Storm Born Book One

Chapter nineteen.

~~~~Sexual Content ~~~~

Edward sighed taking a deep breath as he stood in front of Liam the man's face was pale he did not need to scent his fear even though it was rolling off him in waves he could see it in his face, He had talked long into night taking council from the elves but in the end the decision had to be his he was the currant Legitimate Alpha of Thorncastle, the only Adult Heir of his family, in the end the decision was his duty to decide and carry out. 

Liam's arms tied behind him could not bring himself to look at the Alpha, he had always been a man who went with the flow. followed his orders, worked hard when he had to work and played hard when he didn't. He did not involve himself with debates on the morality of his orders he just obeyed them, and now it looked like he was likely to die for following the orders of his Alpha.  

Had he had much choice?  He had been kicked out of his pack when he was barely a teenager. his parents had been killed as traitors and he was banished, pack sensibilities did not allow them to kill children but it did allow them to be beaten for the crimes of their parents and be kicked out to fend for themselves. The thirteen-year-old he had been then had been so confused, so lost. When Gregor's rogue pack had found him he was near starving to death. They had taken him in and cared for him after their fashion, it had given him a sense of belonging again and he had blindly followed them.

Edwards jaw twitched "Liam look at me".

The man raised his head struggling against his shame and fear to raise his eyes and look directly at the man standing before him. The Alpha looked Stern and resolute his imposing height and presence were overwhelming to him how had he ever believed that Alpha Gregor was in any way a true Alpha, the power coming off Thorn was making his entire body quake.

"Liam I do not blame you for the death of my family or all of the innocent people in my pack who were massacred after the battle it would serve no one, avenge no one, However, I could punish you for the mission you undertook with others to track down myself and my son".

"Liam nodded bowing his head again unable to keep looking into the eyes of the man in front of him.

"But I do not think that killing a man for following orders of his Alpha is justified, if that were the case I would have killed Thomas, who is of equal guilt to you. Like Thomas I would like to give you the opportunity of redemption, I would like you to accept me as your rightful Alpha severing all former ties and loyalty to Gregor I would like you to take the blood oath and swear to protect my son and all of our pack as it grows. I would have you join us we are a small band to be sure but I believe we will grow and I would like you to be a part of that". 

Edward paused to see the effect his words were having on Liam.

He had learned some of the man's childhood from Thomas, and he could see how a young frightened starving boy would view Gregor as his saviour. He could even see how such a boy could easily be twisted by the adults around him, to obey blindly with any task they put in front of him. He grudgingly respected that Liam had not tried to make excuses nor had he used his parent's death and his treatment by his original pack as an excuse for his actions. Liam had raised his head again cautiously seeming less anxious now that he knew he was not to be killed though if he did not accept the terms he had offered Edward knew that he would have no choice he would have no choice he hoped that it would not come to that.

"When we were searching through Kellen's things we found a pouch containing your Alpha's orders, He was ordered to kill any of you who left the mission or even threatened the effectiveness of the mission. the secret had to be kept none of you would have been allowed to leave or to give up your task and once accomplished it is my belief that you all even Kellen would have been killed to keep it a secret".