Kamrynn’s POV
The room was eerily silent, the only sound the faint tinkle of glass settling amidst the shattered remnants of the chandelier. The scene before us was one of utter devastation, but the silence didn’t last long.
“Father! No!” Thalia’s anguished scream pierced the stillness, shattering it into pieces. Her voice was raw, trembling with heartbreak, and it echoed off the walls of the grand hall like a haunting refrain.
I turned, just in time to see her darting forward, her movements frantic and unsteady. She collapsed to her knees beside Draven’s mangled body, her sobs breaking through in loud, wrenching cries. She clutched at what was left of him, her delicate hands trembling as she pressed them against his bloodied chest.
“Why? Why did it have to end like this?” she wailed, her voice filled with a sorrow so profound that I felt it in my bones.
A wave of pity swelled within me, catching me off guard. Despite everything Draven had done, despite the terror he had brought upon us all, he was still her father. And Thalia… Thalia, for all her flaws, had chosen to do the right thing in the end. She had chosen integrity over family, and now she was left broken because of it.
I couldn’t move, my feet rooted to the spot as I watched her crumble before us. It wasn’t until Kyven stepped forward that the spell broke.
“Thalia,” he said softly, his voice strained with concern. He knelt beside her, reaching out to pull her away from the gruesome sight.
“No!” she screamed, thrashing against him as he tried to lift her. “Don’t touch me! Let me go!”
“Thalia, you can’t stay here,” Kyven pleaded, his voice cracking. “This… this isn’t good for you. Please, come away from him.”
Her cries grew louder, more frantic, as she struggled against him. “He’s my father! You don’t understand! I… I should have stopped him! I should have-”
“You couldn’t have done anything,” Kyven interrupted, his voice filled with desperation. “Thalia, this wasn’t your fault. None of it was your fault!”
I looked away, unable to bear the sight any longer. I should have felt relieved, even happy, that Draven’s reign of terror was finally over. But all I felt was an aching emptiness. Thalia was blaming herself for his death, and maybe she always would.
Finally, Kyven managed to pull her into his arms. She buried her face in his chest, her sobs muffled but no less heart-wrenching. He held her tightly, his own face etched with grief as he whispered words of comfort that she probably couldn’t hear over her cries.
“Guards,” Alpha Orion’s voice rang out, his face set in a cold mask of authority. “Remove the body.”
Thalia’s head shot up, her tear-streaked face pale and desperate. “No! Please, no!” she begged, her voice hoarse. She broke away from Kyven’s embrace, nearly stumbling as she turned to Alpha Orion. “Please… please don’t just discard him like that. Let me take him home. Let me give him a proper burial in the Amethyst Pack.”
Orion hesitated, his gaze hardening. “Thalia, after what your father did-”
Kyven cut in, his voice firm. “She’s right, Uncle. He was still her family. And as much as I hate to admit it… he was an Alpha. He deserves the respect of a proper burial.”
Rmonica added softly, “Compassion, dear. It’s what separates us from people like him.”
For a long moment, Orion said nothing, his jaw clenching as he weighed his decision. Finally, he let out a resigned sigh.
“Fine,” he said gruffly. “Guards, handle the body with care. It will be returned to the Amethyst Pack.”
Thalia’s knees buckled slightly, but Kyven caught her before she fell. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
I hesitated, then forced myself to step forward. I wanted to say something, to offer her some kind of comfort, but the words caught in my throat. Would she even want to hear from me? After all, I had been the one to expose her father’s plan. Maybe she hated me now.
Before I could decide, Thalia pulled away from Kyven’s embrace and turned to face me. Her eyes, red and swollen from crying, met mine.
“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice trembling. “For everything my father did. I… I never wanted things to turn out like this.”
I blinked, stunned. Of all the things I had expected, an apology was not one of them.
“I…” I faltered, then took a deep breath. “I should be the one apologizing. I attacked you back then because I thought… I thought you were just like him. I was wrong. I’m sorry, Thalia. I’m sorry for your loss as well, no one deserves to lose a parent like that.”
She gave me a sad, watery smile. “It’s okay. I understand you were trying to protect your family and this Pack. And… for what it’s worth, I forgive you.”
A weight I hadn’t realized I was carrying lifted from my chest. Relief washed over me as Thalia straightened, wiping her eyes.
“I know where the key to the Ostracylle is,” she said quietly. “I’ll go fetch it.”
I nodded, watching as she left the hall.
A moment later, Kyven turned to me, his expression filled with remorse. “Kamrynn…” His voice cracked, and he paused, swallowing hard before continuing. “I’m so sorry. For everything I said. For the way I treated you. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but… I’ll take any punishment you see fit.”
I stared at him, my heart aching at the sight of him so broken and ashamed. Without a word, I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him.
“We both made mistakes, Kyven,” I murmured. “There’s nothing to forgive.”
He froze for a moment before returning the embrace, his arms tightening around me. “Thank you,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
When we finally pulled apart, I flicked his forehead lightly, drawing a startled look from him.
“Don’t you ever doubt me again,” I said, my tone playful but firm.
He managed a small, sheepish smile. “I won’t. I promise.”