Silas’s P.O.V
Part of me wanted to lash out, to fight back and prove my strength, but another part of me felt like a caged animal, trapped and defenseless.
"I'm not here to ambush you, Silas," Ezra continued, his voice unwavering. "I don't want to hurt you or your pack. But I need the truth, and I need to know that we can find a way to coexist without bloodshed."
His words were like a weight on my shoulders, and I felt the pressure of the situation closing in on me. I hadn't expected this confrontation, and I wasn't prepared to face Ezra's calm resolve.
"I don't need your chances," I spat back, trying to regain some semblance of control. "I want back what was mine, Ezra. I want to claim back what's rightfully mine, by any means possible."
Ezra's eyes narrowed, but he remained composed. "Is that really what you want, Silas? More violence? More death?"
The same waitress returned, carrying a tray of the food we ordered. I didn't want her to be in my line of fire, so I shut up and waited for her to finish doing her job at our booth so I could return to berating Ezra without any unwelcome listening ears.
In the meantime, I gritted my teeth, my anger flaring at his seemingly calm demeanor. But deep down, I knew he was right. More violence would only bring more pain and suffering, and I wasn't sure if I was ready to bear that burden.
Not after Lily.
Finally, the waitress left once more, and I leaned forward slightly. "I won't back down," I growled at my brother, my voice low but determined. "I won't let you take what's mine."
“Silas…why don’t you understand that by fleeing the pack…you’ve lost the respect of your own men?” Ezra's gaze softened, and for a moment, I saw a glimmer of understanding in his eyes. "You can snatch away the land but what will you do about the trust that you lost? The hearts that you broke along the way? Please…a fight isn’t the answer. Let’s resolve this peacefully."
The conflicting emotions inside me were overwhelming. A part of me wanted to believe him, to find a way to end the bloodshed and protect my pack.
But another part of me clung to my anger and pride, unwilling to back down.
"I won't trust you," I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper. "You took everything from me."
"No, Silas, listen, I—"
I stood abruptly from my seat, my anger boiling over, as I repeated my accusation to Ezra, causing my chair to screech against the floor. The loud noise echoed through the restaurant, and all eyes turned towards us.
Frustration and anger simmered within me, bubbling to the surface with each passing moment.
Our conversation had reached a boiling point, and I couldn't hold back the pent-up emotions any longer.
Whispers filled the air as the other patrons and staff stared at the commotion I had caused. Some looked curious, while others seemed concerned and uneasy. The staff tensed up, ready to intervene in case the situation escalated into something violent.
But I paid no mind to the attention or the worried glances around me. My focus was solely on Ezra, my glare fixed upon him.
My heart pounded in my chest, and I could feel the raw power of my Alpha instincts surging through me.
Every fiber of my being wanted to challenge him, to prove my strength and dominance. But a part of me also recognized the futility of such an act – that this was not the time nor the place for a physical showdown.
Despite the commotion and the curious stares, I refused to back down. This was a matter of pride, and I wouldn't let anyone underestimate my resolve.
"I will take back everything I lost because of you," I declared, my voice firm and unwavering. "You killed Lily, you stole my home from me, and you will pay for it."
Ezra's eyes flashed with a mix of emotions, but most of all I could see annoyance. “Enough, Silas! We’ve been over this already! I’m tired of us fighting of Lily over and over again because this isn’t going anywhere!"
Gustav and Emiel stood beside Ezra, their faces stern and their eyes locked on me. "It's the truth, Silas," Emiel added. "We were with Lily that day, and she was perfectly fine when we left. She even packed us lunch and invited us for dinner."
"Yeah," Gustav vouched. "She invited us over because she was excited that you were coming to their house, and she said she wanted to tell us all some exciting news. And then we had been with Ezra the whole day at the station! It’s ridiculous to even think that he would harm a single hair on her head!"
I felt a cold chill run down my spine as I struggled to comprehend their words. It didn't make sense.
How could Lily be alive and well one moment and then lying in a pool of her own blood, dead, the next?
I sat down slowly, unable to make sense of it.
"But when we returned that night," Emiel continued, his voice somber as he, too, sat back down, "we found her lifeless body, and you were standing over her with a knife in your hand."
A wave of memories crashed over me, and I remembered that night — the night I lost everything. The pain in my heart resurfaced, and I clenched my fists, trying to suppress the overwhelming grief.
"I swear, I didn't do it," I pleaded, my voice breaking. "I loved Lily. She wasn't my mate, but she was dear to me."
They were silent, and I knew it was my cue to keep going. They had waited for this for a long time after all…a confession from me, the one who fled the pack at the sight of Lily’s death…
I took a deep breath, gathering my courage to speak the truth that had burdened me for so long.
"I didn't kill Lily," I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper. "I loved her once, and even though she was your mate, that love never truly went away."
Ezra's eyes widened in surprise, and I could see a mix of emotions flicker across his face—shock, disbelief, and a hint of sadness. "You loved her even after she became my mate?" he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
I nodded, my heart heavy with the weight of my past feelings. "Yes, I did," I admitted. "I tried to move on, to forget her, but it was impossible. Every time I saw her with you, it felt like a knife was twisting in my heart."
Gustav and Emiel exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of understanding and sympathy. They had seen me struggle with my feelings, torn between my loyalty to the pack and the love I once had for Lily.
"But I swear, Ezra, I never laid a hand on her," I continued, my voice firm. "I would never hurt her, no matter how much it hurt to see her with you. I wanted her to be happy no matter what and you were her happiness…"
Ezra studied me for a moment, his gaze searching for any sign of deception. I expected one of two things: either he'd believe me or use my confession as a murder motive.
Instead, he asked me, "Have you ever really moved on from her, Silas?"