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Chapter 72
~Snow’s POV~
The silence that followed was deafening. Aira left the dining hall, her head bowed, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Tempest followed suit as she stormed out after Aira. I remained in my seat, watching them leave, feeling the knot in my chest tighten. It was always the same between them, but this time, it felt heavier—like there was something neither of them was saying, but both of them felt.
"Well," my father finally spoke, his voice breaking the silence as he gently tapped on his lips with his napkin. "That went... well."
My mother sighed, her fingers tightening on her cutlery. Her fingers tightened on her cutlery as her eyes filled with concern, her gaze lingering on the empty seats where her daughters had sat.
"It’s been hard on Aira. I just hope one day she’ll realize her worth."
I nodded absentmindedly, my thoughts elsewhere. My hand instinctively sought out Zara’s under the table, needing some kind of reassurance—something to ground me in the chaos.
I squeezed her hand gently, hoping to convey some of the comfort I couldn’t say out loud. But then she pulled her hand away slowly and focused on her plate.
The slight movement felt like a punch to the gut. I froze, staring at her for a moment longer, a rush of emotions swirling through me—confusion, disappointment, and something else I didn’t want to name.
Why had she reacted that way?
I noticed since she went to the bathroom that her mood had changed but but dismissed it as mere fatigue. Was it my sisters?
No. It was more than that. I tried to reach out to her again but halted midway.
I masked my reaction, quickly locking those feelings away. I couldn’t afford to let this get to me. All we had was a contract, nothing more, and I’d made a mistake—opening up a part of myself to her that I should have kept guarded.
"You’re such an idiot, Snow," I told myself bitterly as I shifted in my seat, my face falling back into its usual neutral mask.
This wasn’t supposed to be complicated. This wasn’t supposed to be about feelings. It never was. Inhaling, I focused on something else.
My father sipped his coffee, his face thoughtful, while watching the scene unfold around us.
The awkwardness from earlier still lingered, but everyone was doing their best to move past it. Small talk filled the silence.
"Snow." My father’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts as his gaze flickered in my direction. "I’m assuming you’ll be heading into the meeting with the pack’s elders later?"
I nodded, keeping my expression neutral and halted. "Yeah. We need to discuss the expansions on the other territories we claimed. There’s a lot to finalise."
My father grunted in agreement, his eyes narrowing slightly as he glanced at the door where Aira and Tempest had stormed out. "Good. I’ll be there as well. We need to make sure everything is airtight before the next quarter."
We exchanged a few more words, keeping the conversation light, though I couldn’t help but notice the occasional glances being exchanged around the table.
I lost my appetite quickly. Rising, I pushed back the chair and dabbed my lips with the white napkin in my hand. "Father, mother, I need to do rounds with the warriors. I’ll be leaving."
My mother’s hand reached out, attempting to say something but I never gave her the chance and walked away, not sparing Zara a glance either.
I pushed through the doors and headed down the garden path. The crisp air outside filled my lungs, but it did nothing to calm me.
I still felt Zara’s withdrawal and the more I tried to shove it away, the harder it hit.
She had pulled her hand away from mine—such a small action felt like a punch to the gut. Why did it bother me so much?
"Focus, Snow," I muttered under my breath, stuffing my hands into my pockets as I strode toward the training grounds.
I had rounds to do, warriors to brief, and territory to manage—the usual routine that always helped me push everything else aside.
But the voices ahead drew my attention before I could make it far.
Aira and Tempest stood in the garden, their faces filled with raw emotion, their voices cutting through the otherwise peaceful morning. I slowed my pace, staying hidden among the shadows of the trees.
Tempest exploded with rage, her voice shaking the very leaves above them. "How long, Aira?" Her hands clenched into tight fists at her sides. "How long are you going to let that worthless piece of shit dictate your life?! That worthless scumbag ruined everything, and you still—still defend him? He deserves to be castrated!"
Aira’s face was streaked with tears, her shoulders trembling as she tried to defend herself. "I know... I know, okay? But I... I can’t just cut him off completely. Storm needs his father."
Tempest’s anger flared, her eyes blazing. "And what has he done for Storm? What?!" Her voice cracked with emotion as she jabbed a finger toward Aira.
"He never needed that scumbag, Aira! Besides, what would that fleebag teach my nephew? How to be weak? How to be a coward? No! Storm already has Snow. Snow has been more of a father to him than that bastard ever could be! He never needed anyone else but you two."
Aira sobbed, shaking her head, her arms wrapped around herself like she was holding her entire being together. "It’s not that simple, Tempest. He’s still his father. No matter what he did to me, I..." Her voice broke again. "I can’t erase him."
Tempest scoffed, stepping forward, her face twisted in anger. "You’re stronger than this, Aira! You have to be. Look at what you’ve built without him—look at Storm! You’re a fucking alpha, Aira. You don’t need anyone to define you, least of all that asshole!"
Aira’s tears fell harder, her shoulders slumped in defeat, and for a moment, she looked completely broken. "I... I know. But... I don’t know how to stop feeling like this."
Tempest’s anger shifted, softening as she reached out to touch her sister’s arm. "You can start by remembering who you are, Aira."
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