Elias stood before the entire pack, his heart hammering against his rib cage, threatening to burst forth. The rain lingered in the air as thunder roared like a raging volcano.
Still, Beta Elias barely noticed it, not when his heart thundered louder than the lightning bolts and drums echoing in the central grounds of the Snowdale pack. Banners flew, and the people celebrated, but this was not for him, as it should have been.
They were present to witness the engagement of young Alpha Kael Cabswell, a fearless warrior and the heart of the Snowdale pack. Beta Elias stood at the crowd's edge, the hood of his cloak drawn low.
His hands were clenched at his sides, his gaze piercing the decorated ground, yet he made no move. No one noticed him. Not after Kael had tossed him aside like a discarded secret.
A bond once sealed by the moon goddess herself… Now reduced to fragments of memories, like the ashes of his past mistakes. His mind carelessly drifted back a few days ago to the words of the one he loved with everything, including his life.
"You are not enough, Elias; you never were. You're a beta… nothing more." But these were not the words he whispered in bed; these were not the words he moaned when he secretly marked him. Now it's all settled painfully well. Every piece fits perfectly, and the scales of love have long fallen.
The crowd soon parted, giving way to the entering lovebirds. Elias watched with pain as the man he loved-the man he had laid his life on the line countless times for with no regrets—marched forward with the daughter of Alpha Blackstone in his arms like the happy couple they were.
How could he stab him in the back and engage his enemy? Kelly Blackstone, the overly pampered princess of the realm, smiled warmly at the crowd, but her eyes flickered, gazing at the broken beta knowingly… mockingly.
Elias felt his chest tighten; his lungs gasped for air, but none came, not when pain ate him from within.
"Was I just a shadow to him? A body to warm his bed? Moon goddess, what sin did I commit to deserve this fate?" He was done watching; the pain was too much, and his presence was no longer needed. He turned and began to walk away. Then the screaming started. A warrior rushed in, his hands soaked in blood, his face pale and rigid.
"The alpha… the alpha is dead," he shouted. "The guard in the hallway found his body behind the council hall." A loud gasp rippled through the crowd.
Chaos broke out, and the people ran in every direction, but one person's eyes stayed fixed on Elias. Elias did not waver; deep down, a seed of hope germinated, but Elias opened his mouth, and no words came out.
Kael stepped forward, his expression unreadable. For a moment, Elias thought… hoped he would deny it all. Defend him, but the word cut through the air like a sword.
"Elias… Arrest him; he killed my father." Elias's world tilted; his body swayed to the side, but he steadied himself.
"What?" he whispered, but it was too late. Warriors turned to him, eyes filled with fury, weapons drawn and ready to charge. Elias had not killed anyone; he did not even know Alpha Thorn had died.
"I did not do it… Believe me, I have no hand in it," he tried to defend himself, but no one would listen.
Kael's tender look soon turned to a murderous gaze; his eyes screamed with fury, and his hands pointed toward Elias. His words rang out first.
"A hundred gold coins for his head," Kael charged more. Elias's heart rippled within him; this was not the man he had loved, but reality was a bitter pill to swallow.
The pack he had fought for, bled for, and protected at the cost of his life turned on him in a blink. Elias did not need to be told twice to run. Through the trees, his heart pounded; blood stained his clothes from cuts he did not notice.
Arrows flew past his head, and angry howls echoed behind him. He charged forward desperately, fleeing for his life, but they pursued, never giving up. Elias's thoughts were all over; his emotions burned within his blood, but one thing stood out.
Kael had planned this, but why? He had no idea. Elias crashed through the forest, but then the thundering steps behind him slowed; they stopped chasing, and for the first time, he paused for a breath, but his body crashed down.
He was bleeding; his body carried deep and shallow cuts; his legs were weary and weak. But the quietness surrounding him spoke louder than words. His hair instantly stood on end, and his breath came out in ragged gasps.
He did not need to be told, for he had ventured into unclaimed land. Elias collapsed against the cold earth, his vision blurring, but a shadow stepped forward. His voice was low and calm.
"I have something for you," he said, his eyes scanning the wounded Elias on the floor, who tried to stand up to no avail.
"A once-in-a-lifetime offer," he added, but Elias was too lost to think. He had lost too much blood and could feel life slipping away. A sad smile broke on his lips as they parted.
"Too bad I am a dead man," he managed to say. The stranger's gaze narrowed, his eyes furrowing briefly, but his words carried more power.
"Not under my watch."