It was a far cry from the family reunion Lekalta had dreamt of since before her return to the River. Kisla had accepted her back with open arms – as had Lachesis. Her infatuation with the ivory male had subsided gently, only when she had been able to catch a hint as he had blatantly avoided her during the season, despite her own heat never appearing. Kisla had kept her in line – the grasps f her muzzle from her mother’s jaws and the show of dominance had been enough to subdue the girl, and as nature intended, she submitted fully. It was the way of pack law – something so ingrained to her that she never questioned it, but still felt the harsh sting of rejection when Lachesis actively avoided her simply from her gender.


Or so she had hoped it was her gender.


But loping along the borders, she felt her heart lift at the sight of Inna – and Aleksei! With her tail swaying behind her like a banner of contentment, the honeyed girl quickened her pace, gleaming apple green eyes fast upon them as she neared. But as she closed the distance, the tension that rolled from them was like a thick smog in the air, and she hesitated now, her ears flattening to her skull as the twin crept forward, noting Aleksei’s wrath and Inna’s remorse. With a frown furrowing her brow, the she-wolf pushed forward, firmly trying to plant herself between her brother and sister, casting him a frown. “What’s going on?” She was still too young to note the change in scent of her sister – and had been gone for long enough to not recognize it.

At first, he wasn't sure what to feel. Then came the confusion. Inna's sudden mood swing left Aleksei grasping for words. He had spent this whole time arguing with her, convinced she'd remain stubborn and feigning ignorance, but she had crumbled before him, eyes wet with tears. The sad thing was that he couldn't muster the sympathy to soothe her woes the way a big brother should. Instead, he wanted to keep punishing her as if it were a sick kind of justice—he wanted to snap his jaws around hers, hold her muzzle, put her in her place, remind her of how things worked in a pack! She deserved as much, she'd been an idiot! She'd mated without gaining consent to do so! But did she deserve this merciless kind of wrath? It ate Aleksei up like dry wood in a fire, turned him to ashes, and now it had left Inna in obvious distress. He was in bits and pieces, and the internal conflict was evident in his pained grimace.

She had done this to herself, she had broken pack law, she had made the choice to go behind their mother's back! And yet, she was his sister, his little sister. He had already failed one, he couldn't fail another. He almost took a step forward, almost went to embrace her, but her words pierced him like thorns in his sides.

She said she didn't regret it. But she would still ask for his help?

The confusion was replaced with anger. Oh, he could have screamed, yelled himself hoarse, but suddenly there was another in front of him, staring at him, and he recoiled. “Lekalta,” he muttered, trying his hardest to keep the rage boiling him alive inside, “you shouldn't be here. Inna has-!”

“Why?”

It had been spoken as a barely audible whisper, like a gentle breeze, but it was loud as a gunshot in Aleksei's ears, and twice as painful. His head whipped round and his heart leapt into his throat. His tail tucked and—and oh no. Oh no no no. Panic struck him as if it were a harsh slap, and his tail tucked instinctively between his legs at her display of anger dominance. His own internal fire drifted from his lips in the form of whine, and it whistled pathetically in the air as it dissipated.  Aleksei couldn't bring himself to look at her, hurt and angry, preferring to keep his eyes downcast. “Mother,” he tried to speak, but he felt her eyes on him and snapped his mouth and squeezed his eyes shut.

Of course he would not escape her anger. He had hurt her too.

“Mother, I'm sorry, I …” He choked on his words for a moment before swallowing thickly. “There's no excuse for how I've behaved—for what I've done to you. To all of you. This is my fault, this is all my fault. I should have been here, I should have been a better role model—I should have been able to prevent this.” He'd find some way to fix it. He'd never meant to hurt Kisla, he'd never meant to bring shame to her. He would do all he could to make sure she knew that. He would move mountains for her if it proved his love, loyalty, and his regrets.

She remained firm in her stance, a scowl upon her features as she cast it upon her brother – quick to react as always, she did not falter in her belief that Inna likely didn’t deserve to be treated as such, and sweeping her head back, her nose made to touch Inna reassuringly. Aleksei could throw his weight around all he wanted – but not at her littermate! Of course, her brother was put off by her appearance, his tone taking a note of pleading, and her scowl lightened, uncertainty flashing for a moment before giving a shake of her head, waiting for him to explain.


But he hadn’t been able to finish – Kisla’s presence was like a storm, and as he brother quaked before her, Lekalta felt her own form slink closer to the ground now, confusion plastered clearly upon her slender features. Kisla spoke then – demanding something from Inna and Lekalta continued to reel – falling down a rabbit hole as her sister, docile and loyal above all others, was reprimanded – and even worse, her and Aleksei had suddenly been drug in to it. She felt heat flush her cheeks, a sense of indignation lift in her and she was about to voice this – she had told her mother she needed some time.. had said goodbye to everyone before she left for a bit, and now Kisla was treating her no better than someone who simply came and left without thought!


But whatever she was about to say was quickly swallowed as she instead averted her eyes, one ear flickering to the sound of Aleksei, still not sure what he was referring to. Only when she heard Inna speak did something click, and blinking, her eyes shot back to her sister, staring at her – Inna had bred? There was a strange sensation in the pit of her stomach – pity, perhaps? A flash of jealousy? A stir of protectiveness? It was the latter that won, and she shifted her weight, leaning in to her ebony sister, wishing she could shield her from the wraths he currently faced – that they now all faced.

Aleksei simply closed his eyes as Kisla began to speak. This was it, then. Inna was going to be removed from Hearthwood for her insubordination and that would be the end. There’d be no arguments. It was what his grandmother had done, and a wolf learned from example. Inna would go to wherever her mystery lover was and she’d remain there. At least, that was what the Baranski had expected. Instead, his head snapped up and his eyes widened, jaw slack as his mother said she couldn’t do that to blood. But how is that fair, he wanted to ask, how can Inna be above the law of the pack? But he held his tongue, pinched it between his front teeth, pricked it as he bit, and said nothing.


As Kisla continued, her words made less and less sense. He did his best to remain neutral in expression and posture, but couldn’t help the slight furrowing of his brow. You’re the one making us untouchable. When had the children ever really been punished? Could they be blamed for their behaviour when they were apparently excused from pack law? Aleksei said nothing. He simply bobbed his head and muttered under his breath. “I understand, mother.” There was no more to say, it would be easier to simply soothe her anger and agree. 

He bowed his head and stepped away from his remaining family. He paused a moment, to glare at Inna with narrowed gaze—the precious child who could do no wrong, clearly—before finally taking his leave. He wouldn’t dwell on the bitterness he felt, the confusion. What good would it do?

But it would prove to be hard to let go.

Aleksei Exits.