COME UP FOR AIR | ongoing

ACT I SCENE V | 5

ACT I SCENE V | 5

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SOMETHING peculiar was happening to Pierce Ashford.

He would occasionally be late for meetings and even when he did arrive, he seemed to be in a blissful haze.

His patrols were garnering less prisoners with the passing weeks and it seemed everybody noticed this apparent change in the behaviour.

'You wanted to see me, Alpha.' Pierce's emerald eyes were curiously peering into those of his Alpha.

Black like his soul.

The Alpha motioned for Pierce to sit down behind his desk, his pale lips pursed into a thin line.

Alpha Elon's twisted face made him look much older than he really was. In truth, he was a mere fifteen years older than Pierce himself.

The everyday stresses and struggles that came with being a leader, however, had garnered a soft salt and pepper hue to his erstwhile dark hair, and rendered his skin paler than it once was.

The enormous scar wasn't helping either.

He held his favourite staff in his hands as he gazed over at Pierce in adoration.

Pierce had always been like a son to him. In truth, he had always seen a bit of himself in the beta.

He, too was once a young man with the world ahead of him and he too had had to make sacrifices to get to where he was.

He didn't regret it though.

Not even a little bit.

Pierce, he noticed, had a few ancient silver rings on most of his fingers.

One of them had his family crest on it, and the one on his index had the Tenebris pack crest engraved on the solitaire.

The Alpha smirked to himself, his lips unwittingly curling maliciously. Even though he was whilom a part of the Solas pack, Pierce had deflected to his side which was a wise choice on his part.

'I won't beat about the bush.' The Alpha said, leaning back into his chair as his face hardened.

Pierce felt his jaw tick beneath his skin.

He knew that when he was called into the Alpha's office, he'd be ordered to do something he would probably loathe himself for later.

'I suppose you've heard about Astors.' The Alpha spoke with haste, black eyes glaring so deeply into Pierce's that he was certain he could see into his soul.

Pierce remained calm. Panicking would only make matters worse.

Pierce immediately knew what the meeting was about. He had heard about Astors. In fact, he had known about Astors for months now.

Killian Astors, one of the Alpha's betas had deflected to the Solas a year ago. He had been working undercover trying to bring Tenebris down from the inside.

Pierce, being ever so vigilant, discovered this ages ago, but for some reason, he could not bring himself to kill him. He couldn't warn the Alpha either. He didn't want to admit it, but deep down there was some part of him that wanted the light to triumph.