The Fox's Heart

Chapter 6 - Talon, Falon, and Calin POV

As the sun filtered through the curtains of their shared room, The brothers stared at the ceiling, unable to shake the shared guilt that coiled around them like a serpent. The images from the party played on a loop in his mind: Elora, wincing in pain with a huge hole in the wall behind her where she had been thrown. Fear was written all over her face as everyone began to whisper, remembering that the alpha's had declared her their enemy. They didn’t understand why it was affecting them so much. It had never bothered them before. For years, they had treated her like an outcast, their taunts echoing through the hallways of their middle school. The satisfaction they felt knowing she was in pain. But last night all they could think about was a cruel game they had played, one that had clearly left scars on her soul while they laughed and reveled in her pain.

“I can’t get over the look on her face” Falon muttered, breaking the silence that hung heavy in the air. He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his expression a mixture of regret and confusion.

“Yeah,” Calin replied, rubbing his temples as if trying to massage away the memories. “It felt so great nine years ago but now… now it feels like we were just bullies.”

“It’s because she’s our mate,” Talon said pensively.. “Our wolves are making us feel guilty for how we treated her.”

They had not got their wolves when she had graduated from high school. Elora had graduated from high school at fifteen and she had not step foot back in the pack borders until recently. Now, at twenty-two, they had finally seen her again, since gaining their wolves.

The truth of his words settled uncomfortably among them. “Maybe we should apologize,” Falon suggested tentatively. “Maybe we should reject her and get it over with?”

“That is something that bothers me” Calin interrupted. “We made out with Courtney, Layla, and Teresa, and she seemed unbothered by it. Werewolves are supposed to feel pain when their mate cheats on them. Yet she seemed perfectly fine before she was thrown into the wall by Caleb.”

“You’re right,” Talon said now realizing it too.

Before they could continue their discussion, their father’s deep voice boomed through the house. “Boys! My office. Now.”

The triplets exchanged glances, their hearts sinking. They trudged down the familiar path to their father’s office, an anxiety they hadn’t felt in years creeping into their bones. They knew that tone, they were about to get in trouble.

As they entered the room, Alpha Gavin was seated behind his desk, his expression serious. He motioned for them to sit, and they complied, apprehensive.

“Tell me about last night,” he began, his gaze piercing through them.

“It was fine,” Talon replied, his voice steady despite the turmoil within. “Just hanging out with friends, you know.”

But their father wasn’t convinced. “So nothing happened.”

“No,” they said quickly in unison.

Alpha Gavin’s brow furrowed, and the atmosphere shifted, tension thickening the air. “So Elora Mead was not thrown into a wall last night, by Caleb” he said, his tone shifting to one of stern disappointment. They remained silent.

“So you were covering up for Caleb, yesterday, Talon. It was not a mistake when he attacked Elora.” Again silence.

“I have also just learned that, apparently, Elora has been bullied for years. And it’s not just by random kids, but by you and those you call friends.”

The weight of his words settled like a stone in their stomachs. Talon opened his mouth to protest, but no sound came out.

“Did she tell on us?” Calin asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

“No,” Alpha Gavin snapped, his gaze unwavering. “It was Ryder and Talia. Ryder because he had never witnessed something so cruel before and Caleb had given him the impression that it was a normal occurrence. He came to me confused because he thought I didn’t tolerate bullying. And he is right I don’t.”

Ryder. Talon growled through the triplet's shared mind link. They did not like their step-brother and how he seemed to kiss their father’s ass.

“And Talia couldn’t stand by and watch her friend suffer any longer. Talia told her father, and I just learned from him that this has been going on since you all were twelve.”

The revelation hit them like a punch. They had thought their actions would remain hidden. It had for ten years already with no consequences. But their father’s knowledge made it clear they could no longer hide from the consequences of their past.

“Boys,” Alpha Gavin continued, his voice low but firm. “You have a responsibility to this pack. Even the weakest Omega. If you’re to lead this pack one day, you must understand that strength comes not from fear, but from unity and compassion.”

The shame that washed over them felt almost unbearable. He was right. Every lesson he taught them over the years had been about looking out for every member but because they blamed her for something she most likely could not control, they made her pay in the worst way.

“Do you understand what this means?” their father asked. Then his fists slammed down on his desk. “You cannot allow this to continue. You owe her more than just empty apologies; you owe her your support and respect.”

Alpha Gavin’s eyes narrowed, his expression a mixture of disappointment and resolve. “As punishment for your actions, you will spend the next month in the library. I’ve selected specific books for you to read—books that will help you understand what it truly means to be leaders of this pack. You will not be training with the other warriors during this time.”

Their hearts sank further. They hated studying. Well, Talon and Calin did. It was not that much of a punishment for Falon but they weren’t going to tell their father that.

“Books about leadership, about understanding and compassion,” Alpha Gavin continued, his voice steady. “I want you to reflect on what it means to protect every member of our pack, not just the strong and higher ranked. You will read about accountability and responsibility, and there will also be one small book about werefoxes—their history and lore. You may find it enlightening.”

“Werefoxes?” They all echoed, confusion evident in his tone. “Why them? What does that have to do with anything?”

“Because they were once part of our world,” Alpha Gavin said sharply. “Their history is intertwined with ours, and it’s essential you understand the consequences of your actions. They have been persecuted, just like Elora has been by you three and your goon squad. They were driven to extinction because we thought they were lower than us. This is not merely about punishment; it’s about growth. If you cannot understand the pain of others, you are unfit to lead.”

A heavy silence filled the room as the weight of their father’s words settled in. They could feel the tension pooling in each of their stomachs.

“Also,” Alpha Gavin continued, his voice firm, “you will need to address Caleb’s actions. He will be suspended without pay for a month. As your Delta, he is expected to uphold the values of this pack, and he has failed to do so. You need to understand that there are consequences for those who act without regard for others. This is about setting an example.”

“Suspending Caleb?” Falon said, incredulous. “But he’s one of us! He was just messing around.”

“Messing around?” Alpha Gavin snapped, his voice rising. “He threw Elora Mead threw a wall. You’ve all treated her like an enemy, but she is not. You will learn to stand up for those who are weaker, even if it means punishing one of your own. This is not a joke; this is a lesson you need to learn. Your decisions have consequences, and it’s time you understood that.”

Their father’s commanding alpha energy crashed over them and left them gasping for air. They had all contributed to the environment that allowed everyone to treat Elora that way.

“Understood,” They all replied in unison.

“Good,” Alpha Gavin said, nodding. “You have a month to read, reflect, and I expect you to report back to me after each week with your thoughts on what you’ve read. I want to see growth in you. Now go. You have a lot of work to do.”

As they left the office, the silence that enveloped them was suffocating. Each brother was lost in his own thoughts, the weight of their father’s expectations hanging over them like a storm cloud.

“This sucks.” Talon finally asked as they stepped into the hallway, the sunlight pouring through the windows.

“I can’t believe we have to spend all that time in the library,” Calin grumbled, kicking a loose pebble on the ground.

“It’s a chance to learn. We should take it seriously this time,” Falon said sharply.