ログインLILIAN'S POV Marcus Vale waited beneath the Eternal Rose as if he had anticipated our arrival the entire time. The dim glow caught the silver band on his finger, verifying what had already been depicted in the photograph. Standing before us was the former Beta, thought to have perished years prior. Now, he appeared older and more unfeeling, his faint smile twisting my stomach into knots. Darian instinctively stepped in front of me. "Marcus." The man’s smile broadened. "Alpha Darian." "You were deemed dead." "True." He cast a side glance at Taryn. "At least, that’s what those wanting me gone reported." With eyes wide, Taryn exclaimed, "You were present." Marcus turned his gaze to him. "Of course I was." The tension in Taryn's face grew tighter. "I recall you." "You should." Marcus began to ascend the stairs. "Though merely a child, you held onto more than we anticipated." Adrian shifted closer, murmuring, "Stay behind me." Marcus chuckled softly. "Still playing the protector." Adri
LILIAN'S POV We arrived back at Blood Veil just before dawn. For the majority of the journey, there was a heavy silence, not due to a lack of inquiries, but rather because there were far too many unasked. Though we had crossed the northern border, threats still lingered, perhaps even more palpable now. Sitting next to Darian in the carriage, I looked out at the familiar trees drifting by outside. Only a few months prior, the thought of returning to Blood Veil would have filled me with apprehension. This was the place where I had faced public rejection, lost all my belongings, and been cast out onto the streets. Now, I returned with a letter from my father pressed close to my chest, a pendant belonging to my mother hanging around my neck, and a brother I had only just learned existed a few hours ago. I was no longer the same woman who had departed. Darian noticed my contemplative silence. “You’re thinking about Taryn.” I turned to him. “I’m reflecting on the woman I once was.” His
My hands shook as I extended them toward the letter. I recognized that handwriting. I had seen it among the limited documents my family preserved after my parents passed away, but encountering it now felt distinct. This was not an old note or a family archive. My father crafted these words with the awareness that one day I might come across them, anticipating that I could finally learn the truth about my family. Darian was standing next to me, observing closely yet choosing not to intervene. I broke the seal. As the paper opened, a soft crackling sound emerged, revealing my father's recognizable handwriting on the page. My dear Liliana, if you are reading this, then the unthinkable has occurred. My sight blurred instantly. I can only guess how old you will be when you stumble upon this letter. I cannot say whether I will still be alive. However, I must convey one crucial message before you accept anyone's interpretation of our narrative. Your mother and I never left you behind. A t
LILIAN'S POV William’s voice resonated throughout the room, composed and nearly soothing in spite of the armed wolves flanking him. My gaze fell on the dark book lying upon the stone surface. The rose that was engraved on its front appeared to vibrate slightly under the soft crimson glow emanating from the blood seal. For twenty-one years, I had received fragments of my parents' narrative. They had perished during an attack by rogue wolves. They were simply unfortunate. There was nothing that could have been done. Those were the phrases I had repeatedly heard throughout my upbringing. Yet each discovery we made dismantled another section of that narrative. My father had anticipated the threat ahead. My mother had withstood the onslaught. Adrian had been abducted. The Grey Wardens were pursued. William had orchestrated everything from behind the scenes. And now this book was said to hold the reason for my mother’s demise. I turned my attention to William. "You want me to open this
LILIAN'S POV The words were completely incomprehensible. "What do you mean, our lineage isn't what everyone thought?" I inquired. Taryn’s eyes turned to Darian for a moment before settling back on me. "I’m not privy to the full story. William concealed much of it, even from the council. However, your mother uncovered something in the original documents." Adrian moved closer. "What did she find?" Taryn paused. "The first Alpha of Blood Veil was not merely an ordinary werewolf." Gabriel's face shifted instantly. "Be cautious." Taryn disregarded him. "He possessed a rare bloodline, one that vanished ages ago." My wolf stirred uneasily within me. A peculiar tightness gripped my chest, as if a part of me acknowledged the statement before my mind could grasp it. Darian recognized my reaction. "What bloodline?" Taryn shook his head. "That's the part I never found out." Adrian's fists tightened. "Then why are you wasting our time?" "Because William knows." Taryn's tone turned urgent.
LILIAN'S POV The pendant radiated an unusual warmth against my hand. I gazed at the delicate silver rose, my eyes welling with unshed tears. This was something my mother had held, perhaps pressed to her heart. Maybe she wore it on the night that everything changed for us. The notion brought a tightness to my chest. "What was her name?" my brother quietly inquired. I shot him a puzzled look. "What did you say?" "Your mother." "Rose." His expression softened. "Rose." He spoke the name as if savoring a long-buried memory he had feared would fade. "It's been years since I last spoke her name aloud." I swallowed hard. "Do you remember her?" "Every single day." His voice trembled just a bit. "When cooking, she often sang." "She couldn’t stand storms." "And every night, she counted my fingers as I drifted off, convinced I might lose one." A broken chuckle escaped through my tears. "She did the same for me." He looked directly at me. "You recall?"
LILIANA'S POV “Who are you talking to?” Taryn's voice came from behind me and my wolf whimpered in fear while I turned, trying to look as calm as possible. "It was Mabel checking on me. You know how she is," I said with the biggest grin stepping closer to him. I could tell he had not bought
I had barely slammed the door behind me when Mabel’s voice cracked through my phone. She had that overly dramatic tone, as if the world were moments from falling apart. “Liliana, just come back! Pop a pill, drink some orange juice, I don’t care, get your butt over here. This night is tragic withou
LILIANA'S POV I turned around so quickly that I almost slipped on the polished floor, whispering, "Oh my God." As soon as my gaze returned to him, my face began to burn. A few paces away, Darian had a towel draped loosely around his waist and a smaller one around his neck. Drops of water trickled
LILIANA'S POV My shoulders stiffened at the sound of his voice and I stayed still hoping that he would just walk by. Maybe he'd thought I was some sort of statue. The idea sounded dumb the moment my brain processed it and I let out a small breath turning slowly, like a criminal caught red hande







