Disrobe

The moon ceremony was still held at the main packs front yard, but inside, it was awfully quiet. Finnian pushed the oak doors open and entered the main hall.

The bottom of his shoes clicked on the polished marble tiles as he strolled in, their surfaces gleaming in the soft light cast by the crystal chandelier hung from the high, vaulted ceiling. His gaze was cold as he approached Dahmer and his mother, Luna Percy, along with Alpha Rhyne who was present in the hall with them.

He stopped in his tracks, close to a column and demanded, "why did you hurt my sister?" He was addressing Dahmer, not minding the remaining two who were with him in the hall. His presence and unexpected confrontation stunned his mother, and even Alpha Rhyne was perplexed.

"I said why did you hurt my sister?" His fist balled at his side, and his actions did nothing but infuriate Alpha Dahmer. "You wanted to peddle her off to that ugly man from the south, and when she refused to do one of your biddings you wanted to end her life at the spot. Leave Esme alone, Alpha Dahmer."

He warned, his tone laced with a fierce protectiveness to defend his sister. Alpha Dahmer, however, was amused by his brother's audacity, finding it laughable that a mere thirteen-year-old would dare to defy him, the supreme authority, over a 'slut' he had the temerity to call his sister.

He glanced at his mother and pointed at Finnian. "The only reason I'm restraining myself from teaching him a good lesson is because he shares my blood. Mother, it's high time you schooled your son in the art of respect. His impertinence is matched only by his ignorance. He doesn't even have the decency to knock before barging in."

Luna Percy's gaze shifted to her youngest son, Finnian, and her expression was stern as she apprehended him. "Finnian! Apologize to your older brother at once! You have no business meddling in the affairs of adults! Focus on your training and leave the complexities of politics to those who understand them. You won't understand the situation right now till you're much older like Dahmer."

"Understand that he's forcing my sister to become the plaything of that southern Alpha, a man who already has a harem of concubines? He has no respect for women, Mother." Finnian shook his head, his tone laced with disgust. "I may be young, but I'm not stupid. My silence doesn't mean I don't see the cruelty you and brother Dahmer inflict on sister Esme."

"Finnian!" Dahmer barked, his patience wearing thin. "Be quiet now! When your Alpha gives an order, you oblige without question!"

"I don't have to listen to you, Dahmer. You are after all, not the rightful Alpha." Finnian shot back, his retort swift and scathing.

"Finnian!" Luna Percy rose to her feet, but Finnian did not keep his mouth sealed this time.

"Father never said you could take his place, and you manipulated your way to power only because our pack is riddled with fools and self-serving individuals like you. If growing up means I have to become as ruthless and deceitful as you, then I'd rather remain a child forever."

"FINNIAN!"

Dahmer's face turned apoplectic, and a vein throbbed in his forehead. In a flash, he was in front of Finnian, his hand raised to deliver a stinging slap. But in the fleeting moment before the impact, Finnian's eyes underwent a transformation as the blue irises turned golden in a split second, his wolf stirring, and its presence crackled with an inexplicable electric intensity that caught Dahmer off-guard.

Taken aback by the sudden shift, Dahmer's hand remained frozen mid-air. The room fell silent, and not even Luna Percy, nor Alpha Rhyne could understand the implications of what just happened.

No — it was more than that, could it be…?!

"Are you going to strike me?" Finnian asked, his eyes never wavering from that of his brother. "I'm not afraid, it's not like this is your first, but unlike Esme, I have the benefit of rapid healing. Leave my sister alone. That's all I came to say to both you and mother."

Finnian's golden gaze flicked to Alpha Rhyne, and his expression shifted to one of disdain. "This is all your fault, Alpha Rhyne. My sister doesn't have a wolf, so she can't feel a mate bond unless it finds her. You should have kept your distance. I hope you're satisfied with the chaos you've created." With one final, disappointed look at the trios, Finnian exited the hall, his footsteps echoing in the silence.

Just like Esmeray, Finnian was equally blessed with blue hair that cascaded past his shoulders, but in a gradient of dark roots and vibrant blue tip, a unique fusion that set him apart. More remarkable still, he had achieved a precocious mastery over his wolf, awakening his gift at an unusually young age.

His aura was an unsettling intensity that belied his age, and his hair was not even fully blue to the root.

Was this truly the blessing Esme had been robbed of?

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The following morning, Vivienne attended to Esme's morning routine by preparing a soothing bath for her in the bathing chamber. Esme retreated to her private room, immersing herself in books that gave her more knowledge about medicines and herbs.

It had become rather obvious that Alpha Dahmer was persistent in giving Esme to Alpha Irish, and during her alone time in her private chamber, he had stormed in to issue another one of his scandalous orders that left the already distraught Esme reeling.

"Disrobe." He commanded.