Chapter Three
1308 Words
Landon’s POV
~The rejection~
Nothing.
I stuck my palm in front of my face for the umpteenth time and still I saw nothing. My eyesight showed no sign of returning.
A knock sounded at the door, followed by a raspy, boyish voice I recognized as one of the guards.
“Alpha, it’s time for the meeting.”
Ryan. I grunted in response. He left without another word. I reached for the cane I was almost certain I’d dropped beside the desk, but my fingers found only empty air.
Sighing, I waved my hands in front of me until the smooth cane brushed my skin. I gripped it tight, swallowed the wave of grief that tried to rise, and lifted my chin.
Slowly and steadily, I made my way to the meeting room. They’d moved it to the end of the hallway for my convenience, a small mercy that felt more like pity.
It was noisy before I even reached the door. Chatter and low murmurs leaked through the wood. I didn’t strain to catch the words, I didn’t need to. Since losing my sight, my already superior senses had sharpened to a painful edge. Nothing escaped me now, and I hadn’t decided yet whether that was a gift or a curse.
The noise came from the council members, clearly enjoying their whispers about me.
The moment I pushed the door open, the noise instantly ceased.
I heard the scraping of chairs against wood as they all shuffled to their feet to greet me.
“Alpha,” they chorused.
I nodded, ignoring the weight of their stares, and walked to my seat with deliberate steps. I would not falter.
“You may proceed.”
They all returned to their seats and someone spoke up.
“Alpha, this meeting was called because we have concerns.” Elder Damien started, his voice, smooth and practiced. “After much deliberation, we believe it would be best if you… stepped down from your position.”
I scoffed. I had known this was coming, but I hadn’t expected them to be so direct.
“Your sacrifice and contribution to this pack are not forgotten,” he continued, “but as things stand, we cannot allow you to keep leading.”
“Why?”
The question clearly infuriated them if the huffs and new wave of chatter was anything to go by.
“What do mean?”
“You’re blind”
“An alpha has no weakness.”
Damien raised a hand, silencing the others. They could suggest all they wanted, but they couldn’t force me from the title that was mine by blood and right.
“This weakness won’t stop me from leading,” I said, turning toward the voice that had spoken earlier. “I will continue as I always have. If that’s all…” I picked up my cane and walked out.
Back in my office, I paused when I stepped in. A familiar scent wrapped around me. It comforted me more than I wanted to admit.
“They want me to step down,” I said.
Beta Gabriel’s hoarse chuckle reached my ears. “Of course they do. Cowards.”
Guided by memory, I made my way to the couch and sank into it. I turned toward the sound of a chair swiveling.
“What did you tell them?” he asked.
“Exactly what you would have wanted me to say. Now I just have to prove this disability won’t stop me from leading.”
“Atta boy.” He crossed the room and clapped my shoulder, the gesture reassuring. “Show them what you’ve got.”
My chest tightened.
“I came to inform you about my departure. I’d be leaving to work things out with our neighboring pack as planned.” He said. “Warm them up to the whole business idea and assist in any way I can.”
“Wait.” Desperation slipped into my voice before I could stop it. “You can’t leave now. I need you here.”
“My presence changes nothing, Landon. You can do this. Let’s not delay the plans any longer.”
Before I could argue, a soft knock interrupted us. The door opened.
“It’s time for his meal,” Cassidy said. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”
“No, I was just leaving.” he replied before I could get a word out. His footsteps faded, the door closing behind him.
“You don’t look good,” Cassidy said quietly. “Are you okay?”
No.
No. I wasn’t.
“Is this about the council?” She set the tray down with a soft clink. “I heard what happened and I think we should talk.”
I ran a hand through my hair and turned toward where I hoped she stood.
“Landon…” She took my hand as she spoke. “I think you should listen to them.”
Taken aback, I retracted my hand.
“What do you mean?”
“I hate that they’re right, I really do.” she said, voice cracking. “But leading like this… it paints a target on the entire pack. Rogues and rivals, they’ll all come for us. People we love could die.”
I laughed, but there was nothing humorous about it. “They’ve already gotten to you.”
“Landon…”
“You told me I could still lead. You said being blind didn’t change the fact that I’m Alpha.” I reminded her.
“I know.” Her words came fast, defensive. “But I understand the situation better now. You can’t keep leading, Landon.”
I rose to my feet too quickly and the room tilted but I steadied myself.
“Leave.”
“No.” She stepped closer. “Please listen.”
“I’ve listened enough.” My voice shook despite my effort to hold it steady. She reached for me, her fingers brushed my arm but I jerked away as if burned.
“Don’t,” I said hoarsely.
She made a small hurt sound.
“Why do you always do this?” Her voice rose. “Why shut me out the moment things get rough? I’m not your enemy, Landon. Let me take care of you. You’ve fought so long, given everything to this pack. Let someone else stand in front now.”
Something inside me cracked.
“No.” The word came out firm. “This pack is my responsibility.”
“And am I not your responsibility too?”
I said nothing to that question.
Her fingers closed around my wrist, tight, desperate.
“Choose, Landon.” Her voice broke. “Me… or the pack. Because I can’t watch you die for them. I won’t.”
My heart thundered in my ears. How could I choose between the two things I cherished most?
“Cassidy…”
“Me or the pack.”
I wanted to choose her, then talk her down, convince her to take it back. I couldn’t abandon my position. But she sounded so stern and somehow I knew talking my way out of this was impossible.
I had sacrificed too much to stop now. I opened my mouth to explain this but the words that came out were the only ones I had left.
“This pack is my responsibility.”
Her grip went slack, then her hands fell away entirely.
“If that’s your choice,” she whispered, so quiet I barely heard over the roar in my head, “then I, Cassidy Rivers, reject you as my mate.”
The bond between us snapped like a thread pulled too tight and I winced. Her footsteps hurried to the door. A choked sob escaped her just before it slammed shut.
I stood alone in my office.
And suddenly, without her, more lost than ever.
- Writer
