Chapter 56: Unforgiven


    The scorching heat was unrelenting in its wrath. The wolves stood in apprehension taking shelter under


    every shade avable. They were forced to endure the brutality of the radiating heat. It wasn’t a choice.


    Today marked the day when the former alpha would repent for his deeds.


    Tworge metal strings were attached to the arms of the muscr man. At the end of the metal were


    two giant boulders firmly fixed with the rope. Einar looked at the sky above and slowly wiped off the


    sweat which formed on his forehead. He nced at every face which either looked at him with worry or


    either in pity.


    Everybody but one.


    Beatrice sat on her royal throne whose back sprung arge umbre upwards while four enforcers


    guarded her throne from every corner. She asionally smirked and huffed at the pitiful state of Einar.


    She felt proud for she was responsible for everything that would ur from a few moments onward.


    Einar looked at his loved ones in shame and sorrow. He couldn’t bear the agony, the pain his mother


    was suffering right now. His father though with a tough exterior, was on the brink of losing his constraint


    of emotions. Garrick looked equally worried while Rosaline fidgeted her fingers with nervousness.


    Everyone was scared of the oue.


    Einar than slowly swiped his gaze to the one face he wished he hadn’t looked at. Standing afar from


    everyone else was his mate in all his handsomeness, looking slightly worried but his smile remained


    intact and glued to Einar. He smiled through his eyes and nodded in assurance for this was his way to


    encourage the man he loved.


    Einar lost his eye contact when Beatrice spoke all of a sudden. “Well then, I don’t think we should wait


    any longer. The sun is at its peak which means that you are ready to go.” She leaned ahead and


    devilishly smirked at Einar “Pay for your sins.”


    Einar growled lightly in anger but he kept his mum for he was ready to suffer what Beatrice had to offer.


    The day when he attacked his pack members rendered him an obsolete alpha. A man who was seen


    as a destroyer rather than a protector. He knew that the royal council would use his vulnerability as an


    opportune moment to prove that the pack was in doldrums. Though his father’s timely intervention had


    saved the pack to an extent but the damage was done.


    Beatrice smiled at everyone present and ordered the gong to be belled thrice. Everyone looked in


    anticipation as Einar had to seek forgiveness for his deeds. He had to pull therge boulders with his


    brute strength to the other side of the pack where his forefathersid in peace. He then had to carve


    the name of his grandfather and put the stone right besides the grave. But all this was to be done


    before the sun was up the next day.


    For even a muscr man like Einar the stones were heavy to pull. Besides the length he had to travel


    seemed impossible to cover in a span of one day.


    The first step of Einar looked impossible. He gritted his teeth vigorously while all his veins popped up to


    rush the flow of blood, to provide him the energy to pull. He moaned in frustration and slowly inched


    forward slightly discing the boulders.


    Can looked worried from afar and though his conscience was against it, he decided to intervene. He


    joined his thumbs and ovepped them face to face. As if on cue the weight which was being carried


    was lighter and easier to pull. Einar was astonished at his strength for the stones were moving fast and


    he could cover more distance.


    The people around were amazed by the strength the man possessed while the alpha mates were


    partially relieved that Einar was able to circumvent this obstacle. Can was trying his best to keep his


    identity hidden and use his powers without being detected. However his efforts were draining him. The


    more time this went on the more he was deprived of his energy.


    Beatrice on the other hand found this predicament disturbing. She wasn’t expecting the previous alpha


    to be this strong. It wasn’t going too well with her. She stood from her ce and whispered something


    to her guards. She marched forward and halted Einar’s strides.


    “Stop right there.”


    Her stern eyes were indifferent to the pained expressions of the man. She took two steps ahead and


    gestured to the people.


    “Perhaps I underestimated the strength of this man. It is but obvious that the procedure is being carried


    out for repentance and look at him! He slid these stones with no effort at all. How will he prove to our


    ancestors that indeed he his sorry!” She huffed derisively and took a pregnant pause “I don’t think that


    only pulling this stone is enough to gain forgiveness.”


    Soon the enforces arrived with huge sacs and took their respective positions. Beatrice turned to look at


    Einar with a devilish smirk and turned again. “He deserves to feel the pain he forced those innocents to


    go through.” She held the helm of the sac and retrieved an empty ss bottle. She gestured her


    guards and all of them pulled out ss articles one by one. Without any warning she mmed the


    ss bottle with a force right in front of Einar’s legs!


    The people in the crowd were shocked when they realized what was happening. The entire path


    through which Einar was supposed to lead his way to the grave was being covered by smashed pieces


    of ss. Can was left speechless when he saw what was being done. The anger in him was growing


    and he felt like strangting the princess right at this very moment.


    Einar closed his eyes and heaved a long sigh before his determined eyes looked ahead. He wasn’t


    going to back down. He took a strong step forward and as soon as his feet touched the ground the


    sharp brittle substance stung to his skin. The irritation was evident but the pain had just began.


    Step by step Einar moved forward while the charred ss prated his bare feet. He grimaced with


    every touch of the substance but held his groans. His stifled moans of pain were noticed by the man


    who was equally pained at the moment; Can.


    Einar’s feet were now leaving behind a shadow of red dust. The blood which oozed through his leg


    covered his tracks.


    A collective gasp echoed throughout when Einar stepped on a thick pointed ss. The brittle


    substance had pierced the skin right through the bones of the man such that ss had made a hole in


    his leg to make its way up.


    Pain soared throughout his entire body and Einar could no longer contain his agony. He moaned the


    loudest while his eyes released some water to ease the pain.


    Can’s heart beat elerated as he watched the man he loved in utter despair. His intention to help


    had somehow caused the muscr man to suffer even more. Can looked at the women with hatred


    and resolved to show her her ce when the timees. However his sole attention was now focused


    on the man who was hissing in burning pain.


    Beatrice felt proud of herself as she smiled at the weakened state of Einar. She was sure that he wont


    be able to reach the grave in time. She looked at the people with a dramatic change of expressions “I


    think we should leave the man alone. Let himplete his act of remorse in solitude. We being here


    will only discourage him.”


    She diverted her attention to Einar and stepped towards him. she leaned ahead and whispered in his


    ears “I hope you die soon.” She smiled at him while Einar groaned in retaliation.


    Beatrice huffed and ordered the pack to retreat. With glossy eyes and worried faces the people were


    Einar looked at him with confusion while Can looked at Einar as if his life dependent on the man in


    front of him.


    As soon as everyone was out of his sight Can ran as quickly as possible and embraced the man in a


    tight hug. The gesture took Einar by surprised and he leaned his body a little to ease his pain.


    Can slowly pushed him back and bent on one knee. He lightly but carefully uplifted Einar’s injured


    feet and kept it on his own knee. The very sight of the wound was disturbing to say the least. The hard


    ss had passed inside-out of the leg piercing all the way up. Can was deeply pained for the


    suffering Einar had to face and for the agony which he was in right now.


    He mindfully caught the lower end of the ss and without any warning pulled it downwards. The


    action made Einar groan loudly. He hissed in pain and when he couldn’t hold any longer he growled.


    Can slowly stood up and embraced Einar in a sweet hug. He kissed his cheeks softly and wiped the


    tears of his pain “Everything will be fine. I wont let anything happen to you.”


    The spoken words soothed the muscr man of his pain in an instant. His fa?ade was broken and he


    mirrored the adoring look of the handsome man. Both of them gazed at each other for the longest.


    Just as he came to his senses Einar’s smile vanished and he sternly looked at Can “Don’t be stupid


    Ashton. Go back home.”


    “I wont go without you.”


    “You are making it difficult for me. Leave at once Ashton I beg you.”


    “I wont go. I told you I am not leaving you now and never.”


    “You cante with me.”


    “And who will stop me.”


    Einar gritted his teeth in anger and growled. However he took long breaths and calmed himself “Alright


    but stay out of the path.”


    Can smiled and nodded his head. He quickly made his way to one of the boulders and jumped on it


    to sit “I hope I wont be a burden on you.”


    An innocent smile stered Einar’s face as he whispered to himself “You will never be a burden for


    me.”


    “I heard that..”


    Einar cleared his throat and sternly rebuked him “Just keep your mouth shut.”


    Can smirked at that and decided to be quite. Not because he wanted to chafe Einar but he wanted to


    focus on what he was about to do.


    Einar limped with his left foot and was heaving deep breaths to soothe his pain. He was aware that his


    difort would be noticed by the quick witted human and hence he had to endure all the pain in


    silence. Can on the other hand was ready to share the punishment of his beloved.


    When Einar took one step forward, Can swiped his left thumb and all of a sudden the winds changed


    their direction. The winds circled and stationed right in front of Can. The handsome man twisted his


    palm. The very next instant the strong breeze crossed both the men and swiped away all the charred


    ss pieces along with them.


    Einar was astonished and he stood glued right at his ce “Did you see that!”


    “What?”


    “The winds.” Einar’s mouthy open in shock.


    “What winds?”


    “The winds that cleared the path just now.”


    “That’s strange indeed.” Can smirked “its an indication that your forefathers have already forgiven


    you.”


    Einar was aware that Can wasn’t taking this seriously. He marched ahead because he had no time to


    stop and think what miracle had transpired.


    “We should proceed.”


    Can smiled at a bewildered Einar and used his powers to lighten the weight of the stones. On the


    other hand the easy going boulders was making Einar wonder if he had gained some extra strength all


    of a sudden. Soon the men reached the graves of the former alphas. It was a ce where all of Einar’s


    forefathers rested in peace. Einar quickly searched for the appropriate grave and marched his steps


    ahead.


    Can however was sweating while his hands trembled to keep the stones in ce. The excessive use


    of his powers was draining his energy. Can sighed and breathed more air for he wanted to help Einar


    hammering the stones to carve the name of his grandfather. Einar had to break the stones in a suitable


    size to fit in the length of the resting ce.


    Can knew that Einar would have to exert a lot to do this strenuous act. His love andpassion


    propelled him to use his energy to help Einar. His breaths came in shallow pace but he gathered all of


    his energy onest time for when Einar hit the hammer, the big boulder was broken and a square


    shape stone was born.


    Einary stunned for what he witnessed. The task required hours of hard work but was done rmingly


    soon. He turned back to look at Can to reassure himself of the miracle when he saw the handsome


    man lying on the ground unconscious.


    ****


    The feeling of tender hands on his cheeks brought Can out of his sleepy daze. He opened his eyes


    to witness a relieved Aurora sitting on the bedside besides him. She smiled at her friend and enquired


    “How are you feeling?”


    Can nodded in assurance that he was fine “Who brought me here?”


    “It was Garrick.” Can scowled for he remembered that Garrick was nowhere in the picture. He


    realized that Einar must’ve been worried for him but at the same time he was in the midst of something


    equally important. However there was hurtful pang in his heart because Einar preferred Garrick to take


    him home rather than he himself.


    He sighed and looked at Aurora in anxiousness “What happened?”


    “I guess you exhausted yourself too much. You shouldplete your awakening, in this way your body


    wont tire itself. You will be able to use your powers for long.”


    Can shook his head the moment those words were out of Aurora’s mouth “You know the time is not


    right.”


    “Will you tell Einar?”


    “Yes but only when I trust him.”


    Aurora looked surprised “But I thought..”


    “I love him. Trust is another issue.” Aurora nodded in understanding and decided to not delve in the


    matter any longer. Can on the other side scanned his eyes throughout the room and came to the


    conclusion that he was in a familiar ce “Why am I in my home and not in the alpha house?”


    “They thought it would be better if you were treated in seclusion.”


    “Beatrice?”


    Aurora hummed. Can was aware of the princess and her tricks. Had she known about Can’s


    condition she would have investigated the matter to the core. On one side she would have tried to be


    unnecessarily closer to him while on the other side Einar would have been reprimanded because of


    Can’s presence in the vicinity.


    “Where are my parents?” Can asked all of a sudden


    “They are downstairs. Do you want to meet them?”


    Can smiled and nodded his head. He was aware of how worried his mother would be right now, she


    must’ve have cried a river and caught everyone in her storm of concern. He mentally smiled at his


    mother’s behavior and propelled himself up. Aurora was right behind him when both of them heard


    ranging voices from the floor beneath.


    Can sped his steps ahead and saw his parents face to face with Garrick and Einar. The muscr


    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    man for some reason looked angry. usation was clear in his eyes. Can reached the ground below


    and stood besides his father “What is going on?”


    Einar’s expressions softened for a moment before he gathered himself and looked sternly at the


    Ashtons “It is time for confessions. Your father hid something important when he was the head warrior.”


    “I beg you Einar.” Justus spoke helplessly in a low voice “It has been years.”


    “You broke my fathers trust.”


    “I had to do it for my child.”


    Einar huffed “Putting your Childs life in danger was necessary!”


    Can intervened the heated conversation “Will anyone tell me what’s going on!”


    “You stay away from it.” Garrick pulled Can away from the both of them much to the chagrin of the


    Elemental.


    Einar kept his eyes focused on the man as if the presence of his mate did not bother him. “You knew


    the consequences.”


    “I knew.”


    The air in Einar was stuck in his throat while his locket glowed. He vigorously shook his head and took


    deep breaths “This means that you knowingly risked his life.”


    Justus was calm for the longest. He exchanged looks with a crying Mary and diverted his gaze at


    Can apologetically. The handsome man deduced the features of his father and his eyes widened in


    shock. He soon realized what the matter was all about and pleaded his father to keep his silence.


    However Justus bravely smiled at his son and turned his head to look at an angry Einar “I did.”


    The words got Einar rallied again. His locket was vibrating while it levitated mid air. His eyes flickered


    from the original brown to aplete ck. He gritted his teeth to control his beast and threateningly


    whispered “You also knew that he could’ve got killed.”


    Justus was ashamed for his deeds and he bowed his head “There was a possibility.”


    That was the trigger point for Einar. The locket in his neck was beyond his control. His eyes erged


    and a dark mistpletely took over him. Before anyone could even realize it the demon had stretched


    his hand to the jugr of Justus. The angry veins in him popped up to flow the dark liquid and Daragor


    hissed his displeasure at Justus.


    Can’s mind froze and he stood on his ce with a nk expression. He never imagined a scenario


    as such would ever ur in his entire lifetime.


    Garrick, Mary and Aurora ran quickly to intervene Einar’s actions. They all tried to stop him but their


    efforts were in vain. One by one Einar was waving his hands and thrashing the wolves out of his way.


    Can was astounded to see the vexation in Daragor. It was certain that Daragor would stop only when


    Justus was killed. He looked at his father whose flow of blood was being constricted. The air in his


    body was leaving him and he was slowly falling in a deep sleep. Without wasting any more time the


    handsome man ran to his mate and held his hands with all the force he could


    “Stop it... Stop it... Daragor NO!”


    However the demon was in a different world. The only thing in his mind was to end the man who could


    have gotten his mate killed even before they met. He was angry beyond measure. He was so much in


    his daze that he even did not realize the hands which were stopping him from doing the deed. Even


    before he could stop it, the demon flicked his hand with his brute strength and Can was thrashed to


    the nearest wall.


    The agonizing sound of Can’s painful moan was what brought the demon out of his daze. He slowly


    brought his hands down and looked at Can with an empty expression.


    Remorse. It was the only thing which he could feel right now. What had he done! He had hurt the only


    person in the world who he ever cared about. His subconscious mind was demanding reparations for


    his actions. He wished he could un-do what he just did. He didn’t feel like he deserved the love of his


    mate any more. The guilt was a stain on him, an ugly scar.


    The handsome man looked at the distraught face of the demon and he was scared. Can recalled the


    words of Daragor that he could never see him in pain and now he was the one responsible for it.


    Can stumbled in his stance but stood on his feet. He smiled at the demon assuring him that


    everything was fine; that he was perfectly all right. However the moment he took two steps ahead


    Daragor’s feet retreated backwards. He squeezed his eyes and tears of contrition flew through his


    cheeks. He apologetically looked at Can and uttered his regret


    “Please forgive me.”


    Just as Can was about to touch his mate, Einar inhaled arge breath and a globe of dark mist


    circled the man. It forcefully revolved around Einar beforepletely vanishing. Einar was on his


    knees with his eyes shut tightly. He heaved long breaths while his body trembled.


    Can sat besides Einar as quickly as possible and cupped the face of his mate. He instinctively jerked


    his face in order to make him open his eyes “Daragor! Daragor! Please open your eyes..”


    The muscr man slowly opened his eyes. However his eyes were the usual brown instead of the dark


    orbs of the demon. The brown eyes were sad. Can’s fear of losing his beloved became true when


    Einar uttered in a sorrowful voice “He is gone.. Forever!”


    ********