LOGINChapter 129NyxThree days of walking had taken its toll on both of us and by the time we made camp on the third night, my feet ached and exhaustion pulled at every muscle in my body despite the steady pace we'd maintained.Alex built a fire with practiced efficiency while I laid out our bedrolls, and we ate in comfortable silence while flames cast dancing shadows across his face that made my chest tighten with something I'd been trying to ignore since we left Silver Crescent."You're staring," Alex observed without looking up from his meal."I'm allowed to stare at my mate," I said while something defensive crept into my tone."Of course you are," Alex agreed easily. "Just pointing it out."We finished eating and cleaned up the campsite, and I found myself hyper-aware of the space between us, of how careful Alex had been to maintain distance that felt wrong after weeks of being constantly together."I'm going to sleep," Alex announced once everything was secured. "We have another ful
Chapter 128NyxI gathered fire and lightning together the way my mother's diary had described, wove them into something that was purely mine rather than just dragon or just wolf, and when I released it the resulting blast lit up the night like a second sun.The dragon woman threw up a shield but it shattered under the impact, and she fell backward with shock written across her features."What are you?" she demanded."I'm my mother's daughter," I said. "And my father's legacy, and I won't let you hurt the people I care about."The other dragons had stopped fighting and were staring at me with expressions that ranged from fear to awe, clearly whatever I'd just done had exceeded their expectations of what a half-blood should be capable of."Impossible," the woman repeated. "Half-bloods can't access combined abilities.""This one can," I said while gathering more power. "And if you don't leave now I'll show you exactly what else I'm capable of.""You're bluffing," she tried but her voice
Chapter 127NyxSurprise rippled through the crowd and Lucien's expression shifted to confusion."Why not?" he asked. "This is your pack, your birthright.""It's my father's pack," I corrected gently. "But it's not mine, I don't belong here even if you're all kind enough to offer me a home.""Where will you go?" Martha asked from her seat."I don't know yet," I admitted. "But there's something I need to do first, somewhere I need to be before I can figure out what comes next.""You're always welcome to return," Lucien said. "Whenever you're ready, there will be a place for you here.""Thank you," I said. "That means more than you know."The assembly dispersed slowly and I felt wolves approaching to offer condolences or congratulations, felt their mixed emotions about my heritage but also their genuine respect for what I'd survived.That evening Alex and I sat in our quarters while the compound settled into routines that no longer included a corrupt Alpha pulling strings from shadows.
Chapter 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







