Chapter 399 Old Griverances

Chapter 399: Chapter 399 Old Griverances

Talia’s POV

I watched them, and I saw the hatred in their eyes.

I saw the years of old grievances simmering beneath the surface. This was not about a spilled drink. It was never about a spilled drink. The drink was just the spark that lit the fire. And the fire had been burning for generations.

I stepped forward, and I looked at the young wolf from Stoneclaw who was bleeding.

"What is your name?" I asked.

He looked at me, surprised. "Erik, Luna."

I nodded. "Erik, tell me what happened."

Erik hesitated. He glanced at Alpha Stone, then back at me. His eyes dropped to the ground, and he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. He could not look at me.

"It started over a drink," he said. "A Thornwood wolf spilled it on me. I pushed him back, then he hit me. Then everything escalated."

I looked at the young wolf from Thornwood with the broken arm.

"And you?" I asked. "What is your name?"

He looked at me, his eyes still hard. "Thomas."

I nodded. "Thomas, tell me what happened."

Thomas’s jaw tightened. "He pushed me first. I was just defending myself."

I looked at both of them. I could see it in their eyes that they both believed they were telling the truth. They both believed they were the victim, and maybe they both were. The drink was just the spark, but the fire had been burning for years.

I turned to the Alphas.

Alpha Stone’s face was still red with fury, and Alpha Thornwood’s eyes were still blazing. It was obvious that neither of them was willing to back down.

I took a breath, then I spoke.

"I understand old grievances," I said. "I have my own. I spent fifteen years in a pack that treated me like nothing. I was beaten, I was starved, and I was told I was worthless. So I have every reason to hate."

The Alphas looked at me. And the warriors behind them looked at me.

"But hate is what Malachai wants," I said. "Division is what he feeds on. If we fight each other, we are doing his work for him."

Alpha Stone’s jaw tightened, but he did not speak. His jaw tightened, then loosened. His fists clenched, then opened. And I could see that he was fighting himself.

Alpha Thornwood’s eyes flickered, and he did not speak either. But I saw something shift in his expression. Something that looked like doubt.

I looked at Alpha Stone. "You came here to fight Malachai. Not to fight each other."

I looked at Alpha Thornwood. "You came here to protect your pack. Not to destroy your allies."

No one spoke. The only sound was the crackle of the fires and the heavy breathing of the wolves.

Then Alpha Stone spoke. His voice was gruff, but there was something softer in it now. "I... I am sorry."

I blinked. I had not expected that.

Alpha Stone looked at Alpha Thornwood. His jaw was still tight, but his eyes had lost some of their fire.

"I let my pride get in the way," Alpha Stone said. "I should have been better."

Alpha Thornwood was quiet for a long moment. His hands were still clenched, and his shoulders were still tight. He opened his mouth, then closed it. Then he opened it again.

"I am sorry too," Alpha Thornwood said. "I let old wounds fester. I should have been better."

The two Alphas looked at each other. Then Alpha Stone extended his hand.

Alpha Thornwood took it, and they shook.

The warriors behind them began to stand down. Their fists lowered, their shoulders loosened, and the snarls faded into silence.

I walked to the young wolf Erik. I knelt beside him.

"I am sorry you were hurt," I said.

Erik looked at me. His eyes were still red, but there was something else in them now. Something that looked like shame.

"It was just a drink," he said quietly.

I nodded. "I know."

I walked to the young wolf Thomas. I knelt beside him.

"I am sorry you were hurt," I said.

Thomas looked at me. His jaw was still tight, but his eyes had softened.

"I should not have pushed him," he said. "I let my anger get the better of me."

I nodded. "Tomorrow, you will fight side by side. You will bleed side by side, and you will win side by side."

Thomas looked at Erik, and Erik looked at Thomas. They did not speak, but something passed between them. Something that looked like understanding.

I stood up, and I looked at the Alphas.

"Send your healers," I said. "Tend to both packs’ wounded. Together."

Alpha Stone nodded. Then he called for his healer.

Alpha Thornwood nodded. Then he called for his healer.

The healers came forward. They tended to the wounded from both packs, and they worked side by side. The Stoneclaw healer knelt beside the Thornwood wolf, and the Thornwood healer wrapped the Stoneclaw wolf’s head. Neither spoke, but neither pulled away.

The healers worked in silence. But their silence was not hostile, it was focused. It was a small thing, but it was a start.

I watched them. Then I felt Kaelen’s hand on my back. He did not speak because he did not need to. His presence was enough.

I took a deep breath, then I walked.

I walked to the large rock at the edge of the camp. The wolves parted as I passed. Their eyes followed me, thousands of eyes. I felt them on my skin like a physical touch.

I climbed onto the rock, then I looked out at the wolves. There were thousands of them, and all of them were watching me, and they were all waiting.

I raised my hands, and I called for their attention.

"Listen carefully," I said. "I have something to say."

The murmurs died, and the shuffling stopped. The only sound was the wind and the crackle of the fires.

The camp fell totally silent.