14 - A NEW MAN

5 YEARS LATER

RYAN'S POV

I opened my eyes, the blinding sun rays piercing them. Sighing in mental exhaustion, I looked across the room to see Beta Allister and Philip sitting on the settee. Seriously?

"What do you both want?" I asked gruffly.

"Good morning to you too." Philip sighed, standing from the settee and making his way to me. "A letter from the king." He said, stretching his hand towards me. I eyed the envelope he held in his hand, unsure if I really wanted to see the content.

"Ryan, you have to leave here." Beta Allister muttered. Hearing him speak, I sat up on my bed to be able to get a clearer view of his solemn looking face.

"Why?" I asked, already aware of what his response was gonna be.

"You cannot remain here." He begged, trying to make me understand whatever his reasons were. Couldn't they just continue as they had been? The pack had done so well in my absence, what difference would my return make?

"The east wing is still a part of my castle." I shot back.

"A part of this castle that unfortunately holds terrible memories for you."

"Does it?" I released a scoff and stood up from the bed. "Maybe I should call the witches to put the cloaking spell here again. You both are becoming such nuisance to me."

"Ryan you cannot keep yourself a prisoner, after the king fought tooth and nail with the supernatural council, just to ensure your release." Philip said, and I felt my heart constrict in my chest. Indeed, I was grateful to king Xavier. Even when everyone had forgotten about me, he never did. Every single month within the past five years, he sent a letter. All the time he sent them, I never read any of them. I never did, because I had pretty much made my peace with my fate. The supernatural council had given the witch elders the go ahead to lock me up, and I doubted even the king could save me.

Last month, the specific day of the month that the king usually sent his letters, had passed without me receiving any. It was quite unusual and I felt something was off.

Not having any other option, I found myself taking out his previously sent letters which I had never opened. I patiently read through them all, and my heart broke each time I read through. They all contained the same thing. He had said in his letters that he trusted I wouldn't do something as terrible as I had been accused of. He begged me to go ahead and tell him my side of the story, so he could fight for my release. At the end of every letter, he said he hoped I didn't read and ignore, just like I had done his previous letters.

I guess his faith in me, and his consistency at trying to be of assistance to my plight, had me feeling so touched. Even my own sister had completely deserted me, but he remained by me.

It wasn't up to a week after I had read the king's letters, and he showed up at the castle. I had been so shocked by his presence. Apparently, he traveled incognito from the palace, and had come to see me, hoping to coerce me into telling him the truth about my situation.

I may have stayed tongue tied all the while, but seeing as King Xavier made so much efforts just to help me, I found myself telling him everything.

He had been so furious and promised to do everything in his power to ensure I was released. He also spoke about clearing my name. That was really kind of him, but to be honest, I didn't want him clearing my name. I didn't care if people thought I killed my mate, even if I never really intended to. I had already snuffed life out of Brenda, in such a vile manner. The only thing I could do for her, was not let the pack know the actual wrongs she had committed against me. I didn't want her name being tarnished even after her horrific death. The pack could tag me a murderer for all I cared. I guess being trapped in this part of my castle all alone for the last 5 years, had made me care less about what anyone thought of me. Hell! I so much disliked the idea of being around other people now.

A couple of days after the king's secret visit, the witch elders showed up, and acknowledged the real situation of things, according to how King Xavier had testified. They lifted the cloaking spell off the east wing, and told me I was now free and relieved of every curse and punishment they had placed on me. It wasn't even as if their curses made a difference anymore.

In my third year of imprisonment, I had slowly become resistant to the terror that Brenda's illusion bestowed upon me. I had gotten over the guilt of killing her, to the extent of not being disturbed any longer, whenever I saw her ghost around me. When she tried to emotionally blackmail me, I would hit back with the actual situation and truth of what she had done to me.

Many times, that seemed to do the trick, because her illusion would vanish immediately I responded to her with the harsh reality and truth of the sin she committed against me.

Though I still had nightmares about the night she had died, but it didn't fill me with so much horror, as it used to. Slowly but eventually, I grew into an unfeeling and unbothered man, just waiting until the day he'd die in this lonely part of his castle.

Loneliness. I guess that was the only curse of the witches that I was never able to overcome. The feeling of loneliness had worsened, especially when it became clear to me that my sister had completely forgotten about me.

"I think you should look at the letter the king sent to you." Beta Allister's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I really didn't want to open the letter, because I was so sure it was just another attempt of the king, trying to pull me out of the east wing. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't appalled by the fact that I had been released. I guess I was just yet to overcome the great shock of finally being set free. I had always thought I was going to live in here for centuries until I eventually died, but all it took was 5 years. 5 long and lonely years. I had grown so accustomed to being all alone, that the thought of going to be in the midst of others, was simply unwelcomed.

Releasing a deep sigh, I went ahead to open the letter from the king, and I read through. With each line I read, my eyes widened in worry. Apparently, they were some people trying to oust crown prince Logan from his position. I didn't need anyone to tell me the crown prince's step brother; Sebastian, had a hand in this.

Many years back, king Xavier had been unable to find his true mate, so when he fell in love with one of the elder witches, he married her. Regardless of the displeasure some of the werewolves felt over making a witch the Luna of the werewolf kingdom, king Xavier showered more love on Queen Brienne.

Queen Brienne bore him his twin children; prince Logan and princess Layla. Things were going fine until she just vanished without a trace, three months after Logan and Layla were born.

It had been a very confusing period, because no one really had an idea as to her whereabouts. Infact, a lot of people thought she was dead.

A year after Queen Brienne's disappearance, the king was pressured by his council into taking another queen, as the kingdom couldn't go on without a Luna. Queen Mercedes was chosen, and she married the king.

A few months later, she conceived and bore Sebastian. Now, it seemed Sebastian had his eye on the throne, and was clearly ready to go to any length to steal it from Logan.

Well, not on my watch.

Apparently, at the age of 21, prince Logan was yet to have his first shift, which had contributed to the reasons some of the werewolves were rallying against him ascending the throne after his father. They believed he may have taken after the witch genes of his mother, which simply makes him unfit to rule the werewolf kingdom. That was a fair point, but I thought he had just recently found his mate, who happens to be one of the strongest she~wolves in the kingdom. Audrey Chadwick.

"What are you thinking?" I heard Philip ask, and I gave a small shrug.

"That I wouldn't sit still a watch anyone pose harm to either the prince or princess." I muttered, trying to beat down my anger.

If not for any other thing, then for the sake of their father, who had always stood by me. I knew what king Xavier wanted from me. If I showed my support to prince Logan, then he was going to have lesser enemies to deal with. Apparently, I was the deadly hybrid who no one wanted to cross. Atleast, the smart ones thought so. I had killed my own mate, and many members of the kindom simply thought I was a monster.

I didn't need anyone to tell me I was feared. And if I were being sincere, I wouldn't advise anyone to cross me either.

The sweet and calm Ryan that used to be, was dead now. I was a completely different person now, and I already feel sorry for those who would make the wrong decision of provoking my beast.

Now, I was simply merciless.

I rolled my eyes when I heard Beta Allister laugh out loudly.

"That means....." He started, urging me to help him complete his statement.

"I would finally be leaving this east wing? Yes." I nodded. I could swear that his smile was big enough to tear his face.

"Thank the goddess." I heard Philip whisper under his breath, like a heavy weight had just been taken off his shoulders. "We should inform Ralia and also let the council chiefs...."

"You would do no such thing." I cut him off.

"What?" Philip eyed me in disbelief. "How much longer are we going to conceal the fact that you've been set free?"

"As long as I need it to be." I retorted.

"But you're Alpha. They are your pack members, and they deserve to know that you...."

"You all have been doing fine without me, for five years. I bet you and Beta Allister have done a nice job holding the forte on my behalf. A few more weeks of doing so wouldn't hurt."

"But what about Ralia?" Beta Allister asked, making my face go hard. He seemed to have noticed my countenance, and tried to speak. "Ryan, she is your sister. She has to know that...."

"Ralia has a new family now!" My voice boomed, and Beta Allister visibly flinched. I felt really sorry for a split second.

"Ryan...." Philip started, but I cut him off quickly.

"For 5 good years, she left and never returned here! I never asked her to leave her mate or abandon her duties as Luna of the Silver Heights pack. All I had hoped for, was to still have my only surviving family by my side, but she never for once paid me a visit in the last 5 years. Hell! I heard from you both about her first pup and the second one. Up until today, I have no idea what they look like, yet they are supposed to be my nephews." I spat, hating myself for feeling so weak. I was tearing up, and I hadn't done that in over 2 years now. "I don't want to have this conversation again." I whispered. "No one should know I am out of isolation, until I give the go ahead."

"Whatever you say." Beta Allister nodded. He made his way to me and began patting my back as a means to make me calm. "Whatever the case, Ralia is still your sister, and there is no changing that." I had nothing to say to him regarding that, so I simply remained quiet. "First of all, we should clean you up." He muttered, releasing a tiny chuckle. "You look so bushy." He commented. I didn't doubt that, seeing as I hadn't seen what I looked like in such a long while. I had not gotten a proper cut or trim in five years, so I definitely looked like crap.

Within the next couple of hours, I watched as some maids had come in to clean up the place. I had only cleaned when I was very inclined to do so, and the last time I felt so inclined, was four months ago.

The place was as dirty as could be, but they eventually finished up after some hours. I could tell how much they struggled within themselves to not stare at me intently. It was definitely unbelievable seeing me after so long. I would have laughed out loudly, but nothing seemed funny about my situation.

Just when all the maids had left after cleaning, someone walked into the room, and I looked up to see a familiar face.

"Alpha...." She seemed taken back. She definitely knew she had been coming in here to attend to me, but I guess seeing how real it was, was so unbelievable to her.

"Would you continue to stand there, or would you come do what you were asked to do?" I asked, half annoyed.

"My apologies." She muttered, making her way closer to me. The closer she came, the more I noticed how much she had changed over the years. She looked a lot more.... mature? Was that the word? Or simply attractive?

She stood before me for a while, clearly unsure of what to do, or say next.

"Alpha, please could you take a seat in front of the mirror?" She asked, pointing at the large standing mirror that had been brought in here by some other maids, a few minutes ago. It was weird, but there had been no mirrors or reflective surfaces anywhere around the east wing, all the while I was locked up. Not even in the bathroom, which made me really wonder. Most times, I could only rely on the reflective surface of water, to see what I looked like. But it honestly didn't do much.

Reluctantly, I stood from the bed and made my way there. The moment I caught a sight of my face on the mirror, I felt air being knocked out of my lungs for a second.

Not having looked at my own reflection in years, what I saw wasn't a welcome sight. I wasn't expecting to look all cute and classy, but damn!.... I looked like I groomed a forest on my head. How had the king or even Beta Allister and Philip visited me, without bursting into laughter at my sorry sight?

"Your hair has gotten even..... whiter." She whispered underneath her breath, scared to say something that would piss me off. I didn't even need a closer look to verify her statement. I used to be a blonde, but it seems my hair had completely turned white now. More like silver. How come I hadn't noticed that all along? I mean, the length of my hair had grown so much over the years, it was literally on my waist level. I should have been able to notice the change in color all the while.

I looked at my hair again, and it looked..... beautiful? Atleast, that was what I thought.

"Don't cut it." I found myself saying.

"What?" She asked, as she got busy covering my body with a clean clothe, before starting her work.

"My hair." I replied gruffly. "You can cut the beards. Quite messy. But leave the hair."

"But....." She paused, releasing a deep sigh. "Your hair has gotten really tangled. I need to take my time untangling it and giving a little trim around the...."

"Aliya!" I cut her short. "Do whatever you think is necessary. Trim it, or whatever. But don't cut it."

"Understood." She swallowed, and got to work the next second.