Ethan
“My son? What are you saying?” I blurted out and staggered back a bit, visibly weakened by what I just heard.
Keenan chuckled before continuing, “I told you I would reveal his real identity when you got here, Didn't I? Well this is the truth, Alpha Ethan! Arne is biologically your child, Aurora has been lying to you all this time”
I scoffed in disbelief . There was no way“You’re lying. That's not true” I replied in a dazed whisper. He has to be lying, he was probably trying to mess with my head.
“Are you that dense? Arne is 10 years old and 10 years ago Aurora ran away from the pack without anyone's notice. Why do you think she left? Huh?”
“Stop! I don't want to hear anymore of that. Release Arne this instant or you are not going to like what I would do to you” I yelled at him, my anger flaring up that he was trying to get inside my head.
“Oh look at you! Trying so desperately to convince yourself when deep down you know the truth. Your son has been with you for so many months and you couldn't even recognize him… what a shame!” he spat out.
I was about to say something but the sound of Arne crying cut me off, “Dad? Uncle Ethan, are you really my dad?” His small voice managed to squeeze out despite how close he was to having his neck sliced off.
“Arne… I… I don't know,” I stammered, my heart felt heavy. I remembered the birthmark on him that only the alpha of the family has and so many instances that pointed to the fact that Keenan was right. But it was just so hard to believe, I had thought I was impotent but turned out I even had a ten year old son.
Aurora had been lying to me all this time, she hid the fact that I had a son, how could she?
“Awwn, sorry to interrupt this loving father and son moment. Too bad you are finding this out a few minutes to your death but at least I helped” Keenan interrupted, seemingly ready to strike.
“Wait, Keenan! You want to become Alpha, right? You want to rule. You can take it all. Let us go, we will leave the pack and never come back I promise. You don't have to kill anybody” I tried again to stall him. I could not allow anyone to hurt Arne, whether or not he was my son. I would rather die.
“You must think I'm a fool to believe that. I didn't just come here to converse with you, my men are attacking the alpha house as we speak and they will overthrow your warriors in no time. Meanwhile, I have to finish you off and make sure your lineage never continues after you die” The craze in his eyes was very clear, Keenan had completely lost it.
“Uncle Ethan, please help me! I don't want to die” Arne's strained voice said again, causing my heart to ache.
I looked back towards the pack, if they were really on attack they were probably looking for me. I was needed there but how could I leave when Arne was possibly about to die. I was in a dilemma about what to do.
“Your dad can't help you, unfortunately. It would be a waste to spill precious blood such as yours though but it has to be done” Keenan replied to him.
I turned my attention and asked, “Precious blood? What do you mean?”
Keenan burst out laughing crazily, “You basically don't know anything, do you? I'll tell you another important discovery that Aurora hid from you. Arne's blood is actually the cure to the plague that has been tormenting the pack. I had to investigate hard to find that out, she used his blood to make all the cure circulating the pack. He is the abandoned heir of the pack and the plague is a way to show everyone that their heir exists… the savior of the pack. I can't let such walking time bomb stay alive. He would eventually come back for me, all the more reason he must die” he said.
My eyes widened in shock, I couldn't find words, these revelations were too much to process all at once. Was that why Aurora avoided questions about the way she found the cure? Arne was the savior of the pack.
“Alright, time's up. Enough talking, I have to join my men and take my rightful place” Keenan interrupted my thoughts and was about to slice across Arne's neck.
I had to think fast, I shouted at Arne and said, “Bite and duck!”
It all happened so fast, Arne bit down hard on Keenan hand that was across his neck and ducked. I shifted into my wolf and lunged towards Keenan the same second. Before Keenan could process what was going on, I had pushed him away from Arne and we both landed on the floor.
Keenan didn't make it easy, he shifted into his wolf too and tried to swipe at me. I growled fiercely and dodged it, then I counterattack almost immediately. With my side eye, I could see Arne had run out of the shed and I felt relieved that he was safe.
I focused my attention on Keenan, channeling all my anger into our fight. His claws scratched my back but I barely paused, I tackled him and we rolled around on the ground a bit.
Keenan used to be my best warrior, he was well versed in battle but there was one problem, I was the one who taught him everything he knows. A student can never be better than his teacher.
As soon as I got his neck open, I took a deep swipe, letting my poisonous claws pierce his skin deeply. He gargled and cried out before shifting back to human form. He was trying so hard to block the bleeding with his hand but it was too much.
I got up and shifted back as well. I watched him take his last breath and I spat on the ground beside him. “That’s what you get for trying to harm my family and take over my pack”