บท 17: Tricked and Alone
On that same morning, Kieiran's thoughts were preoccupied by a sense of unease. He couldn't shake off the unsettling feeling that something wasn't right with the recent dispute at school.
It had been a few days since he had stepped in to help his schoolmate, Tristan, from a group of societal dudes. At first, he had simply seen it as doing the right thing, but now doubts crept into his mind.
After fulfilling his pack duties, he decided to pay a visit to the hospital where one of the punks had been admitted. Kieiran had questions that needed answers, and he was growing increasingly curious about the situation.
Kieiran had always been well-protected throughout his life. His parents, despite their separation, had shielded him from the complexities of their relationship. He had never felt wronged or unwanted. In fact, he had always been the sole focus of attention for both his father and mother.
As he recalled the incident at school, Kieiran couldn't help but wonder about the group of punks who had targeted Tristan. Their scent had been peculiar, a mixture of the familiar werewolf scent and something else that he couldn't quite identify. It left him puzzled, and he had a nagging feeling that there was more to the story than met the eye.
Kieiran had been groomed for leadership from a young age, his father's plans for his son's cultivation carefully laid out. Now, as a Warrior IV, he was no stranger to combat, having faced numerous opponents in training. However, there was an underlying discomfort when he thought of the recent encounter. It was as if these adversaries were different, and it left him on edge.
The school had been tight-lipped about the incident, and Kieiran's inquiries had yielded no results. Frustrated by the lack of information, he had decided to take matters into his own hands and visit the person he injured at the hospital.
Upon arriving at the medical facility, Kieiran approached the nurse's desk, his handsome appearance drawing the attention of the staff. Flustered nurses tried to engage him in conversation, some even daring to ask for his phone number. Irritated by the unwanted attention, he rebuffed their advances.
"Excuse me, I'm in a hurry," Kieiran responded curtly, growing more impatient by the second.
The nurses reluctantly provided him with the information he sought. "The patient is in room 304."
"Thanks!" Kieiran didn't waste any more time, eager to uncover the truth behind the mysterious incident that had left him with an uneasy feeling.
As Kieiran approached room 304, the silence on this floor struck him as unusual. There were few patients actually hospitalized, and the hushed atmosphere added to the sense of unease he had been feeling. Before he could reach the door of the ward, he heard laughter, and it was far from innocent.
Inside the room, voices rang out, their tone unbridled and crude. Kieiran couldn't help but listen in, even though he knew he shouldn't.
"This money is really good, don't you think? How much are these parents willing to pay to cover up this incident?"
"Whoever takes responsibility for the damage is the one who initiated it. And these parents are probably eager to throw money at the problem."
"Who's going to bother us? There's surveillance video, and no one can prove we did anything to him. But I have to say, his blood was quite tasty!"
"You can bet the boss will be thrilled when we bring him this fresh delicacy tonight!"
"Yeah, no one will notice an insignificant orphan missing."
Kieiran's heart sank as he listened to their vile conversation. His mind raced, grappling with the reality that these individuals were responsible for a heinous crime yet remained unpunished. They reveled in their ill-gotten gains and discussed how to spend the money.
The thought of their laughter and carefree chatter made his blood boil. 'A life was harmed, and these men walk free?' he pondered.
They continued, casually discussing their plans to exploit the situation for more financial gain. Kieiran couldn't take it any longer. His face remained expressionless, but his clenched fists betrayed the storm of emotions within him. Veins bulged on the back of his hand.
"I hope the same guy will beat me up again so I can ask his father for even more money," one of them callously remarked. "He's rich, after all, and shouldn't let bastards run free. Besides, his father is loaded. He could've spared some social relief for us. Don't you think?"
"But the boss mentioned that it was the stepmother who cracked the case!" another chimed in. "She's far away from his place. Why don't we take advantage of this chaos to abduct the stepmother?"
"Exactly! She must be delicious, and having her in our beds would be delightful!"
"We could squeeze even more money out of this!"
Kieiran's impulsive nature screamed at him to rush in and confront them. But inexplicably, he didn't budge. Instead, he calmly pulled out his phone from his pocket and discreetly pressed the record button.
Exiting the hospital, Kieiran cast his eyes up at the vast blue sky. Doubt gnawed at his thoughts. Had he done the right thing?
His mind was a whirlwind of confusion as he sat down on the steps outside the hospital, lost in contemplation. Slowly, he retrieved his mobile phone.
His slender fingers hovered over 'Dad' in his contacts for a long moment before he scrolled down. Finally, he dialed a different number, but there was no one on the other end to answer his call.
Kieiran couldn't shake the feeling of sadness that had enveloped him like a heavy shroud. He sat on those hospital steps, feeling a sense of isolation. It was a loneliness that seemed to run deep into his very core, one that he couldn't easily dispel.
As he stared at his phone, its display glowing brightly in the daylight, he realized that he had no one to talk to about the turmoil that churned within him. The thought of confiding in someone, be it a friend or a family member, was tempting, but it also filled him with dread.
He couldn't bring himself to share his worries, not with his father, who had so much on his plate, not with his stepmother Seraphyne, who was still new to the family and dealing with her own set of challenges, and certainly not with Lucas or any of the pack members. Kieiran was known for his impulsiveness, but he also recognized the importance of restraint, especially in this situation.
He realized that his troubles were his own burden to bear, and he couldn't involve anyone from the family in his personal vendetta. It was his responsibility to deal with the injustices he had uncovered. So, with a heavy heart and a sense of resignation, he decided to keep his own counsel.
Deep down, Kieiran knew that he might have to face more difficult choices in the future. But for now, he was determined to shoulder this burden alone, even if it meant carrying it in silence.
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