Chapter 15 #2
The veins along his neck and temples bulge. My breath catches, sharp and shallow. It feels like drowning, like being dragged under something endless and dark.
Tears spill down my face despite my effort to stop them. Gabriel breaks the same way. We both cry out, voices raw, tangled in something deeper than sound.
Zeev’s pain crashes through the bond. Mythril answers.
A thin silver light forms between us, almost transparent. It stretches, weaving itself into a perfect circle, trembling with energy. Then it shatters. A burst of energy tears through the room. I raise my arm to shield my face as the force slams into me, arching my body back against the chair.
Gabriel’s hoarse howl cuts through the air. I grit my teeth, holding on as the force rips through us, like we’re caught in the center of a storm.
Seconds pass, or maybe it’s longer. It feels endless. Then it stops. The energy fades.
I gasp, dragging air into my lungs, my body trembling. Sweat clings to my skin. My hand slips free from his, and I notice the marks I left behind. My nails dug into his skin hard enough to draw blood.
Gabriel struggles to stay conscious. His chest rises and falls unevenly.
“Gabriel… Can you hear me?” I reach for him, my fingers brushing his temple.
His eyes open slowly. The hazel gaze that meets mine feels different. Empty. Not cold. Not angry. Just… distant.
“I’m injured, and you choose now to do it,” he says, a dry edge in his voice. “That’s cold, Alexa.”
“What? But you said—”
He lifts his hand, cutting me off as he pulls away. “Yeah. My call.” He exhales slowly, leaning back. “Don’t you feel it?”
“Feel what?” I frown.
“Relief.” His voice is calm now. “My chest feels lighter. No more tension when I look at you. No more… pull.” He glances at me like I’m someone passing by on a quiet street. “I guess this is what freedom feels like.”
“Oh,” I murmur.
I watch him as he wipes the tears from his cheeks. What he says feels true. That bright gaze of his, the one that could once light up an entire room, is gone.
I turn toward the window, my expression distant. Is this it? No more sadness, no quiet longing, and no shy smiles. Just… emptiness.
Everything fades without a trace, marking the end of something that once felt unbreakable when we were seventeen. The rejection ritual worked. It left nothing behind but silence where something once lived.
* * *
The next day, the hospital discharges him. Lorraine stays close, her arm wrapped around him, supporting his weight as they walk. Gabriel knows what’s waiting for him at home. Still, he shows up as promised.
The Silver Moon Pack holds a closed meeting at the Scott family house, in the wide lower lobby. The elders are already there. Mrs. Gertrude among them. Lorraine, Harlow, Gabriel, and I arrive last.
I walk just behind Gabriel, watching the way he leans into Lorraine for balance. Harlow stays beside me, matching my pace step for step. The moment we enter, everyone rises.
“Welcome home, Alpha Gabriel,” Drake says, offering a thin, careful smile.
“Hey, Drake.” Gabriel drapes an arm over his shoulder, giving it a light squeeze.
With their support, he moves toward the center where the elders sit. He lifts both hands slightly, signaling for everyone to sit. Mr. Pascoe stands, clearing his throat. His gaze moves across the room before settling on Gabriel.
“Alpha Gabriel,” he begins, his tone formal, measured. “I will now read the decision from the closed meeting of the Silver Moon Pack elders. This decision has been reached through full deliberation and a unanimous vote.” He pulls a folded paper from his pocket and opens it carefully.
“Go ahead, Mr. Pascoe,” Gabriel says, sitting straighter. “I’ll hear it. And I’ll accept whatever comes.”
I glance at Harlow. He looks back at me. Through the quiet thread between us, I let my thoughts reach him.
“It’s going to be okay. After this, we’re free.”
Eldritch hums in agreement beneath the surface of his mind. Harlow nods. His warm hand finds mine, fingers lacing with mine as he rests them gently on my lap.
Mr. Pascoe continues. “Mr. Gabriel Scott, after reviewing the evidence regarding your conduct during the Alpha trial, the elders have reached a decision. You are hereby removed from your position as Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack. The majority stands in agreement.”
The words settle heavily across the room.
“As a lesson to future Alpha heirs, you are sentenced to one year of isolation. You are also permanently barred from taking the Alpha trial again.”
He pauses briefly, then continues in a calmer tone.
“Do you understand and accept this judgment under the law of the Silver Moon Pack? By serving this sentence, you show goodwill to the Moon Goddess, so she may still grant you peace and a future beyond this.”
Gabriel nods. “I understand,” he says quietly. “And I accept the punishment. May the Moon Goddess still watch over me.”
He raises his hand. Mr. Pascoe places the document into his palm.
“And arrangements will be made to ensure your safety during your sentence,” Mr. Pascoe adds.
But it isn’t over. He takes out another sheet of paper. This time, his gaze shifts.
“Mrs. Gertrude Dawson and Ms. Lorraine Dawson.”
The room stills.
“The elders have reviewed your actions in interfering with the sacred Alpha trial. Due to the severity of your misconduct and its impact on both moral and social order, a formal punishment has been determined. This decision will stand as a lesson for all members of the Silver Moon Pack, present and future.”
Mrs. Gertrude trembles. Tears gather in her eyes. Beside her, Lorraine remains still, her expression unreadable.
Mr. Pascoe’s voice hardens slightly. “The elders find that your conduct no longer reflects the honor of the late Alpha Dawson bloodline. Therefore, effective immediately, you are stripped of all rights to the Dawson family name.” A sharp intake of breath ripples through the room.
“From this moment forward, your names revert to their original lineage. You will be known as Mrs. Gertrude Oswald and Ms. Lorraine Oswald.”
“No…” Mrs. Gertrude shakes her head, her voice breaking. “No, I can’t go back to being an Omega. This… this isn’t happening…”
“It’s not finished yet, Mrs. Gertrude,” Mr. Pascoe scolds, his tone firm. “To ensure that neither of you interferes again in Alpha or Luna affairs, you are both reassigned to labor in the agricultural fields of the Silver Moon Pack.” Silence hits like a wall before a breakdown.
“No, no, no. Please, Mr. Pascoe, I’ll behave. I swear I will.” She drops to her knees, clutching at his legs, tears streaming down her face. “I’m the widow of the Dawson family. You can’t take that from me. We’ve known each other for years. Please… help me.”
“You have no shame,” he says sharply. Mr. Pascoe looks down at her, his expression cold.
“My sister trusted you, and you took advantage of that trust. You abandoned Harlow when he was only a year old. You spent the money meant for Alexa without a second thought.” His voice rises, cutting through her sobs.
“Guards, remove them from this house. Make sure they pack their things from the Dawson estate.”
The sentence lands like a final blow. This time, no one dares to stop it.