Heavy Shoulder

"I was walking alongside him when out of nowhere, he suddenly collapsed to the ground. I truly care about him, and I would never intentionally hurt him. He is an important member of his pack, and I would never do anything to jeopardize that."


"Do you really think it's important enough for you to go as far as poisoning him?" Brian said, interrupting the conversation as he tried to take back control of the situation.


"Just look at her! She is a girl who doesn't have a wolf, and that clearly means she must have some sort of hidden plan or motive that she isn't sharing with us."


"Brian, I want to make it very clear that I do not support or accept any kind of violence between the people who are staying here as my guests," Rian said, lifting his hand to signal for everyone to be quiet.


"In reality, both of you are my guests here at Ravensong. Because of that, I want you to know that I will treat both of you with fairness and respect."


I could feel that Brian was really angry next to me, but Rian being there made him hold back any urge to get even more upset and act out.


The atmosphere around us felt charged and filled with tension as Rian looked intently at Brian, silently daring him to make a move.


"Investigations will be carried out," Rian continued, speaking in a strong and confident voice. "We are going to determine exactly who is responsible for what has happened to Karl and the situation he is in right now. I want to make it clear to both of you that rushing to judgment or making assumptions without any solid evidence will only create more confusion and disorder. I want to emphasize that neither of you is allowed to use this place as a way to resolve your disagreement."


Brian's lips twisted into a derisive smile, but he chose to stay quiet and did not want to confront Rian any more than he already had. He decided to hold back for the time being.


Rian shifted his focus to look right at me. I noticed that his expression became a little gentler and softer. While the strong presence of the Alpha in him was still noticeable, I could also see some human feelings starting to emerge. He said,


"Becky, I can see that you have experienced a lot today. You’ve dealt with more than enough challenges, and I really think it would be a good idea for you to take some time to relax and rest."


"Rest?" I repeated, trying hard to keep my voice from shaking. "How can I possibly relax or take a break while Karl is unwell? It's just impossible for me to find any peace of mind knowing that something bad has happened to him."


Rian reassured me with his words, saying, "Don’t worry, we will take care of him and make sure he is alright." He continued, "But at this moment, it is very important for you to focus on gathering your strength and getting better. The medical staff will be there to attend to him and provide the care he needs in the sickbay."


I paused for a moment, feeling unsure about what to do, but in the end, I gave a slow nod, fully aware of how tired I was. I let out a long breath that I hadn’t even known I was holding in.


After that, I started to turn and walk out of the room. Just as I was about to leave, I heard Brian's voice calling out to me from behind.


"Becky, you really need to get away from here quickly! You should run as fast as your legs can carry you. It’s just like what you've always done, being afraid and not wanting to face anyone directly. You’ve always seemed much too frightened to confront or deal with anyone!"


I suddenly stopped moving, and I could feel my back becoming rigid and tense because of what he had just said. For just a brief moment, I heard the quiet voices of my insecurities inside my head. They were reminding me of that scared girl I used to be—the girl who didn't have a wolf by her side.


Yet, at the same time, I could also hear Rian’s words ringing in my ears, serving as a reminder of the strength I had built up in this new chapter of my life. This is the life I now live as the White Guardian Wolf, a life filled with power and courage that I never imagined I would possess.


"Who do you think you are to judge me like that?" I shouted back, feeling a wave of anger surge through me. "It's not the pack that decides who we are; instead, it's the people in the pack who truly shape it! I have faced so many difficult challenges just to reach this point in my life, and you won't ever be able to understand what I've been through!"


"Just keep repeating that to yourself," Brian said sharply, his tone cutting through the air, sounding uncaring and harsh. "It hurts to face the truth, doesn't it?"


I took a big, deep breath to calm myself. I tried to gather my strength as I pushed the door closed behind me, making sure to shut out his voice and the heavy feeling of him being there.


As I made my way down the long hallway, I could sense that everyone was watching me closely. All of them had seen the big explosion that happened between Brian and me. They had looked right at me and seen the raw and honest struggle I was going through, which had clearly shown on my face in that moment.


Because of this, I felt incredibly exposed and vulnerable, as if I were walking through a vast ocean filled with judgment and scrutiny from all around me.


I quietly said to myself, “That was really foolish!” My feelings of annoyance were rising once more. “I just can’t believe that I let him affect my emotions like this. I know I am much stronger and more capable than allowing someone to get under my skin.”


But was I really the person I thought I was? I took a moment to gently rub my sore knuckles. The pain and sting in my hands reminded me of the fight I had just won against Brian.


However, alongside that victory was a nagging feeling of uncertainty. I couldn’t shake off the lingering question that kept bothering me—had I truly proven anything by winning this fight?