. I stayed where I was, leaning against the window frame, watching Malia sleep.
Her breathing was steady now and her face was relaxed for the first time since the time we'd rescued her.
She’d been through hell tonight. But most importantly, she was here with me. Safe and sound.
“Alpha?” Melvin’s voice came low through the link.
“What is it?” I replied silently.
“They’re restless. Phil’s men. Should I contain them or drag them in front of you?”
“Neither. For now, keep them breathing. I’ll decide their punishment by morning.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
The link cut, and I exhaled slowly. Every instinct in me wanted to end Phil where he stood. But Malia’s voice lingered in my head and I didn't want blood on my hands.
She wouldn’t forgive me if I slaughtered them.
And I needed her forgiveness more than I needed vengeance.
By morning, I was already awake when Malia turned and sat up to look at me.
“You didn’t sleep,” she murmured.
“I don’t need much.”
“That’s not true,” she whispered, her voice still sounding sleepy.
I smirked. “Maybe. But I sleep better knowing you’re safe.”
She blushed, tugging the blanket up to hide herself playfully. I reached over and pulled it gently back down.
“Pumpkin, don’t hide from me,” I said, a smirk slowly forming on my face.
Her eyes lifted to mine. “I wasn’t…” She sighed, shaking her head. “I’m sorry.”
“There it is again,” I teased, brushing her cheek slightly. “The apologies.”
She smiled faintly. “Maybe it’s my thing.”
“Well, it’s a bad thing. We’ll fix it.”
She laughed briefly.
I joined in as well.
In that short moment of sharing a laugh with her, I was truly happy to have her back.
At breakfast, the house was as quiet as it usually was except for the servants who moved around carrying out their morning duties. The weight of last night still lingered in the air.
“Eat,” I told her, passing the bread basket.
“I’m not that hungry,” she admitted.
“You need the strength, pumpkin. Trust me.”
She hesitated, then tore a piece of bread.
I took a sip from the cup of coffee in front of me.
“What’s going to happen to them?” she asked quietly.
“Phil and his men?”
She nodded.
I set down my cup. “They’re not walking away free. But I’ll find a punishment that doesn’t stain your conscience.”
Her brows furrowed. “You don’t need to do that for me…”
“Yes, I do,” I cut her off. “Because you matter. And because what they did isn’t just about you. It’s about disrespect to me, to the pack.”
She bit her lip, nodding slowly.
“Trust me, pumpkin. Justice will be served.”
Later that day, I gathered the inner circle in the war room. Melvin, Vince and two other warriors stood around the table.
“Phil crossed a line,” I began. “He threatened what belongs to me. He tied her up and counted down her death. The audacity!”
Vince shifted uncomfortably. “Alpha, the council will demand blood for this.”
“They’ll demand mine,” I corrected coldly. “Raul will use this to push for Malia’s exile.”
The men exchanged wary glances.
Melvin spoke calmly. “We keep them alive. Let the council see restraint. But we break their power. Strip Phil of his claim to territory. Make him a shadow of what he thought he was.”
I nodded slowly. “Exactly.”
“And the girl?” Vince asked cautiously. “Will she…stay here?”
I turned to face him sharply. “She’s not just ‘the girl.’ She’s my Luna.”
The room went silent.
Melvin smirked faintly, hiding it quickly. Vince dropped his gaze, muttering, “Yes, Alpha.”
“Prepare the papers,” I ordered. “By tonight, Phil’s territory will be absorbed. His men will swear fear or leave.”
“And Raul?” Melvin asked.
I clenched my jaw. “Let him come. I’ll deal with him.”
MALIA’S POV
By afternoon, I couldn’t sit still. I wandered from the room to the balcony, to the gardens, back to the room again.
My mind kept replaying Phil’s countdown. The rope against my wrists. The laughter.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw his face leaning close, mocking me.
I hugged myself tightly, staring at the flowers below. “You should’ve been braver,” I whispered.
“You were brave,” Mai countered. “You survived.”
“Barely.”
“That’s still survival.”
I sighed. “What if they try again? What if the council decides I don’t belong?”
Mai was quiet for a long moment. Then: “Maybe it’s time you decide what you believe, Malia. Not what Raul thinks. Not the common stereotype that most of them here see as you as. What do you believe about yourself?”
The question remained hanging in my chest. I didn’t answer. I wasn’t ready.
When Alaric returned later, his expression was unreadable.
“What happened?” I asked immediately.
“It’s done. Phil’s finished. His men surrendered immediately”
“And Phil?”
“Alive. But stripped. He won’t have the power to touch you or anyone else again.”
Relief came, but not completely. “Thank you,” I whispered.
He reached for my chin, lifting my face up.
“Pumpkin, stop thanking me for doing what I should do. Protecting you isn’t charity. It’s my oath.”
My eyes started to well up with tears. “You make it sound so easy.”
“It is,” he said simply.
We stood in silence for a full minute, in each others arms just grateful to be close to each other again.
Then he spoke softly “The council will call for us soon. Be ready.”
My stomach dropped. “What if they…”
He leaned closer, his forehead pressed on mine. “Then we fight. Together.”
That night, as I lay beside him, I couldn’t sleep. His breathing was steady but mine wasn’t.
The council, Raul, the whispers of the staff.
Everything felt like a bad omen, like I was expecting something to happen, something bad that would take me by surprise in the worst way possible.
I wasn't sure I was ready to fight anymore. But I couldn't run. I'd tried that before and it hadn't ended well. I loved Alaric with everything in me but I was as weak as everyone assumed I was.
But maybe, for the first time, I could be more.
I could take physical combat classes, be better and braver for Alaric and myself.
- Writer
