Chapter 53

• His Frame
• ALPHA ZACHARY I saw it all. I witnessed all of it but I did nothing to stop the brutality nor did I save her...Haera. I was fucking there battling with myself and my wolf as the maids began their torture on her. I was still trying to put up a stronger fight against my wolf when I heard her bones popping and cracking. I was there yet I didn't rescue her. Haera. "You can't be reckless after what you did for her days ago!" My wolf had said when I made the move to interrupt and end Haera's suffering. I couldn't believe some of my pack members could gang up against an unarmed person just because I promoted her. "If that is the reason for what she is going through at the moment, think about what will happen to her if you interfere." Serge had become unreasonable but I believed him. When have I ever listened to him? Who was I kidding? It wasn't just Serge that had restricted me from saving her. I was being a coward, thinking about my mate's feelings instead of fulfilling one of my duties as the Alpha and as Haera's protect- Arghhh. The most painful incident was that I was still there. In the dark, contemplating when I sensed him. My brother. I was hiding as he, Tybalt strolled into the kitchen with the same confidence I knew he had. I was motionless as he rescued Haera like a knight in shining armor while I hid like a boneless commoner. Thinking about it now as I slipped away from the kitchen, I had zero vindication for my lack of action. I mean, I was right there when my half-brother carried Haera away from the kitchen in the most intimate style ever. I was fucking there and I did nothing to save Haera. Tybalt had once again proven himself and I couldn't be more distrustful as I made my way to my chamber... I wondered where my brother had been all this while. I thought about why he suddenly showed up to rescue a chef. I also asked myself why I was being mad because I couldn't or most appropriately, I didn't help Haera. Serge would have provided an answer to these questions but I had blocked him out of my mind after Tybalt and Haera left the kitchen. My wolf didn't understand what I was feeling despite feeling it himself. The thought of the pain Haera would be in for the next few days made me want to do the worst things possible to those maids and I would do more than that to avenge Haera's agony. Even though I was the Alpha, the case might not be reported to me. It broke my heart to think that some of my pack members were probably going through the same thing or worse but I would never know of it. At this point, it wasn't just about Haera but about my pack and how I needed to be closer to the root of the problems. I had always concentrated on the external affairs of the pack but it was time to take the internal issues seriously. "It's all about the chef for you these days." Serge invaded my head but I ignored him. I was too angry at myself to bicker with him. I lay on my bed but that was all I could do throughout the night. Haera Tybalt Maids Haera...Tybalt...Maids... My head was jumbled and I didn't get to close my eyes. "Alan, I want them exiled from my pack immediately." Those were the first words I spoke the next day. Alan was right behind me as I pointed to the three maids to make sure my Beta didn't misunderstand my command. I was as cranky as anyone would be if they didn't get to sleep. I had summoned my Beta as soon as the day broke. It was still dark outside when I told him to follow me around the pack and he did without questioning my intention. Well, I was trying to sniff out the three maids that bullied Haera last night and when I did find them gossiping by the well, I gave the command to Alan without second thoughts. "Pardon?" Alan said, halting in his steps. He was shocked. He has to be because it isn't every day that I give such commands. "You heard me clearly, Alan. I want them out of my pack immediate-" I stopped talking. "You know what, I changed my mind. I want those three out of the woodlands and far away from it." I added, telling Alan to remember their faces and scents because if I should sense them in the pack for more than an hour, there would be problems. I didn't know what I would do though. Probably have them killed in a brutal way and thrown out. "If I may ask, why do you want to punish them?" Alan asked. He wasn't challenging my authority. He was merely doing his job as my Beta but I wasn't about to tell him the main reason behind my actions. Instead of telling him what I witnessed last night in the kitchen, I swirled to face Alan, scowling at him. He got the message and didn't question me after that. "Replace them with nice younger maids. Make sure you pick the best of them though. I can't be eating rubbish." I added and we both returned to my throne chamber swiftly after that. Nobody should know that I was doing this for Haera. It would only complicate things for me and her. No one would know except me. "You are forgetting that I know every detail of that." Serge said and I blocked him out before he could continue his usual therapeutic nonsense. I had no intention of listening to him. Alan began to read out some of the things I had to accomplish for the day. I heard some but I soon zoned out. Alan's voice was replaced by the groans of pain I heard from Haera last night. The way she held back her cry showed nothing but strong will and tolerance. She was brave...I wasn't. I felt the urge to seek her out and ask how she was doing, how she managed the pain overnight, and if she was able to sleep. Haera... "...pha.." The long hours between the incident and that morning didn't subside the pain I was feeling because my brother saved her instead of me. The way Tybalt carried Haera remained a disturbing mental image to me. "Alpha!" Alan called out to me. I blinked rapidly trying to escape my thoughts. My Beta had this weird look that was in between suspicious and worries plastered on his face. "Are you okay, Alpha?" Alan questioned. I relaxed my tightened fist and waved him off, telling him to continue. "I'm sorry but I think you need to sleep, Alpha. You look exhausted and we need you healthy if you are to protect the pack." Alan said bluntly but he bowed his head at the end of his statement. "I won't be able to sleep even if I go back to my chamber." I disclosed this to my Beta before I realized I made the wrong move. Alan was the type that always wanted to know more and more and more.... "And why is that? What bothers you, Alpha?" Alan proved me right within seconds. If only I could tell him that the new assistant chef was bothering me in a good but stressful manner or that my brother's sudden appearance beside the chef bothered me. I knew Tybalt remained in the pack because I could sense him but he never appeared in my presence. Tybalt.... "Alpha!" Alan called out to me again. "Tybalt." I spoke my thoughts out. I didn't appreciate my action at first but when I noticed that it helped to get Alan's attention off my back, I couldn't be more grateful. "Your brother? His he bothering you?" My Beta bombarded me with questions. If his hands weren't full with Beta responsibilities, I would have advised him to be a detective. Alan never wears his emotions on his face. I was like that too but his's was on another level. "Where and what has he been up to? Have you heard anything about him?" I asked Alan. I had told my Beta to keep taps and his eyes on my brother after I became the rightful Alpha. Tybalt wasn't all he appeared to be and I was certain he was up to no good. I wouldn't deny that my brother's appearance worried me more than it should. "Your brother has become a lone wolf. He doesn't relate with the guards too but he always performs the tasks assigned to him without complaining and I rarely see him leave his isolated chamber, if he isn't on patrol duty." Alan went on and on, informing me about every little detail about my brother. I zoned out again because none of the details intrigued me. My brother had been living a boring life until last night....certainly. "Forget about the chef. You should be more worried about Tybalt's appearance." Serge advised me but how could I forget something that felt like it had become part of my existence. "I ceased watching him when he wasn't doing anything suspicious." I heard Alan say. "You have made a grave mistake, Alan. How would you know that? You have to monitor him even if he goes to bath or defecates." I corrected my Beta. I didn't want to come off as harsh but Alan was underestimating Tybalt. My brother knew Alan was watching him... I was sure of it. "I'm sorry, Alpha. I will that into action forthwith." Alan bowed as he tended his apology. I told him to rise and that I wanted to be alone. My Beta turned to leave but he spoke again, swiveling around to confront me. "I was informed that your brother came to see you last night but he didn't meet you in your chamber. Did you leave your chamb-" "Why was he paying me an impromptu visit?" I inquired, making Alan swallow his words. He was about to ask about my whereabouts. Alan stared at me with his detective gaze and I almost became naked in his presence. Thank the Goddess for Alpha's power and aura. "I-i can't answer that, Alpha. I wish I knew why he didn't meet you in your chamber though." Persistence much! I became silent as I thought of what to say without giving myself out. "Alpha." I was rescued by one of my guards who had unexpectedly shown up in the throne room. He was bowing respectfully, waiting for me to acknowledge his presence. I told him to speak. I wished I hadn't said that a few minutes later. "The former Alpha Prince, your brother is outside the throne room and he is requesting to see you. Should I let him in?" The guard informed me. I perceived my blood drying out completely. Why was he appearing in my comfort zone after what he did last night? My mouth dried up too. I wasn't scared of Tybalt...not anymore but he has this unexplainable aura around him that always makes me uncomfortable. "Hello, brother." Tybalt greeted maliciously as he strode into my throne room like he owned the damn place. He didn't respect me enough to wait for my permission to let him in nor is he bowing to show honor to me as his Alpha. I excused the guard. He shouldn't be witnessing such disrespect to his Alpha. I inspected my brother as he stood in front of me with his infamous devilish smirk. He was the same as the last time I saw him except now, he wasn't as healthy as he used to be. The hair. His frame. His height. All of it was the same despite his weight loss. He wasn't the Alpha prince that had everything at the tip of his finger anymore. He wasn't robust like he used to be but I saw his muscles evidently. "Hello, brother." Tybalt greeted me again with the same smirk while I stared into his eyes without speaking a word in return. He was back and I doubt if I was ready for what his appearance meant to the pack, to Haera, and me. I wasn't ready for the storm.