"Poetic," I observed, though his words resonated deeper than I wanted to admit.
"Practical," he countered. "Maison and I don't want to own you. We want to stand with you."
The moonstone bracelet warmed against my skin, responding to the truth in his words. Star pushed forward in my consciousness, her presence more insistent than usual.
-He speaks truth,- she insisted. -The bond would strengthen all.-
Before I could respond, the door opened again. Maison entered, his hair damp from the night air, his expression softening visibly when he saw us.
"Everything secure?" Jackson asked, seamlessly shifting back to pack business.
"Poetic," I observed, though his words resonated deeper than I wanted to admit."Practical," he countered. "Maison and I don't want to own you. We want to stand with you."The moonstone bracelet warmed against my skin, responding to the truth in his words. Star pushed forward in my consciousness, her presence more insistent than usual.-He speaks truth,- she insisted. -The bond would strengthen all.-Before I could respond, the door opened again. Maison entered, his hair damp from the night air, his expression softening visibly when he saw us."Everything secure?" Jackson asked, seamlessly shifting back to pack business.
"Let me see," I demanded, holding out my hand.Dean hesitated, glancing at the twins for permission. When they nodded, he passed me a tablet with several files already open.I scrolled through the medical reports, my stomach tightening with each clinical description of injuries I'd sustained as a child. Broken ribs. Lacerations. Concussions. All meticulously documented, then buried in sealed records."There's more," Carter said quietly. "Photos."I swiped to the next file and froze. The images showed a small girl—myself at eight years old—covered in bruises and cuts, her eyes wide with terror as someone documented her injuries. Another showed the raw carvings on my wrists, still bleeding when the picture was taken.Maison made a sound like he'd been physically struck. Jackson's face went completely blank—his most dangerous expression."Who had access to these records?" Jackson asked, his voice dangerously controlled."Pack physicians, the Alpha, and council elders," Tristan replied. "
The main house was eerily quiet as we entered. Once, it had bustled with activity—pack members coming and going, my father holding court in the great hall, my mother's laughter echoing through the corridors. Now it felt hollow, a shell of its former glory. I moved through the rooms like a ghost, trailing my fingers over dusty surfaces, remembering. The library where my father had taught me pack history. The kitchen where my mother had shown me how to prepare Moon Wolf remedies disguised as ordinary recipes. "Your room is still there," Uncle Mateo said softly as we reached the main staircase. "Dominick ordered it sealed after... after that night." I hesitated at the foot of the stairs, uncertain if I wanted to revisit that particular memory. Maison's hand found mine, his touch grounding me in the present. "You don't have to," he said quietly. "Yes, I do." I squared my shoulders and began climbing the stairs, each step feeling heavier than the last. The second floor's east wing h
The room fell silent, tension thickening the air. Maison shifted subtly closer to me, his presence a steady anchor at my side.Elder Miriam's expression grew solemn. "What they did was unforgivable, Alpha. Many of us failed you then. We cannot change the past, but we are here now offering our loyalty for the future.""Loyalty," I echoed, the word hollow on my tongue. "Where was that loyalty when Dominick murdered my parents? When did he exile a child?""We were afraid," Caleb spoke up, his weathered face lined with regret. "Dominick eliminated anyone who questioned him. Those of us who survived learned to hide our true allegiance.""And now that I've won, you're suddenly brave again," I observed, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice.Robert stepped forward, his gaze finally meeting mine. The arrogant boy I remembered had been replaced by a man carrying visible weight on his shoulders."I don't expect forgiveness," he said quietly. "What I did—what we did—to you was monstrous. W
I kept my expression neutral as I approached, stopping several yards away. "I keep my word unlike some asshole uncle’s who once pretended that he cared about me when the rest of the Graystone pack turned their back on me from the moment I was born.” I retorted.Dominick's smile tightened, the first crack in his composed facade. Around us, murmurs rippled through the gathered wolves."Such disrespect," he said, his voice carrying across the clearing. "Is this what the Steel pack has taught you? To dishonour your elders?""You forfeited respect when you murdered my parents," I replied evenly. "You forfeited honour when you stole what wasn't yours to take."My fingers brushed against the pendant at my throat. Dominick's eyes tracked the movement, hunger flashing across his face."The pendant should have been mine by right," he growled. "My brother was weak. The pack needed strength.""The pack needed a leader, not a tyrant." I stepped forward, my voice rising to address the gathered Gray
His proximity sent an unwelcome ripple of awareness through me. I was too tired for whatever this was."What now, Alpha?" I asked, unable to keep the weariness from my voice."You're not an outcast," he said quietly. "Not anymore.""Pretty words," I replied. "But a little late, don't you think?"Jackson cleared his throat. "He means it, Daisy. Things are different now."I gave a hollow laugh. "Because I'm suddenly useful? Because my Moon Wolf blood might give your pack an advantage against the Graystones?""No," Maison said with unexpected gentleness. "Because we were wrong."The sincerity in his voice caught me off guard. I searched his face for the cold dismissal I'd grown accustomed to, but found only earnest regret."One revelation doesn't erase years of disdain," I said, softer now. "I need time."Maison nodded, stepping aside. "Fair enough. Just know that when you enter that training ground tomorrow, you do so not as a tolerated stray, but as an ally we're honored to stand besid