CONSEQUENCES
723 Words
Kael barely slept.
Every time he closed his eyes…
He was back in the courtyard.
He heard his own voice.
‘I, Kael, future Alpha of Moon Shadow Pack, reject you…’
Then he heard hers.
‘I, Liyana of Moon Shadow Pack, accept your rejection…’
He woke with a sharp breath.
The room was silent.
He rubbed a hand over his face before sitting up.
It was still dark outside.
Inside his mind…
Nothing.
“Onyx?”
Silence.
“I know you’re awake.”
Nothing.
The silence was becoming unbearable.
Liyana threw herself into work.
She woke early.
She helped prepare breakfast.
She cleaned.
She carried supplies.
She made herself useful wherever she could.
One of the elders frowned as she handed him his meal.
“Liyana.”
She looked up.
“Yes?”
“Have you been eating?”
She smiled politely.
“Of course.”
The elder didn’t believe her.
“You’ve lost weight.”
“I’m alright.”
“You don’t look alright.”
Liyana lowered her eyes.
“I’ll be fine.”
The elder sighed.
“I hope so.”
As she walked away, Nova spoke quietly.
‘You should eat.’
Liyana blinked.
It wasn’t much.
But it was more than Nova had said all day.
“I’ll try.”
Nova didn’t answer again.
A young warrior approached Kael after training.
“Alpha.”
Kael looked up.
“Alpha Magnus wants to see you.”
Kael nodded.
“I’ll be there.”
He assumed it was another meeting.
Maybe patrols.
Maybe training schedules.
Instead, when he entered the Alpha House, Magnus simply looked at him.
“Sit.”
Kael did.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Magnus asked,
“How are you?”
Kael answered without thinking.
“I’m fine.”
Magnus held his gaze.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then he sighed.
“No, you’re not.”
Kael looked away.
The silence stretched between them.
Finally, Magnus spoke again.
“You’ve been quieter these past few days.”
Kael nodded.
“I have.”
“Why?”
Kael took a slow breath.
“I did what I had to do.”
Magnus didn’t argue.
He simply asked,
“Did you?”
The question hung in the room.
Kael frowned.
“The pack needs a strong Luna.”
Magnus remained silent.
“Everyone was watching.”
Still nothing.
“I have responsibilities.”
Magnus leaned back slightly.
“I know you do.”
Kael looked at him.
“I made the decision an Alpha should make.”
Magnus was quiet for a moment.
Then he asked,
“Was it your decision…”
“…or your fear?”
Kael’s heart sank.
He opened his mouth.
Then closed it again.
No answer came.
Magnus watched him.
“I’ve spent years teaching you how to lead.”
“I only hope…”
“…that when the time comes, you lead with wisdom instead of fear.”
Kael lowered his head.
He couldn’t stop thinking about the question.
Had it really been his decision?
Or had he been afraid?
As Kael left the Alpha House, he reached for Onyx again.
“Onyx…”
A long silence followed.
Then…
For the first time since the rejection…
Onyx answered.
‘He was right.’
Kael stopped walking.
“Onyx…”
But the black wolf had already disappeared again.
Kael stood there, more conflicted than ever.
That evening, Liyana sat quietly inside the cottage.
The shawl Maren had made rested across her lap.
Her fingers traced the neat stitches.
Maren walked in and sat beside her.
She didn’t ask any questions.
She didn’t offer advice.
She simply stayed.
The silence was comforting.
After a while, Liyana spoke.
“Will it always hurt this much?”
Maren looked at her gently.
“No.”
Liyana waited.
A small pause filled the room.
“But it will hurt for a while.”
Liyana nodded.
“I thought so.”
Maren reached over and squeezed her hand.
“You don’t have to go through it alone.”
Liyana leaned against her.
“I know.”
That night…
Kael stood alone beneath the moon.
The village was quiet.
A cool breeze moved through the trees.
He looked up at the sky.
For the first time…
He wondered if he had made the biggest mistake of his life.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD