Zane - Confessions of a lycan

Chapter 29

Lucien

The training ground was already full of pack members trying to push their way to get the best possible view of the impending fight. The news that Mason was going to fight their Alpha had traveled at the speed of light, causing everyone to come out to watch them as they settled this matter. Damien went all in to get Mason ready for this. He had sparred with him as a warm-up and talked about combat techniques nonstop. What no one seemed to notice in all the commotion was that Adam, Lily's little brother, seemed to be feeling like sh*t because of everything that was happening around him.

I was out walking when I looked up and saw him leaning against a window in the packhouse, looking forlorn.

As if he could feel my gaze on him, Adam turned and looked me straight in the eyes. I used my vampire speed to get to him.

He didn't turn around as I knocked and entered the room. This room must be his, I thought to myself. It was typically boyish.

Where the bed had a dinosaur duvet cover and signed baseballs were placed on a shelf. Beautifully made drawings in both charcoal and watercolors were hung on the walls. The boy clearly had talent.

I carefully approached him and sat down next to him in the window nook. His blond hair was tousled and his brown eyes were red-rimmed as he sat leaning against the window. "I can't pretend to understand what you're going through, Adam. But if you want to talk about it, I'm fairly good at listening.” I spoke. He quickly wiped away a tear that fell, and my heart ached for the boy.

"There isn´t much to say. I have always known that my family is far from perfect. Me and my mother have never been close. She is driven by ambition and has never cared who she steps on. I've always been afraid of what she would say if she really got to know me beyond the person she demanded me to be. But I guess that's not something I need to worry about anymore.” He confessed.

“And who are you, Adam, beyond what your family wanted you to be, hmm?” He looked out the window for a moment, looking thoughtful, as if trying to find the right words.

“If my mother finds out about this, she will go crazy.”

“I promise you, nothing we talk about will leave this room if you do not want it to.” I said sincerely.

He nodded and continued. “I know you came here because of Lily. That my mother was somehow involved in her abduction. I wish I could say I'm shocked, but I'm not. She has done everything in her power to make Lily feel as miserable as possible since we were little. Sometimes, when Lily didn´t know anyone was listening, I could hear her sitting in hidden places, crying. I always tried to find out what made her sad without her knowing. Sometimes it was that she had gone without food for days. Then I used to smuggle food into the basement where she slept when no one was looking. Not once did she know it came from me. Sometimes Jake and his friends would bully her and then I used to draw pictures to try to cheer her up and leave them on her bed. Other times it was torn clothes and I smuggled new ones in and so on. But I always felt like a coward. Weak because I never dared to show my friendship to her openly, not even to her.” Adam sniffled.

"Adam, listen to me. What you did was more than anyone else dared. Not only did you refuse to treat others badly, but you did the only thing you could for Lily. What do you think your mother would have said or done if she found out you were helping Lily in any way?” I asked. "She would have called me weak. Unworthy of my status. She probably would have been even meaner to Lily afterwards as well,” Adam said.

“I want you to listen and I want you to listen well. Having a soft heart in a cruel world is courage not weakness. Remember that.” My words must have hit Adam right in his chest because the poor boy completely broke down.

I pulled him into a hug, whispering words of encouragement to him. As his crying began to subside, he pulled back and wiped his face with the back of his sleeve. “Can I ask you a question Adam?” He only nodded in response. “While I will never condone the behavior your mother exhibited, I understand her motives. But what I do not understand is how your father could turn a blind eye to what was going on. Do you have any suspicions as to why?”

"I asked my father the same question once. He didn't give a clear answer. He just said; When you meet your mate, you'll understand. But I don't think I will. I did go to him sometimes, though, when the nastiness towards Lily got completely out of hand. So, a few times he told Jake and the other kids at least, And he was the one who gave me clothes to give her. Before, I always saw it as something good, but now that I found out who Lily's mother was, that she was my father's true mate and that she took her own life, I feel sick about sharing family ties with my parents. I´m ashamed.” Adam admitted with his head hanging low.

“You are not your parents, Adam. The shame was never yours.”

“Maybe one day, I believe you.” Adam sniffled.

"Do you want to come down with me and watch the fight?" I asked, although I could understand if he didn't want to set foot anywhere near it. "Yeah I think I do. Honestly, I want Mason to win the fight. But at the same time, I'm afraid my dad is going to die. He's still my dad after all.” Adam confessed. "I see. I think most people would feel just like you in your shoes. But Mason would never kill your father. No matter how angry he got. He'll probably hurt him and leave him in the hospital wing for a few days, but that's basically it.” I assured the kid, hoping that he would find the courage to come along. Because if he were to have a future in this pack, it was important that he clearly showed the pack members that he didn´t accept his parents' behavior.

Adam looked thoughtful for a second before nodding. “Okay, let's go.”

Half an hour later, we were in the front row together with Tristan & Theo. Who were joking and betting along with some other Lycan warriors. "Can you please show some respect for Adam? Whether his father deserves this or not, it's still his family that is affected.” I hissed at them. Which seemed to sober the twins up somewhat. "Sorry Adam, it was thoughtless of us", Theo said in a sincere voice, while Tristan agreed.

We could hear whispers, snickering and curse words traveling like wind through the crowd as Alpha Corbin was escorted out by two Lycan warriors. Mason was already in place along with Damien. "Silence!!" Damien bellowed, the sound echoing across the area. “Today, Beta Mason will face Alpha Corbin in a trial by combat for the right to lead the Blood moon pack now and in future generations. As everyone knows, royal consent is required to hold a trial by combat which intends to change the leader of a pack. In order for a trial to be approved, a valid reason must be presented. The reason for this trial by combat is that Alpha Corbin has been accused of disrespecting the sacred matebond and therefore disrespecting the will of the moon goddess herself. He is accused of turning a blind eye when pack members suffered, and of not reporting when a serious violation of the werewolf's rights had been carried out on his territory. Let the fight begin!” Damien roared throughout the training field.

Shocked gasps and frantic whispering could be heard when Damien had spoken before both Mason and Corbin changed into their wolves, tearing their clothes to pieces. Corbin's wolf charged, his anger clear for everyone to witness.

Mason wolf side-stepped and thundered into Corbin's side, sending them both rolling around on the ground. Mason's wolf got a firm grip on Corbin's hind leg, pulling it out of its socket. Corbin's wolf howled in pain but picked himself up. Facing each other again, they attacked one other at the same time. They rolled, bit and kicked. Both landed some solid blows.

Alpha Corbin was tenacious, I could give him that. But Beta Mason's superior training and control shone through.

Every move, every punch was calculated. Alpha Corbin's energy was starting to run out while Mason looked to be done with the warmup pretty much. When Alpha Corbin's wolf attacked again, Mason's wolf rolled away, jumped on Corbin and threw his wolf to the ground before biting down on his neck. Corbin tried to break free, which caused Mason to bite harder, making Corbin’s wolf whimper in return.

“Do you yield, Alpha Corbin?” Damien growled. Corbin's beta and gamma emerged. "The alpha announces via mindlink that he is yielding your highness." The Beta revealed. “Blood moon pack will from this moment on belong to and be ruled by Mason and his future generations. Any objections, come forward now or forever hold your piece.” The silence was so thick you could hear a pin drop. But it also said a lot about their feelings for their alpha.

"Good! A pack-meeting will be held five days from now to discuss what happened here today and what will happen going forward. Disperse!” Damien informed, and walked towards Mason who still held Alpha Corbin down.

Mason let go and both changed back into their human form, bloody and naked. Thank good I wasn´t a wolf, I thought to myself. They got shorts handed to them, before Alpha Corbin was helped to the infirmary by two of his warriors.

“Well done, Mason. Are you sure you wouldn't rather come with me and become a royal guard instead?” Damien snickered. “"Thanks for the offer, but I think I'm better suited here.” Mason replied as the twins cheered and patted him on the back for a fight well done.

I forgot about them for a second and looked around for Adam. I caught him with my gaze as he was walking away towards the edge of the forest. I guessed he needed some alone time. I just wished there was something I could do to make him feel better.

I couldn´t stand to see innocent people suffer. The young man was good to his core, I could tell.

The wolves continued with their cheering chants and wanted to celebrate the won fight, but I wasn't in a party mood.

I had work to do, and lives to save.