My Mother Was Killed by One Word

With those words, Dad left his seat, unilaterally ending our visit.After leaving the prison, I returned home.The once warm and lively home now only had Mom's black and white memorial photo on the wall.My head throbbed with pain, my chest ached, and I felt surrounded by fog, the air growing thinner by the second.I stumbled into their bedroom, trying to find anything—even the smallest clue—that might let me glimpse the truth. I couldn't believe Dad would do something like this.It hadn't been long since Mom's birthday, but a thin layer of dust had already settled in the room.Opening the closet, their clothes were still neatly folded.Dad always said Mom looked beautiful in red, so most of her clothes were various shades of crimson.Mom loved silver jewelry—ironic for a werewolf—but Dad still gave her special silver-plated pieces that wouldn't burn her skin.Mom was always cold, so Dad kept a soft rabbit fur blanket by his side of the bed.The nightstand, dressing table, and even the

He adjusted his suit cuffs, straightened his tie, as if none of this was his doing, as if he were merely a heartless spectator at someone else's funeral rather than the architect of this nightmare."You!" The word exploded from Ethan's father as he charged forward. His body contorted, bones cracking as he partially shifted into his battle stance, face elongating, teeth sharpening. He roared at my father, spittle flying: "What did you say to my son?"He slammed a fist against his chest, eyes glowing amber with rage. "Why did he jump into the silver pit after hearing it? What kind of monster are you?"He shifted further, claws fully extended as he lunged at my father. His attacks were lethal—slashing at Dad's throat, his chest, anywhere that would draw blood. But Dad, once the pack's Beta, hadn't lost his fighting abilities despite three years in prison. He faced the attacks with ease, bending backwards to avoid a swipe, sidestepping a lunge, not even bothering to shift forms, simply do

The hopeful look in his eyes when we planned our future together, sketching floor plans for our own den. "This room for the first pup," he'd said, circling a space on the paper. "And maybe another here for the second?"The warmth of falling asleep in each other's arms, his heartbeat steady against my back, his breath soft against my neck. Safe. Secure. Home.All these beautiful moments with smiling faces eventually morphed into their terrified expressions. Mom's wide eyes, her mouth forming a silent 'no' as she backed away from me. Ethan's face draining of color, his hand dropping mine as if burned.And then their twisted bodies at the bottom of the silver pit. Limbs bent at unnatural angles. Skin blackened where the silver burned. Blood pooling beneath them.I pressed my palms against my eyes, trying to block out the images, but they kept coming."Stop," I pleaded with my own mind. "Please stop."The images from my memories piled up, layering over each other, and the more I thought ab

What secrets had he been keeping all these years?The passage finally ended at the oak forest beyond pack territory, emerging beneath the roots of an ancient tree.Fresh air hit my face as I climbed out, the night sky spread above me, stars cold and distant.I did as my father said, running straight ahead through the underbrush, branches whipping at my face.But my unease grew stronger with every step that took me farther from him.Though I had hated him for causing Mom's and Ethan's deaths, blamed him for destroying my chance at happiness,He had clearly been trying to protect me just now. For the first time in years, I had glimpsed the father I once knew.I couldn't abandon him to whatever threat had him so terrified.Perhaps this was related to their deaths. Perhaps there was more to the story than I knew."Damn it," I muttered, skidding to a halt. My wolf stirred beneath my skin, urging me to go back, to protect pack, to protect family.I turned around and ran back the way I had co

Sage's expression froze.Her hand remained suspended in mid-air.Her knuckles turned white from tension."Skye, what are you saying?""How could I possibly harm your family?"Her voice suddenly became high-pitched.I gave a cold laugh:"You were quite thorough in pursuing your goals.""Killing people, hiring someone to pretend to be my grandfather to spin tales.""Did you think you could fool me so easily?"Seeing my confident gaze, Sage dropped her fake smile.She slowly lowered her hand and sat up straight.The wrinkles on her face suddenly deepened."You know everything?"Her voice had completely changed.No longer gentle, but piercing cold.I nodded:"That's right.""The prophet you spoke of wasn't my grandfather, but you.""The one destined for loneliness isn't me, but your granddaughter.""Isn't that so?"Sage didn't deny it.Her bony fingers tapped against the altar:"Continue."I stared into her cloudy eyes:"You were present on my father's birthday.""You were also at my matin