Amelia (her voice thundering, every word laced with fury): "First of all—you, Cedrick! Why did you dare leave this house? Were you not ordered by Alpha himself never to step outside? How dare you disobey his command and put the entire pack in danger?"
Before anyone could intervene, her hand struck sharply across Cedrick's face. The crack of the slap echoed through the hall like a whip. Gasps rose from those watching as a bright red imprint of Amelia's fingers bloomed across his cheek.
Cedrick staggered back, clutching the side of his face. The searing sting was unbearable, burning deeper than the skin—it scorched his pride.
Amelia (her eyes blazing, voice shaking with both anger and fear): "That was just a warning, Cedrick. Wait until Alpha returns—you will face the true consequences. Don't you understand? You are the eldest son! You carry the weight of this pack's future. If anything had happened to you out there, what would I do? What would become of us?"
Cedrick's breath hitched as he pressed his palm harder to his cheek, but instead of retreating, he met her eyes with defiance. His voice cracked under the storm of emotions, but his words cut deep.
Cedrick (bitterly): "And that is exactly why Father never takes me anywhere! To him, I am incapable—unworthy of standing by his side. He chooses Rafael because he doesn't want me to succeed him. He never has."
The silence that followed was heavy, pressing against everyone in the room. The raw truth in Cedrick's words hung in the air like a blade.
Ballerina (stepping between them, her tone sharp yet calm, commanding the space): "Enough! Both of you."
Her eyes narrowed first at Amelia, then at Cedrick, her voice carrying the weight of authority. "Let Alpha return and decide. Until then, neither of you will speak another word of this. And Amy—remember your place. As the second head of this pack, I order you to step back from Cedrick. Look at him! His cheek is burning, his pride already wounded. Do not make it worse."
Amelia's jaw tightened, but she took a slow step back, her chest heaving with restrained anger. Cedrick lowered his gaze, his hand still over his cheek, the silence between them now louder than the slap itself.
Alpha (his deep voice rumbling through the hall as he entered, his presence commanding silence): "What is happening here? Why such noise in my house?"
His sharp gaze swept across the room, landing first on Ballerina. A flicker of surprise softened his stern face. "Ballerina… you've returned from the Academy. And Grignard—you are here as well. My most loyal friend…"
The tension broke for only a heartbeat before Amelia stepped forward, her voice slicing the air.
Amelia (pointing at Cedrick, her tone firm, unwavering): "Alpha, your son has defied your orders. You must deliver his punishment, or he will never learn."
Ballerina (immediately interjecting, her eyes burning with defiance): "No. He does not deserve punishment. I give you my word, he will not repeat it. Let this be his last mistake."
Amelia (her voice rising, fueled by duty and fury): "And what of the next time? He must learn to respect his elders, to obey the commands of his Alpha. He is not just a boy—he is the heir, the future of our beloved pack. If he cannot bear discipline now, what kind of leader will he become?"
A heavy silence fell, broken only by the Alpha's low growl. His patience had thinned.
Alpha (snapping, his authority echoing in every syllable): "Enough! Neither of you has the right to decide. He is my son—my responsibility. Guards, take him to the dungeon!"
The words struck like a hammer. Gasps filled the room. Cedrick stiffened, shame and fear flooding his eyes. But before the guards could move, Ballerina stepped forward, her voice like steel.
Ballerina (furious, unwavering): "Over my dead body. Do you forget so easily, my dear brother? You too defied Father's commands countless times. You slipped beyond the walls, you broke the rules, you carved your own path. And now you would punish your son for bearing the same fire? I say no. Those very genes—your rebellion—run in his blood. Do not condemn him for being your reflection."
The Alpha froze, her words striking him like a blade to the chest. His stern mask faltered, his voice dropping low, heavy with reluctant truth.
Alpha (grinding his teeth, then sighing): "But… yes. Perhaps you are right. He is my blood—my firstborn. If he follows my footsteps, then let him. For better or worse, it is the mark of who he is."
The hall fell into silence, the storm of conflict slowly receding, though the air still trembled with unspoken words.