Chapter 2

The wrecked records room was only the beginning.

The day of the ambush, Gabriel's best friend, Marcus Hale, had been killed.

Because Gabriel had reported me to the Werewolf Court as a suspect, the entire Bloodclaw pack turned against me.

Even our own Alpha, James, texted me.

“Stay home and rest. Keep a low profile for now.”

He said that once Gabriel cleared my name, I could come back and train the pack's warriors again.

Things stayed that way right up to Marcus's funeral, and I still hadn't heard a word about being cleared.

Marcus had always looked out for me. After my foster father died, he'd often come by to talk, and he'd even given me his favorite sapphire brooch.

Before Gabriel and I were due to have our marking ceremony, Marcus had taken me to Bloodclaw territory several times so I could get familiar with my future home.

Just the week before, he'd asked me about my weekend plans. Now he lay silent in a coffin.

The moment I walked into the church, Marcus's mother saw me.

She rushed at me and shoved me to the ground.

“What are you doing here? You're not welcome! He was so good to you! Why did you leak the route?

“You got him killed. It was you!”

She collapsed to the floor, sobbing and screaming, and her family helped her back up.

I got to my feet, ready to defend myself. Before I could say anything, Marcus's older brother, Owen Hale, looked at me.

“Nia, I know you're a suspect.

“Until the investigation is over, I won't assume you're responsible for Marcus's death.

“But you don't get to say goodbye to him. Go home.”

The church was full of Bloodclaw wolves. They crowded around the entrance, blocking my way.

They glared at me with open hatred, and I heard them cursing me.

“The treaty wasn't even signed yet, and Black Moon set up an ambush?”

“Three of our warriors are dead. Is that what Black Moon calls good faith?”

“We told Alpha James to hand you over, and he refused. He said he believes you're innocent! Who's going to buy that?”

I knew nothing I said would change their minds, so I scanned the crowd for Gabriel.

Gabriel was Marcus's best friend. There was no way he'd miss the funeral.

He knew I was innocent. If he just came out and explained, Bloodclaw would back off.

But Sera came out before Gabriel did. She looked at me and said softly, “Nia, you shouldn't have come.”

I faced the crowd.

“Your people already searched the records room at the training grounds, and Gabriel went through my phone.

“If you won't let me in, fine. But I had nothing to do with that leak.”

Sera ignored me and went back to get Gabriel. When he came out, she told him, “You talk to her. I don't know what happened the day of the search.”

Gabriel looked at me and frowned.

“Nia, Marcus's death has been devastating for all of us. Please stay away.

“Don't worry. I'll keep looking into this and clear your name.”

I stood there, stunned.

The first thing he did was tell me to leave instead of backing me up in front of his pack.

I had lost all faith in him. I turned and left without looking back.

When I got home, I took out the letter my foster father had left me. In it, he'd told me who my real parents were and how to reach them.

Before he died, he'd told me that if Gabriel ever hurt me, or if I ever got into trouble, I could go to my parents for help.

I stared at her number for a long time before I finally texted my mother.

“Mother, I'm in some trouble. Could you please help me?”

It was like she'd been waiting to hear from me. She replied right away.

“Tell me what you need, and I'll take care of it.”

When I read that, the tears came. It was the first time in over 20 years that I'd ever been in touch with my real mother.