All Chapters of Ashes of the Alpha’s Daughter: Chapter 11 - Chapter 15

My father's hand pressed hard against the edge of the altar, knuckles pale.He didn't look at anyone. He only stared into the flames."Enough," he suddenly said.His voice sounded raw, almost unrecognizable."Alpha?" Russ turned toward him."I said enough!" My father suddenly lifted his head, eyes bloodshot. "I'm done watching these petty incidents. Show me everything from the three days before the cliff. Replay every moment. I want the truth!""That will tear apart her wolf spirit," Caleb warned, his voice rising. "She'll die instantly!""If she betrayed us, death is deserved." My father's gaze locked onto me. "If she didn't..."He paused."Then this ends today."So he wanted an end to this.I curled inside the flames, a scream trapped in my throat, escaping only as broken breaths.The images began flashing wildly.My stone cabin, the forest, the edge of the training yard, the outer wall at midnight…The memories sped past, too fast to follow.Then suddenly, everything

"I was just scared," Lucia said, her voice shaking. "I was afraid of losing everything...""So you decided Lyla had to die?" My father's voice trembled."Someone had to!" Lucia screamed. "Why couldn't it be her?"My father closed his eyes."I was wrong," Lucia cried as she dropped to her knees, clutching his legs. "I know I was wrong. Please forgive me. Just this once...""You shouldn't be asking me," my father said quietly.He pulled his leg away."You should ask Lyla."Lucia froze.She turned toward the altar, toward me.My vision was already fading, but I knew she was looking at me."Lyla…" She sobbed, scrambling to her feet and stumbling toward the flames. "I'm sorry. I was wrong. Please forgive me..."She climbed the steps and reached toward me, but the fire burned her hand.She jerked back, crying harder. "Lyla, say something! Tell Dad to forgive me! Please say something!"I opened my mouth, wanting to say something, but no sound came out.The flames had ruined my

The flames suddenly surged higher.My body began to turn transparent."No!" My father rushed onto the altar and reached straight into the fire.Caleb tried to stop him, but it was too late.My father's hands plunged into the silver flames.The sound of flesh burning filled the air. His palms blackened instantly.The fire only flickered once, then continued burning."It's useless," Russ said. "Once the trial begins, it can't be stopped."Caleb drew his sword and began hacking wildly at the chains.Clang! Clang! Clang!Sparks flew everywhere. But the chains didn't move."They won't break!" Caleb shouted. "Why won't they break?""The chains are bound to her soul," Theo said quietly. "If you cut them, you cut her spirit."Caleb froze.He looked down at me.My body had faded enough that the stone altar behind me showed through."Lyla," he whispered, dropping to his knees, voice shaking. "How do I save you?"I looked at him and gently shook my head.There was no saving me.