The Alpha's Rejected Mate

Chapter 15: The Calm Before

The hall was quiet. Too quiet.

I sat on the throne. Alone. Thinking. Two warriors dead. Seven girls alive. Was it worth it? I didn't know. Maybe yes. Maybe no. Maybe the question didn't matter.

Ryder walked in. Slow. His face was tired. Dark circles under his eyes.

"The families of Jonas and Tarek," he said. "They want to see you."

"Now?"

"Now."

I stood up. Walked out.

The pack house yard was full. People standing. Watching. Two bodies on the ground. Covered with white cloth. Blood seeping through. Red on white. Ugly.

An old woman stepped forward. Her eyes were red. Cried out.

"You," she spat. "You did this."

I didn't answer.

"My son followed you. Believed in you. And now he's dead."

"I know."

"Know?" She laughed. Mean. Broken. "You don't know nothing. You're not Alpha. You're just a killer."

I stood there. Took it. Didn't argue. Didn't defend.

Another woman stepped forward. Younger. Holding a child.

"My husband," she said. "Tarek. He went because you asked. He trusted you."

"He fought well," I said.

"Fighting well didn't bring him back."

"No. It didn't."

She stared at me. Waiting for something. An apology. Tears. Anything.

I had nothing.

"I'm sorry," I said. "It's not enough. I know. But I'm sorry."

She turned away. Walked back to the bodies. Didn't say nothing else.

I walked to the edge of the yard. Ryder followed.

"That was hard," he said.

"Yes."

"They're not wrong to blame you."

"I know."

"But you're not wrong either. Those girls are alive because of you."

I looked at the seven girls. Standing with their families. Crying. Hugging. Alive.

"Maybe," I said. "But Jonas and Tarek are still dead."

Ryder didn't answer. What could he say?

I went back to the throne room. Sat down. Closed my eyes.

The voice was quiet. For once. No whispers. No bloodlust. Just silence.

I didn't know if that was good or bad.

Someone knocked. Soft. Scared.

"Come in."

Mira walked in. The girl from the camp. The one who fed dogs.

She stood in front of the throne. Small. Broken. But standing.

"You wanted something?" I asked.

"I wanted to say thank you."

"You don't have to."

"I know. But I wanted to."

I looked at her. Really looked. Fourteen years old. Already seen too much.

"Ryder said you were kind," I said. "He was right."

She almost smiled. Almost.

"They're going to come for you now," she said. "The other packs. They won't forget what you did."

"I know."

"Are you scared?"

"No."

"Then you're braver than me."

I stood up. Walked to her. Kneeled. So we were the same height.

"I'm not brave," I said. "I'm just too angry to be scared."

She looked at me. Really looked.

"Can I stay here?" she asked. "In the pack house. I don't wanna go back to my family's house. Not yet."

"Yes. Stay as long as you need."

She nodded. Walked out.

Ryder came back in. Watching Mira leave.

"She's strong," he said.

"She's fourteen."

"Still strong."

I sat back on the throne. Tired. Heavy.

"The other packs," I said. "How long before they come?"

"A week. Maybe two. Maybe less."

"Then we prepare."

"How? We have twelve warriors left. Shadow Fang had twenty. The other packs are bigger."

I looked at my hands. My claws. My blood.

"Then I fight alone."

"Lila..."

"I'm not asking, Ryder. I'm telling. When they come... I'll face them. Alone. No more widows. No more orphans."

He stared at me. Shook his head.

"You're crazy."

"Maybe. But I'm still standing."