Luther POV
Elias and I sat across from Alpha Edmund, our bodies taut with barely restrained fury. Every fiber of in me ached with the memory of their parents' screams, of the years of torment that followed.
I knew without having to look that Elias felt the same.
I could still taste the fear of that day as a child, watching Alpha Edmund drive his sword into my mother's swollen belly while laughing.
Watching his smug face brought memories of our father's head hanging on the pack's walls as we were herded off to a life of slavery.
I had known that Edmund would be back. He would not just let go of the pack so easily.
Like the coward Edmund was, he had returned with the king's brother.
Otherwise, he would have already been lying on the floor, his blood soaking the walls like a testament to his crimes.
And even after he had died, his skull and bones would be hung over the hall as a reminder to everyone about what happened to men like him.
Every muscle in my body itched to leap across the table, to tear Edmund apart with my bare hands, and yet the presence of Lord Aster kept me from indulging in the satisfaction of immediate revenge.
"Lord Aster," Elias said, his voice hot, passionate, dripping with menace, "it is only thanks to your presence that the scum beside you still draws breath."
I could hear the slight tremor in Elias' voice. Unlike me who had learned to bury my feelings, Elias was too passionate to just be calm.
Unlike me, Elias never bothered with careful words. He preferred action.
Edmund rose, fists shaking with fury, his green eyes flashing a predatory light. But even in his rage, there was something darker, something twisted and self-satisfied. "How dare you?" he barked, his voice laced with venom. "Do you understand who you speak to?"
Luther leaned forward, deliberately slow, letting each word land like a hammer. "We understand perfectly, Edmund. We understand exactly what you are. And we know exactly what you've done."
Edmund's glare shifted to Lord Aster as though pleading for intervention. "They killed my warriors and sacked my pack," he hissed. "I barely survived. And you… you dare defy me?"
"You butchered our parents," I spat, venom sharp on my tongue. "You sold us. You left us to rot in slavery. And now you sit there like a king, daring to call yourself Alpha?"
"I should have had you join them." Edmund's grin was tight, predatory, and dangerous. "My methods ensure loyalty. My blood ensures survival. My power is absolute. And if you think you have suffered, you know nothing of the lengths I will go to maintain control."
Elias's fists clenched so tightly his knuckles whitened and his claws pushed out. Every breath, every heartbeat, I'm sure reminded him of our parents' screams.
The cruelty Edmund had inflicted didn't just linger, it had defined us, shaped us into the deadly weapons we had become.
My voice dropped, cold and lethal. "We are here to claim the birthright from our father, we will have our revenge."
"Our soldiers fill your hall," Elias added, "What can you do?"
"The King's envoy is here to ensure that my pack is handed back to me." Edmund spat. "Your heads will be hanging on the walls by sunset."
"It is an unfortunate situation and I do sympathize with you." Lord Aster studied us. "However, Alpha Edmund is right. You simply can't claim the pack for your own when the Alpha remains alive."
I wondered what kind of man Lord Aster was, supporting vermin like Edmund. He did not look very chummy with Edmund and that had me wondering if he was only here because of the King's commands
The king had always aligned with Edmund plus letting some savage twins get away with attacking Stormfang without any repercussions would set a bad precedent.
I could understand the king's envoy's presence here. What they did not know was that We were ready to do whatever it took to claim Stormfang.
"The law is the law." Lord Aster glanced at Edmund in distaste and added, "You should have killed him when you had the chance."
"Lord Aster." a vexed Edmund exclaimed.
"And if we refuse to yield?" Elias asked through gritted teeth.
"You would openly oppose the King, the law?" Lord Aster asked diplomatically. "You don't seem like men who would lead their warriors to their certain deaths."
"A law that favours men like him?" Elias spat then countered, "How are you sure we would lose?"
I watched the discomfort on Lord Aster's face with pleasure.
It did not matter if he was sympathetic towards us, his words were doing the opposite.
Good men should be able to stand for the truth.
"If you succeed in killing this set of troops." Lord Aster continued, "Be sure that the King would send more. Are you ready for war?"
Elias and I glared at Edmund impotently. I imagined the satisfaction from pulling out one limb from his body one after the other until he was nothing but a headless stump.
Edmund's lips curled into a smile, slow and deliberate, but it did not reach his eyes. "You tried so hard too," he said. "But it would take far more superior men than you to usurp me.
He got to his feet, then he leaned close to us and whispered.
"Not even your father could."
The words hit like ice. I felt a sick, twisting fury bubble within me and a glance at Elias showed his struggle with his wolf that wanted to come out and rip Edmund to pieces.
I reached through the connection we shared as twins and spread some calm to lias.
We could not afford to get into a fight, we had to remain calm in the face of Edmund who no doubt wanted to rile us up.
Elias struggled against my influence on him and lunged at Edmund but I held him back and stared into his eyes, willing him to back down.
Edmund sat back in his chair, exuding a calm malice, the kind that only came from years of domination and cruelty. "You are impatient. You think that your suffering grants you the right to decide when I die. I am older, stronger, wiser. I will not let go of what I have worked so hard for."
Elias laughed bitterly, a sound that was almost a sob. "Worked hard for?" he repeated, disbelief and hatred in every syllable. "You mean by raping, murdering and pillaging? You ruined us for nothing but your advancement, and now you lecture us on patience?"
The former Alpha's grin widened. "Perhaps," Edmund said smoothly, "but patience is a virtue you will need. Because while you may have gotten a small win, you do not have me. You do not have the satisfaction of my death. Your mother must be turning in her grave."
My fists shook with barely restrained rage. It was my turn to have my wolf screaming to escape as I had imagined this moment countless times: holding Edmund's throat, seeing the life drain from his eyes, feeling the weight of justice settle at last. And now, with the pack technically within their grasp, none of it mattered. The victory was hollow.
My jaw tightened. "You… you're nothing but a coward hiding behind walls, pawns, and fear. You've taken everything from us, and now you deny us the only thing that would make it right."
Edmund's eyes gleamed with cold amusement. "Perhaps," he said softly. "Or perhaps I am simply ensuring that the world remembers why the Alpha of Stormfang commands respect. You will never have power. You will never have a legacy. And the hunger, the fire of revenge… that is yours alone to bear."
"Since that will be all, I will escort you and your soldiers back to the capital with me." Lord Aster pronounced and got to his feet, "There you will be tried for your crimes."
Edmund jumped out of his chair, smug satisfaction written across his face.
The law had saved him.
The King had saved him.
He thought of how much he would enjoy watching us die.
"Except, We will not be going with you Lord Aster." I said quietly.
Lord Aster's brow furrowed in frustration. I'm sure he was not ready to deal with the mess of a war.
"If we can't have his head," I said and looked Edmund square in the face. "Surely we can keep his heir."
Edmund's smug face fell the next instant and his knees, weakened by the implication of Luther's words had him falling back into the seat he had just triumphantly risen out of.
Lord Aster's eyebrow rose.
"Well, that certainly changes things."
"Can I trust that you gentlemen won't tear each other while I'm gone." Asked Lord Aster as he rose, while looking at our faces.
The next moment, he left us in what felt like an explosive space.
"I am sure the king will be curious to know how you were able to mask your scent." Edmund said slyly in a low voice.
I watched the cunning in his eyes and despite my hate for the man, I had to admit that he was good at thinking fast on his feet.
"What do you mean?" I asked innocently.
The fact that Edmund was brazen enough to mention magic when he also made use of it was something I had expected.
"Don't pretend you aren't using black magic." He insisted with a grin. "You might be savages who had to fight to survive but your numbers are too small to create the kind of havoc you did."
He leaned closer as if confiding in them. "Uncultured oafs from the desert might not know but there is a ban on using Dark magic in the kingdom."
He added, "And the reward is a very painful death."
"Then I figure the king will be curious to know why you are habouring a scentless wolf in your pack." I said after a beat then looked at Elias. "Remind me brother, what will become of such a man?"
"The elimination of the entire pack."
Elias dropped with a glib smile of satisfaction.