But there’s another, newer half of me, one that I never thought would escape where I locked her away, deep in the crevices of my mind. It’s my dreams, the ones that transcend my pack. It’s not about being an heir to a legacy, it’s not even about being a lupion, it’s just me.Tempest.I want to perform and travelthe world. Maybe I want to be a real member of Hel’s Carnival, and get to watch Nico grow up.
Maybe I want the chance to transform this fraud of an engagement into something real.
The streets are dark, dimly lit up by the green glow of the tram and the twinkling night sky. The air is cool, and I let everything that’s just happened finally settle in my chest.We’re okay, we’re safe.
Silence covers us like a blanket in the cold as we walk, comforted only by the sound of our footsteps.
“Tempest,” Yasmeena says shyly, breaking the silence as we continue our walk back to Hel’s Carnival.
“Yes, my beautiful nuisance?” I take her hand in mine and bring it up to my lips, planting a gentle kiss on her knuckles.
“How much do you know about Pack Escalus?”
It’s an odd question, given how much I’ve already shared with her. “A lot, why?”
She goes even quieter. “Do you know how your father acquires the atra?”
I shake my head as I try to gather where she’s heading with this. “No, he’s never told me.”
“Have you ever thought to ask?”
Looking up at the night sky, I silently count the stars. “I’m ashamed to say no, I honestly haven’t.”
“So whatdoyou learn, when training to be Alpha?” She pulls her hand away, and it’s the perfect metaphor for how I feel right now. Like she’s slipping away from me, just out of reach.
“I don’t know. I was never supposed to be heir. I was raised to be second in command. I learned the history of our pack and people, and how to best support the Alpha,” I admit.
Hel’s Carnival is now in sight. The Ferris wheel and tall red and white tents loom above the fence line, illuminated by golden lanterns.
“I was trained to fight and defend, but they never intended to have me learn the logistics behind everything.”
She shoots me a look. “Don’t you think that’s dangerous? Blindly following an Alpha without ensuring they’re doing what’s right?”
I shrug as the guilt of her words hit me like a brick. “Yeah, I guess. I don’t know. In theory, the Alpha is supposed to put the pack before all else.”
“But what if they don’t?” She looks mad, disappointed even. “I follow Luc’s orders, even sometimes when I don’t agree with them, but I don’t follow them blindly.”
“Well, that’s not entirely true. You had no idea Baelor was cheating on Lilian,” I say, defensiveness dripping from the words.
“That’s entirely different. That’s personal. I’m talking about the stuff that affects the entire continent, or even all of Hel,” she bites back.
Yasmeena opens the large metal gates, letting us back onto the carnival grounds. It’s dark and quiet, with only the soft buzz of insects vibrating through the air.
“Do you think my pack isn’t personal?” I ask as we make our way past the carousel, coming toward camp.
Aida is slithering down a pathway, and Rowan leans against a metal pole, but no one says anything to us. Whether it’s the whisper-yelling or the furrowed brows, the energy of our conversation is clearly intense as we continue walking into our tent.
I take a seat on the bed, but Yasmeena remains standing, pacing the shared space.
“Where did you suddenly get the idea that my pack is evil?” I ask, knowing it’s not a fair question.
I plan to kill a member of The Devil’s Masquerade. Someone Yasmeena cares for. I know this might be what some would call evil, but she isn’t aware of those plans, so why is she reacting this way all of a sudden?
I feel like a hypocrite in my own mind. Even so, I can’t help but defend myself. They murdered my cousin. The actions I plan to take might be vicious, but I’m not hurting the defenseless. It’s an eye for an eye if you ask me.
“Alpha Ferdinand was saying?—”
“And you believe him?” I cut her off.
