Episode 4

The dawn was cold and enveloped in a silence that, for Aliya, finally brought the promise of a well-deserved rest. She let herself fall onto the bed, exhausted by the weight of that night, the journey, the burning gazes of the supremes, the resentment of her family. She felt her eyes grow heavy and, for a brief moment, believed sleep would take her without resistance.

But an urgent and heavy knock on the door brought her back to reality with a jolt. Before she could even answer, the door was thrown open with a bang. There stood her father, his eyes narrow and blazing, his expression laden with anger.

"So this is how you intend to behave, Aliya?" he snapped, crossing the room with firm strides. "You cause this… this humiliating scene in the middle of the hall, in front of everyone, and you think you can just go to sleep as if nothing happened?"

She straightened up, feeling the discomfort of his presence invade the small, safe space of her room. "I don't remember doing anything wrong," she said, her voice calmer than she truly felt. "I merely… responded."

He laughed, a hollow, cold laugh. "Respond? An omega talking back to supremes? A bastard who shouldn't even be among us?"

The blow of his words was sharp, and Aliya felt it deeply. But she didn't let her father see any weakness. She kept her chin up, refusing to look away.

"Perhaps I don't belong here, but I am as much a part of this family as any of your precious legitimate children. And that, no matter how much you try, you cannot change."

"Don't be insolent, girl!" He narrowed his eyes, clearly frustrated by her maintaining her composure in the face of his fury. "I gave you a home, food, a place to live. And how do you repay me? By shaming us all, especially in front of such important alphas."

"Repay?" She laughed, with uncontained bitterness. "You gave me the crumbs of your compassion, and I had to accept them. But don't mistake that for gratitude."

Cedrik's face hardened, and he took a deep breath, as if trying to suppress an outburst of anger. "Believe me, I will not stand idly by while you destroy our family's image. Tomorrow, you will conduct yourself with the dignity expected of an… an omega like you, understood?"

Aliya merely nodded, tired of prolonging the confrontation. With a final disapproving glance, he left, slamming the door hard. Silence finally returned, but the weight of his words remained, throbbing in her mind. She curled up in bed, closing her eyes, but sleep came heavy and uneasy, tainted by suppressed fury and the pain of another bitter memory.

...****************...

The next morning, Aliya awoke with a slight headache. The restless night seemed to dig its claws into her mind, and her first sensation upon waking was the discomfort of the reality around her. She knew breakfast would be another test of endurance, but she had no choice.

She got ready quickly and went downstairs, trying to mentally prepare herself to face her family. When she entered the dining room, she found Laena and Lyanna talking, both falling silent as soon as they saw her.

"Oh, look who decided to grace us with her presence," Laena muttered, a fake smile crossing her lips. "I figured that perhaps, after the show you put on last night, you'd prefer to hide."

Aliya kept her expression impassive. "I have nothing to hide," she replied, sitting down and picking up an apple.

Lyanna smirked, her gaze filled with scorn. "Right… You like to act as if you're an important part of things here. It's funny, to be honest."

"Or perhaps pathetic," Laena added, in a tone that seemed calculated to hit Aliya where it hurt. "A bastard omega trying to place herself among real wolves."

The young woman felt anger rise within her, but she held back. She knew that responding would only give them the satisfaction of seeing her lose control. She remained silent, ignoring the disapproving glances and venomous comments that echoed across the table. The morning dragged on, but she soon found an excuse to escape the situation and leave the house.

She wandered the outskirts, looking for a place where she could be alone, where she could breathe. Lost in her own thoughts, she saw Kael. He was at the edge of the forest, in the distance, but his eyes quickly found hers, as if drawn by her scent, by her presence.

Kael narrowed his eyes upon seeing her, hesitating for a moment before walking in her direction. When he finally stopped a few steps from her, the young she-wolf felt the tension pulse between them.

"Enjoying your freedom?" he asked, a hint of irony in his voice.

Aliya lifted her chin, not allowing him to intimidate her. "I enjoy what I can, when I can," she replied, a slight touch of defiance in her gaze. "Why do you care?"

Kael took a deep breath, as if her question provoked him somehow. "You seem to run away too easily. Is that what you do out there, among humans? Run from your nature?"

"I don't run from who I am. I just prefer to be where I'm not limited by what I am."

"Don't you realize that being who you are—a wolf—brings strength? You deny something you could use to your advantage."

"I prefer to choose what I want to be," she said firmly, "rather than be molded by the desires of others."

Kael remained silent, his gaze studying her in a way that made her feel every beat of her own heart. He seemed to want to say something but held back, maintaining a restrained expression, his eyes slightly troubled, as if he himself didn't understand what drew him to this conversation, to her presence.

But the moment was abruptly interrupted by a distant sound, an urgent call. The supreme turned towards the forest, and Aliya saw a serious expression take over his face. She barely had time to think about what might be happening before he gave her one last look.

"I have things to attend to," he murmured, before walking away, leaving her alone.

Kael quickly caught up with Aiden, and the brothers joined the group waiting at the edges of the forest. The mission before them was one that involved more than diplomacy; it demanded action, and both knew the risks were high. The enemy that awaited was shrouded in shadows, a threat that could not be ignored.

The brothers exchanged a look and, in silence, advanced together. The surrounding wilderness was dense, but the alphas' senses were alert, ready for any movement. When the target appeared, there was a moment of deadly silence, a pause that preceded the inevitable.

Aiden was the first to attack, moving with brutal precision, while Kael positioned himself beside him, a perfect guard, his movements sharp and calculated. It was an intense and merciless confrontation, where the two displayed the true strength and brutality they possessed as Supremes. Every blow, every move, was executed with fierce synchronicity, a lethal choreography.

The opponent tried to fight back, but was no match for the alphas' relentless fury. In the end, Aiden took him down, immobilizing him while Kael delivered the final words, sealing the enemy's fate with a cold, definitive look. They knew this was just a small victory in a war that went beyond physical strength; something deeper was at stake, something that, for both of them, was still uncertain.

And as the sunset stained the sky red, the brothers returned to the pack, carrying the weight of another victory and the foreboding sense that greater challenges were yet to come.

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