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"I will not ask you again," she warned.
"Because I had no choice," the Alpha finally gritted out, blinking back tears. "He held the mark. He had to die. I...I had no choice."
"The red mark on his skin?" Tzidal asked.
"Yes," he gasped. "The prophecy said the eight wolves that held the mark of the,” he sucked in a harsh breath, “of the moon had to be killed...otherwise..." he swallowed hard as he continued to clutch his side protectively.
"Otherwise?"
Byriel took a deep breath then burst into broken sobs. His chest heaved as tears and snot poured down his blotchy, shiny face. I winced in disgust and Lex took a few steps back. Tzidal leaned in, not letting him break eye contact.
I looked over the Alpha's slumped form wanting to pity the creature, but my anger wouldn't let me.What kind of Alpha so willingly showed this kind of weakness?
"My father," he gasped. "If they lived, my father would die. It was foretold and read by the witches. They had to die. The prophecy and my King demanded it."
Byriel swayed and fell onto his side, pouring his tears into the earth. "I'm so sorry," he sobbed, curling his fists around tufts of grass. "I'm so sorry for what I've done. I've killed so many innocents undeserving of death. And the Moon hates me for it, and the stars demand revenge. Please," he looked up into Tzidal's face, pleading. "Please, just do it. Kill me. Release me from this hell."
The dagger bounced and rolled, coming to a stop just at my feet. I looked up to see Lex giving me a cocky grin. I snorted, unable to help myself from smiling in return.
"I don't think you've earned the right to have your suffering end," Tzidal said.
"I deserve to die," Byriel coughed out, his voice a little stronger. "You have to kill me."
"No," she said, standing up. "I don't."
She turned to leave, thoroughly confusing me. This was an easy end.How could she not take it?
"I've killed more than men!" he yelled at her. "A young pup, not fully crawling yet."
Tzidal froze, turning her head to listen.
"I serve my King and defend my land, but this was evil. I am evil. I deserve to die." Tears rolled freely down his face. "I've killed children, and it's put a black mark on my body that I can never scrub clean. And, and when I begged my father not to kill the child, he laughed and told me to do it or die a traitor...so…I…I did it.”
He lowered his head and sobbed. Continuing to speak as if unable to help himself. "I killed that pup out of love and loyalty to my King, my father. And in turn, I killed myself. Please, please just do it. Just kill me!" the Alpha cried harder, choking on his words.
Tzidal looked over the broken wolf as he pressed himself into the dirt at her feet. I desperately wanted to ask her why she was waiting, why she hadn't plunged the dagger into his heart. But I kept quiet. This was her kill. Not mine.
"Has serving the King done you well?" she finally asked.
Byriel looked up confused, and shook his head. "What do you mean?"
"You are undeserving of the title of Alpha," she snorted as Byriel stiffened at her words. "If I kill you now, you will rot with the taunts of your victims forever in your ears. Or..."
Byriel looked up into her face, holding his breath and waiting. "Or?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
"Or you can sever your ties to the King that has killed you with his commands. And help us. Then die peacefully, some of your debt repaid."
My whole body went tight, and I snapped my head towards her, glaring much harder than I meant to. A soft rumble of a growl pushed out of my chest, but Tzidal ignored it, still looking firmly at the broken Alpha.
“Peacefully?” Byriel asked softly. “How?”
I stepped in. I couldn't help it anymore. I placed a hand on Tzidal's waist and gently guided her away from the Alpha. Lex followed.
"Help us?" I asked, trying to keep my voice even. "We don't need help. We need to finish the task at hand and just fucking kill him."
"No," she said firmly. "Think about it, Joon. We spoke to so many in Stone City to find these Alphas, and more than one person saw us with Byna. Killing her was inconsequential. No one will track us down for that. But killing a nobleman and the King's son…they will know it was us, and we will be hanged long before we find Hida. But if he helps us..."
"We can find Hida faster," Lex sighed.
