Chapter 12
The Alpha's Curve
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My glaze moves across the crowd of weresâ gathered, their own seeking eyes looking back at me. I feel their stares burn into me as I stand frozen on the platform.
How am I supposed to come up with a fitting punishment. I have know idea what to give them, maybe if it was only one person â But this is at least 50 teenage to young adult weresâ.
I really donât want to punish them at all, violence isnât the answer. But Alpha Stone and the Elders expect me to come up with a punishment for the people that tormented me.
As I look out towards the crowd and pin-point every wereâ that has bullied me, most of them have mournful and sorry expressions on their face. The most heart breaking of all was Saxonâs, he wasnât looking up to meet my eyes but his face, his face held so much pain. His face as scrunched up and jaw set, every now and then a shudder would run through his body. Saxonâs fists, the ones he used to hit me with were balled up so tight his hands turned red. If he were to uncurl them, I am sure that there would be traces of blood where is nails punctured the skin.
To his left Adrian was looking at me with tears in his eyes, it was clear he was crying and didnât care if he was seen or not. I could see the hopelessness reflecting in his eyes, the same eyes that I have. I know he only went along with Saxon because he didnât was to get beaten up himself. It is pitiful for me to say, but I hope it hurt him, watching what his twin had to go through. I know Mum and Dad wouldnât like what he did, they would be disappointed. But I can see his reasoning, he didnât want to get hurt too.
Alpha Stone and the Elders want me to punish them, but what do I do? I can hardly talk to my own Mate, Gods forbid a whole crowd.
I feel gentle fur brush against my waist and nudging on my mind once again. My hand immediately reaches down to Zithanialâs fur as I open my mind to him.
Doing this, I know that Zithanial will feel what I am feeling because we are Mates. While he wonât know what I am thinking, he will get a sense of what it is.
Zithanial wonât know what I am thinking until we are Mated. I am quick to shake away that thought, there is a bigger matter at hand.
Underneath my fingers I feel Zithanialâs fur start to grow short and my hand raise higher as he start to transform. My hand that was resting on his Wolfâs shoulders, is now on his human shoulders, much higher than waist hight.
There is a scurry around me as someone is quick to provide clothing for the naked Zithanial. While being naked around pack members is not uncommon, because Zithanial has been away for 5 years, it doesnât stop lingering unmated female eyes from resting on what he didnât cover up quick enough.
My Wolf immediately comes through and growls, the growl rockets through the room causing people to look at me in shock, some unmated females in jealously.
I secretly smile to myself as for the first time, they are jealous of me.
âOnly you Angel, only you,â Zithanial whispers to me as he leans down to kiss the side of my hair.
Alpha Stone clears his throat, âAmelia?â he questions. âWhat is it going to be?â
*What is it going to be, baby?* Zithanial asks inside of my head. I jump in shock, it has been so long since I have had someone in my head. The feeling feels so foreign.
Zithanial wraps his arm around me and brings me closer to his body heat. *I will do the talking, just tell me what you want Honey, anything.*
I take another glance around the room once more, people waiting patiently for my decision. Families and friends clinging to one another, tormentors that know their doomed fate, heads are hung.
*I donât know, there are so many of them. If there was less it would be easier.* I pause for a second trying to scrummage for a punishment. I look up to Zithanial and tell him telepathically, *Extra patrol? 15 months of community service at an orphanage or abuse centre? Donât mean to me anymore or they get exiled?* I pathetically try and come up with fitting punishments, but they never seem enough.
A small smile creeps onto Zithanialâs face and he gives me a small nod and turns to the awaiting crowd. Zithanial steps forward with his head high and brings me forward along with him. Like a true Alpha, Zithanial addresses the weresâ. âMy beautiful Mate has decided.â He pauses and lets the crowd absorb what he said, myself included.
He just called me beautiful in front of his entire pack with no stutter, like he was just stating a fact. Even though Zithanial has gone and explained to me in detail that I am not ugly or fat, there is still quick a large bit in me that canât believe him.
âEvery wereâ from the ages 17 to 25 will have extra patrol for 15 weeks. You will also has 15 months or community service working at a local orphanage or traumatic abuse centre.â Zithanial eyes everyone in the crowd as me tightens his grip on me. Zithanialâs voice goes from the strong commanding tone to an ice cold venom filled quality, âAnd if you so much as insult what Amelia is wearing, you will be exiled or worse.â Zithanial finishes.
The room is silent as Zithanial delivers their punishment, you canât even hear anyone breathing.
Alpha Stone clears his throat, âIf that is what Amelia whats it to be, then so be it.â As that was finalised Alpha Stone and the Elders went back into the study to go over the details and the arrangements what will be needed.
As soon as he stepped off the stage many Mothers and young females broke down crying in relief. The tension had been cut out of the air and it was as if the room breathed a breath of relief.
I was still standing up on the stage with Zithanial by my side, but I needed to talk with someone. With my head held as high as I could, I crossed the short distance to the wooden stairs that lead to the front of the gathering.
My destination was Adrain and it didnât take me long to reach him, Adrian had met me half way. Before I could even pause to gather up the courage to speak, Adrain dropped to his knees at my feet and started balling his eyes out.
âNever again,â He started. âNever again will I hurt you, I promise. I promise that I will always be there to protect you. I know I should have done that to start with, but I was only a kid who missed his parents, I didnât know what to do. I am so sorry.â Adrain stared up at me with tears rushing down his face. I could feel my own starting to form in my eyes, making my vision blur. âI am so sorry, please, please let me make it up to you. Let me show you that I can be the Brother I was meant to be, the Brother that I want to be. I have missed you sis, I have missed you so much. Every time I looked at you, I saw Mum and Dad, it hurt so much.â Adrain poured his heart and soul out to me. The pain and sorrow that filled his features, so much like my Fatherâs, my heart broke as he glazed up at me, begging me to let him back in.
But if I did, what could happen?
Thing could turn out terribly, what if he didnât mean it? What if after 15 months their service was over and they start tormenting me again? I would be able to sit back and take Adrain doing nothing all over again.
Saying that, this could turn out wonderful, I could finally have my family back. I could have a new and bigger family, the Brother, Zithanial and our children that are yet to be. I am not stupid, I know what Mating means and how fast it is expected to be with Alphaâs.
As tears of, sadness and â funny enough â happiness to have my Brother back, drip down my cheek, I place my hand on Adrianâs shoulder and pull up a little. Hoping that he will get to message to stand up.
Adrain slowly raises to his feet and only comes to my height because of his deflated shoulders. With my right hand I tip his chin up so he is looking into my eyes. The same eyes stare back at each other, twin sets of chocolate brown orbs, twins sets of eyes that have been sad for too long.
But not any longer, I will have my new life, my new life with my Mate, my new life with my Brother.
I give a slight nod and small smile, gathering up the courage I fling myself into Adrainâs arms. He stills for a second, taking in the situation, then wraps his arms around me and bring my body closer to his.
My tears come harder as I am wrapped in my Brother arms, the first time in a very long time.
âNever again, I will always be there for you, now and forever Amelia, now and forever Sister.â Adrian whispers into my ear as he hold me close.
I faintly hear Zithanial growling from his spot, probably because Adrain is holding me. But I donât care, I just got my Brother back and I am never letting my family go again.
I just hope I have made the right decision.
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