Chapter 46: When Will You Drop The Act?
Zethar;
"I know about what happened at your camp," Father says as I walk back to stand before him, and I raise a brow.
"It was a troop of 20 Elkhornen men, Zethar. Not one of them made it out alive. You tore five out of those men to shreds, decapitated four, hung six from trees at your campsite to... ’serve as a warning’... and you ate four of them, Zethar. Ate! You know that’s against the rules!" He rages, and I smirk.
I knew this was his particular concern. It’s a major rule in our world that no beast must eat another. It’s a crime punishable by death. But then again...
"It’s also against the rules to attack another beast man in his territory. There are no greater or lesser crimes. If Balinar could break the rules... why can’t I meet him in the middle?" I question with a shrug, and I can almost see steam coming out of Father’s ears as he glares at me.
"Do you know what will happen when news about this gets out?!" He rages, and my smile falls.
"Do I look like I care, Father?!" I rage, and he blinks at me.
"They killed Maruck! What the fuck did you think I was going to do? Let it go!? Balinar is lucky I came home instead of heading to Elkhorn!" I scream, and the hall falls silent.
"I would have torn everything in my path to shreds. Man, woman, child, suckling... I would have ruined them all. Gobbling up all their fawns till there was no longer room for air in my guts. Then I would have burnt everything they hold dear to the ground. I wouldn’t mind burning in the process." I add, and Father’s sea blue eyes stare at me in silence for a few seconds.
"Where is Maruck’s body?" He questions, and my heart falls into my stomach.
I remember his bright, honey brown eyes. I feel the ache that’s tormented me for two whole days grip my chest as I remember his little giraffe ears, and the beautiful giraffe patterns that run along his neck.
We were going to go visit his mom after this trip. I ought to let him go while I went on this trip, but he insisted on coming with me. Nothing I did or said deterred him. Now I wish I were a bit harder with him. If I made sure he didn’t follow me... He’d still be here.
He’d have been skipping down these halls by now, eager to hear stories from my trip. He was like a little brother to me... Sometimes his mother teased that I acted like I was the one who birthed him. And now...
"Zethar... You’re going to have to take him home to his people to be buried." Father says, and my eyes snap up to him.
"No. He’s staying here with me. I’m laying him to rest here." I retort, and Father sighs.
"Is that what he’d want? Think about his mother. She’s spent her whole life away from him. You want her to continue that even in his death?" He says, and I pause.
"I know you’re grieving. I know you’re hurt..." He continues, and I look at him with disgust growing inside me.
Is he doing what I think he’s doing? Does he think he can cajole me? Wrap me around his finger by using this as an opening?
A smirk returns to my face, and I watch Father’s face.
"I’ll think about it," I say, and he blinks at me.
"If that’s all, I’ll take my leave," I add as I turn around, and just then, my eyes catch the little omega standing beside Koda.
He’s pale, and his eyes are wide as he stares at me. Oh. That’s right... He heard all of that.
I smirk at his trembling little form and his scent shift.
Hmm... strawberries? Now that’s an addictive scent.
"What happens when Balinar comes here to discuss the death of his men?" Father questions, and I shrug.
"I’ll be waiting."
I turn to the door with my words hanging in finality, and I march out of the hall.
I need to start planning Maruck’s burial. There’s so much to do... I don’t have time for frivolities.
*******
Elián;
Ate people??
He ate people. A-T-E.
Is it possible that ate is some kind of slang here, and the king didn’t actually mean Zethar put people in his mouth and swallow them???
How the fuck do I keep forgetting that these people are part animals?
Still, I never... I didn’t think I’d have to think of or picture any of them ACTUALLY eating anyone.
Goosebumps run along my skin as I think about everything I heard in that hall, and now I know why the workers were so tense.
Of all the brothers, Zethar is one I intend to fully steer clear of. He... He seems like a psycho. Unhinged and unpredictable.
Ugh! The list is complaining. The Alphas I planned to avoid were.
Zephan
Rhydian
And Koda.
Now, it’s all flipped. Zethar tops the list. I’m avoiding him like a fucking plague.
What if I mistakenly piss him off and he decides to eat me?? I knew he was too good-looking to be sane!!
I let my head roll back and shut my eyes as I try to ground my thoughts.
I’m sitting in the library where Koda sent me to wait while he and his father discussed business. I’ve been alone here for the past minutes. I don’t even know how long I’ve spent in here.
I’m bored... Tired and hungry. But I don’t want to step out of here. Alana isn’t here. What if I go out and bump into Zethar... or Zephan... or another abed up Alpha.
I’ll just wait in here for Koda.
I fold my hands on the table and rest my head on them.
Everything slows down as sleep wraps around me like a shawl.
"Will you keep my secret?" A voice I have never heard before... but for some reason feels familiar says, and my brows knot softly.
Why does this voice tug at something... deep inside me? Whose voice is this?? Why... Why is it giving me goosebumps??
"You won’t tell anyone about this?" The voice pushes,
"I won’t tell anyone, Alpha Lioran. I love you too much to hurt you like that." I gasp in shock, and my eyes fly open at the memory that isn’t mine.
It’s Elien’s!!
He loved Alpha Lioran?! He has a past with him...
My thoughts pull to a halt when I look up and find the orange-haired, blue-robed Alpha leaning against the bookshelf opposite me... Just watching me.
His arms are crossed, and his orange eyes hold no emotions.
"When are you going to drop the act?" He speaks, and I gulp.
What act?