LOGINCHAPTER 49: THE TRAITOR REVEALEDMIRA"You are the wolf." I did not phrase it as a question. The tablet Theron gave us was still in my hand. The evidence was. Absolute. "You have been playing both sides from the beginning."Vera stood in the church doorway. She was backlit by fire from the battle. She was completely calm while chaos raged around her. "Finally you figured it out. I was wondering how long it would take.""You killed River." Lunas voice was raw. "You made sure she was alone. You made sure the hunters knew where to hit.""That girls death served a purpose." Veras tone did not change. She sounded clinical and cold. "Every death in this war has served a purpose. The Moonborn needed to be angry enough to fight back. The ancient families needed to feel threatened enough to commit everything. I orchestrated the conditions for mutual destruction."My hands were shaking with rage. "You are insane.""I'm pragmatic "
CHAPTER 48: ENEMIESMIRAThe Silvanus patriarchs voice was loud in the empty church. "You brought a lot of people " he said as we walked in. "I told you to bring a few.""Six people is not a lot " I said. I kept my hands where he could see them. I did not have any weapons. "Especially when we are meeting with a family that has been trying to hurt us for months."He nodded. "That is a point." He stepped into a beam of light. I saw him clearly. He was very old. His face and hands had a lot of lines and scars. "My name is Theron Silvanus. I am not related to your leader even though we have the last name.""I am Mira " I said. I did not shake his hand. "Why are we here?"He said, "I am tired of all the fighting. It is pointless." He pointed to the benches. "Please sit down. This conversation will be better if we are not all ready to fight."Nobody moved.Theron said, "My granddaughter died three days ago. She was seventeen years old. She was killed by the Corvinus family during a fight. T
CHAPTER 47: FUNERAL AND FURYMIRAI stood in front of the gathered wolves my voice loud and clear in the rain. "River was sixteen years old " I said. The rain was falling like the sky was crying with us. "She spent eight years running and hiding just trying to survive.. When she finally stood up for herself they killed her."I looked over at the pyre where Rivers body lay wrapped in cloth. She was so small and young. I felt a pang of guilt and sadness. "I promised River that we would make it safe for Moonborn like her to exist " I said, my hands clenched into fists. "I promised her she wouldn't have to run.. I failed her."Lunas voice cut through the rain. "You didn't fail River, Mira " she said. She was standing at the edge of the crowd her face streaked with tears and rain. "River chose to fight. She chose to protect what mattered to her. Don't take that away from her by feeling guilty."Lunas words hit me hard. She was right. It didn't make me feel any better. I was still filled wi
CHAPTER 46: ALPHARAELI couldn't stop staring at my hands. They were covered in blood still warm, from the hunter who'd killed Elena. My sister. Twenty years I'd been lied to. Twenty years I'd hunted the enemy.Beta Marcus touched my shoulder. "Alpha we need orders.""Orders " I repeated. The word tasted like ash. "I've been taking orders from people who murdered my sister. Following their plans. Becoming their weapon." I laughed,. It came out broken. "What kind of Alpha does that make me?"Mira appeared beside me covered in soot and blood. "The kind who was manipulated by beings more cunning than any of us. The kind who can choose differently now."I looked at her. Saw Elena. Same age, same determination, power. My sister had died trying to save Moonborn. I'd spent two decades destroying them."She would hate what I became " I said.Mira held out her hand. "So become something she'd be proud of. Starting now."
CHAPTER 46: ALPHARAELI couldn't stop staring at my hands. They were covered in blood still warm, from the hunter who'd killed Elena. My sister. Twenty years I'd been lied to. Twenty years I'd hunted the enemy.Beta Marcus touched my shoulder. "Alpha we need orders.""Orders " I repeated. The word tasted like ash. "I've been taking orders from people who murdered my sister. Following their plans. Becoming their weapon." I laughed,. It came out broken. "What kind of Alpha does that make me?"Mira appeared beside me covered in soot and blood. "The kind who was manipulated by beings more cunning than any of us. The kind who can choose differently now."I looked at her. Saw Elena. Same age, same determination, power. My sister had died trying to save Moonborn. I'd spent two decades destroying them."She would hate what I became " I said.Mira held out her hand. "So become something she'd be proud of. Starting now."I took her hand. She pulled me to my feet.Ashback wolves watched us wait
CHAPTER 44: ENEMY TERRITORYMIRARael stood behind his desk his voice cold as ice. "You have a lot of guts coming here " he said. Beta Marcus and three council members stood beside him looking like they were ready to attack. "Give me one reason I shouldn't kill you all right now."I kept my hands where he could see them so he wouldn't think I was going to do anything. "In ten minutes you will be too busy trying to stay alive to worry about killing us " I said. "The ancient families are coming for you, Rael. Today.. You don't even see it coming."Rael. It was a mean sound. "You think I am stupid enough to believe that? You come into my territory with some story about the families turning on me?"I was about to answer but Kira spoke up first. "It's not a story, Rael. It's the truth.. You know it. You have felt it haven't you? The way they have been pulling back making excuses for not meeting keeping you at a distance."Rael's eyes
CHAPTER 39: UNWANTED FREEDOMMIRACouncilor Vera said "The vote is called" and her voice cut through all the noise in the destroyed chamber. " In favor of granting both Moonborn full freedom without restrictions?"I could not focus on what she was saying. Blood kept dri
CHAPTER 38: ENEMIESMIRA"You're not as fast as your dad was." The shadow womans voice seemed to come from around me. Her blades cut another line across my ribs. "He made us work harder to catch him."I spun around trying to see where she was.. She was already gone. Blo
CHAPTER 36: THE TRIAL OF BLOOD - ILLUSIONS MIRA I stood in a room with my brother Dante.. Something was off. There were bodies all around us. I saw Elara with her throat torn out Joseph with a hole in his chest and Alpha Theron's head was cut off from his body. My br
CHAPTER 37: BLOOD BONDMIRAThe room was still filled with smoke from our attack on the Council barriers. Then Elric and the Shadowfang warriors burst in like a wave fighting the ancient family hunters.I saw Elric's sword cut through the shadows. The blade was glowing







