The Royal Alpha, & Loyal Luna

21. A Part of Your Past .

Kaleb's POV

Don't forget to request a hearing.
Ask to receive half of Kale's punishment and for an exemption to treason on behalf of blood ties, in turn giving him back his Beta title.

Don't forget to ask for Kalen's complete banishment, our family must survive, and he will be our downfall if this continues.

Don't forget to except any punishment for leaving my post at the Luna's father's bedside.

Don't forget, this is all for the pack.

For family.

I came to a stop once I reached his cell. "I won't be long." I told the guards. "Stand down, five tops."

They hesitated a moment, before opening the cell and walking away.

"Thank you." I nodded.

I turned to look inside, finding a mass of body slumped in the corner of the room.

"Kalen.. or should I call you Gio now?"

For a moment, it was silent. There was no movement, it didn't look to be any life left in him. And then surprisingly, he spoke.

"Kalen. Little brother.."

I scoffed at his words. "Just because I've kept you occasionally updated on what's been happening, means nothing. You lost your place to call me family when you left the pack."

This time he moved to look up at me, his shaky breaths alerting me of his pain. Though if I knew him, I knew he was trying to mask it.

He was a wild spirit, my brother.

"Why have you come back? Why now?"

"I don't know.." He shifted and the whiff of dried blood sifted to my nose. "If you'd like the answer.. or not."

"Even if it was a good one.." I let my sentence trail off, because we both knew where I was headed with it.

"Coincidence." He kept his eyes on me, as if waiting for me to lose my temper. "Not because I necessarily wanted to.. and amongst other reasons." He finished.

"So, still no plans of return?"

"I couldn't even if I wanted to."

"But that's the point, isn't it? That you don't want to.."

"Why would I? I have everything I've ever wanted."

"Even family?"

His eyes narrowed on me, but I could see it wasn't out of anger. Not even out of analyzing each of my emotional responses. He was being wary, and with himself.

"Yes, Kaleb.. even family. My own."

I stepped back in shock. "What are you saying?"

"That's right, my little brothers.. are uncles. Uncles to the pup of Aureate Moon's rightful Beta."

As much as a part of me wanted to be happy, wanted to thank the Moon Goddess for blessing my family with more of just that.. family, I couldn't.

However many pups he had, whether one or a litter, they would all be born the same. To that of a traitorous rogue.

"You turned your back on Aureate Moon when we needed you most. Kale did more than play his part, he lived up to his duty and then some. Enough to take your place as Beta of this pack when the time came."

"If that is what you must tell yourself."

"No, that is just what happened, what is. No matter how much you run from it, no matter how much you try to change into this Gio person.. the truth will never change. It will still be the truth, face it."