Mind Manipulation

*KAIUS*

I watched her, my heart twisting at the raw anguish in her expression. She clutched at her distended abdomen, her fingers digging into the flesh as if she could tear the demon out with her bare hands. This was Elowen—my Elowen—broken by guilt and horror at what she had become.

"Just... Get it out of me," she pleaded, her voice breaking with desperation.

"You didn't do this; it's the fault of the thing inside of you," I told her, trying to ease some of the burden she had placed on herself.

"This is what I am. A 'turned one', I did this, Kaius, and... what if it doesn't stop?" Fear clouded her silver eyes, making them seem even more alien than before.

"What do you mean?" I asked, though I already suspected what troubled her.

"What if the lust never seizes, even with the demon out?" The question hung in the air between us, terrifying in its implications.

"He did say you would be able to control it," I reminded her, trying to sound more confident than I felt. Kieran had claimed many things, not all of them true.

"What if he lied? Or what if I am different? I just can't... I can't hurt any other person, I have to be controlled, Kaius." Her gaze drifted to Rowan's body, fresh horror washing over her features.

"You will be alright." I forced conviction into my voice, offering what little comfort I could.

"No. No, I won't be alright. Kaius I can't..." She looked away, her body trembling with what I recognized as the effort to contain powerful emotion.

"You can't what?" I prompted, dreading the answer.

"I can't... stay in this pack; I can't hurt these innocent people. Nelly, Rowan's sister, had died because of me, and now... I killed him too. Oh gods, what have I done? What would I tell his parents?" The anguish in her voice cut deeper than any blade.

"You don't have to worry about anything; I have this under control," I assured her, though I had no idea how to fix this situation.

"No. You can't fix everything," she shot back, a flash of her old spirit breaking through the grief. "I thought I could have a life with you; that had been the point of every sacrifice I made. But I was wrong; I can't stay with you; I would only hurt more people."

"No, listen to me, this-" I began, but she cut me off.

"-it was a mistake." Her voice was hollow, defeated. "Don't give excuses for me; I deserve to pay for my mistake, I deserve to be punished. Punish me, Kaius; I don't deserve any form of mercy."

The request struck me like a physical blow. "I won't punish you."

"What judgment do you give to people who murder other innocent people?" Her question was rhetorical, accusatory. We both knew the answer.

"Please, Kaius, you can't just let me go, not after this." Her words were pleading now, almost desperate.

"I can and I will. So just stop asking for something we both know I cannot do." I hardened my voice, letting her see my resolve. I would never harm her, no matter what she had done.

"Then I can't stay." The certainty in her voice chilled me to the bone.

"I won't let you go, ever." I meant it as a promise, though I knew it sounded like a threat.

"What are you going to do?" She challenged, sitting straighter despite her obvious weakness. "Cut off my wings? I had the opportunity to leave this place. I didn't because... I wanted to stay, but I have to do this."

"You don't have to do anything." I tried to soften my tone, to reach the Elowen I knew was still in there, beneath the guilt and self-loathing.

"I thought you would know better. You sent me away because you were too dangerous to be close to me, and now I am too dangerous to be here, so I have to leave."

The reminder of my own past decision hit its mark, but I remained firm. "That was different."

"Kaius, you don't understand and I don't expect you to. Killing people is second nature to you, but that's not me. I am not going to move on and pretend that this didn't happen; I am not going to lie to his parents one more time."

Her assessment stung, partly because there was truth to it. I had killed—many times. But I'd never felt the guilt that was consuming her now.

"So what are you going to do? Tell them you did it?" I couldn't keep the incredulity from my voice.

"It wouldn't take the pain away, but that would be the right thing to do."

I studied her, the determination in her eyes, the set of her jaw. She meant it. She would confess, face their anger and grief, and then—what? Leave, certainly. And in her condition, leaving meant death. The demon inside her was too strong, too demanding. Without proper care, without blood, she would die.

I couldn't let that happen. Not again. Not after everything.

The decision crystallized in an instant. I felt the Alpha power stir within me, a different aspect of the Lycan abilities I was still learning to control. The Alpha Aura—a way to influence minds, to bend them to my will. I'd rarely used it, finding the practice distasteful at best, unethical at worst.

But for her, to save her from this crushing guilt, to keep her alive...

"Look at me," I commanded, allowing the Alpha Aura to infuse my voice with power.

Her eyes met mine, instantly glazing over as the influence took hold. I felt a momentary pang of guilt—this was a violation, a betrayal of her trust. But the alternative was worse. Much worse.

"You didn't kill Rowan," I stated firmly, watching the confusion bloom in her expression.

"I didn't?" Her voice was distant, dreamy.

"No, you didn't. We found him dead in the woods, right?" I layered the suggestion with more of the Alpha Aura.

"Yes, we did." The agreement was immediate, her mind accepting the fabricated memory.

"His body had been burned, and so there'd been no trace of how he died."

"Who would do such a thing?" She asked, horror coloring her tone, but it was the horror of a distant tragedy, not personal guilt.

"Other packs who want us dead. They did this to send us a message."

"Yes," she agreed, though I could see a flicker of confusion in her eyes. The Alpha Aura wasn't perfect—especially on someone as naturally strong-willed as Elowen.

To my surprise, her expression suddenly changed. The distant, compliant look gave way to something else—a hungry, almost predatory gaze that made my skin prickle.

"I want to kiss you, Kaius," she said, the words coming out of nowhere.

"No, you don't." I stepped back, alarmed. This wasn't the response I'd expected from the Alpha Aura.

"But I do; you are just so... Charming and handsome; I should hate you for leaving me, and yet all I want to do is... kiss you." She moved toward me with a slow, deliberate grace that was entirely unlike her usual manner.

"Elowen, that's not what you want." I tried to modulate the influence, realizing I'd somehow triggered an unintended side effect.

"Yes, and I want to do more things," she continued, her voice dropping to a husky whisper. "I like it when you touch me... and I also like Frost's touch too... I want to do things with both of you."

"That's enough mind manipulation for one day," I muttered, disturbed by the unexpected turn.

The door opened behind me, and I turned to see Frost enter.