The Alpha's sin.
1435 Words
Ethan’s POV
“Who took my child?” Luna asked.
Her voice was calm, but it cut deep. It was the kind of calm that came before blood spilled. We all felt it. The fire crackled behind her, and the night wind moved her hair, but she did not move. Her eyes were fixed on us. On me.
My wolf paced inside me. He growled low. He knew this moment was coming. I knew it too. I had been running from it, hiding from it, lying to myself. But now the truth stood right in front of us.
Ryder stood beside me. His fists were tight. His jaw was hard.
“Say something,” Ryder whispered to me. “You are the Alpha.”
I swallowed. My throat was dry. I looked at Luna again. Her eyes were not just angry. They were hurt. That hurt scared me more than her anger.
“I asked a question,” Luna said again. “Who took my child?”
No one spoke.
Aurora took a slow step forward. Her hands were shaking.
“Luna,” she said softly, “please stay calm.”
“Calm?” Luna laughed, but there was no joy in it. “My child was taken from me. I woke up alone. My arms were empty. And you tell me to stay calm?”
My chest hurt. Each word she said felt like a knife.
“I loved you,” she said, looking at me now. “I trusted you, Ethan.”
I looked away. I could not face her. My silence was already an answer.
“Ethan,” Ryder said louder, “you need to speak.”
“I can’t,” I said. My voice was low. “I can’t.”
Luna stepped closer to me. I could smell her anger. I could feel her pain. It wrapped around me like chains.
“Why?” she asked. “Why can’t you speak?”
Because if I do, you will hate me forever.
Because if I do, I will lose you.
Because I already lost you once.
My wolf pushed against my chest. He wanted to run. He wanted to fight. But there was nowhere to go.
Aurora turned to Luna. Tears filled her eyes.
“The Alpha who took your child was—”
A loud bang cut her off.
The ground shook. The hall doors burst open. Warriors rushed in with wide eyes and raised weapons.
“Alpha!” one of them shouted. “We felt a dark aura.”
The air changed. The fire flickered. The night went silent.
Then a voice came from the shadows.
“That would be me.”
Everyone froze.
The voice was deep. Cold. Strong.
A tall figure stepped forward. The moonlight hit his face, and my heart stopped.
“No,” I whispered.
Luna turned slowly to look at him. Her breath caught.
“Who are you?” she asked.
The man smiled. It was not a kind smile.
“I am the one you are looking for,” he said. “The one who took your child.”
Ryder moved in front of Luna. “Say your name.”
The man’s eyes flicked to me. He knew me. I knew him.
“Call me Alpha Kael,” he said.
Gasps filled the hall.
Alpha Kael. The name carried fear. A rogue Alpha. A shadow ruler. A man who played with packs like toys.
“You are lying,” Luna said. “You cannot be.”
Kael laughed. “I wish I was.”
My heart beat fast. Sweat ran down my back.
“Why are you here?” I asked.
Kael looked at me. “To finish what you started.”
Luna turned to me fast. “What does he mean?”
I opened my mouth. No words came out.
Ryder looked between us. “Ethan?”
Kael laughed again. “He still can’t tell the truth. Typical.”
“Tell me,” Luna shouted. “What truth?”
I stepped forward. My legs felt weak.
“Luna,” I said, “please.”
“Please what?” she asked. “Please forgive you? Please understand why my baby was taken?”
Kael raised his hand. “Enough talking. I came for a reason.”
Warriors circled him. Their weapons shook.
“You will not leave this place,” Ryder said.
Kael smiled. “I already have.”
Suddenly, Luna screamed.
She fell to her knees, holding her head.
“Luna!” I rushed to her side.
Images hit her mind. I could feel it. The bond trembled.
She gasped. “I remember… I remember screaming. I remember blood.”
Her eyes snapped open. She looked at me.
“You were there.”
My heart broke.
“Yes,” I whispered.
“You held me down,” she said. “You told me it was for my own good.”
Tears rolled down her face.
“You lied to me.”
“I was trying to protect you,” I said.
“From what?” she screamed.
Kael watched us like it was a show.
“From me,” he said.
Luna stood up slowly. Her body shook.
“You knew him,” she said to me. “You worked with him.”
“No,” I said fast. “Not like that.”
“But you still let him take my child,” she said.
I could not deny it.
Ryder grabbed my shoulder. “Ethan, tell her everything.”
I nodded. I had no choice.
“Kael came to me before you gave birth,” I said. “He said the child was special. That the child carried power.”
Luna’s lips trembled. “Our child.”
“Yes,” I said. “Our child.”
Kael clapped slowly. “Such a sweet love story.”
“Shut up,” Ryder growled.
“I was afraid,” I said. “He threatened the pack. He said if I did not give him the child, he would kill you.”
Luna stared at me. “So you chose him over me.”
“I chose you,” I said. “I chose your life.”
“And what about my child’s life?” she asked.
I had no answer.
Kael stepped closer. “The child is alive. Strong. Growing fast.”
Luna rushed toward him. “Where is my baby?”
Kael’s smile faded. “That depends.”
“On what?” Ryder asked.
“On Ethan,” Kael said. “On his next choice.”
I felt the weight of every eye on me.
“What do you want?” I asked.
Kael leaned in. “Your throne.”
Gasps filled the room again.
“You want to be Alpha?” Luna asked.
“I already am,” Kael said. “In the shadows.”
Ryder shook his head. “You will never rule this pack.”
Kael’s eyes burned. “Then the child dies.”
Luna screamed. She ran to me and hit my chest.
“You did this!” she cried. “You started this!”
“I know,” I said, holding her. “And I will end it.”
She pushed me away. “I hate you.”
Those words hurt more than any wound.
Kael turned to leave. “You have three nights, Ethan.”
“Wait,” Luna shouted. “Take me instead.”
Everyone gasped.
“No,” I said. “I won’t let him.”
Kael smiled again. “Think about it. A mother for a child.”
He faded back into the shadows. The darkness swallowed him.
Silence filled the hall.
Luna fell to the ground. I knelt beside her.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I will bring our child back.”
She looked at me with broken eyes.
“How?” she asked. “How can I trust you again?”
I reached for her hand. She did not pull away.
“Because I still love you,” I said.
Her eyes filled with tears again.
“And because if I fail,” I added, “I will die trying.”
She looked at the door where Kael disappeared.
“Ethan,” she whispered, “what if our child does not want to come back?”
My heart stopped.
What if Kael had already turned our child against us?
What if the real enemy was the blood we shared?
And when that child returns… will they see me as their father—or as the Alpha who betrayed them?
- Writer
