Chapter 7
Chapter 7
The letter trembled in my hand long after I’d finished reading it.
I stared at the ink until the words blurred, not because I couldn’t see but because they had shattered something inside me. Everything now made sense to me, why the Red fang Alpha called me his bloodline but what I still don’t understand was why my mother wanted us to leave when the Red fang visited.
Why didn’t she tell me about my true identity?
Why wait until after death to reveal everything?
Had she been protecting me? From who? From what?
I folded the letter carefully and pressed it to my chest.
I wanted to scream, to cry for the years wasted serving a pack that never wanted me.
Instead, I whispered, “You could’ve told me, mother.”
My sister must’ve known too. Why did they keep it away from me?
The next morning, I buried the letter beside the crest etched in the wood, using it as a marker. I inhaled deeply, filling my lungs with the fresh air.
I was alone, yes.
But I was also alive and that meant something.
My thoughts went to Nathan, surely he wouldn’t miss me. This was what he wanted anyway.
I wrapped my burns in fresh cloth and stepped outside to explore the grounds.
From the letter, my mother was definitely here once.
Most of the camp had been reclaimed by nature-ivy strangled the stone paths, and roots split old benches apart. A few scattered relics remained: broken mortar bowls, abandoned baskets. I learnt how to prepare herbs from my mother, she was very good at it and sold it to only one woman who she would tell never to let anyone know she was the one producing the herb.
I finally understood that she was protecting her identity. She never wanted Red fang to find her. That’s why we always ran away from one place to another whenever our hideout was out.
My mother must have lived here. But why does she keep running? Why hate Red fang pack so
much?
I moved toward a hollow tree near the border of the camp, intending to gather firewood, when I caught the sound.
Slow footsteps, Someone was here.
I ducked instinctively, my heart slamming into my ribs. I crouched behind the tree, my eyes scanning the brush. A silhouette appeared-a tall figure in a heavy cloak.
The person was familiar. My breath caught in my throat.
Beta Zane.
Chapter 6
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The last person I expected. The only one from Silverclaw who had ever looked at me like I mattered.
I stepped out slowly, pain tightening my stance.
He saw me and froze.
“Alice.”
His voice cracked. His eyes widened at the sight of me.
“You shouldn’t be here,” I said quietly.
He didn’t answer right away. Just took a shaky step forward. “I followed Kael’s trail. I orderec him to keep you safe. I knew they meant you were alive.”
“You told him how to find me?”
“Yes I did. It’s dangerous out here alone in the woods. I hope he didn’t give you a hard time?”
I exhaled sharply, the emotions flooding in too fast.
He looked older than I remembered. His Eyes sunken, and his shoulders heavy.
“They think you’re dead,” he said. “Damien told the pack you ran into the fire yourself. That it was the final proof of your instability.”
I didn’t flinch. “He would say that. It’s easier than admitting his son stood by and watched me burn.”
Beta Zane took another step. “Silver claw is falling apart. The Red Fang warriors are days away and Damien’s council is scrambling. They don’t know what the Red Fang Alpha wants.”
“They’ll find out soon enough.”
He looked at me for a long moment. “Is it true?”
I hesitated.
He stepped closer. “That you are his bloodline?”
I met his gaze. “Yes. My sister knew. It must’ve been what she wanted to tell me five years ago.”
FIVE YEARS AGO
Helena had sent a maid to me asking me to meet her at the old warehouse. It sounded urgent. I left the pup I was attending and went to see her but when I got there, smoke already filled the building. Helena was on the floor unconscious, I was able to quickly revive her but she decidec to save me instead of herself.
Beta Zane exhaled, almost like he’d been holding his breath for years. “Then that explains everything
“Why is he coming to look for me now? What-
I paused shocked to see Beta Zane as he sank to one knee.
I froze. “Zane, what are you doing?”
“I swore my loyalty to the Luna who protected this pack through storms and silence. The woman who was mocked, beaten, abandoned-and still rose every day for wolves who spat on her. If that woman now claims her throne, I will follow her.”
My throat tightened.
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I turned away.
“I don’t need followers,” I said flatly. “We still don’t know exactly what he wants.”
“No matter what, I promise to protect you.” he said.
“You didn’t have to come,” I whispered.
“I did. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t try to make it right.”
I looked up at him. “Then start by telling me what Damien is up to.”
Next morning, Beta Zane woke me with panic in his eyes. “You need to see this.”
He led me to the northern ridge.
There, nailed to a tree, was a corpse.
Fresh and Torn apart, he was wearing Red Fang armor.
But this was not done by wolves, neither by anything I’d ever seen.
Beside it, scratched into the bark, were three words burned in flame:
“WE FOUND YOU.”
