LOGINChapter 126NyxThe trial took place in the main hall with every pack member who could fit crammed inside while those who couldn't pressed against windows and doorways trying to witness justice being served.I stood beside Alex near the front where Lucien had insisted we sit, and watched as guards brought Darius in wearing silver chains that kept him subdued but couldn't hide the defiance still burning in his eyes."Members of Silver Crescent Pack," Lucien began while his voice carried the weight of authority he'd grown into over the past days. "We gather today to render judgment on crimes committed by the former Alpha, crimes that have shaped our pack's history for twenty five years through deception and manipulation."The crowd murmured and I felt their collective anger like a physical presence pressing down on the hall, felt generations of wolves who'd been lied to finally getting a chance at truth."The charges are numerous," Lucien continued. "Conspiracy, murder, false imprisonm
Chapter 125Nyx"Because he used his death to give me you," I explained. "And that's not the action of someone who blamed you for his situation, that's the action of someone who saw potential in a frightened human and chose to transform that fear into strength.""You really believe that?" Alex asked."I have to," I admitted. "Because if I don't believe my father's death had purpose then I'll drown in grief and never surface."We fell asleep still tangled together, and I dreamed of a man I'd never met who had my eyes and my stubborn jaw, a man who smiled sadly and whispered words I couldn't quite hear before fading into mist.When I woke the next morning I felt hollowed out and raw but also somehow more settled, like finally knowing the truth about my father's fate had given me permission to grieve properly instead of holding onto desperate hope that had been slowly killing me."We need to tell Lucien," I said while sitting up. "Need to tell him what we learned about Karl and about how
Chapter 124Nyx "Tell me," I shouted while moving toward the bars."Never," Darius laughed. "You can torture me, kill me, destroy everything I've ever cared about and I still won't tell you where Karl is hidden."I felt myself starting to fall, felt my legs giving out under the weight of too many revelations in too short a time, but Alex caught me before I hit the ground."I've got you," he murmured. "I've got you.""He knows where my father is," I sobbed against his chest. "And he'll never tell me, I'll never find him.""That's not true," Alex said firmly. "There are other ways to find answers.""What other ways?" I demanded. "He said himself that nobody else knows where Karl is.""Come inside," Alex said while pulling me away from Darius and his mocking laughter. "Come inside and I'll explain."He supported me as we climbed back up the stairs and away from that horrible cell, and Lucien followed with an expression that suggested he was processing his own shock at what his father ha
Chapter 123NyxThree days passed in a blur of healing and rest, three days where Martha and the pack healers fussed over me constantly while my body recovered from the forced transformation that should have killed me.The quarters Lucien had provided were far from the main compound, tucked away in a quiet corner where nobody would disturb us, and I was grateful for the privacy even as guilt gnawed at me for what I'd done to Darius."You need to stop thinking about it," Alex said from where he sat by the window keeping watch like he had since we'd arrived. "What happened wasn't your fault.""I almost killed him," I said for what felt like the hundredth time. "Would have killed him if you hadn't stopped me.""But you didn't," Alex reminded me gently. "And beating yourself up over what almost happened serves no purpose except making you miserable."He was right but knowing that didn't make the guilt disappear, didn't erase the memory of how close I'd come to becoming exactly the kind of
Chapter 122Alex Fire and lightning erupted from her hands in a display that lit the entire cell like midday sun, and Darius's expression shifted from scientific interest to genuine fear as he realized he'd awakened something far more dangerous than he'd anticipated."Guards," he shouted while backing toward the door. "Restrain her."But the guards were already running because even trained warriors recognized when they were completely outmatched, and Darius found himself alone facing a hybrid who'd just been tortured and was absolutely furious about it."You wanted my power," Nyx repeated while advancing on him. "Wanted to steal it and use it for yourself.""Now wait," Darius started but Nyx cut him off with a gesture that sent him flying backward into the wall hard enough to crack stone."I'm done waiting," she said coldly. "Done being patient with wolves who think they can use me."She raised her hand and I felt power gathering that would absolutely kill Darius if released, felt he
Chapter 121AlexHours crawled by in that underground prison and each minute felt like torture because I could feel Nyx's fear and determination warring through our bond, could sense her planning something reckless that would probably get her killed."Don't even think about it," I said into the darkness while pulling uselessly against the chains that held me. "Whatever you're planning, don't.""I'm not planning anything," Nyx lied and I felt the deception ripple through our connection like stones thrown in still water."You're a terrible liar," I pointed out. "And I can feel you through the bond, feel you gathering courage for something stupid and dangerous.""It's not stupid if it works," she argued."It's stupid if it kills you," I shot back. "Which is exactly what will happen if you try to force your dragon powers without proper preparation.""My mother's diary said it's possible with you," Nyx said. "Said the mate bond is the key to integrating both sides of my nature.""Yes, with







