Chapter 5 The Scar

After a few more hours, the meeting ended. The pack began to disperse in small clusters, conversations muted and tense. Wolves who usually lingered now moved quickly. But I remained where I was.

My father spoke with the elders, his voice was calm and even, but I could feel the strain beneath it. I watched the way his shoulders never slumped, even as the last witness stepped away.

When the hall finally emptied, I turned to leave.

"Ethan."

My father's voice stopped me instantly.

I paused, then turned back. "Yes, Father?"

He gestured subtly to his side. "Wait."

I did.

The doors shut behind the last of the pack members. The hall felt cavernous now. It was too large and too quiet. My father stood there for a moment longer, staring at the space where his pack had been, then he turned to me.

"How was the first day of school?" he asked. "Is it any different from the other high schools you've been to?"

The question caught me off guard.

"It was... fine," I said carefully. "Like the others, father. No difference at all."

He stared at me the way he always did, not as a father first, but as an Alpha gauging a threat.

"We're in a different town, Ethan," he said. "With different people. I don't expect every school to be thesame. So I need you to be completely honest with me. I can't believe that every school you've been to has been nothing but calm and peaceful. You're not in the midst of robots or soulless creatures."

"Yes, father," I replied. "But still, it's just school. I can't imagine how random it can be."

He nodded slowly. "Hmm. And you didn't draw attention to yourself."

It wasn't a question.

"I didn't, Father," I said. "I promise."

His eyes narrowed slightly. "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

A long pause stretched between us.

"Ethan," he said quietly, and something in his voice softened. "You know I need the truth from you. Especially now... after all you've heard. I need to be certain my son is still in the clear."

My chest tightened.

"I didn't bring any attention to myself, father," I repeated. "You don't have to worry about my safety. I blended in perfectly."

He searched my face one last time. Then he stood and crossed the distance between us, placing a heavy hand on my shoulder.

"Good," he said. "That's all I ask."

I instantly felt relieved that he wasn't asking me about it anymore, because I didn't know how long I could keep it to myself before I told him about the incident in school. Guilt slid in behind my relief. Very sharp and unwelcome.

"Come," he added. "Walk with me."

We left the hall together, stepping into the house through the long corridor. My mother was in the dining room, placing the last dishes on the table. The scent of cooked meat and herbs filled the air.

"You're just in time, my darlings," she said, smiling when she saw me. "Dinner's ready."

I shook my head. "I hate to say this mum, but I'm not hungry."

My father didn't even look at me. "Well, your mother put in a lot of effort into this dish, and you will eat it. So sit."

"I really don't-"

"Ethan," he said firmly. "I don't think I made myself clear. This isn't optional."

I hesitated, then sighed. "Okay. But can I eat somewhere else?"

My mother glanced between us. "He's had a long day," she said gently. "I think we should let him-"

"No," my father replied. "He eats with the family. I don't care what type of day he's had. He eats with us."

I clenched my jaw.

"I'll just grab something quick," I said, reaching for the bread.

Before either of them could stop me, I took a piece and slipped out the door, and I headed toward the woods, moving quietly while letting the shadows swallow me. I knew Lucas would be out there, and if there was anyone I could be alone with. It was him.

When I got deep into the woods, I saw Lucas and quickly hid behind a large tree. And I almost made it unnoticed, but...

"Still not very good at hiding," Lucas's voice called out.

I scowled. "Someday, I will be. You'll see."

He laughed. "Sure. I'll be waiting."

He stood near a small fire, turning a spit where meat roasted slowly, the scent rich and wild. He tossed me a piece without asking if I wanted one.

I caught it and sat across from him. We ate in silence for a moment.

"Fought with your dad again?" he asked.

"Not really," I said. "Just... dinner problems. He wouldn't let me eat in my room."

"Is that it?"

"I'm kinda tired of eating at the table with them. All we do is just eat, and nobody ever talks."

Lucas snorted. "You're the only one who can walk away from the Alpha and live to tell the tale."

"That's not funny."

"It kind of is," he said. "Your pure Alpha blood has its perks. Not being able to be controlled by an Alpha like your dad."

I frowned. "I don't want to talk about him."

Lucas raised a brow. "Then what are you doing out here? You always come to find me whenever you want to talk to someone or when you want to be alone."

I hesitated. "You're right. But I don't want to talk about my dad. I want to talk about the Ashbound."

His smile vanished instantly.

"Don't ruin my dinner Ethan."

"I need to understand," I pressed.

His voice sharpened. "Ethan-"

"Please."

He exhaled harshly, then stood and pulled his shirt over his head, showing me an old, ugly scar.

"Your scar? But I've seen this," I said. "In case you've forgotten, you don't always wear a shirt around people."

"Yeah. But you don't know how I got it," he replied.

My throat went dry. "The Ashbound?"

He nodded. "Yes."

"How's that possible? We have the ability to heal our injuries, except if they were inflicted on us by the Alpha. How is it possible that the human hunters did this?"

"Yeah. It wasn't your father who did this, or any other alpha from other packs. It was the Ashbounds."

"How could they have done something to you that would leave a scar? I always thought my father did this."

"The Ashbounds used something supernatural," he said. "Something that stopped me from healing myself."

My stomach dropped.

"I was ten when it happened," he continued quietly. "I wandered off to watch a carnival and got mixed up with some humans during the events. Being ten, I was unable to control my wolf. Some Ashbounds present then found me, and they didn't care I was a child."

He met my eyes.

"They don't show mercy, Ethan," Lucas said. "Not to anyone. Not even newborns. I was lucky I scurried my way out of there."

The fire crackled between us.

"I am sorry," I muttered. "I can't believe something like that happened to you."

"I was treated by one of the pack members who managed to study human medicine. And because the beatings I got weren't severe, I lived," he added. "And for you to understand how bad these hunters are. The ones who caught me and attacked me... were teenagers like you. Imagine the type of hatred they had for our kind to be so ruthless at that age."

"I-I"

"You have to keep a low profile, Ethan. It's the only thing that's kept us safe for years."

For the first time, I truly understood what hunted us.