All Chapters of Crowned in Ash and Silver: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

That afternoon, at the Elders' council meeting, I dropped a bombshell on the pack's leadership."The Blight in the southern forest is spreading." I tossed a handful of corrupted, blackened soil onto the conference table. "The source is in the mining territory you manage, and you are completely unaware."Chief Elder Marcus slammed his fist on the table. "Sienna! You have no place to speak here! Are you trying to get the Alpha's attention with these scare tactics again?""Attention?" I sneered, presenting more evidence: preserved bodies of dead animals, mutated plant samples, and a report on the poisoned water supply. "Look at this! This corruption... it preys on those with gifts first. It will destroy our home!"The room fell silent. Everyone knew I possessed the gift of Earth Empathy."Nonsense!" Marcus's face flushed red.Just then, the door was thrown open.Horton strode in, his icy gaze sweeping over the council before landing squarely on me."Sienna, what are you up to now?" His to

The moment I left the hall, a sharp pain shot through me from my Earth Empathy gift.The sacred altar!I ran like a madwoman to the hidden cave on the mountainside.The spring at the entrance now flowed with water as black as ink. The surrounding plants were all dead, and the air reeked of thick decay.The Blight had completely corrupted the altar!"Sienna!"Horton burst into the cave, his face just as pale. He had clearly felt the disturbance in the energy too."I told you, the Blight is spreading!" I yelled in despair."Sienna! Horton!"Chloe ran in, clutching her dress, the 'Heart of the Land' necklace glowing with an eerie light against her chest."I... I came to pray, but the altar started shaking, I was so scared—"Before she could finish, the entire cave began to tremble violently. Rocks rained down from the ceiling."The cave is collapsing!" Horton roared. "Get out!"But I saw something worse. The energy core deep inside the cave was imploding, forming a massive black vortex. I

On the morning of the departure, I slipped a powerful, slow-acting sedative into Chloe's tea, enough to keep her asleep until she reached a safe location."Are you really doing this?" Horton watched me, his eyes cold with disappointment and disgust.I was packing a bag, not even looking up. "Is there a problem? She's always been a weak link.""I thought..." He clenched his fists. "I thought you had changed.""Changed?" I laughed, a scornful sound, and turned to look at him. "I never changed. I've always been this selfish, vicious person. Horton, are you only just now realizing my true nature?"I saw the last flicker of warmth in his eyes die, replaced by deep revulsion.Good. The truth would hurt him more when he finally found it out.In the courtyard, Brynn's men were already waiting. They wore military gear, with silver weapons at their hips. They looked like they were here to collect a body.Chloe came out of the house, her face pale but determined. The drug hadn't fully taken ef

Sienna's POVA steel-toed boot slammed into my ribs, and I curled on the ground, coughing up blood."Get up, little she-wolf."Chief Elder Marcus looked down at me, a vicious smile on his face. Behind him stood a dozen armed men—Brynn's mercenaries. "The game is over."I pushed myself up, blood dripping from the corner of my mouth onto the grass. The forest around us was burning. Jake and the other rangers were already down, lying motionless nearby."Marcus, why would you betray the pack?"He laughed, a harsh, grating sound, like grinding glass. "Betray? Little girl, you don't understand politics. Brynn's offer was much better than your father's ever was. A new Alpha, a new order, and a very generous reward.""Bought with the lives and lands of our pack?""The dead don't need land. Besides, Horton is weak, and your father was a fool. This pack was long overdue for a change in leadership."I struggled to sit up. "What about the Blight? You knew it would kill innocent pack members—""Th

Horton's POVSienna jumped.The pain of the mate bond shattering nearly ripped my soul apart.The wolfsbane burned in my veins, a cold fire trying to leash my wolf. But my rage was an inferno that no poison could quench."Kill them."My voice was a low growl, a promise from hell."Alpha?" Jake looked at me, confused. "But the inhibitor—""Kill them all." I rose to my feet, the golden light in my eyes piercing the darkness. "Leave no one alive."Marcus stumbled back, his smug expression instantly replaced by terror. "That's impossible... you took the inhibitor... you shouldn't have any strength—"My fist connected with his face, and the sound of bone crunching was sickeningly satisfying."You forgot one thing," I said, grabbing him by the throat and lifting him off the ground. "And right now," I whispered, my voice a death rattle, "rage is all I need." I watched the life drain from his eyes, and with a final, satisfying crack, I snapped his neck."Shadow Guard!" I roared into the for