Chapter 146: Sister?

AARON. The weight of the council's expectations hung heavy on me as I walked down the long corridor toward the council hall. My mind raced with the questions I knew would be thrown at me, the accusations, the judgment. Luna had already warned me—the council was divided about my return, and they weren't going to welcome me with open arms. Still, I had no choice but to face them. I could feel my steps falter for a moment, the anxiety gnawing at my resolve. For so long, I had been running from my position , away from the responsibilities that came with being Alpha. A part of me had convinced myself that I was done with it all. Yet here I was, back in LunaVille, walking into a room full of wolves who either saw me as a returning leader or a reckless deserter. And then there was Helena. I clenched my fists as I thought about her, alone in this town of wolves. She was putting herself at risk for me and Luna. The idea of her getting caught up in our politics made me uneasy, but it also gave me strength. I had to do this, not just for myself but for her too. I straightened my shoulders, steeling myself as the doors to the council chamber loomed ahead. The doors creaked open, and all eyes turned to me. The council hall was grand but suffocating. A long wooden table sat in the center of the room, with the elders seated on either side. At the head of the table sat Elder Garret, the oldest and most influential of the council. His eyes, sharp and unforgiving, locked onto mine as I approached. The tension in the room was thick, and the silence deafening. 'Aaron," Garret's voice cut through the air like a blade, 'we've been waiting." I bowed my head slightly in respect. 'Elder Garret. I apologize for my absence." One of the other elders, a younger wolf named Thorne, scoffed. 'Your absence? You've been gone for months, Aaron. The pack has been without its Alpha, and now you expect to walk back in and pick up where you left off? Do you know the things that have happened in that time?" I swallowed hard, but kept my gaze steady. 'I don't expect anything, Thorne. I'm here to take responsibility." 'You should have thought about that before you disappeared," Elder Garret said, his voice like gravel. 'The council has already deliberated on your punishment." My heart pounded. I knew this was coming, but hearing the word "punishment" made the weight of my situation sink in even further. 'The pack has suffered in your absence," Garret continued. 'And while we are willing to reinstate you as Alpha, there must be consequences for your actions." I nodded. 'I understand." At least, I'd still be Alpha. 'You are to be stripped of certain privileges for the next year," Garret said. 'Your authority will be limited, and the council will have final say over any decisions you make. You will also be required to serve alongside the warriors during the Luna festival, ensuring the safety of the pack. Consider it your penance." I bit back the frustration rising in my chest. I had expected worse, but it still stung to have my power stripped away like that. Being Alpha wasn't just a title….it was my birthright. Yet, I had left my pack behind, and now I had to live with the consequences. 'I accept the council's decision," I said, my voice steady even though I felt anything but. Garret nodded, his gaze softening just a fraction. 'Good. Now, let's move on to more pressing matters. The Luna festival is in three weeks." The mention of the festival sent a ripple of unease through me. The Luna festival was one of the most important events in LunaVille. It was a time to honor the moon goddess and strengthen the pack's bond. But it was also a time when tensions could run high, and the threat of outside forces was always present. All my training as a cub wasn't to waste after all. 'We've received word of potential disruptions," Garret continued. 'Rival packs may use the festival as an opportunity to attack, knowing that we'll be distracted." Thorne spoke up again, his voice laced with bitterness. 'And with Aaron's return, they may see it as a sign of weakness. They'll think we're vulnerable." My jaw clenched. 'Then we'll make sure they know we're not." 'Easier said than done," Thorne replied. 'The festival is a massive undertaking. Security will be stretched thin." I felt a knot form in my stomach. The festival was a time of celebration, but it was also a potential powder keg waiting to explode. I couldn't afford to let my guard down—not with so many eyes on me. But I couldn't help the gnawing sense of dread that settled in my gut. Something felt…off. 'We'll need to organize patrols," Garret said. 'The warriors will be on high alert, and we'll need you to oversee them, Aaron. This is your chance to prove that you're still capable of leading this pack." I nodded, my mind already racing with thoughts of how to manage the situation. The festival was a huge responsibility, but I couldn't afford to fail. Not now. Not with everything that was at stake. 'Understood," I said, though my voice wavered slightly. The meeting continued for another hour, with discussions about the festival's logistics, the security measures we'd need to put in place, and the rival packs we had to be wary of. But my mind kept drifting back to Helena, to her safety and to the weight of the responsibilities piling on my shoulders. The council dismissed me with a final warning—keep the pack safe, or there would be consequences. I stood from the table, my legs feeling heavy as I made my way toward the doors. The pressure of the festival and my return hung over me like a dark cloud, but I forced myself to keep moving forward. As I stepped out into the hallway, a small figure darted toward me, almost knocking me off balance. 'Aaron!" I staggered back, confused as a pair of small arms wrapped around my waist. I looked down to see a girl, no older than ten or eleven, clinging to me as if she'd known me her whole life. I blinked, my mind scrambling to make sense of the situation. 'Uh, hi?" She pulled back, her bright eyes staring up at me with a mixture of excitement and admiration. 'I knew you'd come back! I've been waiting for so long!" I froze, my confusion deepening. 'Who… who are you?" The girl giggled, her arms still loosely around me. 'It's me! Frida! Your sister!" Sister? I felt my world tilt on its axis. Sister? How was that even possible? I hadn't seen her since she was a baby. And that was long before I left Lunaville. I thought… 'You don't remember me, do you?" Frida asked, her voice softening a little, her smile faltering. I stared down at her, my mind still reeling. She looked familiar now that I focused on her face—the same soft brown hair, the same mischievous glint in her eyes. But she was a stranger to me, and the realization hit me like a punch to the gut. 'I…" My voice cracked, the words stuck in my throat. 'I didn't know you were still here." 'I never left," she said, her smile returning as if nothing had changed. 'I waited for you, Aaron. Just like you said you'd come back." Her words stung, and for the first time since I returned, I felt truly lost.