赤裸裸的滑稽故事

[Late Morning Before the Execution]

“Do you think there will be any fall out from this?” Galen asked, turning the car up the final road leading into the northern territories of Winter.

“The execution?” Caleb asked, looking over at Galen. “Why? Do you think there will be?”

“I don’t know,” Galen replied honestly. “He grew up here, people cared about him. It can’t be easy to see your friend get killed.”

“No,” Caleb answered. “But he hasn’t been anyone’s friend for a long time. And I would guess that most of these people realized that after the fae attack. The rest, when they heard about Whiteridge. So, no, I don’t think Granger has any friends left in Winter.”

“You’re probably right,” Galen said. “Bell told me that his scouting team, the ones that helped him escape after he tried to kill you, volunteered to participate in the lashing.”

“I’m not surprised,” Caleb sighed. “They trusted him, and in the end, that trust is what let him escape. I can’t imagine hearing about Whiteridge didn’t create some guilt in their hearts. And then with Ashleigh being taken…”

Caleb couldn’t help but remember how he had felt those days she was missing. Knowing Granger had taken her and what he was capable of. It was a strange feeling to be thankful that the mad man had wanted her to lose control and choose to be his, rather than forcing his mark on her.

He was glad it was coming to an end and strangely glad he wasn’t the one that had to do it. Caleb himself had no problem with killing Granger, in fact, he had imagined it many times. But Ashleigh made it clear that she wanted to forget him, to move forward and away from the painful memory of that monster.

If Caleb or Ashleigh had been the ones to take his life, he would have stayed with them forever.

Ashleigh had been in meditation for two days. They hadn’t spoken since the morning after she left to return to Winter. She had told him that she wouldn’t attend the execution, there were too many things she needed to work through on her own.

“Fifty lashings, and with a silver ball attached… that’s intense,” Galen said, interrupting Caleb’s thoughts.

Caleb nodded.

“Winter has always been very serious about the punishment of traitors. Historically, I believe it was supposed to be closer to one hundred lashings. Though I don’t think any of the criminals ever made it that long.”

Galen grimaced.

“I can’t imagine… that’s a lot.”

“Do you think it’s unfair?” Caleb asked.

Galen thought for a moment.

“If you had asked me a week ago, I might have said yes,” Galen replied. “But, after seeing those kids. Knowing each of them is an orphan now because of him… No. I think he deserves every crack of the whip.”_.

Caleb nodded.

“Have you ever done it before?” Galen asked.

“Used a whip on a person?”

Galen nodded.

“No, not exactly,” Caleb replied. “I’ve never had reason to, but my father did have me run a simulation of it. He said that I would need to be prepared for the worst job of an Alpha.”

“Wow…” Galen said.

Caleb nodded.

When Axel asked that Caleb participate in the lashing, he hadn’t hesitated to say yes. But now, he wondered if it was the right decision.

“We’re here,” Galen said, motioning toward the building they approached, where Bell stood waiting for them.

He parked the car and immediately exited the vehicle.

Caleb couldn’t help but smile as he watched his best friend run around the front of the car to embrace and spin his wife around.

The event that brought them here was unfortunate and horrible, but here in this moment, they could smile and enjoy each other. It made Caleb happy to see the joy that Galen was able to experience.

It also made him long for his own future happiness.

He took a deep breath and got out of the car.

***

Bell took the two of them to meet with Fiona. After a short chat about the events of the night and discussing what the expectations of Summer were, Bell and Galen excused themselves to spend some time together alone.

“Wedded bliss,” Caleb smiled once they had left the room.

Fiona laughed.

“You don’t have long to wait before you are just like them, probably worse, knowing you.”

“Probably,” Caleb laughed.

There was a knock at the door.

Fiona glanced at the door and licked her lips nervously.

“Are you expecting someone?” Caleb asked, noting her reaction.

“Yes,” Fiona nodded.

She stood and walked to the door.

“Bell and Galen didn’t just leave to spend time together. I asked Bell to give you and me some privacy.”

She reached for the door.

“Hello, come on in,” she greeted the ones that waited.

Stepping aside, Fiona made room for Ashleigh and Wyatt to enter, closing the door behind them.

“Ashleigh…” Caleb said with delight, standing from his chair. Until this moment, he wasn’t sure he would even be able to see her during this trip. “I thought you were in meditations all day?”

Ashleigh smiled and closed the distance between them. She pulled him into a loving embrace. Caleb immediately wrapped his arms around her and enjoyed her warmth.

She pulled back and took a deep breath.

“Caleb, the reason my father and I are here is because there are things we all need to talk about,” Ashleigh said, looking around at each of them.

Caleb glanced at Wyatt and Fiona. He furrowed his brows and looked back at Ashleigh.

“I don’t understand,” he said.

“All these secrets, I don’t want to keep them anymore,” she said. “I want to move forward. I want to be with you.”

“Ash…”

“But before you and I can take another step towards us, the secrets have to come out,” Ashleigh continued, looking back at Fiona and Wyatt.

“Caleb, honey,” Fiona called to him. “Have a seat, it’s time you know what happened to your father.”

***

Caleb sat still as silent tears rolled down his cheeks.

Fiona and Wyatt both looked away.

Ashleigh sat beside him, holding his hand.

“Bell’s mate… he doesn’t know that she’s here?” Caleb asked softly.

“No,” Ashleigh said. “As far as we know, he thinks she’s dead. As long as she stays in Winter, he won’t know.”

“Unless Tomas tells him,” Caleb said.

“Right,” Ashleigh said.

“Then what about your oath?” Caleb asked Wyatt. “Telling me all of this, that breaks the oath. So Tomas can tell him where she is and what happens to you?”

Wyatt took a breath.

“The cost to me is the blessing of the Goddess, my abilities as Alpha of Winter,” Wyatt replied. “As well as my right to lead.”

Ashleigh gasped. He hadn’t told her.

“Dad…”

“It’s fine,” he said, giving her a soft smile. “It’s fine. Axel is turning into a far better Alpha than we ever gave him credit for. My time as Alpha was almost over anyway. So it was never about the cost to me. I wanted to keep Bell safe.”

“She is my sister now,” Caleb said. “I will keep her safe. It might be best if we move her to Summer, if Tomas is going to tell her mate anyway, at least she will have Galen at her side.”

“I agree,” Ashleigh said.

“I’m not sure that Tomas will tell him,” Wyatt said.

“What?” Ashleigh asked.

“All these years, I have truly believed that Tomas was a danger to Bell,” Wyatt said. “But at Axel’s ceremony, he said something. He asked me not to tell him where she was or to let him see her. He told me to think of another plan to protect her, because an oath could only protect her for so long.”

Ashleigh and Caleb both stared at Wyatt with concern.

“I thought it was a threat of some kind. It was after you announced your engagement. But thinking about it now… I think it was a warning. I think he was scared.”

“Of what?” Caleb asked.

“That I’m not sure of. It could–”

“Ok!” Fiona interrupted, standing from her chair. “That is enough for today.”

“What?” Caleb asked. “Mom, this is important.”

“I know,” she said. “And it will still be important tomorrow.”

Caleb looked at her with confusion.

“Wyatt,” Fiona called.

Wyatt nodded. He stood and walked forward to Caleb.

“Caleb, soon, I would like to sit down with you, just the two of us. I would like to apologize for keeping the truth from you. I am also willing to accept whatever punishment you deem fit for my actions.”

Fiona sighed.

“I already told you to let that go,” she said. “You didn’t kill Cain, Wyatt. You gave him mercy, and then you honored him. You are the only one that is blaming you.”

“I appreciate your understanding, Fiona. But I am the one responsible for his death,” Wyatt insisted.

“You weren’t the one hunting him,” Caleb said. “You didn’t force him into a hole in the ground. You didn’t force him to hide away for weeks. All you did was defend yourself, and from the sound of it, he was dying already.”

Wyatt clenched his jaw. He took a shallow breath.

“I would have blamed you before,” Caleb said, his voice shaking slightly. “I was scared and angry. If you had told me the truth at the time, I would have blamed you. I would have driven the packs into a war no one was ready for.”

Wyatt closed his eyes. Caleb reached a hand to his shoulder.

“The right thing doesn’t always feel good,” Caleb said. “Sometimes it hurts.”

“Thank you,” Wyatt whispered, sniffling and taking a deep breath.

Ashleigh put her arm around her father and guided him toward the door.

Fiona stepped forward, she smiled at Caleb and touched his cheek.

“I’m proud of you.”

Caleb smiled.

Fiona turned away and followed Wyatt out the door.

Ashleigh closed it behind them and took a deep breath before turning to Caleb. He took note of her actions. On the way, her heart was racing. She was nervous.

“Is there something else you aren’t telling me?” Caleb asked, swallowing as he began to feel nervous.

“Yes,” she said. She licked her lips before continuing. “I don’t want to get married in two months.”

Caleb felt his heart drop. He looked away from her, taking a deep breath.

Ashleigh reached out to him, making him look at her, look into her eyes that held love and warmth. That smiled back at him brightly.

“I want to get married tonight.”