Page 4

Chapter

Four

A ZALEA

“No, no, I never saw her shift,” I answer him, my voice trembling with a mix of fear and sadness. Memories of my childhood flood my mind, the moments spent with the woman who raised me, the woman I still struggle to reconcile as both a monster and a mother.

Tears burn my eyes as I shake my head again, trying to push down the overwhelming emotions that threaten to consume me.

A lump forms in my throat, making it difficult to swallow.

How can I still love the person who is responsible for my real mother’s death?

Perhaps it’s because I’ve always seen her as a mother, someone who loved and cared for me.

Or maybe it’s because she overshadowed any memories I had of my true family, making it difficult to differentiate between the two.

Kyson’s voice breaks through my thoughts, his concern evident as he calls my name.

It’s only then that I realize I’m shaking uncontrollably.

His hands slide up my arms, a gentle touch meant to soothe me.

My whole body trembles, but I allow myself to lean into his presence, finding solace in the familiar sound of his calling as it washes over me, calming my frayed nerves.

“Why do you ask?” I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper. Deep down, I know that he must have a reason for bringing up these painful memories.

“Ester told us that Marrissa was your father’s mate and a Lycan, just like Trey was your mother’s,” Kyson says, his words hitting me like a sudden gust of wind. Confusion swirls within me, making it hard to make sense of everything that has been revealed.

“What?” I manage to utter, feeling overwhelmed by this newfound knowledge. The world of titles and bloodlines and kingdoms is still so foreign to me. I was never taught how to navigate this realm or understand its rules, yet now I’m expected to bear the weight of it all.

I know nothing of this world, or any world for that matter.

Mate bonds and alliances are concepts that elude my understanding.

And the thought of watching from the sidelines as my mate is with someone else, it’s almost unbearable.

How would that affect my soul? My heart?

To have four broken souls and four broken hearts, all forced to witness each other’s attempts at finding happiness with another.

The torment of such a bond is unimaginable.

There is so much to figure out, but for now, I need to focus on the punishment that has been bestowed upon Peter and Ester.

“What punishment did you give my... brother?” I force the word out, bitterness coating my tongue.

“500 lashes,” Kyson answers, his words landing like a heavy blow. My eyes widen in shock, and his grip tightens on my arms.

“Not Peter,” he quickly clarifies, sensing my panic. “Let me explain.”

My heart pounds in my chest as I nod, desperate to understand the reasoning behind this brutal punishment.

“Ester knew who Marrissa was and could have prevented my sister’s death. She needs to be punished for that,” Kyson explains, his voice filled with a mix of anger and frustration.

“But Peter can’t heal. He hasn’t shifted yet,” I interject, a pang of worry coursing through me. It’s clear to me that there’s no way he could survive such a merciless beating.

“Ester will receive the lashes. And Peter will administer half of them. The other half, I will,” Kyson states matter-of-factly. I shake my head in disbelief. How can he expect Peter to whip his own mother? It sounds barbaric and cruel.

Kyson growls at me when he notices my glare.

“You won’t let me kill him, and I can’t without breaking the law!

You will go along with this, Azalea. You don’t have to like the ruling, but you will stand by it.

Or I will kill Ester. If you don’t want me to kill them, you will agree,” he snaps, his frustration palpable.

“You can’t kill Peter,” I assert, my voice filled with determination.

“No, by law I can’t. But that won’t stop me from breaking that law if you disagree. So either you agree to their punishment or...” Kyson’s voice trails off, leaving the threat hanging in the air.

I growl in defiance, refusing to let him harm Peter. He’s just a child, caught in the crossfire of this complicated situation.

“He killed our baby!” Kyson’s voice rises, his pain and anger intertwining.

“And Ester could have prevented my sister’s death! They need to be punished. And if you won’t let me kill them, then this is it. What they did is punishable by death. And I will not be seen as weak because my mate is too soft,” he growls.

“Soft? You are the only one who sees mercy as soft, My King. Mercy is not weakness; there is strength within it. It takes a stronger person to forgive than it does to punish another,” I retort, my words laced with conviction.

Kyson laughs bitterly, pushing me off his lap and standing up. I turn on the bed, watching him walk over to his bar with a mix of apprehension and concern.

“They don’t deserve forgiveness. Not even this is enough. Mercy is for the weak. Forgiveness? They will find none from me,” he snarls, tipping the bottle to his lips and taking a long swig. I despise when he drinks, knowing that it only fuels his anger.

“Then you truly are the weak one,” I sneer, rising to my feet as the bottle shatters against the wall, causing me to flinch. He moves so swiftly that I barely have time to steady myself before his hands grip my arms tightly, his growls reverberating in the room.

“You are weak! Falling to your knees to save an enemy. Forgiveness gets you killed. It gets you nothing!” Kyson roars, his grip tightening.

“No! You’re wrong,” I growl back, mustering all the strength I can find as I grip his wrists firmly. Anger courses through my veins, and he eventually releases his hold, glaring down at me with a mixture of frustration and confusion.

“You know nothing!” he growls, turning away from me in an attempt to regain control of his emotions.

“I know I forgave you!” I assert, my voice filled with determination.

“Forgave me? I never did anything to warrant needing forgiveness!” Kyson protests, his voice laced with incredulity.

“No? You nearly killed me when you destroyed our bond!” I spit out, the pain of that betrayal still fresh in my mind.

“Yet I forgave you for it. I forgave you for using the calling on me to manipulate me. I forgave your punishments, no matter how misguided they were. I forgave you! So if that makes me weak, then what does it make you for accepting it?” My words hang in the air, a challenge directed at him.

Kyson growls in response but remains silent, his anger consuming him.

“I am not changing the punishment, and you will not ask me to. They need to be punished for what they did,” he snaps, his tone filled with fury.

“I agree,” I concede, my voice softening. “But you won’t kill them,” I assert, refusing to let violence be the solution. There has to be another way, a path that allows for redemption and growth.

Kyson seems taken aback by my words, his eyes searching mine for any sign of wavering.

“As you said, I don’t have to like the punishment, but one must be given. But once it’s done, it is done, Kyson. I won’t allow you to continue punishing him,” I declare firmly, my resolve unwavering.

“And you won’t interfere?” he asks cautiously, uncertainty in his voice.

I swallow hard, knowing the weight of this decision. I understand Kyson’s need for vengeance, but harboring such hate is not something I can bear.

“Afterward, you let them go,” I tell him, my voice filled with a mix of compassion and determination. “No more punishment, no more suffering. It ends there.”

Kyson growls and clenches his jaw, clearly struggling with this compromise.

“Only if you stand by your word and don’t interfere or try to stop it,” he finally concedes, his voice filled with a mixture of resignation and frustration.

I take a deep breath, steadying myself. “Just don’t kill them,” I remind him firmly before storming past him and out the door.

“Where are you going?” he calls after me, his voice laced with concern.

“To find Abbie!” I snap back, not bothering to turn around. I know he’s following me, but right now, I need to focus on finding her. Liam falls into step beside me, remaining silent as we search for her.

“Azalea!” Kyson’s voice calls out again, interrupting the tense silence.

“What?” I reply sharply, my patience wearing thin.

“You said you would stand by my decision. That means you come with me,” he says firmly, grabbing hold of my arm.

“You want me to watch as you whip someone?... No!” I protest, the thought of witnessing such brutality sending shivers down my spine.

“You said you would stand by it,” Kyson insists, his grip tightening.

I press my lips into a thin line, glaring at him. Is he punishing me for challenging him? The thought lingers in my mind, but I refuse to let it distract me.

“Fine then,” I relent, motioning for him to lead the way. “Lead the way, My King,” I say with a hint of sarcasm, my tone dripping with defiance.

He growls in response but grips my hand, tugging me along after him.