The Shattered Dawn — Harvey Price novel Chapter 133

133/Why is that, Kael?

Lilith pov

“Kael, do you want to be beta?”

That had been my question when the decree stated that the beta position would be transferred to Kael’s family simply because Father had no son.

That day, someone had come to read out the decree and present Kael’s family with the beta seal. I had been there. Everyone was happy-everyone had a reaction except Kael.

I had been happy for him too.

Despite the fact that I had lost Father just a few months earlier, it was good news for Kael, he had been the only person who had been there for me during that time, offering financial support in any way he could.

But even then, I knew Kael. Even though I loved him, I knew his personality. He wasn’t fit to be beta.

A beta was not only physically strong but mentally strong as well, mentally prepared for many things.

To go to war. To witness bloodshed. To help the Alphas make difficult decisions. To be ready to lay down his life, not only for his Alpha, but for the pack, for the people.

But…

“I don’t know, Lilith,” he had said. “To be honest, I don’t know if I want to be beta. It sounds scary, and I don’t know if I’m ready for that. But Father…he is finally proud of me, and Mother says this is the greatest honor anyone has ever given our family… so I have to do it.”

Kael didn’t have that attribute.

I stared at him now, my hands curling into tight fists as he stared back at me with teary eyes-eyes filled with guilt, regret, and fear.

He had seen the note and chosen not to come. Because of that decision, many people had died. The lives of the maids who could have been saved were lost.

What I didn’t understand was why he hadn’t come.

I knew the man standing before me realized, deep down, that something had been wrong. He knew I wouldn’t have sent that note without reason. So why… why did he still choose not to come?

So many thoughts raced through my mind as the room fell into silence after the cab driver’s words. No one spoke, and yet, at the same time, everyone turned their gaze toward Kael.

Lucien watched him with deadly, narrowed eyes.

Silas frowned deeply, his expression dark and unreadable.

Claude was no longer eating, his fork dropped to the table as he leaned back, his face set in a rare seriousness, the tension thickening in the air.

At the corner of my vision, I saw Samuel curl his lips into an amused smirk, leaning back in a relaxed posture as he watched, clearly entertained by the drama about to unfold.

And then there was verya.

1320Why is that ke

+25 Bonus

She hadn’t spoken since I arrived, but she watched everything closely, not with her usual armusement, not detached either.

If anything, she looked… guilty, as if the attack had weighed heavily on her, as if she believed it had happened because of her.

“Can you believe it? Because of that reason, the beta didn’t even go to the packhouse upon receiving the news?” one of the elders whispered, breaking the silence.

Another immediately agreed. “Exactly. Because of that, so many people died. If the beta had even gone to check, this wouldn’t have ended with so much death.”

“Wait…” a third elder murmured, lowering his voice. “Do you think there’s another reason they didn’t check? Maybe ”

He turned to look at Kael and his family, letting his words hang in the air, but it was clear what he meant.

Treason.

Kael and his family trembled even more. His mother’s whimper sliced through the air as his father lowered his head further, shaking like a leaf. They were terrified.

If what the cab driver said was true, this wouldn’t end with just Kael’s death. It could end with all of their deaths.

Because of them, Kael had been stopped from going to the packhouse. At worst, this could be taken as treason. And if the Alphas believed they had sided with the rogues during the attack, then no one in their family would be spared. Every single one of them would be executed.

That was the worst-case scenario.

“Hm.”

Silas’s deep hum echoed through the air, and instantly, everyone turned their gaze toward him as he leaned back in his seat, lost in thought.

Lucien and Claude still hadn’t said a word.

Maybe they didn’t want to. Maybe they were letting Silas handle it. I wasn’t sure. But from what I’d seen before, whenever it came to matters like this, Silas usually took the lead.

“Kael,” Silas finally called, tilting his head slightly as his eyes narrowed on him.

Almost immediately, Kael stiffened. He lifted his head and met Silas’s emotionless gaze, his entire body trembling as he did. Still, he managed to respond, his voice barely above a whisper as he stammered,

“Y-yes, Alpha Silas.”

Silas showed no concern for his shaking. He reached out to the table and began drumming his fingers against it mindlessly, the sound echoing in the heavy silence as his voice came out dry and even.

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“Is what he said true? And if it is, what is your explanation for not coming?” he asked. “The pack was left under your care and protection. You are our beta. You had control over the pack guards, and several hundred were left behind to protect the pack while we went to war, with you in charge.”

He spoke carefully, strategically, as though he were piecing everything together, processing it before reaching a conclusion. His words carried through the air, and no one dared to interrupt.

Silas suddenly stopped drumming his fingers. He lifted his hand to his chin and stroked it, his brows knitting

2/4

183/Why is Phot, kon

+25 Bonus

together as he continued.

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