The Pardon

The Pardon
BRUCE 

I descend the stairs of our home like I have for the past twenty-eight years and I have to admit that when I look around, I don't recognize my surroundings. 

I've lived in this house for my entire life, yet right now, the place looks foreign to me. 

My mother, or rather, my stepmother is standing near the exit. I'm not sure if she's waiting for Walter or me. We make eye contact and her face hardens. Did she always do this? Did I miss it because I loved her like a mother and trusted her? She said so herself that she could never stand me. 

"Why the long face?" she asks as I approach her. "You're finally going to get what you want, aren't I right? You'll get that half-rogue wife of yours back. Isn't that a reason to celebrate? It should be, considering you betrayed the entire country for her."

Her words go in one ear and slip out the other. I stand across from her and stare out the door. The sky is gray today, and the sun is hiding behind the clouds. I can smell rain in the air. When I was younger, I used to love this smell. Now, I can't help but wonder if this scent will always be tainted by the events of today. 

Once I make sure she's safe...I'll kill Walter myself. 

That's a promise. 

"Just do as you're told," she concludes. "Then, you won't have anything to fear."

We go in separate cars. I thought she was waiting for Walter, but it seems he's not coming with us. Of course, not. He wants to be as far away from the shitstorm as possible. If people find out about his involvement, they'll frown at it, and he wants his reputation to be squeaky clean since he wants to take control. 

Motherfucker. I don't think I've ever hated anyone more than I hate Walter Hart. 

It seems the news spread faster than we expected because the square is full of people, so full that the driver has to honk at people to get them to let the car pass. I stare out the smoked windows. Panic washes over me. All these innocent people...something has to be done. I have to try and do something.

But what?

Do I sacrifice Opal, who's the only reason why I'm doing all this? What's the best approach here? She's the woman I love. I can't let anyone hurt her. 

I'm focusing so much on everything that could go wrong that I'm not thinking much about the fact that I'll be seeing her soon, and hopefully, she'll be in my arms. Does she still hate me for what she found out? Will I even have the time to explain to her that I'd been a dick for agreeing initially, but that I love her now, more than I love myself?

The car is parked, and it's time to get going. 

Walter's agreement had detailed descriptions of what would happen next. For some reason, he found it essential to arrange the exact spot where we'd all meet. I make my way there, guarded by three of his men. People make space for us to walk past, but the silence is killing me. Nobody is saying a word. 

Could it be that they know about the attacks and are now disappointed in their king?

I don't know what to assume. I've been locked inside for so long that it's hard for me to know for sure. 

At last, I reach the meeting spot. The entire country is on one side of the square, meaning right behind me, and a much smaller group is standing directly across from me. The man standing right in front is one I recognize from the photos, though I never met him in person. 

He's the man I thought had killed my father. 

Kyle Dresmond. 

I glance over his shoulder and don't see Opal. This makes me panic, and when he catches this, he says loudly, "Don't worry about it. She's here. First, we reach an agreement. That's how it works, isn't it?"

"Fair enough," is all I can say. 

"You called us here for a pardon," he claims, sounding almost angry. "But what we don't understand is what we're being pardoned for. We didn't do anything wrong!"

The crowd starts booing them right away. I glance over my shoulder distractedly. This was also Walter's doing. He framed all the attacks to make it seem like the rogues were the ones attacking the packs and killing all the members, but it wasn't them. 

Walter simply wanted everyone to think it was. Why? I guess I'm not sure, either. 

"You accuse me of killing the Alpha King," she continues, packing back and forth. "But I didn't do anything. I didn't have a reason to kill your father!"

And the worst part?

I know this is true, but I have to perform. 

"There's strong evidence against you," I claim. "It could've been for revenge. Your father was killed by our people."

"We don't have the certainty of who killed my father," he cuts in, anger flashing in his eyes. "But even if we thought it was you, I would never avenge his death in that way. It was against everything my father believed in!"

Again, the crowd boos, and I lose my temper, barking, "SILENCE!"

I turn my attention back to Kyle Dresmond and tell him, "I want the rogues to leave the areas surrounding the city. You have to go far away from here. I also want you to give me my wife back, the same one you kidnapped!"

"We're not leaving our homes because you're not happy with our existence, Alpha King," he claims. "We might not form a part of packs, but that doesn't mean we're not peaceful. Just because we don't have an Alpha doesn't mean you can walk into homes where families live and slaughter them before burning everything they own to the ground!"

His words cut deep. Again, this is all Walter's doing. 

"Leave or there will be no pardon. It's as simple as that. Lives were lost on both sides. The choice is up to you."

He glares at me and I just stare back at him. I'm tense. Where is Walter? Why isn't he here? This whole pardon thing doesn’t sit right with me.

The document said that if the rogues didn’t accept the terms for the pardon, then they’d have to pay with their lives. 

Kyle narrows his eyes at me. “I have something valuable of yours. Perhaps you should reconsider these terms.”

“You have your whole pack behind you,” I remind him. “Do you think the life of one woman is worth the lives of all the people standing behind you? Are you willing to lose more people? This time, it’ll be on you. Since you can’t live with people in a civilized way without causing trouble, you have to leave.”

Kyle chuckles. “Right now, I’d much rather hurt you, Alpha King.”

He extends his hand and in no time, Opal is pushed to the front. She’s been tied up with rope and gagged. I step forward on instinct, then control myself. 

“Bring her here. Now!”

Kyle moves toward her and pulls a knife out of his pocket. My heart starts beating uncontrollably, especially when he holds it close to her neck. “I could slit her throat right here. It wouldn’t mean a thing.”

The words spill out of my mouth. “Would it still not mean a thing if you knew what she was to you? She’s the daughter of the rogue leader Dresmond. Your father, am I right? Of course, if you want a confirmation of the story, you can have it. Spill her blood, and you’ll be spilling your own half-sister’s blood. Your blood.”

I’m only vaguely aware of the crowd behind me and their reactions. Kyle narrows his eyes at me, and for a moment, I see something flash across them. I assume he’ll change his mind. 

He doesn’t. 

“I don’t care about that. She’s nothing to me. You either change your terms, or she dies. What’s it going to be?”

I look at Opal for a long time. She’s glaring at me, so I know she’s still angry. I wish I could explain everything to her. Would she still understand it then? Or would she still blame me?

Before I can say a word, the ground beneath my feet shakes and the sound of explosions reaches my ears.

All hell breaks loose.