Avenging The Triplet Alphas
Chapter 54

Loki's POV

It's been a few days since I was stripped of my birthright alongside my brothers and it's been hell for the three of us. I had never been so angry and ashamed as I've been these past few days, I couldn't step outside my restricted wing of the mansion and I didn't need a shaman to know that it was the same for my brothers as well. We've all been smashing things and gnashing our teeth, feeling nothing but regret at having dug our own graves with our hands.

But more so, I was angry with myself more than I was angry with Arielle. I should've seen this coming from a mile away. I knew she hadn't fully gotten over Ethan and the fact that she had been a failure in her attempts to get us to lose every claim we had on her and she was still hurting from the pain.

She never concealed the fact that she still harbored hate for the three of us and if given the chance, she would flee with our son.

It was there, right in front of our faces, my face and I ignored every warning sign. Jonathan and Elijah too fell victim to the same fate.

Our only goal was to get things quickly wrapped before she had time to settle in, we were so focused on it that we forgot we were meant to go over what we required from Arielle.

Our father was a man who kept to his word. I couldn't fault him for picking the continuation of the pack over his son, if I were in his shoes, I'd do the same in a heartbeat. The pack before anyone else because it would continue long after we were all dead. I heard a sharp knock on the door, followed by three more in succession. There was only one person who did that.

I walked up to the door and threw it open, Jonathan was standing on the other side with Elijah behind him.

They both looked like s**t like they hadn't slept in days and to be fair, I was pretty much looked the same way as well.

"Have you both seen your reflection in a mirror or something?" I asked as I threw the door wider, as they made their way inside.

Elijah stopped and spared me a glance, going all the way from my head to my toe.

"You look like you could use the advice you just gave us, don't you think?" He scoffed as he walked past me.

"Elijah's right, brother." Jonathan hollered from the minibar where he was pouring whiskey into three cups. "You look like a train ran you over twice."

For the first time in days, I cracked a smile. I shut the door and joined them where they sitting on the couch.

Jonathan handed me a gla*s and I nodded in gratitude before plopping on one of the couches.

We remained in silence for a long time, each of us wallowing in misery as we were unable to get the right words out.

"It's all my fault, you know." Jonathan began after what seemed like an eternity. He sounded hurt and rejected but I could also detect the undertone of his voice, he was incensed at having been played too.

"You were only doing what you thought would be best for all of us," I began. "And for a long time, we were all sold on the idea. We put in time and effort towards it as well, you shouldn't hold yourself accountable for something you had no control over, Jonathan." "You don't have to pacify me, Loki," Jonathan laughed bitterly, fixing his eyes on me. "I know what I did and I know this is entirely my fault. If I hadn't suggested we go back for Lisa with all of my strength because I was completely sold on the idea that she would be the key to solving all of our issues. Only if I had known it would turn out this way."

"Tell me, how would you have known?" I asked, taking another sip from my glass.

"I don't know, man." Jonathan opened and snapped his mouth shut severally before managing to get his words out. "I just know I could've been a lot more attentive to her emotions."

"Goodness gracious, Jonathan. Are you some sort of martyr?" Elijah spoke up this time around, glaring at Jonathan. "Every one of us here holds no grudges against you and the idea you brought up months ago despite our initial disagreement with it in the first place but after giving it a few days of thought. Everything else we were trying back then was failing woefully and we were running out of ideas and time, Father was on our neck as well. Your idea saved us, bought us a lot of time and our father's trust. We went to a foreign fact and we did what we said we would do, we completed the Book of Impossible Tasks and we brought her home together with our child. You made all of these happen and don't you dare blame yourself for anything."

I hadn't seen Elijah this passionate about something like this in a long time and I was grateful it came at the right moment. Knowing Jonathan, he was ready to wallow in selfishly, thinking he brought this upon us all by himself. He was that kind of person, always willing to take the blame and suffer the consequences alone no matter how harsh they might turn out to be. But not anymore, not this time. It was time for them to set their priorities straight, a few days of mourning was sufficient for each of them but now, they had to get into it and as they did before, come up with a new plan but first, they had to deal with Arielle.

She couldn't go scot-free by any means.

"We have to decide on what we want to do with Arielle here and now," I began. "She went overboard and she's cost us a lot and this can't slide without her having to pay for her sins."

"That was why we came here, Loki." Jonathan cleared his throat, looking at me and Elijah nodded. "We ought to make an example out of her. It isn't going to bring back what we've lost but I only want to punish her.

I remained silent as they continued to speak, thinking of how best to make Arielle pay for what she did. It had to be something that would hurt her for the rest of her life.

"I think I have it all figured out," I said a small smile on my face.

"Tell us, what's it?" Elijah asked me. "Judging from the look on your face, you sound particularly proud of whatever it is."

"It's a good one, quite alright. Trust me." I ran my hands through my hair. "But before we do anything else, we all stink badly and a shower wouldn't hurt right now." They both nodded in agreement.

"I'll be waiting for you both within the next thirty minutes."

They needed no further push as they both left my room while I made my way toward the bathroom.

***

Approximately thirty minutes later, I was knocking hard on Arielle's door.

There wasn't any response at first before I could lift my hand to knock for the second time, the door flew open to reveal Jana standing with our son in her hands.

"Your Highness," Her eyes widened immediately she saw us as she bowed as best as she could with our son in her hands. "We weren't expecting you neither did we get the news you would be coming."

"It's nothing to worry about, Jana," I said in a hurry, eager to dismiss her. "Where's Arielle? We need to speak to her immediately."

I watched as she opened her mouth but she couldn't bring herself to say anything. While her loyalty was commendable, I had no time for shenanigans right now.

"If you really can't speak, you wouldn't mind me cutting off your tongue right now, would you?"

"She's inside the room, she's sleeping right now but-"

"Get out," I cut her short, tired of her ramblings.

"What?"

"Get out," I repeated myself. "Take our son and get the hell out of here now."

She needed no further comment as she scampered past us leaving the door wide open. We made our way in and slammed the door shut behind us and it was loud enough to wake Arielle.

"What do you want from me this time around?" She yawned as she opened her eyes slowly.

How dare she try to act oblivious right now? I was on the brink of losing my temper but I had to remain cool.

"You thought disgracing and costing us the throne would be the end of this, right?"

"In my defense, I never wanted to come back. I made it clear several times to you three but you all were so thick-headed to read the room." She retorted, making me smile.

"Your actions have cost us something we love and now, it's time to pay back the favor."

"If you have any more plans, I-"

"You're banished from the Van Tyson pack, Arielle. You're to leave within the next three days and you will leave without anything. Our son remains here for he is a Van Tyson and this home belongs to his ancestors. My word is final."