final service
final service
I stood frozen, my stomach twisting as they slowly descended the stairs. His face was rigid, his jaw tight, and his arms locked tightly around his wife and son by his side.
Elara's cheeks were streaked with tears beside Icarus, while Zias small body pressed into Icarus' chest like he was trying to hide inside his father.
The sight nearly broke me.
Weren’t they supposed to be out of town? Icarus had said it himself that he’d sent them away for their safety. Away from the reach of the hunters...
But here they were, trembling, sobbing. More confusing was how Elara's gaze whispered apologies under her breaths, as if even looking at me was a betrayal.
My heart hammered in my chest. Panic seized my lungs. Something was wrong!
Terribly, horribly wrong!
“Icarus…” My voice cracked, fear spiking through me as my eyes darted from him to his family. “What is going on? Why-- why are they here? Why are they crying?”
He didn’t answer. His gaze stayed rooted to the floor as he guided them down into the parlor, his hand stroking his son’s head even as his lips pressed into a grim line. His silence was worse than any words.
And then I heard them.
Heavy footsteps above us.
I turned toward the staircase just in time to see three figures appear at the top landing, their broad shoulders blocking the light from the hallway.
My blood turned to ice. Their eyes glowed faintly in the dimness of the house, their expressions flat and sharp like blades honed for one purpose. I recognized them from the pack!
'No...'
I staggered back, my knees weakening. My chest heaved as my wolf snarled, but my body wouldn’t move fast enough. The truth slammed into me like a punch... Icarus' aid to town wasn’t a coincidence.
This was a setup. Another one that I had blindly stepped into. Another one that I would never have seen coming.
My gaze shot to Icarus. He looked at me then, and I could barely read the storm in his eyes. I saw the regret, anger, and something somewhat close to despair.
“Icarus, what is this?” My voice shook as I cried. “What’s happening?” it hurts to be betrayed. To be sold out like this by someone I thought I could trust.
Icarus just stood there, saying nothing still. He clenched his jaw as he stared down on the floor for the longest, remorse edged all over him.
Suddenly, he shot his head up spoke, his voice was low, ragged. “Answer me one thing, Alyssa. Just one thing.”
I swallowed hard, my pulse racing hearing him. Why would any of that matter now? Is he trying to justify his actions by telling me where I'd gone wrong?
Regardless, his eyes burned into mine as he said. “ Have you been messing with Ciel?”
The question cut through me like a knife. I wasn't expecting to hear this.
" Have you been sleeping with Ciel all these while behind Michael?" he added, his face stern and his eyes full on studying me.
My stomach dropped, my heart bottoming out. For a split second, I couldn’t breathe.
I wanted to confess the truth under the pressure of his intent gaze.
But something inside me snapped, some frantic instinct that refused to die. “No,” I blurted, shaking my head violently. “Why would I-- why would I ever do that?!” My voice was sharp, desperate. “I didn’t.” I lied, blatantly denying the truth.
At this point, I'd rather rot in my grave than admit that I'd really kissed Ciel.
However, the silence that followed was heavy, almost crushing the facade.
Icarus studied me for what felt like forever, his eyes piercing through me. I wanted to crumble. I wanted to scream that it didn’t matter, that everything was already ruined, but I held his stare. Something in me just wouldn't let down.
Finally, he exhaled, slow and long, as if the weight of the world was pressing on his chest. “I knew it,” he muttered. “I knew I was right to trust you. And I hope I won't regret doing this."
Something in my chest broke at that. Relief, confusion, and dread tangled into a knot I couldn’t untangle.
He turned, then gently pushed Zias into Elara's hands, placing the latter aside. His wife clutched his arm, her sobbing louder now.
“I have to,” he said, his voice steady but his hands trembling.
“No-– what are you doing?” Elara cried in a low whisper, shaking her head defiantly.
“I can’t, Elara… I can’t carry Alyssa’s life on my conscience, not just to keep us safe. I won’t be that kind of man.” Icarus sighed, and walked past Elara
He turned to face the betas.
I was confused.
“What are you doing, Icarus?” one of the betas at the crown of the stairs who'd been watching all along sneered, stepping forward to square up with Icarus. “You think you can fight us? Do you not wish to save your family anymore? I thought the whole deal was clear, but as it appears, you're just a moron as expected. You'd give your life and that of your family away just to save this whore. Pathetic!” he spat as he pointed at me.
Icarus bared his fangs and claws, a bitter laugh escaping him. “Save them? Don’t insult me. I know your plan all along. You would’ve killed us all anyway. I'd rather die on my front than wait for you to slit my throat and stab me from behind.”
The betas expressed a bit of surprise before they exchanged knowing smirks between each other. “ Quite smart for a usually clueless fool.”
Icarus growled, his body shifting slightly as his wolf rippled beneath his skin. Elara rushed to cling to him one last time, sobbing, but he pried her arms away and pushed her back.
“Take them,” he barked in command, shooting a glance at me. “Get them out of here, Alyssa. I'm counting on you!" He yelled, as he slowly shifted, charging forward to engage the betas who did the same.
I hesitated, frozen in place, my throat burning with fear. “Icarus–”
“Go!” he roared before his final shift into a huge wolf with dark brown furs, claws dark and sharp as blade launched forward at the first beta.
It was my first time seeing him shift into his wolf form.
Bang!
Chaos erupted in the small house as the two sides collided with their fangs bared and claws slicing through the air. The clash of wolves rattled the house, reminiscent of that night we'd set out to capture that vice.
Icarus’s strength was monstrous, born of desperation. He collided with two at once, forcing them back with a snarl that shook the walls. The third lunged in, but Icarus spun, slamming him against the bannister with a crack.
Elara screamed, sat on the floor. Her tears ran non-stop as she held Zias who buried himself in her chest, his figure shuddering as he also sobbed, hiding away from it all.
Everything played out in a dull slow motion, the screams echoing in a reverberation in my head. Only the drumming bang of my heart reminded me of how alarming the situation was, save for the crashes and destruction all around.
I couldn’t move at all.
My feet felt glued to the floor as my heart split in two.
Run? Leave everything behind? Stay and help? What can I do? What should I do?
“Alyssa!” I heard him shout again, he'd shifted back to his human form, straining against the betas clawing at him as he stared at me.
His voice brought everything back to normalcy, I was brought out of my daze. Looking at Icarus, I spotted blood already streaking his arm.
His eyes locked on mine, raw and furious. “If you stay, we all die! Get them out, now!”
His words jolted me like lightning. I nodded severally and spun towards Elara, grabbing her trembling shoulders. “W-we have to go!" I said but even I could barely hear my own voice.
She shot her head to face me, her eyes were wide, glistening in hurt, and drenched with tears. “I can’t leave him-- I can't” she cried desperately. For a second, I didn't know how else I was supposed to convince her. That too seeing Zias clutch her waist, sobbing even harder.