Chapter 320: Choices and Consequences

Holly stared at him.

Her mouth hung open, shock written plainly across her face as if Orion had just spoken in a language she didn’t understand.

"You—" she tried, then stopped, swallowed, and tried again. "What did you just say?"

Orion didn’t move. He didn’t soften his expression or repeat himself gently like one might for a child.

"You heard me clearly," he said flatly.

The words seemed to finally sink in, because disbelief quickly turned into outrage.

"You’re punishing me," Holly said, incredulous, her voice rising, "because of a little spat I had with fellow trainees?" She laughed once, sharp and humorless. "That doesn’t make any sense."

Orion’s gaze hardened.

"A little spat?" he repeated quietly.

"What happened was not just a disagreement," Orion said. "It was not harmless. And it certainly wasn’t small."

He stepped away from the desk, pacing once before turning back to her.

"It’s about what your actions reveal," he continued. "About how you see people. About how you treat those you believe are beneath you. About the complete lack of respect you’ve shown to other members of this pack."

Holly scoffed. "So because you think I don’t respect them, I’m supposed to lose my place as a trainee?"

"You’re not listening," Orion replied sharply.

He stopped pacing and faced her fully.

"I didn’t say you are losing your place," he said. "I said you have a choice."

She stared at him, breathing hard.

"You can learn what it means to be a trainee," Orion went on, voice steady and unyielding, "and what it means to be a member of this pack—or you can kiss your days as a trainee goodbye."

The office was silent.

Even the wind outside seemed to have paused.

Holly’s fingers trembled slightly at her sides before curling into fists. "This is ridiculous," she snapped. "You’re acting like I committed some unforgivable crime."

Orion’s eyes narrowed. "You threatened a pack member."

"I didn’t hurt anyone."

"That is not the point."

He leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering. "You made it clear that you believe you’re above others. That their lives, their effort, their time mean less than yours. That kind of thinking fractures packs. It breeds resentment. And eventually, it will lead to hurt and destruction."

She shook her head. "You’re exaggerating."

"No," Orion said. "I’m recognizing patterns."

She laughed again, but this time it sounded strained. "So that’s it? You’re going to throw everything away because you don’t like my attitude?"

"Your attitude," Orion replied, "is exactly why this matters."

She glared at him. "And what about your attitude?" she shot back. "You’re acting like some righteous judge all of a sudden."

His eyes didn’t waver.

"I am Alpha," he told her calmly. "I have every right to be a righteous judge when it calls for it."

"And besides, maybe you don’t even want to be a trainee anymore. We both know you joined because you had ulterior motives," he told her.

The only reason Holly had even started training was because she thought it was an opportunity to get closer to Orion.

Her face flushed with anger.

"That’s not fair."

"True. What you did to Nia wasn’t fair treatment. You belittling everyone else isn’t fair treatment, and yes, me using your motives against you isn’t fair treatment either—but maybe fair isn’t what you deserve?" he asked her.

Her composure cracked then, anger spilling freely across her features. "You don’t get to decide my intentions."

"I do," Orion said quietly, "when your actions expose them."

The tension in the office sharpened.

Holly’s eyes flicked briefly toward Nia, then Laia, then back to Orion—and something dark crossed her expression.

"So that’s what this is," she said suddenly.

Orion’s brows knit slightly. "What are you talking about?"

Her lips curved into a bitter smile. "You’re doing this because Nia is Sophia’s friend."

The temperature in the room dropped.

Orion went still.

"What did you just say?" he asked softly.

Holly lifted her chin, emboldened by her own accusation. "You’re only doing this because they’re friends with Sophia," she said. "That’s why you’re punishing me. I’m sure she told you to do this."

Everyone turned to her in shock. Then suddenly, Orion laughed.

It wasn’t a small laugh or a polite one. It burst out of him suddenly, rich and incredulous, echoing through the office. He laughed so hard he had to lift a hand to his face, wiping at the corner of his eye as if a tear had formed.

The sound unsettled everyone.

Even Holly faltered.

When the laughter stopped, Orion looked at her.

The humor vanished instantly, replaced by something cold and razor-sharp.

"You’re acting insane," he said flatly.

Holly bristled. "Excuse me?"

He leaned back against the edge of the desk, crossing his arms. "It’s almost impressive," he continued, "how you managed to make this about Sophia."

Then, with a smug smile, he pointed to his neck. Holly’s eyes followed, and they narrowed into slits when she saw the mark. She had no idea how she hadn’t even noticed it at first.

Orion noticed her reaction, but he didn’t care.

"My mate has nothing to do with this. She’s more focused on branding me and making me hers," he said with a smile, "and besides, she isn’t even interested in this... yet."

Holly’s jaw tightened.

"And just so we’re clear," he went on, "if you think this has anything to do with her, you’re wrong."

He straightened. "I would be doing this regardless of who you threatened. Regardless of who their friends are. Regardless of whether I liked them or not."

His voice rose slightly, edged with fury now.

"I would correct them. I would punish them. I would reprimand them—harshly—for threatening the peace of this pack, for disrespecting and degrading its members."

He stepped closer.

"That is my duty."

Holly swallowed.

"And as for whether I’m doing this because Nia is friends with Sophia?" Orion finished. "I don’t need to answer to you, but I will anyway—the answer is no."

The words landed heavily.

"Now," he said, voice calm once more, "you have your answer from me. I need your answer."

She stared at him, confusion flickering behind her eyes. "My answer to what?"

Orion sighed, rolling his eyes slightly because he was genuinely tired of repeating himself.

"Before you decided this was some imagined favor to my mate," he said, "I gave you a choice."

He held her gaze, unflinching.

"You either learn what it means to be a trainee," he said slowly, "and what it means to be a member of this pack—"

The room seemed to hold its breath.

"—or you kiss your days as a trainee goodbye." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Silence followed.

Holly stood frozen, staring at him, the weight of his words finally pressing down on her fully.